Tokusatsu Archives

Victory Robo Gogofive 1999 Yutaka

Con December 10, 2015 Sentai No Comments

Victory Robo Gogofive 1999 Yutaka from Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive from 1999-2000

I am looking at this robot and I have no idea why I got it. It’s another decent Sentai robot, but it’s not really from the late 70’s, the 80’s or even the early 90’s. I think it was because it was just $10 and did not take up much space. Which really is not a good reason. This robot is made up of the 99Machines. They are five rescue vehicles which can combine to form the Victory Robo from Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive in 1999-2000(The 23rd entry to the Super Sentai series). Some of that footage made it into Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue here in the states. I am a little surprised the robot is by Yutaka instead of Bandai. Its the first Super Sentai robot I have ever seen that was not made by Bandai or Popy. All the other GoGoFive toys show Bandai branding on the box.

I found a pretty cool video of the transformation process. Like I have said before I do like the robots, but I am not a fan of the Super Sentai shows. This video made me smile. I guess I can take it in small doses.

99Machines Victory Robo Gogofive 1999 Yutaka front of box (救急戦隊ゴーゴーファイブ Kyūkyū Sentai GōGō Faibu)

Victory Robo Gogofive 1999 Yutaka from Kyuukyuu Sentai GoGoFive from 1999-2000

Bioman DX by Popy GC-13 in 1984

Dave December 3, 2013 Bandai, Godaikin, Popy, Sentai 2 Comments

Here’s another Godaikin Super Sentai robot that I bought on my Japan trip 1985. I’m pretty certain I bought the Bioman DX at a department store, either Matsuzakaya or Mitsukoshi. That was one of my favorite trips. So this has to be the Bioman Deluxe Popy GC-13 release in 1984. The Bioman Bio Robo is mostly metal in the body and legs giving him the heft of a real Chogokin. It is one of the better Super Sentai robot designs.

Bioman DX Godaikin - Popy Bio Robo GC-13 1984 from tokusatsu Choudenshi Bioman(超電子バイオマン) 1984-1985

Bioman DX Godaikin – Popy Bio Robo GC-13 1984 from tokusatsu Choudenshi Bioman 1984-1985

Bio Robo from tokusatsu Choudenshi Bioman 1984-1985 (超電子バイオマン)

Bio Robo from tokusatsu tv show Choudenshi Bioman 1984-1985

Leopaldon Soul of Chogokin GX-33 – 2006

Dave December 3, 2013 Bandai, Soul of Chogokin 1 Comment

Here’s a Leopaldon Soul of Chogokin. The original I believe was sometime in the early 80’s and he was Sentai live action robot. The original is taller and presumably more heftier than the re-issue. Still, I never had this one and I liked having the opportunity to get this one as a re-issue. I will say the Soul of Chogokins are quite well done and I got this one for like 60 dollars used at Mandarake in Akihabara. I have finally taken him out of the box and put him on my shelf. I’m so paranoid with losing pieces that I’ve only displayed with his sword and shield.

(レオパルドン Reoparudon) Leopaldon Soul of Chogokin 2006 by Bandai GX-33 from tv show Supaidāman スパイダーマン from 1978-1979

Leopaldon – 2006 Soul of Chogokin Re-issue GX-33 by Bandai from tv show Supaidāman from 1978-1979

(レオパルドン Reoparudon)Leopaldon Leopardon Leopoldon(スパイダーマン, Supaidāman)

Leopaldon in action

Spiderman & Leopaldon (レオパルドン Reoparudon) 2006 Soul of Chogokin GX-33 from tokusatsu tv show (スパイダーマン, Supaidāman) 1978-1979

Spiderman & Leopaldon 2006 Soul of Chogokin GX-33 from tokusatsu tv show (スパイダーマン, Supaidāman) 1978-1979

Admin note from CCC:

This robot is from a Japanese live action(“tokusatsu”) show Supaidāman from 1978-1979 based on Marvel’s Spider-Man by Toei Company. Leopardon just made it into the Marvel universe in 2014!

Daidenjin Godaikin 1984

Dave November 19, 2013 Bandai, Godaikin, Popy 3 Comments

Here’s a Daidenjin Godaikin which I purchased from a little shop in Japantown, San Francisco in 1984. I bought quite a few robot figures/toys from that store. The owner retired sometime in the early 2000’s. I added a picture of what he looks like in his Super Sentai show. I think this is the Japanese DaiDenzin GB-14 DX by Popy instead of the Godaikin version, as the shop in Japantown only sold Japanese robots. This one is another robot with heavy diecast metal content, which makes it another awesome Chogokin robot.

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 aka GB-14 DaiDenzin DX Popy Japan 1980 from the live action show Denshi Sentai Denziman(ダイデンジン) 1980-1981

Daidenjin Godaikin 1984

Tokusatsu Live action show Denshi Sentai Denziman(ダイデンジン) 1980-1981

Live action show Denshi Sentai Denziman 1980-1981

Flashman Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Japan 1986

Con November 17, 2013 Bandai, Popy, Sentai No Comments

Meet Flash King from Choushinsei Flashman. He joins all of his Sentai brethren in my collection. This is not a robot I coveted in the 80’s. Mostly found out about Flash King from my love of other 80’s robots as most of the information on this guy is in Japanese. This robot is pretty light for an 80’s Popy robot. I always expect some diecast metal goodness when dealing with Popy robots. Seems to be all plastic, but he is decent looking. After looking him over, looks like only the feet and chest are metal. Oops, looks like I forgot to take a picture of the front of the box. Oh well.

Flash King is one of the nicer designs for a Super Sentai robot, I really like the color scheme and proportions. Though most ST robots don’t have an issue with this. This usually is an issue with the DX robots like Combattra, Daimos, and Daltanias. I wish i had his bigger brother Flash in Box, the DX version which seems pretty rare. Flash King looks great for a DX. This is one of my few Popy robots. I am a bit surprised, as Popy had been reabsorbed back into Bandai in 1983 and this came out in 1986. ***

Flash King(フラッシュキング Furasshu Kingu) GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from live action show Choushinsei Flashman(超新星フラッシュマン) 1986-1987 styrofoam insert

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from tokusatsu tv show Choushinsei Flashman(超新星フラッシュマン) 1986-1987

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from live action show Chōshinsei Furasshuman 1986-1987

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986

Flash King(フラッシュキング Furasshu Kingu) GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from live action show Choushinsei Flashman 1986-1987 box back (超新星フラッシュマン)

Flash King GC-33 ST by Popy Bandai Japan 1986 from live action show Choushinsei Flashman 1986-1987

Vavilos GoDaikin ST by Bandai GC-16 1984

Con November 17, 2013 Bandai, Godaikin, Popy No Comments

Here is the Vavilos ST. I really don’t know why, but the ST versions of these robots are often better than the DX versions. This is definitely the case in this robot. Vavilos is from the live action ‘tokusatsu’ show Space Sheriff Shaider. So think Power Rangers.

Vavilos does not have a great design. I definitely would have liked a little more detail on the head and maybe if it was a little bigger it would feel right. But the head is more proportionate, than say the arms which are a little puny and insignificant. It is like a Tyrannosaurus Rex, big body, teeny weeny arms. Oh well, if T-Rex can kick ass, then maybe Vavilos wouldn’t get the crap kicked out of him. The robot transforms from a space ship to a robot and giant gun as well, in this case I prefer the V Spaceship form. He comes with 6 yellow missiles which shoot out of the chest. The build of the legs remind me of the Dyna Robo, Goggle Robo or Change robo. The main body of the robot is just blocky, Seems like the transformations were more important in the design than the actual robot.

That being said, I like having both the DX and ST Vavilos. It fills out my Godaikin collection which is my favorite line of 80’s robots. Though if I had to be more specific, I have a big soft spot for the Popy ST line. Check out the Vavilos DX!

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider (宇宙刑事シャイダー) tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985 loose robot front

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Space Sheriff Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider (宇宙刑事シャイダー) tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985 loose robot back Item #300024

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Space Sheriff Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Space Sheriff Shaider (宇宙刑事シャイダー Uchū Keiji Shaidā) tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985 loose front 2

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Here are a few fun videos from the tv show Space Sheriff Shaider!!!

I recently added Vavilos in the Bandai Godaikin packaging which is nice. So now I have some missiles to test out! I swear that is about my favorite part.

Vavilos Godaikin ST 1984 by Bandai GC-16 back and side of box

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Vavilos Godaikin ST 1984 by Bandai GC-16 front of box

Vavilos GoDaiKin ST by Bandai GC-16 from Uchu Keiji Shaider tokusatsu tv show from 1984-1985

Goggle Five Chogokin ST by Popy GB-76 Japan 1982

Con October 14, 2013 Godaikin, Popy, Sentai No Comments

Here is Goggle Five Chogokin. It’s nice to have the DX and ST versions of this robot. I will have to do a group picture for my GoDaiKins and the DX versions with their little brothers. ***

Wow, this thing is heavy. It earns the Chogokin name by far. The chest and legs are definitely metal. I can’t find the year on this thing, now I wish I could read Japanese. This is probably one of my older Popy robots. You can’t have a Popy robot without the shooting fists, sword and shield. The design as on most ST robots is fabulous. As usual they get the proportions right. I love this thing. Goggle Five is an 80’s Super Sentai robot from the series Dai Sentai Goggle Five in 1982.

I wish American toys came in this type of packaging. Storing is a breeze with all my Japanese robots. Even when I have a boxed Hasbro Transformer it is harder to store once you have opened the box.

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982 from Dai Sentai Goggle Five 1982-1983 styrofoam

Popy Goggle Five Chogokin GB-76 Japan ST

Goggle Five Chogokin by Popy GB-76 Japan ST 1982

Sentai Robo Collection with Turbo Robo, Daizyujin, Live Robo, Dyna Robo, Jetman, Bio Robo

Con October 9, 2013 Bandai, Sentai No Comments

Not really sure what these are or why there is a set. Too bad there was no box when i purchased it, only the plastic container. But it was nice to have a small set of Super Sentai robots. I’m sure they are from Bandai. Took me a while to figure out the name for each figure. It was hard to find, as half the robots never had a US release(the Megazord came out with the Power Rangers and Dynaman and Bioman were released as Godaikins) and most of the information is in Japanese for the other 3 robots. This is a set of Super Sentai Robo from various series all plastic that are 3″ high. It is a pretty cool set.

The top line of robots is Turbo Robo, Daizyujin(aka Megazord!), and Live Robo.

Sentai Robo Collection Turboranger(ターボロボ Tābo Robo) Zyuranger(大獣神 Daijūjin, Great Beast God) Liveman(ライブロボ Raibu Robo) Dynaman(ダイナロボ Daina Robo) Jetman(ジェットイカロス Jetto Ikarosu) Bioman(バイオロボ Baio Robo) plastic

Sentai Robo Collection with Turbo Robo, Daizyujin, Live Robo, Dyna Robo, Jetman, Bio Robo

On the bottom row is Dyna Robo, Jetman or Jet Icarus, and Bio Robo.

If anyone knows what this is, please drop a comment so I can figure it out.

Ok so after a little research I think these may be the Robo Sentai Collection, Sentai Robo Collection(ok, this was wrong)or a bootleg of it that came out in 1993 by Bandai. This may also be the cheap plastic versions you can get a train station kiosks. My only other theory is that maybe these are a prize Gashapon set for for those arcade claw machines. I think arcades are more more popular in Japan than they are here in the United States.

Since I see no copyright marking or branding I am pretty sure now that this a bootleg(which I figured out a year after I wrote this initially, duh!). It was just hard to figure out without the box. If I had the box I am pretty sure I would know right off the bat.

The Power Ranger Wikia really came in handy for the Japanese tokusatsu shows I had never heard of before. Without out it I likely would never have figured out the Live Robo and Turbo Robo.

Daidenjin Godaikin Bandai 1984 aka GB-14 Daidenjin DX Popy Japan 1980

Con October 9, 2013 Bandai, Godaikin, Popy No Comments

I always thought this was an ST version of Daidenjin, but I stand corrected. It is the Daidenjin DX version. That’s why it comes with all the cool stuff and it actually transforms into a space ship. I don’t think any of the ST’s tranform. So it’s not the GB-15. This is a good heavy piece chock full of die cast metal and it has a nice build, but I can’t say I like the big D on his chest. Most of the parts are very square or rectangular, so the designers hardly used any imagination when making this guy as a robot. But the design is light years better than say Sun Vulcan. The transformation is not great but at least it does more than my old Shogun Warriors did.

I noticed these robots remind me of the my old Shogun Warriors from the 70’s. Now I know why. They were made by the same company. Originally the Shogun Warriors were issued as Popy Super Robots in the GA series. So the reason the design, die cast metal heft, and shooting fists(don’t Daidenjin’s fists look like Daltanias DX large fists?) were all so familiar is that they came from the same company. This one was issued in the Popy GB series.

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 aka GB14 Daidenjin DX Popy Japan 1980 from the live action show Denshi Sentai Denziman 1980-1981 back box cover

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 from tokusatsu show Denshi Sentai Denziman 1980-1981

When transformed it becomes Denjin the space port. The robot hails from the Denshi Sentai Denziman TV series 13 years before the Power Rangers ever made it out here. Nope, never watched it, but I like the robot. I don’t really have the space to display my robots, but this site works out well as a virtual display case.

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 aka GB-14 Daidenjin DX Popy Japan 1980 from the live action show Denshi Sentai Denziman(電子戦隊デンジマン Electronic Squadron Denziman) 1980-1981 styrofoam insert

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 from live action show Electronic Squadron Denziman 1980-1981

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 from tokusatsu show Denshi Sentai Denziman 1980-1981

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 from live action show Electronic Squadron Denziman 1980-1981

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 from tokusatsu show Denshi Sentai Denziman 1980-1981

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984 from live action show Electronic Squadron Denziman 1980-1981

Daidenjin GoDaiKin Bandai 1984

Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985 aka Godaikin Machineman ST 1985

Con October 7, 2013 Bandai, Popy, Sentai 2 Comments

Think this is a reissue of the original Popy GC 28 which has a red shield. The five Super Sentai guys pictured on the cover kinda look like cops. They are from Dengeki Sentai Changeman. Even though I am not a fan of Super Sentai, I still like the robots. Change Robo is one of them. I try to only collect the 70’s and 80’s chogokin robots. I couldn’t fit the sword in the fist because it was so tight, but it was fun shooting the head off. The fists do not shoot off with much zing and the robot is a little light in die cast metal, but I really like this ST robot which fits in well with my Godaikin collection, but the DX robot looks really good too. My copy is missing the 5 little plastic Changeman Sentai figures.

Plastic Changmen Change Robo(チェンジロボ Chenji Robo) GC-28 robot toy by Popy Bandai 1985 from Dengeki Sentai Changeman 1985-1986 9th series in the Super Sentai tv show (電撃戦隊チェンジマン Dengeki Sentai Chenjiman)

Plastic Changeman figures from the Change Robo GC-28 by Popy Bandai 1985

The DX robot came out as a late release Godaikin in 1985 or 1986. Change Robo is pretty rare as Godaikins go. I have only seen him a few times on auction and lost every time. The ST is a Popy robot as it has the Popy label, though I did not know it at the time I purchased it. So it’s one of the only two Popy robots I have.

The robot’s design reminds me a lot of Goggle V robot. It is a simple but solid design, that you can change into a decent looking jet, car and helicopter(the Jetchanger, Helichanger, and Landchanger). The only real difference between Goggle V and Change Robo is in color scheme. A few tweaks to the design & color and you would have Goggle Five which is a good thing. It is a lot like the Generation 1 Transformers that all used the same molds like Bluestreak, Smokescreen and Prowl . If I ever display these two, I would have to put them right next to each other.