[Joe Moore]

NECA Godzilla 1954 Figure - Toyark Photo Shoot

[En Sabah Nerd]

I already got this guy but I'm waiting to open it, so much anticipation!

[dukefett]

I got this guy last week and I really like him too. His feet are SO big like you said haha. The wide open eyes are a little striking but they definitely work. I definitely recommend him, I don't even think I'd want an SHM version of 1954, I just like this one that much.

[Dr Kain]

Yeah, I really don't see how Bandai can improve on anything aside from a better tail. NECA really knocked it out of the park and the fact that this may be their final Godzilla figure is a shame.

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Yeah, I really don't see how Bandai can improve on anything aside from a better tail. NECA really knocked it out of the park and the fact that this may be their final Godzilla figure is a shame.

I don't think they've said anything about Toho pulling the line, it's just that we don't get to see anything else until Toho says so.

[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

I don't think they've said anything about Toho pulling the line, it's just that we don't get to see anything else until Toho says so.

They said if this guy doesn't sell well they aren't going to do anymore Godzilla figures.

[dukefett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Yeah, I really don't see how Bandai can improve on anything aside from a better tail. NECA really knocked it out of the park and the fact that this may be their final Godzilla figure is a shame.

Shit, I wasn't aware of that, really? Did the others not sell well? Was there a news story about it?

[Joe Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukefett

Shit, I wasn't aware of that, really? Did the others not sell well? Was there a news story about it?

Randy from NECA has said on Twitter that they have other Godzilla items planned, and are just waiting on approval from TOHO to move ahead with them. They have had several items shot down (some of which I saw while visiting) and have generally had trouble with every item they proposed.

[dukefett]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

Randy from NECA has said on Twitter that they have other Godzilla items planned, and are just waiting on approval from TOHO to move ahead with them. They have had several items shot down (some of which I saw while visiting) and have generally had trouble with every item they proposed.

Toho shot down the items? That blows. I wonder if it was because of sculpt or too close to Figuarts stuff? I'd love to see a great Mechagodzilla from them, also I think they're in some dire need of atomic breath, but I doubt they'd sell a pack of that. I'm glad some Figuarts comes with it, but not all of them do.

[Joe Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by dukefett

Toho shot down the items? That blows. I wonder if it was because of sculpt or too close to Figuarts stuff? I'd love to see a great Mechagodzilla from them, also I think they're in some dire need of atomic breath, but I doubt they'd sell a pack of that. I'm glad some Figuarts comes with it, but not all of them do.

They had a Ghost Godzilla ready to go, as well as atomic breath version of the 2014 one that I saw (and both looked amazing). I know they want to repaint the 54 one to be in color as well. All rests on them.

[En Sabah Nerd]

I know Randy also said Toho shot down doing a Hanna Barbera Godzilla. I am still bummed the license deal doesn't let them do other monsters, King Ghidora and Mechagodzilla 1 would've been great.

[Dr Kain]

In Toho's defense, we don't know exactly what the contracts say. Knowing NECA, they didn't want any monsters except Godzilla. Maybe things changed and Toho told them it was too late. Or, NECA just wanted to milk the hell out of each Godzilla mold like they do with every other line (after all, they had how many different versions of the same Kratos and Ezio figures?) and Toho wouldn't let them do that.

The ghost Godzilla was just going to be repaint of the 54 mold. I don't know about you guys, but I am sick and tired of Godzilla repaints. That is all anyone seems to be doing anymore. We got nothing but repaints from the MonsterArts line after Feb and two of the three figures NECA released this year were repaints. Give me Kiryu Goji!! Give me some more Showa Godzillas!!

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

In Toho's defense, we don't know exactly what the contracts say. Knowing NECA, they didn't want any monsters except Godzilla. Maybe things changed and Toho told them it was too late. Or, NECA just wanted to milk the hell out of each Godzilla mold like they do with every other line (after all, they had how many different versions of the same Kratos and Ezio figures?) and Toho wouldn't let them do that.

Randy has said many times now that they wanted to do other monsters too but Godzilla was all that was on the table, which is probably because SH was already doing them too. Like how Marvel only lets DST make Marvel figures under certain parameters because they mainly use Hasbro, Toho is probably more loyal to the Japanese company they've been working with so they only put so much on the table to begin with for NECA.

[Dr Kain]

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

Randy has said many times now that they wanted to do other monsters too but Godzilla was all that was on the table, which is probably because SH was already doing them too. Like how Marvel only lets DST make Marvel figures under certain parameters because they mainly use Hasbro, Toho is probably more loyal to the Japanese company they've been working with so they only put so much on the table to begin with for NECA.

Randy can say what he wants, it doesn't make it true. I'm not saying he is lying, but we really don't know what their contract says or what the discussions were. All we have is one company man's word. Kind of like how Scott Neitlich said we would never see Doomsday Unleashed because the sub didn't hit their requirements for him to be made.

[Joe Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Randy can say what he wants, it doesn't make it true. I'm not saying he is lying, but we really don't know what their contract says or what the discussions were. All we have is one company man's word. Kind of like how Scott Neitlich said we would never see Doomsday Unleashed because the sub didn't hit their requirements for him to be made.

Considering the crew there are definitely fans of the other monsters, and them saying they would love to do other characters (on Twitter and in person), I have no reason to not believe them. Their office is full of sculpts and nearly finished items that never got approval. Was actually surprised by the amount of stuff they didn't hide when we went there.

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

Considering the crew there are definitely fans of the other monsters, and them saying they would love to do other characters (on Twitter and in person), I have no reason to not believe them. Their office is full of sculpts and nearly finished items that never got approval. Was actually surprised by the amount of stuff they didn't hide when we went there.

That unfinished Handyman from Bioshock Infinite is in the back of so many teasers that they post and I always weep that we're never gonna see that for real.

[Dolemite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

I know Randy also said Toho shot down doing a Hanna Barbera Godzilla. I am still bummed the license deal doesn't let them do other monsters, King Ghidora and Mechagodzilla 1 would've been great.

Shit, you just answered my question. No Mechagodzilla? I haz a sad.

Any idea of the particulars of the license deal? Why just Godzilla and no one/thing else?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

Randy from NECA has said on Twitter that they have other Godzilla items planned, and are just waiting on approval from TOHO to move ahead with them. They have had several items shot down (some of which I saw while visiting) and have generally had trouble with every item they proposed.

So, in other words, no one ever said anything about the line being cancelled if this one doesn't sell, yes?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Randy can say what he wants, it doesn't make it true.

Did you actually read a post from someone at NECA saying that if '54 Godzilla doesn't sell then they're axing the line? Because everyone else here is disputing that was ever said.

Quote:

Kind of like how Scott Neitlich said we would never see Doomsday Unleashed because the sub didn't hit their requirements for him to be made.

Things change. Lots of figures see release that were thought cancelled. Heck, in the new GI Joe 50th line they just released two figures that were cancelled from back in the Pursuit of Cobra days (Croc Master and Blowtorch).

Hell, one time on Twitter I asked Randy if they were ever going to make a Commando figure, and they replied that they didn't have the license and that it wasn't a popular enough property. Then a few months later they announced the Ultimate Commando figure. When I asked Randy on Twitter about it, he said he was just being coy because they couldn't announce anything at the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

Their office is full of sculpts and nearly finished items that never got approval. Was actually surprised by the amount of stuff they didn't hide when we went there.

Like...?

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolemite

Shit, you just answered my question. No Mechagodzilla? I haz a sad.

Any idea of the particulars of the license deal? Why just Godzilla and no one/thing else?

So, in other words, no one ever said anything about the line being cancelled if this one doesn't sell, yes?

While I don't know the full details in the contract I have a theory. Before NECA came in Bandai was the only one making Godzilla toys, through their SH lines, but then when we were getting a new American Godzilla movie NECA wanted the license and Toho negotiated with them. As Randy has said many times, the deal doesn't allow for any monsters that aren't Godzilla. This leads to two speculations: either NECA didn't bring enough money to the table for any additional monsters or Toho wasn't even offering the other monsters as some kind of loyalty to the Japanese company already making Godzilla toys.

Actually in a Tweet the other day Randy said we will be getting more Godzilla toys, very highly likely that there will be repaints, but as before they're waiting on Toho to approve. They can't even tease an upcoming Godzilla without permission first. It's similar, but not as bad as, what's going on with them and Valve right now. They have the rest of the Team Fortress 2 figures ready to go but until Valve gives the okay the line is in limbo.

[Joe Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolemite

Like...?

Most of the stuff, obviously, can't talk about. They were kind enough to let us come by and they asked that we not talk about everything we saw. But they did have the basically finished Ghost Godzilla, Atomic Breath 2014 Godzilla and pieces to other denied Godzilla's (couldn't tell what they were). The Bioshock Handyman pieces were around as well.

[Dolemite]

Quote:

Originally Posted by En Sabah Nerd

While I don't know the full details in the contract I have a theory. Before NECA came in Bandai was the only one making Godzilla toys, through their SH lines, but then when we were getting a new American Godzilla movie NECA wanted the license and Toho negotiated with them. As Randy has said many times, the deal doesn't allow for any monsters that aren't Godzilla. This leads to two speculations: either NECA didn't bring enough money to the table for any additional monsters or Toho wasn't even offering the other monsters as some kind of loyalty to the Japanese company already making Godzilla toys.

Interesting theory you have, and it sounds like it holds water. Although an American company conceivably wouldn't take much in the way of market share away from Japanese companies like Bandai, since NECA's stuff would be sold primarily in the States. Toho is obviously chock o' fishy dudes.

Quote:

Actually in a Tweet the other day Randy said we will be getting more Godzilla toys, very highly likely that there will be repaints, but as before they're waiting on Toho to approve. They can't even tease an upcoming Godzilla without permission first. It's similar, but not as bad as, what's going on with them and Valve right now. They have the rest of the Team Fortress 2 figures ready to go but until Valve gives the okay the line is in limbo.

Wow, what reason would Valve have to put the kibosh on the Team Fortress 2 figures? Wouldn't only NECA be out the dough if they didn't sell? What possible harm could it cause Valve to release them? It's not like the figures were crap, they were excellent representations of the characters in the game.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

Most of the stuff, obviously, can't talk about. They were kind enough to let us come by and they asked that we not talk about everything we saw. But they did have the basically finished Ghost Godzilla, Atomic Breath 2014 Godzilla and pieces to other denied Godzilla's (couldn't tell what they were). The Bioshock Handyman pieces were around as well.

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to set up a NECA tour of my own in the near future, so hopefully I'll see some of these mystery pieces for myself.

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolemite

Wow, what reason would Valve have to put the kibosh on the Team Fortress 2 figures? Wouldn't only NECA be out the dough if they didn't sell? What possible harm could it cause Valve to release them? It's not like the figures were crap, they were excellent representations of the characters in the game.

I don't think Valve is actively shutting it out I think they just plain forgot about them, like they went to NECA and said sure make all of the team but we have to clear them before they can be put into production and somewhere along the line they just forgot to give them clearance beyond the Engie and the Spy. It hurts me a bit because they can't even make the BLU versions of Engie and Spy without clearance and I prefer BLU over RED. My BLU Pyro is so lonely

[Joe Moore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolemite

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping to set up a NECA tour of my own in the near future, so hopefully I'll see some of these mystery pieces for myself.

If you can set it up, absolutely do it. It's a blast there. I think they purposely like to hide things to see if people spot them when they're in. I'd like to go back some time again, talk to their photographer, Stephen, a bit more.

[En Sabah Nerd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

If you can set it up, absolutely do it. It's a blast there. I think they purposely like to hide things to see if people spot them when they're in. I'd like to go back some time again, talk to their photographer, Stephen, a bit more.

If I lived anywhere close to NJ I'd have definitely gone to see where the magic is made at least once, alas Texas is a far shot away and I have no reasons to head that way.

[Dolemite]

Yeah, I live in NY so it's really just a quick day trip for me.

[dukefett]

Where is Neca? I'm in NJ! I'm going to NYCC, I will definitely stop by there. I heard Randy on the radio the other night, sounds like a good dude.