First generation of Zoids by TOMY (1983-1984)

Here’s our first aquatic zoid, appropriately named Aquadon, or Aquazoid in it’s European releases. Aquadon is a cute ‘lil guy with an interesting gimmick: the pods on either side are filled with styrofoam and after it’s wound up, the legs kick, allowing him to swim like the real thing. Kind of brings up a question though, which is what is this thing supposed to be? Like reeeeally look at it and try to figure out what animal it’s supposed to be based on.

In case you can’t tell, it’s supposed to be a frog, which like nah, it kind of super isn’t. If anything it has a humanoid shape, like a diver wearing some kind of flippers. I would even be far more likely to accept it as some sort of mythological creature rather than a plain ol’ frog. In that way it’s like Glidoler, but I find the shape of Aquadon to be quite a bit more pleasing. Designing an aquatic craft around using flippers rather than traditional aquatic propulsion methods is a little silly, but I could buy the idea that it has a conventional engine in the main body and uses the fins more for maneuvering.

I’ve just now noticed that Aquadon, like Glidoler before it, is primarily grey and blue with black caps, rather than grey and black with blue caps like Garius and Elephantus. Gurantula was grey and black with black caps. I suppose I’ve never really looked at these guys in-depth before. It’s hard to know how much color difference the actual models have, but I think the OER release (top) has a more teal blue than the OJR and OAR release above. I think I prefer the darker blue. Either way, the color is appropriate for an aquatic zoid.

Speaking of color, it’s time to talk about Zoids 2. Like Gurantula, Aquadon was released in the Zoids 2 line, now under the name Aquazoid, the same name as it’s OER release. Pictures of Zoids 2 releases are sometimes hard to come by, but here we can see the decals pretty well and what the heck is going on with them. They’re clearly a new set from the OJR release and they make no sense. You decide to give this guy a white, yellow, teal, dark blue, and silver color scheme and then big black and brown tribal tattoos? What, why, how. Who did this. Why would you do this. Why would you turn such a good-looking zoid into one of the worst eyesores in the entire series history. I love it.