#mechabonica

Here it is, the very first zoid. Considering the popularity of dinosaur zoids later in the series, it’s very appropriate that Garius is a tyrannosaurus type. First, a little history on zoids. The very first zoids line hit store shelves in Japan in 1981 under the name Mechabonica, which is an amazing name. The subtitle (or full title?) or this series was “Messengers To The Space Mechabonica” and I don’t know what that means, but I think I like it. The name is highly appropriate as well, considering that the three zoids released under this name all have a spooky robo-skeletal look about them. They were also released under the name Starzeta in Spain, although these may have been bootlegs. 

Apparently Mechabonica didn’t sell well, because only three models were released before the line was discontinued. These three, along with three additional models, were rereleased a year later in the US and Europe under the name Zoids: The Pre-Hysterical Monster-Machines which again, I quite like. This was the first time these kits would be called “zoids”. In 1983 Zoids would relaunch in Japan, starting the most successful line, commonly referred to as OJR, or Original Japanese Release, which would run until 1990.

ANYWAY, Mechagirus, or Tyrannazoid, or Garius, depending on the release in question, is a really excellent way to start. As a kid I was more interested in larger, motorized zoids to the point of being obsessed with the likes of King Gojulas and Madthunder, but over the years I’ve come to appreciate smaller, wind-up zoids much more and Garius is an excellent example of one. It’s a cute little skeletal tyrannosaurus and I love it.

Over the course of this series, we’ll see definite trends to zoid design, going from skeletal monsters to more curved and molded kits. I doubt it’s intentional, but Garius looks like the first zoid. It’s simple and barebones, without any weapons or armor plates that would come to cover later models. In that way it almost looks like a prototype, possibly deployed in a few limited engagements. It kind of reminds me of the Mark I tank, important historically, if not exactly the most effective weapon. 

The colors are typical of a Republic zoid of the era, mostly being grey, blue, white, and black. I particularly like how the design apes the more antiquated, and incorrect, idea that the t-rex walked upright, rather than with its spine parallel to the ground. In a way, it’s design is more reminiscent of Godzilla than a t-rex, though we will see zoids that are more explicitly based off Godzilla later. The cockpit has the most character, being the only white part of the model and having a design like a car on a ride at Disney World. It’s attractive in a sort of 80s futurist way which is good, because we’ll be seeing a lot more of this cockpit design before we’re done.

Overall, I think Garius is a successful design that works well in the context of the series as a whole. It’s nothing mind-blowing and we’ll see more interesting tyrannosauruses down the line, but Garius does what it sets out to accomplish.

HMMM ok. The dusty boy above is the third and last of the Mechabonica line, originally released under the name Mechaphantos, which like Mechagiras and Mechatoros, does literally nothing to communicate what it’s supposed to be. Elephantus was released in Zoids: the Pre-Hysterical Monster-Machines under the name Protozoid, and again, I don’t get it. Adding to this confusion, the Zoids Wiki seems to be convinced that this guy is called “Elepantus” and now I’m just mad.

Like, I get it. It lacks probably the most distinctive feature of an elephant, its trunk. But other than that, the large ears, the tail, the general shape all communicate elephant. I’m convinced that the average person would say this is supposed to be an elephant. 

Despite the naming confusing, I have to say I’m in favor of Elephantus. It maintains the somewhat plain color scheme of its contemporaries and doesn’t have any interesting alternate color schemes like Glidoler, but I feel like its a much more pleasing shape than that zoid, looking more like a counterpart to Garius. Both have the same spindly legs ending in the awkward-looking, if functional feet. Looking at it now, I’m realizing that this zoid is one of the very few to lack foot pegs for stability. Garius, being bipedal needed them, but apparently Elephantus, being quadrupedal, is light enough to not need them. The pegs always felt like a concession to zoids being small plastic toys and thus they were removed in anime appearances. I’m also just now noticing the strange lego-like pattern to the underside of Elephander. It’s a little odd, making it almost look like a Lego model.

Interestingly, Elephantus is also the most aggressive-looking zoids so far with it’s forward-facing guns underneath the cockpit, gun on the back, and weapon pods on the sides. Glidoler appeared to have no weapons at all and Garius was equipped with a pair of guns on its hips, but these aren’t as obvious. In fact I would have sworn that Garius wasn’t equipped with any weapons had I not gone back to check.

Again, Elephantus feels like a prototype design, acting as an antecedent to later zoids such as Mammoth and Elephander, but it also feels more complete than those before it. I quite like Elephantus, however, I would probably rate it higher were it not for the fact that shortly we’ll get two zoids that use the same basic frame but are more pleasing to look at and look more like the animals they are based off.