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Character: Gamera
Company: Nitto Science Kawada
Manufacturer: Nitto Science Kawada
Series: Kawada Series
Made In: Japan
Material: Green Vinyl
Height: Approximately 15 cm
Number of Parts: 6
Released: 1978
Original Price: 380 yen
Limitation: Common
Packaging: Net Bag with Header Card
Additional Info: This sofubi Gamera toy was released by Nitto Kawada in 1978. In 1978 Nitto collaborated with Kawada Toys. All the 1978 Gamera and kaiju related releases are referred to as Nitto Kawada versus just being referring as Nitto. The manufacturing was done by Nitto and the sales release by Kawada. The company collaboration was a direct result to compete against the growing popularity of Popy kaiju toy lines.
In Japanese online searches and books, you will see this figure sometimes listed as being released by Nitto Science. Nitto Science is the actual full company name. Many collectors just refer to it as Nitto, Nitto gangu, or Nitto toys. "Gangu" is just Japanese for the word "toys".
Left foot markings: ©大映 ガメラ
Right foot markings: JAPAN
Character: Mulan
Company: Awesome Toy
Manufacturer: Awesome Toy
Series: Mulan 1st Edition
Made In: Japan
Material: Red Vinyl
Height: Approximately 24 cm
Number of Parts: 10
Released: July 2016
Original Price: $100
Limitation: Limited Mail Order
Packaging: Bagged with Header Card
Additional Info: This is the third release of Mulan, but officially label as a 1st edition release. Prior to this 1st edition release there were actually 2 very limited editions available only as a lottery sales advertised on Awesome Toy's Facebook. The pre-order sales for this 1st edition opened June 2016 from Awesome Toy's official distributor Toy Underground Store. Release and shipping began early July 2016.
The Mulan sculpt design and color choice is a homage to a 1970s pachi toy of the character Venus from Mazinger made in Japan. Mulan stands approximately 9.5 inches in height and has 2 removable missile boobs.
Awesome Toy (オーサム・トイ) company started on September 1, 2013. It is a Hong Kong based company who make pachi retro style sofubi toys with their designs based on other toys from the 1960s through 1980s. Influence for their toys mainly come from Japan but also around the world.
Left foot markings:
AWESOME TOY
Missle markings:
AT
Butanohana "Gorilla" vs Yamakatsu "Mechanikong". Tokyo Tower made by Marusan.
The Butanohana "Gorilla" toy is based on the character Gorilla from the Japanese television series "Ike! Greenman" (Go! Greenman). The Gorilla suit used in the tv show is actually the King Kong suit used from the 1967 film King Kong Escapes. In the show, he was simply called "Gorilla" because of the copyright license.
Character: Earthtron
Company: Bullmark
Manufacturer: Shimada Toy
Series: Bullmark No Kaiju Series Return of Ultraman
Made In: Japan
Material: Flesh Color Vinyl
Height: Approximately 22 cm
Number of Parts: 6
Released: 1971
Original Price: 350 yen
Limitation: Unknown
Packaging: Bagged with Header Card
Additional Info: You are looking at the original 1971 standard size release by Bullmark. A mini, middle, and giant size figures of this popular character were also released by Bullmark during the 1970s.
There are 3 other paint color variations of this standard release by Bullmark during the 1970s before closing its doors in 1977. Bandai also reissued this figure between 2001 and 2009 with licensing permission granted by Saburo Ishizuka owner of Bullmark. In 2009 Bullmark reopened and has since reprinted the figure on different color vinyl and paints.
Bullmark was founded on April 4, 1969 by Ishida Kōtarō, Shibata Yutaka, and Saburo Ishizuki. Bullmark had their sofubi toys manufactured by the company Shimada Toy. Early Bullmark kaiju sofubi releases when they began in 1969 carry the Shimada Toy logo of a baby chicken. Beginning in 1970 is when the Bullmark logo design started. Bullmark closed its doors in 1977.
Bullmark came out of retirement in 2008. New Bullmark continues its relationship with Shimada Toy by having them produce their sofubi toys and with the help of sales going through M1号. In 2009, New Bullmark established its own official website and took over sales directly.
Left foot markings:
アーストロン
Right foot markings:
© 円谷プロ above the picture of the Bullmark Logo and ブルマァク underneath the logo.