SDCC07: Toynami

Submitted by Sanjeev on 21 August, 2007 - 09:14.

Toynami's booth was an attractive setup of lit displays featuring toys from several different popular properties and a very busy main counter where the commerce took place. Every time we went there, there was always a big line occupying the folks working there! We went ahead took pictures of everything of interest...

First up was Voltron. C'mon, who doesn't like Voltron!? Well, though we couldn't get actual confirmation of the cancellation of the mini plastic version of the Masterpiece Voltron III, it sure wasn't on display anywhere at the booth. That's not a good sign...at all. They did have the regular Masterpiece on display, of course, along with their latest Voltron product: Reebok Voltron shoes.

Yes, take it in slowly. I indeed typed, "shoes". Check it out:

Well...hopefully they sell, right? Then maybe we'll see more Voltron product...

Next up, we have the classic sci-fi satire, Futurama! These would've complemented Mezco Toyz' South Park and Family Guy toys quite nicely.

Okay, let's get started with Robotech, shall we?

First, we have the Macross generation. By now, you've probably heard of the 1/100 scale Valkyries Toynami put out last year. Well, sales of these have been brisk and the line appears to be going strong. The interesting thing I never really noticed is that these are marketed explicitly as "Super Dimensional Fortress Macross" toys, as opposed to as "Robotech: Macross Saga" toys. Anyhoo, here, you can even see Macross: Do You Remember, Love? editions (the famous VF-1S Strike Valkyrie):

Hikaru's Strike Valkyrie on the left, Super VF-1A on the right.

The FAST Pack Super and Strike armor can be purchased separately to equip the Valkyries or Veritechs you already have!

Fortunately, they'll come in the different color combinations necessary to color coordinate properly! ;)

Next on display were the nice Hikaru and Max dollies:

Okay, now let's get to the real good stuff: Genesis Climber Mospeada...also known as "Robotech: The New Generation". There was a lot of big news here. First, there is the reissuing of the 1/35 Legioss (or Veritech Fighter Alphas) re-engineered by Aoshima/Miracle House:

And as you may know, the accompanying Tread (Veritech Beta) is coming out next year. Looking good! Let's hope the engineering is robust...along with the improvements on the Legioss.

Their combination sure looks mouth-watering!

And the other big release is going to be the Aoshima/Miracle House Mospeada (Cyclone), itself. Check it out:

That's it for now. Be sure to check out all the pics in our Toynami Gallery!

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Question

Submitted by Shadow27 on 21 August, 2007 - 13:38.

What does "re-engineered by Aoshima/Miracle House" mean?

I avoided the Alpha fighter line because I was really disappointed in the quality of the masterpiece Valkyrie I bought.

So did Aoshima/Miracle House come in and clean up all the QC issues?

Re: Question

Submitted by Atom on 21 August, 2007 - 13:55.

Pretty much. They are re-engineering it as well as the Cyclone and the Beta concepts. Which hopefully means a better collectible. Not sure what Miracle House/Aoshima's rep is with this stuff.

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Yup...

Submitted by Sanjeev on 21 August, 2007 - 20:30.

Atom got it. Aoshima/Miracle House is going to be re-designing the joints to make them more robust. Unfortunately, we don't have any more detailed information than that. If these turn out to be solid improvements, you can count me in!

A lot of people have had mixed feelings about Aoshima/Miracle House's QC--especially on their Shin Seiki Gokin series. A number of people on TBDX have reported getting lemons (mainly concerning paint apps, but sometimes regarding joints and parts fit). I've had some six figures from them...and they've all been absolutely perfect.

I guess your mileage will vary! I just hope they're consistent and good with these Mospeada toys as they're a lot more complex and bound to be at least a little fragile. Only time will tell; here's to hoping!

It almost seems to me to be some sort of embarrassment for Toynami that their QC on the Alphas was so bad that a Japanese company had to swoop in and save the design... Then again, Toynami is clearly promoting the Aoshima stuff.

...

Voltron shoes over pilot figures, huh? Hehe

--
Sanjeev

You guys are a bit confused

Submitted by duke togo on 22 August, 2007 - 10:43.

This is very confusing.

http://wildcats.pupui.jp/mt/archives/2007/08/wf2007.html

So this means that Toynami/Miracle House, Megahouse, and CM's are all making different Cyclones/Ride Armours and Alpha & Betas/Legioss & Tread toys. I'm glad Mospeada is getting so much love but do we really need three companies making the same stuff?

Did Toynami say anything officially about who was making their stuff for them?

As for Toynami using Macross for it's line. It's apparent that they've lost the Robotech license for everything except the Shadow Chronicles movie. So everything has to be either from that movie (the purple Alphas) or whatever Japanese properties they've now licensed.

Hopefully this will be sorted out as the release gets closer.

Excellent

Submitted by Heavyarms on 22 August, 2007 - 11:03.

Forget all that Japanese robot junk. I want me some Futurama figures.

Okay, and maybe a FAST pack for my Max Jenius Valk.

Heavyarms
thatsjustprime.blogspot.com
addictedtoplastic.blogspot.com

Voltron, Cyclones and other stuff

Submitted by Atom on 21 August, 2007 - 13:51.

First about those Voltron sneakers, When I met George Soon of Toynami I had suggested they do a set of figures of the Voltron team but he pretty much laughed it off saying that no one would buy them. But then they greenlight Voltron sneakers? OKKKKKKKKKKK.

I for one am very glad Aoshima is taking over the making of the Cyclones, while I appreciate the fact that Toynami has brought back to market all these great lines but there QC in general has been pretty lackluster. With Aoshima workingon this it means I can hold out hope for a great toy that won't fall apart the first time I try to pose or play with it. With that said the Cyclone is definitely at the top of my Must Get list with that Beta fighter close behind.

I am surprised that they are rolling out the strike armor for their 1/100 scale Valkyries. When I spoke to them in Feb. they seemed to think they wouldn't be out for a while if at all.

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Re-Engineering the wrong parts!

Submitted by The Big R on 22 August, 2007 - 14:30.

According to the poster at the Mospeada display, Aoshima is re-engineering the *wrong* parts! i've owned a couple of the Toynami Alphas, the hip and thighs were fine- it was the SHOULDERS and the KNEES that were bad!

the shoulders scratch the wings and were cheap cheap plastic, the knees scratch the thighs and are not stable at all, so what exactly are you fixing with those points!?!?!?

i'll wait for the CMs version.

Yep...

Submitted by Sanjeev on 22 August, 2007 - 20:11.

duke togo, you pretty much hit the nail on the head: all three companies you mentioned are putting out Mospeada toys in the coming months...though I'm not quite sure why we're confused...

Say, here's a question: were Toynami's 1/100 Valks ALL "Valkyries" from SDF Macross? Or were any of them marketed as "Veritechs" from Robotech Macross? Just curious.

Anyway, Big R, I would focus too much on that Legioss poster. I mean, who really knows what's up when it comes to what they're going to change. For example, that poster makes no mention of changed materials...and I can't imagine them going with the same crap they used with the first run. Anyway, as I said, time will tell. As with many Japanese "collector" toys destined to be this complex and potentially fragile, it pays to wait til the reviews come in before hopping aboard!

--
Sanjeev

Macross vs Robotech

Submitted by Atom on 22 August, 2007 - 20:46.

Yeah all of the 1/100th scale toys were labeled as Macross and not Robotech. However there is indeed a Harmony Gold label on all the boxes. Looks like HG finally won the right to "own" the Macross name here in the states. According to what I remember speaking to Toynami in February they said they used Macross because it was more "recognizable" than Robotech.

___________________
CollectionDX Writer
www.atomsantics.com

Macross more recognizable

Submitted by duke togo on 24 August, 2007 - 11:37.

Macross more recognizable than Robotech? If they're talking about Japan maybe, but Robotech is known to just about anyone between the ages of 25-40. It's about as well-known as Voltron and Thundercats. This proves how little Toynami knows their target market.

My topic of you guys being confused stuck after I had edited the message. HLJ showed the Miracle House bikes so initially it proved that they were not the Toynami ones. After checking more I found thet the one HLJ showed were in fact the Megahouse ones.

Needless to say everyone seems to be confused with up to 4 companies making the same product. That's right 4, I heard of some company called Beagle making them too. Perhaps they are a subcontractor for one of the others.

Macross Die Hards

Submitted by Atom on 24 August, 2007 - 14:22.

Well I think it was more they did not want to alienate the "macross" buyers. Most die hard "macross" fans loathe Robotech and get upset. I think Toynami was trying to make sure they had as broad an audience as possible. I'm not saying everyone is like that but if you want proof head over to the Macross World forums and post a thread with Robotech in it and refer to Valkyries as Veritechs. See how long it takes them to try and string you up like a witch.

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www.atomsantics.com

So, which one is best rated so far?

Submitted by bhchia on 26 November, 2007 - 23:35.

Its hearting to see so much support for Mospeada line after so long. I have seen images of Megahouse ones, and they look great. But as a newie, I don't know which production house does good in what... can someone advise? Thanks.

http://wildcats.pupui.jp/mt/archives/2007/08/wf2007.html

- newbie collector

No one knows yet.

Submitted by Atom on 27 November, 2007 - 17:48.

So far...
....the Megahouse versions appear to have the most part swapping (for example it looks like the handlebar cowl/shoulder armor doesn't roll up the the side of the chest piece. It removes then plugs into the shoulder of the figure.) but appears to have an "anime level" of pose ability and will stand just over 5 inches tall. Appears at this time to not have any Diecast.

...the CM's Brave Gokin versions appear to be self contained (i.e. no part swapping)but is at about the "star wars figure scale". Previous Brave Gokin robots have been absolutely top notch.

...As for Toynami/Aoshima... who knows. It "looks" like it could be the biggest at around the 8 to 10 inch range and most toy like as it seems most like a redo of the classic Gaiken toy, however Toynami's CQ has been junk and it looks like the Aoshima branded Alpha's where no better (worse in fact). SO I am not holding out much hope for that version personally.

The CM's Brave Gokin versions are due at end of December, Megahouse is due in February and Toynami/Aoshima's is "Summer 08". But fear not CDX will sort it out for you. :) I can guarantee there is a real war brewing over who will get to review these as most of us appear to be getting samplings of all of them.

It will come down to a bloody war of Rock, Paper, Scissors.... mark my words. :)

But in all seriousness we will get reviews out to the public as soon as possible.

___________________
CollectionDX Writer
www.atomsantics.com

Right on...

Submitted by Sanjeev on 28 November, 2007 - 00:17.

Atom, thanks much for that clear break-down of all the upcoming Mospeada toys! Very concise! Your inclusion of the release dates (or current incarnations thereof!) is key, although according to Yaco, CM's Mospeada has been pushed back to February.

Just to be clear, the images above in this article are obviously of the Toynami/Aoshima version. The images in Yaco's Log which you linked to in your comment are actually of the Beagle/Megahouse version. Of course, you probably already knew that, bhchia, but I wanted that to be clear to other readers because they look pretty similar!

Lastly, I just wanted to mention that both Toynami/Aoshima and CM's Corp are planning on Alpha-Beta/Legioss-TLEAD toys. Again, just look above for the Toynami/Aoshima transformable fighters. Pics of CM's fighters can be seen attached to a post near the bottom of the page of this TBDX thread.

--
Sanjeev

Last chance to pre-order?

Submitted by bhchia on 14 January, 2008 - 09:55.

Guys, thanks for all the leads on this as well as the TBDX thread. I know a lot of guys who got burnt on getting the early Aoshima Legioss and now are in limbo bec' they are drooling over the coming CM 'Legioss and Tread' combo.

Anyway, over here now, we are into the final week to pre-order the CM Legioss and Tread. It ain't cheap, but its just too cool not to have one... ouch!

Also placed my order for megahouse cyclones. Hell, I might end up getting the CM ones too. New year, new toys everyone? :)

Mospeada's uncertain future...

Submitted by Sanjeev on 14 January, 2008 - 14:12.

Cool!

Glad we've been of help! As I've said on TBDX, I'm really hoping CM's offerings turn out high-quality. In other words, looks aside, I'd love it if they were tough, rugged toys that transformed and docked smoothly.

I'm sure many of these new Mospeada toys will find their way to this site for review, but feel free to post, bhchia. The more opinions, the better!

As it stands right now, I have little faith in Toynami/Aoshima's Beta/TLEAD...what with the craziness surrounding the Alpha/Legioss. Unless they pull off a miracle upset (like the Chargers the other day ;)) and they release a nigh-perfect set, I'll pass.

As for CM's, a lot of folks have high hopes for them. They have a solid track record...that seems to be improving with each release. If that record holds up and their Legioss-TLEAD offering is solid, I think they'll be quite sucessful. The thing is, a lot of people (myself included) are already starting to complain about the looks. The Legioss' intakes are way too small. Its gunpod is stubby-looking. When combined in fighter modes, the Legioss looks mounted too low against the TLEAD...and its thrusters (the feet) look awkward being pushed out to the sides.

Lastly...I honestly don't know what to think concerning the Cyclones/Mospeada. They all look good, but I'll probably throw my hat in with whichever ends up being the most solid toy. Excessive parts-swapping is a bad thing, but as usual, we'll see!

--
Sanjeev