Friday, March 20, 2015

Super Robot Chogokin GaoGaiGar Part 1

Not the new, big one, but still very hot-blooded

After the brief "interlude" with Soul Stage Act 4 for Humanoid Clear, the regular review series on my blog continues with an awesome action figure, one that is super mighty hot-blooded. ^^


Super Robot Chogokin GaoGaiGar
Production company: Tamashii Nations (Bandai)
Release date: Early August 2011
Price: 5,000 Yen (exclusive of tax).
Official link

From "The King of Braves GaoGaiGar", this is Tamashii Nations' release of the titular super robot in the Super Robot Chogokin line. ^^ For liking the design of GaoGaiGar and the action figure itself, I didn't hesitate one second in my decision to pre-order the figure the moment it was made available online, ^^ and it was definitely a joyous moment when the item arrived in early September 2011. ^^

At the moment, I'm slowly going through the different titles in the Brave series, and I must say that all of them have been really enjoyable to watch. ^^ While there are many creative combination designs in the different series, GaoGaiGar from the last of the Brave series, and Genesic GaoGaiGar from its subsequent "Final" OVA series are definitely my favourites. Besides the main robots themselves, which are just so amazingly awesome in their own right, the support mechas, human characters, animation quality, music, and many of the plot points in the story are just as incredible. ^^


Opening clip of "The King of Braves GaoGaiGar"
Video clip is from Youtube. Follow this link to the website if you can't see anything.

As a matter of fact, because of its awesomeness, I think it's obligatory for super robot and mecha fans to not just watch, but to like "The King of Braves GaoGaiGar". ^^

Interestingly, the popularity of GaoGaiGar seems to have received a "revival" in the last two years, or at least merchandise-wise I think. ^^ Besides Tamashii Nations and their effort in pushing out pretty much all the mechas from the series, Kotobukiya also released many plastic kits based off the main and secondary robots in their D-Style line.

The most significant release of them all would have to be Tamashii Nations' Soul of Chogokin version I think, which came out in December last year at 30,000 Yen (exclusive of tax). Featuring a complete transformation system, impressive articulation, anime-accurate gimmicks, plus of the sense the exclusiveness of it being a Soul of Chogokin figure, it is the perfect action figure representation of GaoGaiGar in my view. When it was announced last year, I was seriously considering pre-ordering it, but its really high price tag put a halt on my plan. ^^; On that note, I believe Tamashii Nations are looking into releasing Genesic GaoGaiGar as a Soul of Chogokin figure as well, since it is a hugely popular super robot design. I also believe that its price tag would be much higher than GaoGaiGar's if it does get released. ^^; It might be a bit too earlier to speculate on any of such release plan right now, but I'm pondering over getting it when it does get released, especially on the budget allocation aspect. ^^;

At lease I have the Super Robot Chogokin version of that mecha to experience its "regular-sized" hot-bloodiness. XD



Front view of the box.


Very nice, large foil text of "The King of Braves" (勇者王) on the left hand side of box cover. ^^


(Left) The Super Robot Chogokin emblem on the top left corner of the front cover.
(Right) Placed on the bottom left corner of the box cover is the title logo of "The King of Braves GaoGaiGar".




Pretty simple box side design.





Introduction of the figure on the back of the box.


The large freehand Japanese text shown alongside the figure images on the back of the box, which depict GaoGaiGar's different weapons and attack moves - "Dividing Driver" (ディバイディングドライバー) on the left, and "Bending space!" (空間湾曲!) on the right in the image above, make me want to scream them out as I'm looking at the them. XD



Size comparison with Super Robot Chogokin Weisbritter's box.


Box open.


Content.


Top view of the first tray content.


First tray content without the top cover.













Closeups on the content.


Rear view of the first tray content.




Closeups on the details.


Top view of the second tray content.


Second tray content without the top cover.





Closeups on the content.


Rear view of the second tray content.





Closeups on the details.


The semi-clear Protect Shade part is sealed in a plastic bag.


The instruction sheet pack.






Configuration of the figure's gimmicks and weapons are shown in the instruction sheet.



A straight out of box, incomplete display of Super Robot Chogokin GaoGaiGar. ^^

First part of the introduction on the figure's weapons, accessories and option parts coming up next. ^^

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