Japan Toy
Why Are There So Many Different Japanese Bandai Godzilla 2000 Toys?
So what is Godzilla you ask? To find the answer to this question you must go back to the beginning…
One dark night in 1954, Toho producer Tomoyuki Tanaka was on a plane thousands of feet above the waves of the Pacific Ocean. Toho’s most recent idea for a movie had been shelved and he needed to come up with a new idea quickly. As he stared down at the sea below him, an idea struck him: what if a giant monster rose from the depths to attack Tokyo!? With the great success of giant monster movies such as King Kong and The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms, such a movie was a stroke of genius. Soon, with the assistance of a team of now legendary men, including director Ishiro Honda, score master Akira Ifukube, and special effects man Eiji Tsuburaya, they began to make their movie. But the creature needed a name. Though it will forever be unknown exactly how the name came about and myths will circle it eternally, the Japanese words gorira (gorilla) and kujira (whale) were combined and the beast became known as Gojira, which in turn became, in the west, Godzilla.
The original Gojira was a radioactive lizard trying to destroy humanity. He was then dissolved in weird foam in his first movie by humanity, destroyed like all the other monsters we’ve come to know from that time period of cinema. Yet, he came back for more movies. Movie after movie, the huge demon’s size and manner seemed to change. His strengths, intelligence, weaknesses, and some of his abilities were subject to change as well. Sometimes being as smart as a human, communicating with other monsters, other times being animalistically smart. From hero to villain to hero in movies that seemed to barely keep anything straight. In one movie he breathed his signature bad breath to destroy what remained of Tokyo after appearing to fight a monster even more bent in tearing the city apart as a joke to consistent fans about his inconsistencies. Sometimes the reason he can fight armies is because of a hard carpace, other times because of some hyper-healing ability. Not even his blood can stay the same, sometimes green when he bleeds. Other times, red like everything else.
Because the first two films were in black and white, American poster makers went with their own instincts and painted the Big G a deep forest green. Enter King Kong Vs. Godzilla, his first colour feature, and lo and behold, the radiation spawn is charcoal gray. Too late to stop the merchandising mishaps: to this day almost every model, toy and comic book still paints him the colour of money.
Godzilla (or Gojira, ???) refers to a series of kaiju (strange beast or monster), or more specifically Daikaiju (giant monster), films made in Japan. Godzilla is believed to have originally been intended by Toho to represent the United States of America (being superior in its destructive capability) and took the form of a radioactive prehistoric reptile. Given that his origin (in the 1954 film) was the ocean, Godzilla can be considered not just a monster, but a sea monster. Godzilla died at the end of the original 1954 film. Subsequent films in the series ret conned the first movie by assuming that Godzilla wasn’t killed, and that the body of the monster was never found.
The series was revamped in 1985 with “Godzilla 1985″; this movie was created as a direct sequel to the 1954 film, and ignores the continuity of the previous sequels. Known as the Heisei series (for the ruling emperor of the time), the continuity ended in 1995′s Godzilla vs. Destroyah after a run of seven films. The reason for the continuity shift was based on a realization that the marketing of the movies had removed the reason it was so loved. When it was discovered that Godzilla was popular with children, sequels were toned down in obvious screen violence, and Godzilla was made out to be a good guy instead of an indestructible abomination of the mistakes of Man. Characters such as “son of Godzilla” (a diminutive chubby replica who blew smoke rings) were introduced. However, the further Godzilla was taken away from his roots, the less popular he became. Hence, Godzilla 1985 brought the series back to form.
Depending on your opinion, either the 1970s were not kind to Godzilla, or fans are not kind to the Godzilla of the 1970s. The films of that era are often dismissed as cheap, poorly made, and generally pathetic or childish. Godzilla was in full “super-hero” mode. Little kids in micro-shorts were running wild, but not nearly so in control as they were in the old Gamera films. A lot of serious Godzilla fans hang their heads in shame at the mere mention of some of these titles.
Contrary to what the English dub of the original Godzilla, King of the Monsters would have us believe, Godzilla was never “over 400 feet tall”. What follows is a history of Godzilla’s height, or correctly, increase in height. In the 1954 Japanese original, Dr. Yamane estimates that Godzilla is 50 meters tall (167 feet). Godzilla destroys Tokyo, but is later killed by the Oxygen Destroyer. A second Godzilla appears in the next movie: Godzilla Raids Again (1955). This creature is also 50 meters tall and would remain this size for the following Godzilla movies through to Terror or Mecha Godzilla (1975).
In 1984, Toho presented Godzilla (Godzilla 1985 in the U.S.) as a direct sequel to the 1954 original, thus ignoring the existence of the 14 other films in the series. At the same time, the height of the new Godzilla was increased to 80 meters (267 feet). Toho probably did this to make Godzilla appears more imposing alongside Tokyo’s modem skyscrapers. Godzilla is also 80 meters tall in Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989). In Godzilla vs. King Ghidora (1991), futurians attempt to prevent Godzilla’s creation. However, their complicated time-travel plan backfires, and Godzilla is reborn in 1992, now towering at 100 meters (334 feet). Godzilla is this size in Godzilla vs. Mothra, released in the U.S. as Godzilla and Mothra: Battle for Earth (1992) and the following sequels; Godzilla vs. MechaGodzilla (1993), Godzilla vs. SpaceGodzilla (1994) and Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995). When the series returned after the TriStar fiasco with Godzilla 2000, the King of the Monsters returned to the 80 meters (267 feet) version, and has stayed at that height ever since. These changes in Godzilla’s height has meant a little confusion for collectors, especially when trying to estimate Godzilla’s scale in relation to his height.
About the Author
The full range of exclusive Japanese Bandai Toy & 6” Godzilla 2000 Action Figures. and the Best Top 10 Selling Toys, Characters & Games, Ben Ten, Transformer, Terminator 2, Toy Story, Bakugan, Free Wooden Toy Plans, Children Wooden Swing Sets & Toys, Wood Toy Box Chest, Dollhouses, Rocking Horses, Play Kitchen, Airplanes & Trucks can be found at The Best Toys R Us.
Japanese Toy Store
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Tommy Tramp Marionette Puppet Knickerbocker Original Box Made in Japan 1962 $19.99 |
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Transformers WST Megatron Worlds Smallest Transformers Japan $25.00 |
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1930s JAPAN AND TRICO COMPOSITION SOLDIERS AND HORSES $9.99 |
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1950′s SAN Japan Tin Friction Greyhound Passenger Bus 12″ 611-5454 $34.99 |
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1971 HORIKAWA SHARPSHOOTER ROBOT MADE IN JAPAN ブリキ ロボット $249.95 |
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VINTAGE ANTIQUE BATTERY OPERATED TIN TOY DISNEY MICKEY MOUSE LINEMAR MARX JAPAN $610.60 |
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1940′s Japan Tin Windup Old Man Marching Drummer 7″ $24.99 |
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1940′s Japan Bubble Blowing Monkey Tin Litho 11″ Battery Operated $32.99 |
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1940′s Japan Tin Windup Police Friction Car 8″ Press Top Windup Feature $32.50 |
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12 VINTAGE METAL VEHICLES JAPAN IN PACKAGE $14.99 |
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Tomica Ladder Chief Truck Japan No. F33 Diecast $6.99 |
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Rare Japanese TOMY Pokemon Pocket Monsters TOY – New / Sealed – JAPAN $4.99 |
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VINTAGE TOMIYAMA JAPAN PAN AM BOEING 707 TIN METAL FRICTION TOY MODEL AIRPLANE $49.99 |
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Fujipet Pet35 Pet 35 Toy Camera – Made in Japan $145.00 |
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Vintage Japan Battery Operated Monster Robot With Original Box Works…RARE! $65.00 |
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Vintage Tin Pop Pop Boat Japan Unopened $12.99 |
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Vintage Japan Miniture Sewing Machine Toy Salesman Sample Hideaway Box COOL $135.00 |
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Tin Friction Drive MG Roadster Japan? Pristine $29.99 |
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VINTAGE TIN LITHO FRICTION TOY BUTTERFLY MADE by ALPS JAPAN NOS $14.56 |
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VINTAGE KEY WIND WALKING TOY LADY BUG by HAJI JAPAN $9.99 |
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1971 HORIKAWA SPACE ATTACKER ROBOT MADE IN JAPAN ブリキ ロボット $289.00 |
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Franklin Mint Japan D-51 Class C-11 Pewter Train Engine Worlds Great Locomotives $14.99 |
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JAPAN CD LOLITA NO18 SISTER RUN NAKED RAMONES TOY DOLLS $14.99 |
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My Mai Hime Otome Arika Yumemiya cute girl w/ briefcase Figure Kotobukiya Japan $97.99 |
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Japan Disney HOLIDAY NIGHTMARE 07 JACK mini FILE FOLDER $5.49 |
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Balboa Master Series Promontory Point Centennial set made in Japan, F/P $471.33 |
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ANTIQUE TOY CAR ship from Japan Missing part (front wheel) found at my Garage $60.00 |
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Celluliod crib toy rattle fat girl Japan 1930 Vintage $12.99 |
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Vintage Bullmark Japan Tokusatsu Ultraman Mutant Monster Godzilla Kaiju Figure G $9.99 |
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Japan Bandai Gundam Fix Figuration 0037 Action Figure $29.99 |
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JAPAN TOMY TOMICA COCA COLA SET 4 CAR NEW 2010 $29.99 |
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1970 HORIKAWA SUPER SPACE COMMANDER ROBOT MADE IN JAPAN ブリキ ロボット $229.95 |
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Japan Wooden Toy Game Kinniku Man Wooden Figures for Boxing Game $7.99 |
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Vintage Haji Tin Car Toy Made in Japan Looks Like a 1950′s Oldsmobile Rare $80.00 |
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RARE ANTIQUE TIN WIND-UP BUNNY RABBIT PLAYS DRUMS JAPAN WORKS MISSING DRUMSTICKS $75.00 |
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Isuzu Japan City low floor bus N scale Tomytec 11 $14.99 |
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TonyChopper from ONE PIECE!! Cellphone Strap!.Only in Japan Market $12.00 |
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VINTAGE TOMICA 12 TOYOTA FORKLIFT FD 200 JAPAN RARE $32.00 |
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B/O McGREGOR with O/Box made in 1950′s JAPAN by NOMURA ( T-N ) Co. $125.00 |
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1990 Super Mario World Mario Japan Only Inflatable Mario w/ Cape $27.00 |
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Vintage Tin Model T? Battery Operated Car TN Japan $7.99 |
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ORIGINAL OFFICIAL MAGIC SAKURA TREE SCIENCE TOY JAPAN $9.99 |
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VintageTin Battery Operated Western Locomotive Modern Toys Japan Nice! $7.99 |
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KAIYODO REVOLTECH TRANSFORMERS 019 OPTIMUS PRIME JAPAN $85.49 |
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1999 JAPAN Pokemon Zapdos 7.9″ Plush BANPREST Rare $77.00 |
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1999 JAPAN Pokemon Articuno 7″ Plush BANPREST USED Rare $77.00 |
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Takara Metal BeyBlade A123 Gaia Dragoon Japan First Version Beyblade Buzztoyshop $7.99 |
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Takara Metal BeyBlade A124 Driger Japan First Version Beyblade Buzztoyshop $7.99 |
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TAKARA TOMY BEAST WARS TM-08 ARCHADIS JAPAN IMPORT NIB $5.02 |
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HOBBY JAPAN SpecFIGURE 4 12″ ACTION FIGURE GUIDE BOOK $45.00 |
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Nuby 2-Pack Nibbler, Colors May Vary $5.85 Nuby 2-Pack NibblerThe Nibbler is a great way to introduce soft solids when your child is ready. Suggested whole foods (age appropriate) include: frozen fruits, fresh fruits, ice chips, veggies, and other similar foods.Features include: •Allows your child to eat whole foods without the risk of choking•”Squeeze and Twist” Locking System keeps child from opening•Great way to introduce… |
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Gold Pan Kit $25.45 Garrett GTI-2500 Metal Detector accessory! Patented Graphic Target Imaging (GTI) displays a target’s true size and depth! Garrett’s GTI series Metal Detectors are among the top performers on the market. Why? Because they offer cutting-edge true imaging features that give you unparalleled target identification, so you can more easily sort the treasure from the trash. Check the features: 9 1/2″ imag… |
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Hamilton Beach 68050 Icy Treats Ice Shaver, White $24.24 Product Features Make your favorite icy treats in minutes Add ice cubes from your freezer Shave ice into your own dish or use included mixing bowl Fun recipes included All removable parts are dishwasher safe This handy Ice Shaver makes snow cones, slushies, margaritas and other frozen treats quickly. Whether conquering the sweltering heat, hosting a party, or having fun with the kids, the Icy Trea… |
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Mommy I’m Here Child Locator … |
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RoomMates RMK1200GM Hello Kitty Princess Castle Peel & Stick Giant Wall Decal $11.98 … |
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Evangelion: 1.11 You Are Not Alone [Blu-ray] $13.79 EVANGELION:1.11 YOU ARE NOT ALONE – Blu-Ray Movie… |
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Ultraman: The Complete Series $4.99 ULTRAMAN:COMPLETE SERIES – DVD Movie… |
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The Godzilla Collection $20.49 Mothra vs. Godzilla More visually splendid and imaginatively written than the other Godzilla sequels, this (the fourth in the series) starts when Mothra’s gigantic egg washes ashore in Japan, having been dislodged from Mothra Island by a hurricane. Two tiny twin girls (sometimes singing like dual-diminutive Dorothy Lamours) from the island come to plead for the return of the egg by the greedy busi… |
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Popin’ Cookin’ Happy Sushi House $7.79 Right here is a super fun DIY (Do It Yourself) toy made by Kracie, which lets you create sushi candy just by adding water and some flavored magic…. |
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Libby’s Pumpkin, 15 oz $0.47 Libby’s uses a special variety of pumpkin called “Dickinson”. Through careful cultivation and research, we’ve ensured that all of our pumpkin has a delicious taste, creamy texture and pleasing orange color…. |
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