#shfigurarts

Okay, it’s bad enough (though, given how things have been the last year, inevitable) that Toho has postponed the release of the Shin Ultraman film from early summer to nobody-knows-when.

But just a few days ago Bandai added insult to injury by announcing the new Dynaction Shin Ultraman action figure.

At first blush, this just looks like the regular SHFiguarts figure of Shin Ultraman.  I read a little more of the description and the Dynaction figure is supposed to have “die-cast and POM plastic joints for enhanced posablity.” 

It’s also supposed to have light-up eyes (batteries included).  But the real difference between the Dynaction figure and the SHFiguarts figure is size: the Dynaction figure is 40 cm/15.7 inches tall!

So far, so good, I thought.  This baby is going to be more than twice the size of the SHFiguarts version; bigger even than a 1/6-scale figure.  And still be super-poseable.  Win, win situation. right?

Then I saw the price, and I had to rub my eyes and splash cold water in my face numerous times to make sure I wasn’t seeing things.

The price is going to be 22,000 yen, or approximately $202.00 US with current exchange rates.

I don’t know about you, but that’s more than a little expensive for a figure that is twice the size of their regular figure, even with the inclusion of light-up eyes.

For comparison, these are the last four Ultraman figures (based on the anime versions) that I have purchased from Threezero.

Ultraman (anime version on left, manga version on right); the batteries are dead in the anime version’s chest which is why it’s not lit

Ultraman version 7.2 (for all intents and purposes he’s Ultraseven)

Ultraman Ace

Like the Dynaction figure, all of these are extremely well articulated, are made of die-cast and plastic parts, and have light-up features.  Multiple light-up features, not just the eyes (as illustrated in the above photos).  The Ultraman figures also have light-up features on their forearms, which I did not take photos of.

The Ultraman and Ultraman ver. 7.2 (Ultraseven) are just shy of 13 inches tall.

MSRP for each one of these figures: $130.00 US each.

That’s a little more than half of what Bandai will be charging for the Dynaction Ultraman figure.

And for $200.00, I sure as heck do not want to see all of those exposed joints!

Why is the Dynaction figure so expensive in comparison?  I don’t know.  I’ve long had an issue with the price Bandai charges for many of their figures, especially their SHFiguarts Ultraman figures and SHMonsterarts figures.  These always seem to be more expensive than the SHFiguarts Kamen Rider and Super Sentai figures.

For further comparison, the SHFiguarts Shin Ultraman figure, which is due to be released later this summer, is priced at $58.00 US.  Most of the Kamen Rider and Super Sentai figures are in the $20-$30.00 US range.

I sometimes wonder if the reason the Ultraman figures always seem to be more expensive is because Bandai is the majority (49.5% the last time I checked) stockholder of Tsuburaya Productions, the folks who created and own Ultraman.  But I don’t feel like going down that rabbit hole right now.

And before some people chime in and say something about the cost of importing the toys from Japan, be aware that the price of these figures in Japan is exactly the same.

The Shin Ultraman Dynaction figure is currently scheduled to be released in the US in October, so if anyone is interested in it I would suggest you start saving your pennies.

As for me, it’s not a priority purchase.  If I see it offered at reasonable price on Mandarake I might pick it up sometime down the line, but I’m not going to hold my breath.

Thus endeth the rant.

Dynaction Shin Ultraman photos from scifijapan.com