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under General Tokusatsu News, Ultraman

Yesterday we got our first real look at color prototypes for the upcoming Figma Gridman & Grid Knight from SSSS Gridman. Both look phenomenal in what little we could glean from the Figure Oh scan. Today however GSC has released a single hi-res look at this fair together for the first time! This offers the absolute best look yet at either of these Figma’s and I have to say, they look incredible together. The post this image was attached to also indicates that Figma Gridman pre-orders will begin on January 19th. 

In another surprise teaser, Goodsmile has announced that they are indeed working on at lest one Kaiju from the series. No, we don’t just mend the adorable clay model Kaiju that Nendoroid Akane Shinjo comes with, this is apparently going to be some sort of full size figure of Ghoulghilas! The cyborg like dragon monster which Gridman faced in the first episode of the series. While GSC has not indicated if this will be some sort of full scale DX, Figma, or maybe even just a vinyl figure, it’s pretty promising to see a Kaiju from the series being worked on. It was anounced in the same GSC blog update as the new Figma image.

As more information about Gridman, Grid Knight, and Ghoulghilas becomes available we’ll be sure to keep you informed.

under Ultraman

Though the series itself may about to come to an end, Ultraman R/B fans still have plenty to look forward to as their story continues on into Ultraman R/B the Movie: Select! The Crystal of Bonds! As has been the case with the previous New Generation Ultra films, the film will also see the previous Ultra hero make a return as Riku Asakura/Ultraman Geed joins the cast.

As well as releasing promotional images for the film’s new characters, Tsuburaya Productions have also launched the first trailer for the film that shows them off in action. The big news is that Asahi Minato will be joining her brothers as the previously revealed Ultrawoman Grigio! The three siblings will also combine into the new Ultraman GRB.  Joining them is also the mysterious Ultraman Tregear, who will serve as the film’s main antagonist.

Ultraman R/B the Movie: Select! The Crystal of Bonds will be released in Japanese cinemas on March 8th 2019. In the meantime, check out the trailer below and let us know your thoughts!

under General Tokusatsu News, Ultraman

Via the GSC blog, we have a full set of official images for Good Smile’s upcoming Nendoroid Akane Shinjo!

While GSC is also working on a Figma Akane (and Rikka!), the Nendo will satisfy many collector’s needs, especially given the wonderful accessories she includes:

  • – 3 alternate faces
  • – headphones
  • – her cracked glasses(which evoke the Shattered Glass Optimus Prime she’s based on)
  • – a cellphone with a cracked screen, like the one she threw at Anti
  • – a juice box
  • – alternate bare legs
  • – several alternate hands
  • – the box cutter used for a, certain stabbing
  • – her computer monitor with Alexis Kerib’s face on it
  • – as well as two Kaiju clay models! Ghoulghilas & Devadadan!

That is QUITE the hefty accessory count, though undoubtedly something will be included as a GSC online shop exclusive. Possibly even one of the above revealed items. At this time, GSC has not confirmed Akane’s price but orders will open for her on December 26th, so we’ll know how much she’ll run you, at that time.

 

under General Tokusatsu News, Ultraman

“Access Flash!”

Previously, Good Smile revealed prototypes for both an upcoming Figman Gridman, and most recently after some spoiler-y developments in the last couple episodes, teased a Figma Grid Knight. Now that the most recent issue of Figure Oh has been released, we finally have our first full color image of both prototypes!

This image shows Gridman for the first time in vibrant color, wielding the mighty Gridman Calibur. Grid Knight is looking equally gorgeous in purple & orange, though for now at least we haven’t glimpsed the Grid Knight Calibur he almost assuredly comes with. This image does however confirm Figman Gridman’s size at 160mm (roughly 6.3″) which is larger than the average Figma, and larger than the Gridman figure GSC is releasing in the DX Assist Weapon Set.

For now we still don’t have specific pricing or release information, but when we do, we’ll be sure to update this story.

under Kamen Rider, Ultraman

The S.H.Figuarts line’s been something of a fan favorite amongst collectors ever since the series first started. Many of us have been hoping that these figures will be easier to obtain domestically, and now it seems like collectors will finally have their chance. In a rather surprising turn of events, it seems that more S.H.Figuarts will be made available domestically for North American consumers at Gamestop of all places thanks to no part to our friends at BluFin. Among those are numerous Kamen Rider and Ultraman figures. Various listings appeared on Gamestop’s website the other night, as reported by various fans in the Toku community. The 20 Rider Kicks versions of the following Figuarts are up for pre-order as of this writing:

S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Build Tank Rabbit

  • S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Drive Type Speed
  • S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Blade
  • S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Gaim Orange Arms
  • S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Ryuki
  • S.H.Figuarts Kamen Rider Den-O Sword Form
  • In addition to three Ultraman figures:
    S.H.Figuarts Ultraman Blu Aqua
  • S.H.Figuarts Ultraman Rosso Flame
  • S.H.Figuarts Ultraman Zero

A screen grab from Gamestop’s own computers via Twitter user @ShadowThePika can confirm that these figures exist within the system and each one of these Figuarts will retail for reasonable 49.99 each and expected to ship out in February. Of course, we have no way of telling if Gamestop plans on carrying more of these in the future and it seems unlikely that they’ll carry anything P-Bandai exclusive. Still, this opens the floodgates for Kamen Rider collectibles to potentially come stateside!

Gamestop exists outside of North America as EB Games, and while the two companies operate under the same umbrella it’s currently not known they’ll follow suit. Stay tuned, and we at Tokunation will provide you an update to this exciting development as it’s made available.

under Ultraman

The next Ultraman for SH Figuarts has been revealed!

Ultraman Ruebe the titular hero of Ultraman R/B is recreated in exquisite detail. Ruebe comes with his signature weapon- the R/B Kourin and two special effects parts for his counterpart figures- Ultraman Rosso & Ultraman Blu!

SH Figuarts Ultraman Ruebe is currently scheduled for release in June 2019! The price is a very modest 7020 Yen before shipping and handling.

under General Tokusatsu News, Ultraman

In an exclusive being reported by THR, Tsuburaya has just tapped Jeff Gomez and his Starlight Runner Entertainment along with LA based The Licensing Group to rebrand and reboot the Ultraman franchise across multiple platforms for markets outside Japan. This is massive news for a number of reasons, but THR has a great exclusive breakdown of what this all means as well.

U.S. transmedia producer Starlight Runner Entertainment has been tapped by Tokyo-based Tsuburaya Productions to build out the Ultraman mythology for the digital age outside of Japan, to include a possible live action streaming TV series. The original live action Ultra Q and Ultramanseries that launched in 1966 featured a high-tech police force and their silver superhero Ultraman battling to save the Earth from invading aliens and giant monsters.

Dozens of sequel TV series, movies, video games and other spinoff content followed, including recent movies like Ultraman X the Movie in 2016, Ultraman Orb the Movie last year and Ultraman Geed the Movie in 2018, the 29th installment of the franchise.

As Tsuburaya looks to restore Ultraman’s profile outside Japan, Starlight Runner will team with The Licensing Group to reboot the superhero property across multiple platforms, with story-driven licensing and merchandising programs for the U.S. and international markets.

The Ultraman licensing program will be supported by new content distributed on cable, streaming and SVOD platforms. “Ultraman is one of my greatest childhood heroes. We’re honored to be embarking on this mission to bring this family of characters back to the world stage,” Starlight Runner CEO Jeff Gomez said in a statement.

So, how exciting is this? Seeing one of the oldest and most beloved Tokusatsu franchises in the world, stepping into the modern day in an entirely new fashion. SHare your thoughts on the subject by visiting our discussion thread on the topic, just click “Discuss on the TokuNation Forums” at the bottom of this post.

under General Tokusatsu News, Ultraman

Access Code: Gridman!

In case you missed it, our friends at Goodsmile company announced that Studio Trigger’s SSSS.Gridman was coming to the Nendoroid line. Since the announcement last month, the official production page for both the standard version and DX version of Nendoroid SSSS.Gridman has gone live, and thanks to that we now have release info along with new stock photography of the two.

The standard version of Nendoroid SSSS.Gridman can be yours for 4,630 yen. It includes a finishing move beam effect part along with a clear display stand.

Meanwhile, the DX Version of Nendoroid SSSS.Gridman comes with both aforementioned accessories, in addition to a diorama themed display base, Grid Calibur weapon, and a light-up eyes gimmick. This set can be yours for 6,667 yen and both will be released in 2019/06.

under General Tokusatsu News, Ultraman

It’s best if you’ve seen episode 10 of SSSS.Gridman before reading this post, or you may spoil yourself on it.

Goodsmile has been showing off some updates recently on their upcoming Figma Gridman, a totally separate release from their 2019 releasing DX Gridman Assist Weapon set. Figma Gridman looks to be a bit more of stylized take on the character as a single action figure, is a bit larger than the one from the DX set, and doesn’t appear to be compatible with that. It’s still a gorgeous figure, but now it looks like a new companion piece is coming to go with it.

Making his debut in episode 10, Grid Knight is yet another new imagining of previously unused elements from the Gridman franchise. Twitter user @Mach_Dent has by far been proving to be one of the best resources for breaking down references and homages in SSSS.Gridman since it began. And this week he gives a fantastic breakdown of the elements that have led to Grid Knight’s origin. The Figma Grid Knight prototype is still hidden in shadow, very likely to conceal some of the more obvious spoilers about the character, but we can expect more updates soon.

It’s pretty wild that SSSS.Gridman now has 4 individual Figma’s in development with Akane, Rikka, Gridman, and Grid Knight simultaneously being teased out. Could these recent developments bode well for any more of the cast like Yuta, Anti, or Alexis? Let’s hope!

under Ultraman

Netflix is currently expanding it’s library of anime, and among those titles announced was an anime adaptation based on the currently on-going Ultraman Manga written by Eiichi Shimizu, and our first trailer for this 3DCGI production was released just today

In the initial announcement, the Netflix Ultraman Anime was announced for a worldwide simultaneous release scheduled for April 1st 2019, though whether or not this will include subtitles for internationals remains to be seen.

The Ultraman Manga acts as a sequel to the original Ultraman taking place several years after the fact. In it, Shin Hayate’s son Shinjiro battles monsters as the new Ultraman.

In the meantime, you can watch the trailer in the box below and be sure to hit the jump and let us know what you think about this exciting new outing for Ultraman!