Other Toys
By Everyone, For Everyone
The Modern Renaissance of
Yamato
Toys
When reviewing the history of Space Battleship Yamato toys, you'll find that they fall into two basic categories: B.D. (Before Drought) and A.D. (After Drought). The "drought," such as it was, began in approximately 1981 when Popy closed out their Yamato III toy line, and ended in 1998 and '99 when Mimuko and Banpresto flung open the doors to a whole new generation. Since then, the steady avalanche of new toys has surpassed the entire B.D. output many times over.
What explains this difference? Production methods and materials, for one thing. Easier distribution, for another. Open access to data and technology means the business of making and selling toys is no longer the exclusive domain of multi-million dollar corporations. The other ingredient we have now that didn't exist then is the Yamato legacy, a steady callout to loyal fans whose devotion and respect only deepens as the passing years make it increasingly obvious that Yamato was one of a kind. Combine that with skill and discipline, and it should come as no surprise that today's Yamato toys not only outnumber the originals, they also show greater variety and much higher quality.
Before the drought, Yamato toys were made by tradesmen who didn't know what Yamato would become. Now they're made by Otaku who are driven to pay homage, to whom a great product is more important than great profit. That's a big difference that you can better appreciate when you see the results...
Franklin Mint Yamato (1989)
Yes, 1989 landed pretty close to the middle of the toy drought, but a pewter statue isn't exactly a toy. A limited number of these were made by the Japanese branch of the Franklin Mint. The wave-motion gun and rear engine nozzle were gold plated and the engine port itself was glass. It was also one of the last Yamatos to be sculpted with a flat bottom, a common feature until the revival got seriously underway ten years later. So while this one doesn't qualify as a toy, it does say something about the prestige Yamato had begun to command as the years progressed.The first sign of an ending to the drought came from Mimuko in 1998 and the renaissance was begun in style by Banpresto and Liberty Planet in 1999. Their stories are just a click away.
Costume Kits by Time Warp (August, 1999)
Small manufacturers like Time Warp were born out of the "garage kit" revolution of the 1980s and 90s. Driven by fiercely devoted fans working mainly out of their homes (or garages), it was a true proletariat that made the products they themselves wanted to buy. Fortunately, there were enough of them to fill up semi-annual hobby shows that have only gotten bigger over time. Such companies and products can exist thanks to a mutual understanding with licensors that they limit their business to trade shows so it does not impede upon the mainstream marketplace. That being said, the amount of money that trades hands at every Japanese hobby show is enormous.
Time Warp's Costume Kits were actually modification parts for a pre-existing action figure from Bandai, the insanely poseable 1/6 scale Kankichi Ryotsu (above left) from an anime police-comedy series called Kochikame. The parts included clothing, props, and heads that could transform the figure into either Dessler or Captain Okita, depending on your taste. Click here to see more pictures of the insanely poseable Kankichi Ryotsu action figure.
Vinyl Captain Okita Figure and Battleship by Time House (Spring, 2001)
Captain Okita was also the focal point of another small company with "Time" in their name. Both products were released together for a limited time. This was the largest and best-looking Okita Battleship anyone had ever made, and the "wounded Okita" figure was meant to evoke the same Episode 1 timeframe in which the ship was seen. The figure is shown here with other figures made by Liberty Planet and Megahouse.
Azone Character
Costume Series, Yuki Mori set (Aug, 2003)
Made for and sold only at Japan's summer '03 Wonder Festival, Yuki's (Nova's) crew and nurse uniform could fit onto premade character dolls from the Takara Corporation, just as Time Warp's Okita costume was retrofitted to the Kankichi Ryotsu doll.
The years 2003 to 2005 saw more new products from Sunkus, Nubel International, 7-11, and Zero Goods Universe. Their products can be seen by clicking on those names.
1/2000 Yamato by F Toys (November, 2006)
A museum dedicated to the IJN Battleship Yamato opened April, 2005 in Kure Japan, the centerpiece of which was a massive 1/10 scale model of the vessel. Over the next year, ancillary exhibits featuring Space Battleship Yamato were added, and a few Yamato products appeared in the museum gift shop. In consultation with Leiji Matsumoto, F Toys released this handsome 5.1" ABS plastic Yamato in two color schemes: an A type (grey/red) and a B type (blue/red). Above is the commercial version. Below is the same product with custom packaging sold only in the museum shop.
Read a firsthand account of the Yamato Museum here.
Balanodon Figure by Marmit (February, 2007)
One of the most endearing traits of toys made by dedicated fans is that they often treat obscure subjects with the same care and reverence as the popular ones. Such was the case with the Balanodon (Balanosaurus) from TV episode 17. It came with a tiny metal control ship and measured almost 18" long. By no coincidence whatsoever, it was perfectly scaled to Bandai's 1/350 scale Yamato model.
Andromeda Metal Statue (January, 2008)
Echoing the Franklin Mint, Marmit's next Yamato release was this beautifully-constructed Andromeda, which became the new record holder for length. Though a scale was not cited, this one stretched to 17.7", almost three inches longer than the 1/700 Bandai model kit.
Its bow was somewhat longer than the official design to better imitate the look of the anime, and it was designed to match the scale of Bandai's Popynica Yamato. It was reissued by Marmit in late 2009 without the weathered paint job. (See it here.)
Visit Marmit's homepage here.
Gamilon Character Figures by Denboku (February, 2007)
Sold exclusively at the 2007 Winter Wonderfest, these soft vinyl figures put a comedic spin on Dessler and other Gamilons from the first TV series. Paying heed to the infamous color shift in episode 11, Denboku was thoughtful enough to offer two versions of Dessler for the completists. Photo at far right courtesy Matt Alt.
Super Mechanics 1/665 Yamato by Taito (March, 2007)
World-class arcade game manufacturer Taito is also in the toy business, as evidenced by their "Super Mechanics" line, sizeable plastic replicas of Leiji Matsumoto mecha. The Taito Yamato measures 15.75" and sports the classic action features; rotating turrets, popout wings, and an opening landing hatch. Taito later released a second edition of this toy with lights and sound, then completely remodeled it for a Yamato Rebirth version in 2009.
Super Mechanics Cosmo Zero by Taito (June, 2008)
Stretching a full 12 inches from front to back, this is the biggest version of Wildstar's fighter that has yet been made, and is a fine addition to any fan's collection. Its lack of moving parts is no deficit, since it looks poised to leap off your shelf at any given moment. Other products in Taito's Super Mechanics line include the Galaxy Express 999, and Captain Harlock?s Arcadia along with a 1/1 scale Harlock Gravity Sabre. Visit Taito's English-language homepage here.
Dessler's Battleship Metal Statue (December, 2008)
Marmit made a comeback at the end of 2008 with the second metal statue in their Yamato line, Dessler's Battleship from the first TV series, which measured just over 9 inches long. Other than its picture-perfect sculpting, its one action feature was a popup bridge module. It was made in a limited edition of 1,000 copies; see more photos on Marmit's website here.
Super-Deformed Yamato "Turbo Lighter" (date unknown)
Though the manufacturer's name is not known, only an Otaku could think up this strange little 4" contraption, in which a pull of the bow cap strikes the flint that sets off a wave-motion lighter. It's just more proof that as long as everyone has access to the means of production, the future of Yamato toys and novelties will only get more unpredictable...and more fun!The End
Note: these products are shown for archival purposes only, and are not available from Voyager Entertainment. Some of the photos were originally uploaded to Yahoo.jp by private collectors. We thank them for their generosity!