While we were gawking at all the news from Toy Fair, Japan was in the midst of hosting Winter Wonder Festival. Luckily for us at IAT, Robert Baldwin braved the cold temperatures and large crowds to bring us the latest news from our favorite Japanese companies in 2013.
Before we get to Robert’s article, I’d like to take a minute to thank Kaiyodo, Max Factory, and all the other attending companies that allowed this coverage. Also, a big thanks to Robert. He’s done a great job reporting the event and bringing us tons of pictures to look through. And don’t forget to check back later as we update the galleries!
Once again, Kaiyodo sent me an invitation for Wonder Festival, unsolicited. They also gave me permission for early entry, 8:00 a.m. as opposed to the general press entry time of 11:00 a.m., no hassles!
So, February 10th, 8:00 o’clock, I enter the Makuhari Messe Convention Center… And find that nobody has their displays complete.
Well, no problem. I go to Good Smile Company and register with them in advance for their press entry time of 9:00. Then, I turn around and notice that Max Factory has a booth! It turns out that even though Max Factory is now a part of Good Smile Company, this is their 25th anniversary since incorporation, so Good Smile Company decided to create a 25th anniversary booth for Max Factory’s silver anniversary. And as a part of Good Smile Company, press entry for Max Factory was also going to be from 9:00.
Looking around, I noticed that Midecos appeared to have their displays ready. Now I could start taking pictures. At this time, Kotobukiya seemed to be ready, so a quick walk over to their booth. And nine o’clock rolls around. Knowing that my only chance to get any decent pictures at Max Factory/Good Smile Company was to do so before the general public (a.k.a. paying customers) was let in, so I made my way to these booths.
Max Factory, having this booth as an anniversary event, primarily displayed a cross section of figures that they had manufactured over the past 25 years. They also had a few figures which should be released in the near future, including their Figma version of Guyver.
Good Smile Company also had a relatively large display as usual – including the new Figmas from the Marvel Universe. Spider-Man was there in full color, ready for the countless cameras that would be pointed at him throughout the day. And right under Spider-Man were the four Avengers who had also starred in their own movies – Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America. Unfortunately, photography of the Avengers was not permitted, and I plan on staying on friendly grounds with Good Smile Company.
At this time, security could no longer hold back the horde (or, maybe it was time to let the public in?). I decided to take refuge while everybody made an effort to obtain whatever exclusives they had their hearts set on. Knowing that the corporate booths were going to be near impossible to approach for some time, I headed to the far end where most tables were occupied by smaller companies, amateurs and semi-professionals. From there, I slowly headed back toward the corporate section while taking pictures of whatever got my attention.
At this point, I realized that there appeared to be a much larger crowd than usual. This would seem to indicate that the industry is regaining strength and a greater number of people are showing an interest in this hobby. But at the same time, having so many attendees keeps me from getting the access I need to get every picture I want. I’ll have to consider this a mixed blessing and make a greater effort to find an assistant for the next event.
Eventually, when I made it back to the corporate booths, I finally got a chance to swing by Kaiyodo. Seeing as they’re the people who run Wonder Festival, it’s always a good idea to say hi. Union Creative, the distributor for Kaiyodo’s Revoltech Yamaguchi series, was present showing their Riobot series alongside the Revoltech. Kaiyodo had the prototype for the fourth installment of their AssembleBorg as well as their Batmobile/Tumbler and a few more figures inspired by Buddhist statues among other things.
Anyway, 9 hours of fighting my way through crowds and taking approximately 1,400 pictures, I still couldn’t get it all. I’d like to appologies for the pictures I wasn’t able to take as well as the pictures of low quality, and I hope everybody can find something to their liking in this selection.
-Robert Baldwin
Gallery A – Max Factory
Gallery B – Max Factory
Gallery C – Kaiyodo
Gallery D – Kotobukiya
Gallery E – Kotobukiya
Gallery F – Medicos & Union Creative
Gallery G – Good Smile Company
Gallery H – Good Smile Company
Gallery I – Good Smile Company
Gallery J – Alter Updated
Gallery K – Amakuni & Fewture Updated
Gallery L – Kaiyodo 2 & Volks & Griffon Updated
Gallery M – Megahouse 1 Updated
Gallery N – Megahouse 2 Updated
Excellent photos and coverage, there!
A bazillion cartoony slutlets, but still not a single Shiva Nataraja. Oh, well.
Thanks for all the great pics, Dorkey. I most not be buying much of it, but still love looking at the photos.
Dorkey, two questions for you
What are those harvest second little figures in the Medicos section and how nice are those Jushin Liger figures?
“Harvest Second” is a Wonder Festival exclusive variant of “Harvest”, the stand used by Shigekiyo Yangu, a character from the fourth installment of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure.
The Jushin Liger figures (and Riobots in general) appear and feel very solid and sturdy with great detail. I intend to get a few Riobots to add to my collection, but standing at about the same height as Kaiyodo’s Revoltechs, even with an abundance of accessories, they are a little cost prohibitive at a price that averages more than 100 dollars each (Black Liger is priced at 11,550yen).
Yeah the cost on the Liger stuff has me being very discerning with them.
Cool, as always, Dorkey. Was that Kamati Moon booth there this year? I love all their stuff.
*Kamaty Moon* You’d think I could spell it right.
Seeing as I couldn’t get to them for the past few Wonder Festivals, I was trying to make an effeort to get to them this time. Unfortunately Kamaty Moon was one of the booths that I couldn’t get to due to the overwhelming crowds as well as insufficient planning on my behalf.
Next time, I’ll try to give them higher priority and make sure to get some pictures of their wares.
There’s always next year! ^_^ Thanks for trying. I’m sure I’m in the minority, though, so it’s better to bump them for action figures since this is a toy site. :/
OOOOOh new dougram stuff. Do need.
gentlemen, what is the figure on pic 34 of 53 on page 7? it looks like the i robot from the will smith movie.
That is a 1/6 scale figure by Union Creative which can be used as a base for customs. It is highly articulated, including movement in the fingers and toes.
The figure was on display primarily to see the reaction of the public. There still aren’t any solid plans as to when (or if) this will become available. As for price. they weren’t willing to give any indication as to how much these may go for if they do get released.
Is it just me or does Max Factory seem to be putting alot of effort in repops all of a sudden? the Votoms stuff, the Mazinkaizer, and those Gundam figures look alot like the Bandai America ‘Mobile Suit in Action’ figures.
(Yes, I know, MSiA was Bandai Japan first, but Bandai America completely exploded the line back in ’01)
I also note with quiet amusement that Kaiyodo ‘refreshed’ their Lupin III Revoltech figure exactly the way I suggested, not that it wasn’t an obvious thing to do. The fact that they seem to have re-released Jigen with no changes or additions says this is meant to (slyly) be a ‘Cagliostro Castle’ reference (as the first release figures were tied to ‘Lupin Vs. the Clone’ aka ‘Mystery of Mamo’, coming this month to DVD from Discotek).
Kaiyodo, we need Fujiko, Goemon and Zenigata! Get to it! 🙂
Max Factory was primarily a display of products that they had released over the past 25 years. That was the reason for Max Factory having a booth of their own rather than being a part of the Good Smile Company booth as they have done for the past couple of years (and there actually were some Max Factory figures in the Good Smile Company booth). Most of the figures at Max Factory were for “historic” display purpose only.
As for Lupin, the impression I was given was that the previous figures were supposed to be the manga/Monkey Punch version and the new variant is being referred to as the “anime” version.
Fujiko, Goemon and Zenigata are always a future possibility – as long as they manage to sell a lot of Lupin and Jigen figures.
Not to get all goofy technical, but as a fanboy it is my duty. 🙂
The original release Lupin and Jigen are pretty clearly modeled of the Mystery of Mamo designs, the telling point (besides Lupin’s face) being the small table, chairs and glass of liquor (which, properly, should be a wine glass) which invoke the start of the ‘helicopter chase’ scene made famous worldwide in the arcade laser disc game ‘Cliff Hanger’.
Proper ‘Monkey Punch manga’ versions would be much more lanky.
So, meh. I’m gonna order that new Lupin. 🙂
As to Max Factory, glad to see it’s a historical retrospective. I don’t think the world would be served by a reissue of those horrid ‘rubber dog chew toy’ Votoms figures.
Belated thanks for the report! Nicely done! I see some things that interest me greatly but will likely never be able to get (I mean, really? a new Giant Gorg?! WTH, man! Nobody remembers Giant Gorg! 🙂 )
It was SUPER cool to see those Zoids figures. I loved those as a kid, and so I’ll be watching these with great interest.
Oh holy crap, Galatt?! Megahouse is doing a Galatt? NOBODY x INFINITY remembers Galatt!!!
Wish they were cranking out some ‘Cosmo Fleet’ collections for Yamato 2199. 🙁
Wasn’t there supposed to be Dirty Pair Figmas? Did I miss them?
those volks folsk make some great looking figs man… holy CRAP! and new guyver figs, in a more managable price point is always good news. that was one of the first anime i was exposed to, and it’s still one of my favorites. totally life changing for me.
great pics, does anyone know what show the figures in pics 31 and 32 are from? i think i used to watch it when i was younger. please and thank you