I guess I don't understand Kaiju

This definitely isn't an attack on Kaiju or the work that artists produce when customizing Kaiju figures, but as I was editing images for the Toy Karma : III show I think I realized my issue with Kaiju. While I do like the figures I think my biggest problem is that I can't tell the difference between a 'produced' versus a 'custom' Kaiju. This could also be part of a bigger problem since I can't normally tell the difference between a good or great bottle of wine ... maybe I just lack the subtle observations that others do when it comes to Kaiju.

Hopefully someone can maybe eloborate a bit more for me. :)

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5 Replies

Okay, so I'll begin with a quick Kaiju (怪獣) primer… the word literally means "strange beast" but is commonly translated as "monster" here in the States. For the purposes of the designer toy community, it tends to imply a figure that is at least inspired by the look of classic monster movies (like Godzilla); so something like Jeff Lamm's Greasebat is considered Kaiju, even though it has no direct ties to Japan.

For me, personally, this is the stuff that originally got me into "designer toys." Back in the late '90s, shops started importing wonderful Japanese monster figures beyond the big name ones. I bought tons of Devilman Kaiju back then and, from there, found the American Designer Toy scene (eventually).

A lot of Kaiju is quite colorful, which might be where Keegan's problem is. To achieve the proper look, each figure tends to have multi-pass paint sprays done — like most of what Rampage Toys releases, for instance — which means, in the end, each one is kinda like a custom to begin with. Heck, Jon Malmstedt hand paints all of those Rampage pieces himself, to the best of my knowledge.

I'm not really sure why you need to be able to easily see the difference between a production and custom piece… if you enjoy it, that should be all that matters. ;)

Trust_pigs-trampt-1079f

Trust Pigs

  • Artist

almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

Hoodedgrub-trampt-271f

HoodedGrub m Maybe part of Keegan's issue with telling the difference between production and custom has more to do with adding them to the library? :) Well at least that's I how read into it. ;) almost 12 years ago

Trustpigs-trampt-280f

trustpigs m Ha ha ha… That's quite possible! almost 12 years ago

Keegan-trampt-1698f

keegan a Adding them to the library is definitely my biggest issue with Kaiju. :) However, I did have a bit of confusion too which that definitely helped with. almost 12 years ago

Trustpigs-trampt-280f

trustpigs m What was your confusion? Just curious now… almost 12 years ago

Keegan-trampt-1698f

keegan a the confusion was around ones that are technically 'production' Kaiju but are all hand-painted. That's all. :) almost 12 years ago

@easily_amused Everyone calls it the 'The Mook' but it's also known as 'Super 7: International Toy Pirates' in lesser circles : )

@quijanoth I actually found mine on amazon like a year ago. Seems like it's still available.  You can pick it up for like 13 bucks i think: http://www.amazon.com/Super-International-Toy-Pirates/dp/097966781X

almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused Thanks! three left on the Am for $19.97 (4/29/12) when I searched for it. If you live in Texas Amazon will start charging Sales Tax in July. :( Here in Virginia they will start charging Sales Tax in January. almost 12 years ago

I have a boys understanding of Kaiju, "Giant monsters are Awesome!" I appreciate all the extra info people have provided.

almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

From what I've learned about the process that goes into producing Kaiju toys has given me a great appreciation for the love that goes into these toys. The asthetic appeal however has taken a bit to grow on me, but I gotta admit its starting to. Most of them are created entirely by hand from sculpting to molding to the pouring of the vinyl and finally airbrushing. It seems that the main appeal is the fuglier the better so granted its only a small portion of the genre that appeals to me. But still some of the marbling, layering of vinyl, and skinning processes with GID vinyl imparticualrly is superbly hand crafted.

And so the battle of east vs. west continues :)

Josh_mayhem-trampt-8337f

Josh Mayhem

  • Artist

almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

I just noticed a bunch of missing pieces for that show and added them...  I personally don't quite understand Kaiju either.  Well I understand what it is, just not the appeal.  But to each their own.  I know some people really like it and there's entire blogs dedicated solely to Kaiju.

almost 12 years ago · Comment ·

Themoodydoom-trampt-240f

moodydoom I think part of the problem is the notalgia factor, If you didn't grow up with the Japanese shows/movies that spawned many of the kaiju toys, then your 'not getting it' is similar to someone not getting why people like 80's vintage toys from shows like he-man, thundercats etc. almost 12 years ago

Themoodydoom-trampt-240f

moodydoom To use the wine reference, it's a matter of educating your pallet. You won't be able to tell what's good or not if you don't do some training. If you put in some research, you may just unleash your desire for some incredibly well-crafted toys made by very talented people. almost 12 years ago

Themoodydoom-trampt-240f

moodydoom For anyone interested in discovering a little more about Kaiju i'd recommend hunting down the old Super 7 magazines, the Super7 Mook (awesome book on Kaiju), and the Toypunks documentary (awesome). [sorry about triple post. 420 character limit. yeesh!] almost 12 years ago

Quijanoth-trampt-903f

quijanoth Great suggestion about the Mook. Oh, if you somehow find a place that sells it, please post it immediately. I've been after that bad boy for almost a year now. almost 12 years ago

Easily_amused-trampt-2928f

Easily_Amused @moodydoom & quijanoth the Super 7 Mook... is that its actual name or is it Super 7 the Book? which is Issue 16 where it converted to book format. almost 12 years ago

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