Favourite Toys of 2024

Finally we reach the end of 2024, and as such its time to look back on the year with a post that's not only become something of a tradition for me but also one of my favourite pieces to write for this site - my top ten favourite toys of the year. As usual the rules are simple - anything I've reviewed for the site which was released in 2024 is eligible, which sadly does discount a lot of reviews from earlier in the year when I was still sifting through my rather extensive (but now depleted) backlog. Honourable mention needs to go to the following toys below, all of which I bought this year but either haven't received or reviewed yet. Whether they would have made the list or not is another question entirely, but it's one we don't know the answer to.

- NECA Ultimate Chucky (TV Series) (Holiday Edition)

- S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Gear 5-

- S.H. Figuarts Bun Red

- S.H. Figuarts Darth Vader (A New Hope) Classic Ver.

- S.H. Figuarts C-3PO (A New Hope) Classic Ver.

- S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider 1 (The NEXT)

- Shokugan Modeling Project Victory Mars

- Shokugan Modeling Project Bull Taurus

- Transformers Studio Series 86 Springer

So without further ado, onto my top ten favourite toys of 2024!

Top 5: Toys I'm Looking Forward to in 2025

Before I look back on another great year of toy releases by rounding off 2024 with my top ten favourite toy releases, as now feels like tradition here is a quick rundown of some of the things I'm looking forward to adding to my collection in 2025. With the Power Rangers Lightning Collection effectively ending and me stepping back a bit from lines like the Star Wars Black Series my preorder list isn't quite as long as it once was, but at the same there's always favourites from the likes of Transformers and S.H. Figuarts to get me excited. Given that only one of the figures from last year's list has ended up in this year's favourites who knows if they'll live up to the hype, but for now here's what's getting me excited for 2025!

Toybox REVIEW: Figma Gridman (Universe Fighter)

Release Date: November 2024

RRP: 8900 yen

In 2023 Studio Trigger's continuation of the Gridman the Hyper Agent franchise came to a climax (at least for the time being anyway) with the aptly-titled Gridman Universe, crossing over the casts of SSSS.Gridman and SSSS.Dynazenon for an action-packed finale that naturally introduced a number of new forms and combos. Something that both Bandai and Good Smile Company have taken advantage of with their respective toylines, particularly the latter as they follow up their premium THE GATTAI releases with Max Factory's Figma Gridman (Universe Fighter). This figure is based on the form Gridman takes during the finale of the film as he merges with Yuta once more and breaks free of the confines of the universe itself.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider X

Release Date: October 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

Although generally Bandai Tamashii Nations have gotten a lot better at releasing the figures they debut at Tamashii Nations events, they've been slowly teasing out the releases of the original seven Showa era Kamen Riders for some time. The original releases of Rider 1, Rider 2 and Amazon feel like a lifetime ago now, with things only moving forward in the last few years with the release of both V3 and Riderman. That said – Bandai's timing couldn't be better, because in the same year Kamen Rider X celebrates its 50th anniversary they have marked the occasion with the long-awaited release of S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider X. Though like V3 and Riderman he's rather undeservedly a Tamashii Web exclusive, X's release brings us one step closer to that Legendary Seven. Six down, one to go…

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. MonsterArts Godzilla [2024] Evolved Ver.

Release Date: October 2024

RRP: 14,300 yen

2024 was big year for the King of Monsters on both sides of the globe, with Godzilla Minus One riding an Academy Award-winning high whilst Legendary Entertainment's MonsterVerse continued on with its next big screen instalment – Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire. Two very different films, but together showing off just how tonally varied a Godzilla film can be. During The New Empire, Godzilla absorbs the energy of the kaiju Tiamat to take on a new evolved form ready for the oncoming threat of Skar King. After releasing low-price point re-release versions of Godzilla and Kong to kick off their range of figures from the film, S.H. MonsterArts [2024] Evolved Ver. is the first newly sculpted release from Bandai Tamashii Nations – a Tamashii web exclusive release that in typical MonsterArts fashion boasts a noticeably high price tag.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Evil Tiga

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

As the first series in the Heisei era and still undoubtedly one of the most popular in the entire franchise, it isn't surprising that the S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou Ultraman range kicked off with Ultraman Tiga. But with some copies of the figure suffering from both parts degradation and paint issues almost straight out the box, not everyone was convinced these were quite to the same level as their Kamen Rider counterparts. But three years on and the range has continued to make improvements as it has branched out into other series. It isn't quite done with Ultraman Tiga yet though, and as such S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Evil Tiga has felt long overdue. An Ultra twisted through a forced merger with Cytech Corporation CEO Keigo Masaki, this new Evil Tiga figure is a Tamashii web exclusive and the fourth Shinkocchou Seihou (and seventh S.H. Figuarts) release from Tiga.

Movie REVIEW: Kamen Rider Gotchard the Movie: The Future Daybreak

Summer movies have been a staple of the Kamen Rider franchise for decades, but rarely do their stories feel quite as signposted as it did in Kamen Rider Gotchard. The appearance of a mysterious orange Gotchard from the future way back in episode 16 raised all manner of questions - many of which would not be answered until months later with the release of Kamen Rider Gotchard the Movie: The Future Daybreak. Largely taking place in an alternate timeline, the film explores future events branching off from the Alchemist Academy's first encounter with Glion. The film was written by Gotchard co-writer Keichii Hasagawa, directed by Ryuta Tasaki and released cinematically as part of a double-bill alongside Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger GekijoBoon! Promise the Circuit.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Majade SunUnicorn

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: 8250 yen

The Reiwa era of Kamen Rider has been doing great things to improve the prominence of women Riders in the shows, but it was only last year with Kamen Rider Gotchard that one officially attained the (often much debated) position of "secondary Rider". Said Rider is of course Rinne Kudo aka Kamen Rider Majade, who first debuted as a Rider in the Gotchard/Geats crossover movie before becoming a regular in the show shortly afterwards. But despite being the secondary Rider, S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Majade SunUnicorn on the other hand is the fourth release in the line's Gotchard range, as well as its third Tamashii web exclusive.

Special REVIEW: Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger IN SPACE

Between both Donbrothers and Kyoryuger it's fair to say that Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger has proven itself to be quite flexible when it comes to crossovers. The 47th Super Sentai series was also quite large when it came to scope too, given both its time skip and the intergalactic elements it incorporated into the story following that. As such the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club's latest special is the perfect match, bringing all these elements together in the rather aptly named Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger IN SPACE. This short one-off special reunites characters from King-Ohger and Kyoryuger for a third time, as well as bringing in familiar faces from Ohranger, Gingaman, Dekaranger and Kyuranger. 

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Nami -Romance Dawn-

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: 7150 yen

While the return of One Piece S.H. Figuarts seems to be something Bandai Tamashii Nations are taking quite seriously, it is somewhat surprising that despite all these releases that the main cast of characters doesn’t seem to be a priority. The franchise's 25th anniversary might have been just what was needed to change that though, as in addition to figures from the current era Tamashii Nations are also going back in time to it’s very beginning! S.H. Figuarts Nami -Romance Dawn- is the second character to be released from this sub-set of figures, as well as the second Nami figure in the S.H. Figuarts line – the original dating all the way back to 2010!

Top 5: Tamashii Nation 2024 Reveals

Another annual Tamashii Nation event has passed and in some ways this was Bandai's biggest one in a while, with lots of brand new IPs joining their various figure lines as well as plenty of new reveals from the usual suspects. Who ever thought we'd be seeing Lord of the Rings S.H. Figuarts or a Chogokin model of the time-travelling train from the end of Back to the Future Part 3? I could spend hours going through all of the announcements from the event (and definitely recommend checking out Tamashii Nations' social media accounts to get a look at everything), but as usual here are my top five favourite reveals from the event.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Exo-Suit Spike Witwicky

Release Date: January 2022

RRP: $11.99/£13.99

While there are plenty of (living, dead and background) characters in Transformers: The Movie to keep the Studio Series 86 line occupied for quite a while, it's nice to know that it didn't take long for Hasbro to turn their attention toward the few non-robotic cast members as well. Studio Series 86 Exo-Suit Spike Witwicky joins the line's core class offerings of smaller figures, representing the now adult Spike in the transforming armour he wore in the movie and subsequent episodes of the Generation One cartoon. In the movie, Spike assists Bumblebee with the Autobot defences on Moonbase Two - stationed there until it was devoured by the chaos bringer Unicron.

Series REVIEW: Ultraman Ace

With Return of Ultraman proving to be a success, in late 1971 Tsuburaya Productions and TBS began work on a follow-up Ultraman series. When coming up with an initial concept for the series, three screenwriters were tapped to offer their own individual proposals. Shinichi Ichikawa's "Ultra Hunter" would see a man and woman join together to become an Ultraman born beyond gender boundaries, fighting against the invasion of the Andromeda Space Corps. Shozo Uehera's "Ultra Fighter" saw a defence team member inherit the powers of an Ultraman from Nebula M78 battling against monsters created by a mad scientist. Finally Shigemitsu Taguchi's "Ultra V" featured monsters manufactured by an alien force targeting the Earth. Rather that pick just one proposal, all three were amalgamated into what would become the fifth entry in the Ultra Series - Ultraman Ace. Premiering on April 7th 1972, Ultraman Ace ran for a total of 52 episodes and reflected the next evolution in the Ultraman franchise.

Toybox REVIEW: G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Retro)

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

As the G.I. Joe Classified Series continues to go from strength to strength, much like many of Hasbro's other collector lines it looks to the past as well as the future with a range of retro-carded figures meant to evoke nostalgia in longtime collectors. In some cases it's simply the packaging that reflects those vintage releases, but in the Joes' case the figures themselves are also based on how these characters originally appeared. The line has been releasing these at a steady rate for a few years now but it just goes to show how extensive G.I. Joe's cast is that there are still plenty of key characters yet to come. However for now, fans have been treated to the particularly special release of the G.I. Joe Classified Series Cobra Commander (Retro) - bringing back Cobra's iconic leader in his classic and arguably most familiar form.

Toybox REVIEW: Doctor Who Ruby Sunday (Vortex Edition)

Release Date: October 2024

RRP: £39.99 (2-pack with the Fifteenth Doctor) 

Even if the latest era of Doctor Who doesn't prove enough to get the toy line out of the rut of store/online exclusives it's been in for years now, at the very least Character Options have definitely made an effort to make the two lead characters stand out. Actually getting them released (and in the same year as the series aired no less) is one thing, but to bring with them improved articulation, sculpting and paintwork is a much-needed shot in the arm for the line. Joining the Fifteenth Doctor on his travels through time and space is Ruby Sunday (portrayed onscreen by Millie Gibson), who will also be made available in two versions. Firstly this special "Vortex Edition" figure exclusive to the Character Options website, and then a retail edition (with a different costume and packaging) slightly later.

Toybox REVIEW: Doctor Who The Fifteenth Doctor (Vortex Edition)

Release Date: October 2024

RRP: £39.99 (2-pack with Ruby Sunday)

Even though there has been a steady string of exclusive releases at either B&M stores or the Character Options website for some time now, the Doctor Who figure line hasn't been faring too well when it comes to capitalising on the current series. Brand new characters are few and far between, with what little we do get coming months/years are the series they hail from has aired. Things might be picking up with the latest era though, as Character Options have finally unveiled their Fifteenth Doctor figure. Portrayed onscreen by Ncuti Gatwa, this figure will be made available in two versions – firstly a special "Vortex Edition" exclusive to Character's website, and then a retail edition (with a different costume and packaging) slightly later.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Baron Banana Arms

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: 11,000 yen

In addition to all the usual sculpt and proportion improvements that come with S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou figures, one of the most interesting aspects of the Kamen Rider Gaim range is the implementation of the show's versatile Arms Change gimmick. Not only does it add an extra level of play to the range, but also hopefully means Bandai Tamashii Nations will be fairly extensive when it comes to releases. At the very least though Gaim himself will not be alone, with S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Baron Banana Arms announced alongside him for release the following month. Though a little more expensive than Gaim, Baron also comes as a general retail figure.

First Impressions: Wingman

While the various franchises that make Japan's tokusatsu sphere rarely disappoint, it's always exciting when something new and/or difference comes along to add to the usual annual line-up. 2024 sees Masakazu Katsura's superhero fantasy manga Wingman celebrate its 40th anniversary, with the occasion marked by a brand new live-action adaptation. Wingman is co-produced by TV Tokyo, Toei Video and DMM TV, is directed by Koichi Sakamoto and stars Maito Fujioka (son of Kamen Rider legend Hiroshi Fujioka and the young Hongo Takeshi in Kamen Rider: Beyond Generations) in the lead role. An anime adaptation of Wingman was also previously released between 1984 and 1985.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Gaim Orange Arms

Release Date: August 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

Between Kamen Rider Gaim and Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger, 2013-2014 was a very popular year for Super Hero Time. So much so that Bandai Tamashii Nations haven't forgotten either series' tenth anniversary, first releasing a brand new Kyoryu Red figure earlier and this year and now following it up with new renditions of the Armoured Riders. S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Gaim Orange Arms is the first of what will hopefully be many Gaim characters in the "true bone carving" line, offering the usual high standard when it comes to sculpt while also throwing a working form change gimmick into the mix once again.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Legacy HasLab Victory Saber

Release Date: December 2022

RRP: $179.99/£179.99

The problem with toy collecting based on media franchises is that sometimes there’ll be something fans desperately want which just won’t realistically sell well at retail, whether its due to size or engineering costs. To that end, Hasbro introduced HasLab - a crowdfunding platform where they can make some of these things a reality…with the right number of backers of course. As far as the Transformers franchise is concerned Hasbro kicked off with an obvious one in 2021 - an enormous War for Cybertron Unicron figure that dwarfed any previous efforts of the character. But for their second campaign the following year, Hasbro turned to the world of Japanese-exclusive Generation One to bring fans Legacy Victory Saber. Based on the 1989 series Transformers: Victory, the set features Autobot Supreme Commander Star Saber and Victory Leo (alongside a whole host of extras), and originally needed 11,000 backers to be put into production. Strap yourselves in and “Let’s Say Go!”, because this review is a LONG one.

First Impressions: Dragon Ball DAIMA

Dragon Ball DAIMA is available to stream on Crunchyroll and Netflix

It's been five years since the Dragon Ball Super anime series ended and while fans haven't been completely starved of new Dragon Ball content since then, the times have certainly changed. The passing of creator Akira Toriyama earlier this year shocked the world, and although its a far sadder place without him we were fortunate enough to see him revisit the story onscreen one last time with Dragon Ball DAIMA. The sixth entry in the Dragon Ball franchise had Toriyama involved with the story "deeply beyond his usual capacity", in which Goku, Vegeta and the rest of Earth's fighters are transformed back into children by a brand new evil.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Arc

Release Date: September 2024

RRP: 4400 yen

The latest instalment in the Ultraman franchise is well underway (and available both subtitled and English dubbed on YouTube if you haven't checked it out already), and of course Bandai Tamashii Nations have kicked off a new range of S.H. Figuarts releases to cover the series. After briefly skipping over it with Ultraman Blazar, S.H. Figuarts Ultraman Arc returns to the "entry level" pricing Tamashii have adopted on many of their various franchise releases now - offering the main character of a specific series at a slightly lower price. Usually that also means that the figure itself has a little less to offer than your average release too, but does that hold true for Arc and his power of imagination?

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Father of Ultra

Release Date: August 2024

RRP: 8250 yen

The completion of the six main Ultra Brothers was a big milestone for the Ultraman S.H. Figuarts range, but there's still plenty of work for Bandai Tamashii Nations to do. What good are the Ultra Brothers without their leader, the top commander in the Inter Galactic Defence Force? To some he's known as Ultraman Ken, but these days he's better known as Father of Ultra. S.H. Figuarts Father of Ultra has been long overdue, and the fact he's also a retail release shows Bandai know the importance of this character to collectors as well. Despite Father of Ultra becoming a prominent figure in Ultraman franchise and making numerous reappearances over the years, this particular figure is based on his debut appearance in Ultraman Ace. 

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Dinobot Swoop

Release Date: July 2024

RRP: £54.99/£55.99

When the Transformers Studio Series 86 line began back in 2021 one of the first things it promised fans was new renditions of the Dinobots at Leader class scale – kicking things off with Grimlock as one of the very first figures in the range. Now three years and four fantastic Dinobots later, Hasbro are finally completing the team with the release of Studio Series 86 Dinobot Swoop. Though far more prominent in Transformers: The Movie than poor old Snarl, Swoop is a rather fitting choice for the final one to come to the line – with both he and Snarl being the second wave of Dinobots to be created in the series.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Collaborative 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Transformers' Party Wallop

Release Date: July 2024

RRP: $49.99/£49.99

Featuring everything from the likes of Ghostbusters, Back to the Future and Jurassic Park to the Universal Monsters and Stranger Things, the Transformers Collaborative line has made quite the name for itself over the past few years. But amongst all the possibilities for where Hasbro could go next with the line, as much as it was probably on people's wish lists Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles probably didn't seem like the most likely candidate. However with both the Robots in Disguise and the Heroes in a Half Shell both currently celebrating their 40th anniversaries, the timing really couldn't be better for Transformers Collaborative 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Transformers' Party Wallop. This latest collaboration gives fans a Transformers take on the Turtles' iconic Party Wagon, with a few extra surprises thrown in as well.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Ultraman & Emi [Ultraman: Rising]

Release Date: July 2024

RRP: 7700 yen

The Ultraman franchise's global expansion plan took a big step forward this year with the release of Ultraman: Rising - the long awaited Netflix animated feature film. Having largely been received positively by newcomers and Ultraman fans alike, only time will tell if the film did well enough to receive a sequel. But in the meantime, Bandai are on hand to make sure there's plenty of merch to look forward to. On top of various action figures aimed at younger fans, older collectors are also covered with the release of S.H. Figuarts Ultraman & Emi [Ultraman: Rising], the first of a number of characters from the film to join the line. In addition to this Japanese release, a more affordable bare-bones edition was released in US stores shortly after the film's release a month earlier in June.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Saga

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 11,000 yen

Tamashii Nations purgatory is a place well known to collectors of Bandai's various toy lines, where numerous figures are revealed at events only to never see the light of day. There have been countless examples over the years, but one of the oldest cases is that of Kamen Rider Saga. With Kamen Rider Kiva being one of the series that helped kickstart the S.H. Figuarts line, Saga's original prototype dates back to well over a decade ago. But while the wait has been a bit of a saga in itself, the Fangire ruler and half-brother of Wataru Kurenai has finally arrived in 2024. That original figure will never see the light of day, but its spirit lives on in S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Kamen Rider Saga – a newly tooled Tamashii Web exclusive figure that continues Kiva's strong place in the "true bone carving" line.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Romance Dawn-

Release Date: August 2024

RRP: 4400 yen

One Piece's grand return to S.H. Figuarts was one of the line's biggest moments last year, but with the franchise celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2024 Bandai Tamashii Nations had only just started cooking. As well as continuing their range of modern-era figures based on the Wano saga and beyond, Bandai are also going to back to very beginning to revisit the Straw Hat Pirates as they first appeared all those years ago. And kicking off this new "Romance Dawn" subline of figures is of course the captain himself – S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Romance Dawn-! Much like the previous Raid on Onigashima release, this Luffy comes with a slightly cheaper price tag to encourage fans to set sail with a brand new collection of figures.

First Impressions: Kamen Rider Gavv

Among the many faucets of Kamen Rider merchandising there's one that often goes under appreciated, despite being a consistent element since 2011 and being beloved by the fandom for its memorable advertising. But it seems 2024 is the year that the "Kamen Rider Gummi" finally gets its due, as gummy sweets, snacks and all kinds of confectionary take centre stage in the 39th entry in the franchise - Kamen Rider Gavv (pronounced "Kamen Rider Gavu"). The sixth series in the Reiwa era takes over from Kamen Rider Gotchard and joins Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger in the current Super Hero Time lineup, with Junko Komura (head writer for Super Sentai series Zyuohger, Lupinranger vs Patranger and Zenkaiger, as well as having previously written episodes for both Kamen Rider Wizard and Kamen Rider Ghost) on board as writer.

Toybox REVIEW: BUZZmod Yoko

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 10,909 yen

Aniplex have been making quite a name for themselves in the world of articulated anime figures with their BUZZmod line, especially last year when they did what no other company has done for the last 15 years and made a poseable Kamina figure. But of course you can't just start making Gurren Lagann figures and then stop at one, so in 2024 they've followed it up with BUZZmod Yoko. Arguably the poster child for Gurren Lagann when it comes to character merchandise, Yoko was the obvious next step when it came to expanding the range – and hopefully it won't stop there.

Series REVIEW: Kamen Rider Gotchard

Given how merchandise-driven the Kamen Rider franchise (or rather any tokusatsu superhero for that matter) is nowadays it's surprising that it took 53 years for trading cards to be the main gimmick of a show, but at the same time finding a way to incorporate them in a way that still tells a good story is no easy feat. Such a task fell on writers Keiichi Hasagawa, Hiromi Uchida and Akiko Inoue for its 38th series and fifth to debut in the Reiwa era - Kamen Rider Gotchard. Joining Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger (and later Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger) as part of the 2023-2024 Super Hero Time, the series' main theme revolves around alchemy and it is the first to focus on high school life since Kamen Rider Fourze back in 2011. The catchphrase for the series is "Seize it! The greatest Gotcha!".

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2] Effect Parts Set

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 4400 yen

While Ultraman Gaia might not have had a series to celebrate its 25th anniversary that doesn't mean Bandai Tamashii Nations aren't taking that milestone seriously, with the titular character's S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou release coming alongside something that could definitely be considered a rarity for the range. The S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2] Effect Parts Set is the first effect part set to be released for a Shinkocchou Seihou figure, the only one in the Tiga/Dyna/Gaia Heisei era trilogy and one of the few effect part sets in the Ultraman range as a whole. Not to mention it's the only one to come as a standard retail release rather than a Tamashii web exclusive, so as far as toys are concerned it's definitely not looking bad for Ultraman Gaia.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2]

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 8800 yen

With Bandai Tamashii Nations having celebrated the 25th anniversaries of Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna with brand new S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou releases, it was fairly obvious where they were going to go next even if the show didn't mark the occasion the same way Trigger and Decker had prior. However that doesn't make S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Ultraman Gaia [V2] any less special, particularly when it's the only Ultraman Figuarts release thus far to be accompanied by a rather impressive Effect Parts set. Both come as standard retail releases, with Gaia rounding off the Heisei era TDG trilogy as well as being the fourth Ultra series to join the Shinkocchou Seihou line.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. MonsterArts Jet Jaguar [1973]

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 11,000 yen

They might have taken their sweet time getting there, but now that Bandai Tamashii Nations is fully embracing the Showa era in the S.H. MonsterArts line they are finally tackling some firm fan favourites. After the 1972 double hitter of Gigan and Godzilla, it’s now time for them to turn their attention toward the following year and the 50th anniversary of Godzilla vs. Megalon. But the titular villain will have to wait a little while longer, because before then it's the turn of the film's real MVP. S.H. MonsterArts Jet Jaguar [1973] finally brings the original version of Godzilla's mechanical ally to the line, following the Godzilla: Singular Point version of the character back in 2022. The figure is a Tamashii web exclusive, and the first designated release from Godzilla vs. Megalon.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project GingaiOh

Release Date: June 2024

RRP: 6800 yen

It's always exciting when the Shokugan Modeling Project branches into a new Super Sentai series and it seems Bandai are keen to stay in the 90s for the time being, with 2024 being the year of Seijuu Sentai Gingaman! Although the item in question may be the only confirmed release for this year from the 22nd Super Sentai series, Bandai have been quite the tease and shown off that there's plenty more to come. Kicking things off at the very beginning and with the core robot of the series, Shokugan Modeling Project GingaiOh is a retail release that immediately displays how this beloved model kit line continues to evolve.

Special REVIEW: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles

Super Sentai fans have been lucky enough to celebrate some milestone anniversaries in style the last few years, with specials, crossover movies and the like to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Kyoryuger as well as the 20th anniversaries of Hurricaneger, Abaranger and Dekaranger. But a 30th anniversary special? Well that's something new for the franchise entirely. Ninja Sentai Kakuranger: Act Three - Middle-Aged Struggles is a Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club special celebrating 30 years of the first ninja Super Sentai team, reuniting the full team for the first time in decades for an all-new chapter in their story alongside other favourites from the series.

Movie REVIEW: Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster

With both the casts of Ninpuu Sentai Hurricaneger and Bakaryuu Sentai Abaranger having recently reunited for 20th anniversary specials, Super Sentai fans have seemingly entered a golden age of fan-favourite series celebrating this milestone with brand new V-Cinext movies. Following their previous return in both their own 10 Years After film and the short-lived Space Squad series of films, there should have been very little doubt that cast of Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger are always ready and willing to give it another round. Tokusou Sentai Dekaranger 20th: Fireball Booster marks the third 20th anniversary Super Sentai film, with Tomozaku Yoshida even returning to reprise his role as Tekkan/Deka Break despite his retirement from acting in 2018. Series main writer Naruhisa Arakawa returned to pen the film, alongside veteran Super Sentai director Katsuya Watanabe.

Series REVIEW: Ninja Sentai Kakuranger

Following the success of Gosei Sentai Dairanger, Toei looked to a new theme for the 18th instalment in the Super Sentai franchise - one that had not been done until this point, but would go on to be among its most repeated. 1994-95's Ninja Sentai Kakuranger marks the first appearance of a ninja-themed Sentai, combining ancient Japanese folklore with the visuals of street art, fashion and American comics to create a series quite unlike any that had come before it. Despite being one of the few series since Kyoryu Sentai Zyuranger to not feature a sixth ranger as a regular character, it instead looked to innovate the franchise in other ways - marking the first time a ranger other than red would be leader, an "Extra Hero", as well as a two-part story format that shifted in tone as it progressed.

Toybox REVIEW: Power Rangers Lightning Collection Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers

Release Date: May 2023

RRP: $124.99/£118.99

Full team sets don't really come along all that often in the Power Rangers Lightning Collection, so whenever one is announced it feels like a pretty big deal. But while Hasbro had previously tested the waters before the Psycho Rangers set with some individual releases, with the Lightning Collection Mighty Morphin Alien Rangers it's all brand new! The first (and currently only) release of the Alien Rangers of Aquitar, this set features all five Rangers alongside the usual selection of accessories and effect parts.

Movie REVIEW: Kamen Rider 555 20th: Paradise Regained

Milestone anniversaries are something that rarely go uncelebrated in the Kamen Rider franchise, and when it's a series as popular as Kamen Rider 555 of course something big was going to happen for its 20th birthday. Though a series that has continued to endure in parallel universe, crossover and/or spin-off material, there is one thing that it has constantly been denied - a proper resolution. All this could change however with the release of Kamen Rider 555 20th: Paradise Regained, a V-Cinext reunion film penned by original writer Toshiki Inoue (fresh off his work on Avataro Sentai Donbrothers) and directed by Ryuta Tasaki (who has worked on nearly every Kamen Rider series since Agito). The film's production was initially announced on the 5th May 2023, which was dubbed "Faiz Day" in celebration of the 20th anniversary.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Red King

Release Date: April 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

Despite having already released an impressive range of monsters and aliens from the original Ultraman series in the S.H. Figuarts range there are still a number of important gaps for Bandai Tamashii Nations to fill, which just goes to show how iconic many of these creatures have become. One such example is S.H. Figuarts Red King, who has taken a whole eight years to come to the line despite being one of the franchise's most enduring foes. First appearing in episode eight of the original series, the ferocious "skull monster" has gone on to appear in numerous instalments across the franchise, most recently in the opening scenes of currently airing series Ultraman Arc.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy

Release Date: April 2024

RRP: 5500 yen

A sure sign that a toy line is doing well is if they revisit things previously covered years before in order to plug any gaps they might have missed first time around. This is definitely something Bandai have had in mind with the Shokugan Modeling Project line - first revisiting Ninja Sentai Kakuranger last year to give fans Ninjaman and now also returning to Chōjin Sentai Jetman to give us the last of its mecha as well. Shokugan Modeling Project Tetra Boy is a Premium Bandai exclusive release, finally giving Jet Icarus and Jet Garuda in the form of the AI-powered robot with kickboxing skills and the abilities to turn into the formidable Tetra Buster.