First Impressions: Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider

While the (nearly) worldwide streaming of Kamen Rider Zeztz on YouTube may be the most notable way the Kamen Rider franchise is making waves across the globe this year, it isn't the only way newcomers may be enticed into giving it a try. Among Crunchyroll's simulcast shows for the Winter 2025 season is Tojima Wants to Be a Kamen Rider, based on the ongoing manga series of the same name by Yokusaru Shibata. Produced by Linden Films (whose work includes Cells at Work! CODE BLACK, among others) in collaboration with Toei, it poses the question surely every Rider fan has considered at least once in their lives - what if I could become Kamen Rider?

Toybox REVIEW: Trasformers Studio Series Hook & Long Haul

Release Date: June 2025

RRP: $89.99/£91.99

Even though Hasbro are slowly running out of key Transformers: The Movie characters to bring to the Studio Series line, leaving the Constructicons towards the end was a very good way of keeping fans interested. Particularly when they're not wasting any time in getting the whole team out, which means collectors won't have to wait long to form Devastator on their shelves. While most of the Constructicons are getting standard single releases, the Studio Series Hook & Long Haul set mixes things up a bit - featuring two members of the team in a single Commander Class set alongside some of the extra parts needed to make up the original Decepticon combiner.

Anime REVIEW: New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

In 2010 Gainax released Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, a series that could be argued was the swansong of the once great studio. Parodying "adult" American cartoons with its own brand of crass humour, Panty & Stocking not only won the hearts of its fans - it also left them with the most painful (yet hilarious) cliffhanger ending possible. In the years that have passed since, Gainax is no more and the show's creators went on to create the powerhouse that is studio Trigger. The future of Panty & Stocking seemed bleak, until it was revealed it would finally be returning just in time for its 15th anniversaries. With the series rights now safely in the hands of Trigger, New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt brings a whole new series of adventures starring the titular foul-mouthed angels. Was it worth the wait?

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Wingman

Release Date: August 2025 

RRP: 12,100 yen 

One of the surprise tokusatsu hits of 2024 was the live-action adaptation of Wingman, based on the 1983 manga by Masakazu Katsura. Like the manga itself the 12-episode series was a love letter to all things superhero and tokusatsu, with plenty of references and homages to classic series. Main character Kenta Hirono was even played by Maito Fujioka, son of original Kamen Rider Hiroshi Fujioka. Despite seemingly like the kind of show that could easily come and go without any merchandise, Bandai Tamashii Nations pulled out the biggest surprise of all by announcing a S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Wingman figure! A very rare example of the line moving outside of long-standing franchises (with the exception of perhaps Gridman, and even that’s grown into a franchise in recent years), Wingman was released as a Tamashii web exclusive.

Toybox REVIEW: Doctor Who History of the Daleks #21 Set

Release Date: August 2025

RRP: £21.99

Despite seemingly having all odds against it, the B&M exclusive Doctor Who figure range has now continued on for several years. A big part of that range has been the "History of the Daleks" sets, and with Character Options now having run out of classic stories to cover things are starting to get a little more interesting. The modern iteration of Doctor Who may have less variants in terms of design and colour, but that doesn't mean it isn't without its surprises. Arriving in stores unannounced and to everyone's surprise was History of the Daleks #21, featuring two Executioner Daleks (or Death Squad Daleks if you'd prefer) from 2022's Eve of the Daleks. Not only is this the first time the Thirteenth Doctor era has been covered in History of the Daleks, but it's also the most recent story the range has represented.

First Impressions: Kamen Rider Zeztz

With Tsuburaya Productions having simulcast Ultraman on YouTube for several years now, Toei have been sorely lagging behind with their tokusatsu offerings. The US is being well-served by various releases of older series on blu-ray as well as a handful of shows on streaming, but when it comes to the newest shows fans have still had to resort to more clandestine means. Until 2025 that is, as Toei finally bring the latest Kamen Rider series to a (somewhat) worldwide audience with Kamen Rider Zeztz! The seventh series to debut in the Reiwa era will have its episodes released on the TokuSHOUTsu YouTube channel with English subs, live-streaming on a continuous loop for the following five days. Franchise veteran Yuya Takahashi (Ex-Aid, Zero-One, Geats) returns once more to write the series, with Kazuya Kamihoriuchi directing this first episode - "Case 1: Start".

Series REVIEW: Kamen Rider Gavv

Of all the weird and wonderful bits of Kamen Rider merchandise out there, one piece that's easily considered the stuff of legend are the Kamen Rider Gummi. Ask anyone who's been following the franchise for the two decades, and they'll fondly recall the adverts of the child who can't get enough of them, crying out his catchphrase of "juicy!" With how much of a tradition they became over the years, it's amazing that it took until 2024 for an actual series to adopt them as its motif. While not strictly about the franchise's particular brand of gummies, sweets, confectionary and all things sugary take centre stage in Kamen Rider Gavv - the sixth main line Rider series of the Reiwa era and 35th overall. Junko Komura (best known for her work on Super Sentai series Zyuohger, Lupinranger vs Patranger and Zenkaiger) led the series as its main writer, Teruaki Sugihara as main director, Hiroshi Butsuda as SFX director and Satoshi Fujita as Action Director. The series ran for a total of 50 episodes, and is notable for being one of the few series since 2010 to not to have a crossover with its predecessor as a Winter movie release.

Toybox REVIEW: Meisho Movie Realization Daimyo Boba Fett

Release Date: January 2023

RRP: $124.99

Among all of Bandai Tamashii Nations' toy lines, the current state of the Meisho Movie Realization line is perhaps the thing that confuses me the most. After years of both retail and Tamashii web exclusive releases in Japan, this rather unique take on the Star Wars universe seems to no longer be a thing in the company's home territory - with the handful of releases since 2021 seemingly exclusive to the US and Europe. Nevertheless as Star Wars continues to grow on Disney+ so does the line itself, with a brand new Meisho Movie Realization Daimyo Boba Fett figure released on the former bounty hunter's title role in The Book of Boba Fett. While the Movie Realization line usually has to bestow a title upon its figures, here the work had already been done for them - with Boba Fett taking up the role of Mos Espa's "daimyo" in the series itself.

Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series Nightsister Merrin

Release Date August 2025

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

With the number of different Star Wars video games there have been over the decades, Hasbro are unlikely to run out of character choices for its "Gaming Greats" range of Black Series figures any time soon. But then again, they don't really need to look to the past either when there are so many popular characters from recent memory deserving of a place. The line has been steadily building up the cast of Respawn's Jedi: Fallen Order and Jedi: Survivor games, but outside of lead character Cal Kestis the rest of the Mantis crew have been inexplicably absent. Until now that is, as Black Series Nightsister Merrin has finally been released - giving Cal a helping hand in what's mostly been a sea of rogue Jedi, Inquisitors and endless trooper and droid repaints.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Valen Chocodon Form

Release Date: June 2025

RRP: 8250 yen

It feels like a missed opportunity that just as Kamen Rider Gavv is beginning to wrap up as a series, we're only now getting the rest of the cast in S.H. Figuarts form. Bandai Tamashii Nations released Kamen Rider Gavv Poppingummy Form all the way back in February, so why the four month wait until a second release from the series. But that release did finally come in the form of S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Valen Chocodon Form, the second Kamen Rider to appear in the series. Of course Valen is also a Tamashii web exclusive as well, because despite the line still seemingly going strong we're long past the days of anyone other than the titular Rider getting a retail release. How things have changed.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Imit-Ultraman (Shin Ultraman)

Release Date: April 2023

RRP: 7700 yen

While certainly not covering everything in the film, Bandai Tamashii Nation's Shin Ultraman S.H Figuarts range still proved to be fairly extensive - something it's very easy to be when you can release multiple versions of the same mould with only slight variations. Just as well then the film featured Imit-Ultraman, a disguise used by Alien Zarab to try and discredit Ultraman as part of his plan to take control of the Earth. S.H. Figuarts Imit-Ultraman (Shin Ultraman) was the first Tamashii Web exclusive release from the film, the third release overall AND the third use of the Ultraman mould. Case in point really.

Toybox REVIEW: Hero Action Figure Zone Fighter (Ver. 2)

Release Date: June 2025

RRP: 12, 980 yen

For Showa era tokusatsu fans, Evolution Toys' Hero Action Figure line has been a godsend for getting classic characters untouched by other companies - from Toei legends like Inazuman and Zubat, Tsuburaya greats like Mirrorman or Redman and even lesser known heroes such as Iron King. There is however one rather significant downside - the figures themselves aren't too great, especially when compared to some of their nearest competition. However just like the company's name the line continues to evolve, with many of their original releases now coming around again with improved "version 2" releases. Among this roster is Hero Action Figures Zone Fighter (Ver. 2) - the titular hero from the 1973 series of the same name (also known in Japan as Meteor Man Zone) and good friend to the King of Monsters himself, Godzilla. Have there been enough improvements to finally make HAF a credible rival to the likes of S.H. Figuarts?

Special REVIEW: Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger Formation Lap: Settlers of the Galaxy

Once upon a time a big multi-series Super Sentai crossover could be considered a special occasion, but with the arrival of Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club it seems more like an everyday occurrence. Nevertheless it's always fun to see which franchise alumni come back for these streaming service specials, and Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger Formation Lap: Settlers of the Galaxy offers quite the cast list. As well as serving as a prequel to Bun Violet and Byun Diesel's arrival in Bakuage Sentai Boonboomger, the one-off special also features returning cast members from Ohsama Sentai King-Ohger, Avataro Sentai Donbrothers, Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger, Uchu Sentai Kyuranger AND Engine Sentai Go-Onger. Just another day in this wild and wonderful multiverse we call Super Sentai.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus

Release Date: September 2023

RRP: $89.99/£91.99

Even with several of the Transformers: The Movie cast receiving figures towards the tail end of the War for Cybertron trilogy in the Kingdom line, that didn’t mean they were off the table for Studio Series 86. Where there were improvements to be made in the name of screen-accuracy they have for the most part been taken, and there’s no better example of this than Ultra Magnus. Leader class figures are great, but why not go bigger? Studio Series 86 Ultra Magnus gives the Autobot City Commander a much needed boost by bringing him up to Commander class status, as well as the largest single figure in the range thus far.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Age of the Primes Vortex

Release Date: April 2025

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

The time of Transformers Legacy is over, and thus begins the Age of the Primes! 2025 marks the beginning of an all-new Generations line celebrating the mythical Thirteen Primes, but that doesn't mean Hasbro aren't including other popular faces from across the Transformers multiverse in for good measure. Two new G1-styled combiner teams have been confirmed for the range, and whilst its first year is more preoccupied with the Aerialbots and Superion we also have a sneak peek of what's in store for year two with Age of the Primes Vortex! Following on from Menasor in the Legacy line and Devastator in Studio Series 86, the Combaticons and Bruticus will be the third Decepticon combiner to join this modern iteration of toys.

Toybox REVIEW: HELLO! GOOD SMILE Panty & Stocking with See-Through

Release Date: July 2024

RRP: 6500 yen

In 2021 Good Smile Company launched the HELLO! GOOD SMILE line - a range of affordable figures from numerous franchises that all followed a distinct chibi style. This style comes from Shigeto Koyama, a prolific designer who's worked across a number of productions for both Gainax and Trigger (as well as designing Baymax from the Big Hero 6 movie). And if you're thinking this particular style looks familiar, then it's because it also matches the art style from Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt's iconic end sequence. But despite having run successfully now for four years, it is only now with the advent of New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt that these characters are now joining the line. In addition to individual releases of Panty and Stocking themselves, a special HELLO! GOOD SMILE Panty & Stocking with See-Through set has also been produced - with an early release at Anime Expo before being sold exclusively through the Good Smile Company website.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Bonecrusher

Release Date: March 2025

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

Although it’s taken a good few years into its existence for Hasbro to bring Devastator to the Studio Series 86 line, at the very least now that they are coming they’re doing it at rapid pace. So much so that we can expect to see all six Constructicons released before the year is out, with the second of the group coming in the form of Studio Series 86 Bonecrusher. Forming the left arm of Devastator in combined mode, Bonecrusher is the first of two (alongside Scavenger) Deluxe Class releases, with the legs (Scrapper and Mixmaster) as Voyagers whilst torso parts Hook and Long Haul are a Commander class two-pack.

First Impressions: New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt

New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is streaming on Amazon Prime

All the way back in 2010 the world was blessed with Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt, arguably the swan song of the once great studio Gainax. But after 13 episodes of loud and irreverent sex, swearing and sugar, the series disappeared into the ether. Its creators went on to found studio Trigger, whilst Gainax rapidly became a husk of its former self. Now 15 years later, the stars have finally aligned and the dawn of New Panty & Stocking with Garterbelt is upon us. With the IP finally having been acquired by Trigger, the Anarchy sisters are free to continue their debauchery. The bitches are back baby, and it is LONG overdue.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Scrapper

Release Date: March 2025

RRP: $34.99/£34.99

While we’re now quite far out from the 35th anniversary of Transformers: The Movie it originally arrived to celebrate (so much so that we’re rapidly approaching its 40th anniversary), the Studio Series 86 line is still going strong! By this point most of the new characters that appeared in the film have been neatly covered off, but there’s still scope when it comes to the veteran Generation One characters. 2025 is poised to be a pretty big year for the line as it delves into its first combiner, the only one to appear in the film itself – Devastator! With the six Constructicons set to be released across five sets at varying price points, Studio Series 86 Scrapper neatly kicks things off with their de facto leader.

First Impressions: Ultraman Omega

As the Ultraman franchise enters its sixth year of delivering worldwide simulcasts with multi-language subtitles via its ULTRAMAN Official YouTube Channel, there isn't a shadow of a doubt that Tsuburaya Productions are leading the way when it comes to making their shows available on a global scale. For its 2025 entry (and 35th mainline series), we enter a brave new world with Ultraman Omega. The series compositors are Toshizo Nemoto and Junichiro Ashiki (both veteran writers for the New Generation era), while its main director is Masayoshi Takasue (who previously held the same role for Ultraman R/B and Ultraman Decker). Unfortunately unlike previous entries Ultraman Arc and Ultraman Blazar it seems an English language dub won't be available on the day of release, but is said to be coming at a later date.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Galvatron

Release Date: January 2025

RRP: $54.99/£55.99

Even though the Studio Series 86 line is running out of core Transformers: The Movie characters to feature, there are still some characters that have not appeared in the line itself despite having a recent toy. One such example is Galvatron, who despite being synonymous with the movie has been overlooked by the line until now due to his War For Cybertron: Kingdom toy coming out around the time the line was starting. However Studio Series 86 Galvatron has finally arrived, and while it might not be a brand new figure (ala Ultra Magnus), it does however fill a void that Transformers fans have noted in Galvatron toys for decades.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Valvarad

Release Date: October 2024

RRP: 9900 yen

If there's one thing you can almost be certain of in a modern Kamen Rider series these days, it's that most of the principal characters will become Riders at some point. When Kurogane Spanner was first introduced in Kamen Rider Gotchard as the "masked warrior" Valvarad, it created the surprise dynamic of having a transforming protagonist that wasn't necessarily a Rider. However it didn't take long for Spanner to cast this transformation aside - confronting his dark past and, with the help of a new Driver, evolving into Kamen Rider Valvarad. Released as a Tamashii Web exclusive toward the end of 2024, S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Valvarad rounds off the core trio of Gotchard's Rider roster.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Alien Hipporit

Release Date: May 2025

RRP: 11,000 yen

One of the greatest feelings one can experience as an S.H. Figuarts collector is when a figure revealed at a Tamashii Nations event finally escapes Bandai purgatory and gets an official release date. First revealed all the way back in 2019, S.H. Figuarts Alien Hipporit was never heard or seen from again until the lead up to the 2024 event, when it was announced that he would finally be released in 2025 as a Tamashii Web exclusive. First appearing in episodes 26 and 27 of Ultraman Ace, Alien Hipporit is notable for successfully capturing all five Ultra Brothers as well as even fighting Father of Ultra to a standstill - the latter only securing victory when he tore out his own Colour Timer to revive Ultraman Ace.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Shanks & Monkey D. Luffy -Childhood-

Release Date: March 2025 

RRP: 11,000 Yen

When Bandai Tamashii Nations revealed that they would be going back to the very beginning of the series with the One Piece S.H. Figuarts line, they really meant it. In addition to the first appearance “Romance Dawn” looks of the Straw Hat crew, we’re also going all the way back to when Luffy first dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates with the S.H. Figuarts Shanks & Monkey D Luffy -Childhood- set. This Tamashii Web exclusive release continues to expand the roster beyond that of just the Straw Hats, Red-Haired Shanks being a firm fan favourite and driving force behind the series despite his fleeting appearances overall.

Movie REVIEW: Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Seekers -The Finale-

Thunderbolt Fantasy is available to stream on Crunchyroll

All good things must eventually come to an end, and after four series and two movies that time has finally come for Thunderbolt Fantasy. The collaboration between Gen Urobuchi, Nitroplus, Good Smile Company and Taiwanese puppet production company Pili International Media has wowed fans for the past nine years with its mesmerising story and incredible production values, so the idea that this will be the last we ever see of Shāng Bù Huàn, Lǐn Xuě Yā and the gang is a difficult one to accept. Though originally planned for five full-length seasons, Thunderbolt Fantasy: Sword Seekers -The Finale- was instead condensed down into movie format – rounding off all the plot threads that have developed over the last decade in a swift 90 minutes.

Series REVIEW: Chouriki Sentai Ohranger

Despite it being common knowledge that the Super Sentai franchise started in 1975 with Himitsu Sentai Gorenger, that wasn't always considered the case "officially". Legal issues with Ishinomori Productions in 1987 actually saw both Gorenger and its successor JAKQ Dengekitai discounted from the franchise for just under a decade, and it wasn't until 1995 that they finally returned to the Super Sentai banner - making the series for that year a celebration of its 20th anniversary. And that is exactly what Toei did with Chouriki Sentai Ohranger - a series that returns to the franchise's roots with a team of professional soldiers whilst also embracing the evolution it had undergone in the years since. As well as marking the first time "Super Sentai" as a franchise was fully formed, Ohranger is also significant for the introduced of the "Versus Series" crossover movies - Chouriki Sentai Ohranger: Ole vs. Kakuranger beginning an annual tradition that continues on to this day.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project BullTaurus & Galaxy Decisive Battle Set

Release Date: December 2024

RRP: 8000 yen

2024 was the year Seijuu Sentai Gingaman stormed onto the Shokugan Modeling Project scene, and despite a brief stopover to round off the GoGoFive range with Victory Mars, Bandai made sure to return to the 22nd Super Sentai series to round off the year in suitable fashion. And of course the next obvious port of call is the show’s sixth (or extra depending if you’re going by Gokaiger categorisation) hero Black Knight – or more specifically the Shokugan Modeling Project Beast Combination BullTaurus & Galaxy Decisive Battle Set. This Premium Bandai exclusive release goes a little bit further than simply Black Knight’s Starbeast partner – covering off other aspects seen in both Gingaman and its follow-up crossover movie KyuuKyuu Sentai GoGoFive vs. Gingaman.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Mecha Gigantron [Ultraman: Rising]

Release Date: March 2025

RRP: 22,000 yen

An Ultraman S.H. Figuarts range just doesn't feel complete without a monster or two, and for the most part Bandai Tamashii Nations are quick to deliver. So much so that even Ultraman: Rising has been able to get in on the action, with the third release from last year's film being the biggest yet - S.H. Figuarts Mecha Gigantron [Ultraman: Rising]! After Gigantron is captured by the Kaiju Defence Force, the KDF enslave the monster in mechanical armour - using her to battle Ultraman and reclaim her child. It is only with the combined strength of Ultraman, Emi and Ultradad that they are able to bring the monster back to her senses and fight back against the KDF. A figure that very much lives up the monster's name, Mecha Gigantron is a Tamashii web exclusive release.

Special REVIEW: Kamen Rider Majade with Girls Remix

Amongst the weird and wonderful specials that find their way onto the Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club, Kamen Rider Jeanne & Kamen Rider Aguilera with Girls Remix was a particularly special gem. Celebrating numerous women from across the Kamen Rider universe whether they were Riders or not, the three-part miniseries was exactly the kind of crossover that the streaming service should be investing time into. So it’s extremely pleasing to see that (some of) the gang are back once again for a follow up release – Kamen Rider Majade with Girls Remix. This time simply taking the form of a one-off special, it’s Rinne Kudo taking the spotlight as her story continues beyond Kamen Rider Gotchard: Graduations – bringing with her some new members to the group as well as the established roster.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Roronoa Zoro -Romance Dawn-

Release Date: February 2025

RRP: 7700 yen

The return of One Piece S.H. Figuarts might have been a momentous occasion for fans, but it certainly hasn’t been without its problems. And if you ask collectors, perhaps the biggest of all was the Roronoa Zoro -Raid on Onigashima- figure. With woeful articulation stemming from both poor engineering choices and the use of soft plastic robes, it’s widely considered to be a bit of a disaster. However with Bandai Tamashii Nations returning to the show’s origins in celebration of its 25th anniversary, they’ve got a chance to make up for those mistakes with S.H. Figuarts Roronoa Zoro -Romance Dawn-. A retail release figure, Zoro is the third of the Straw Hats’ original lineup to be released in the line (following on from Luffy and Nami).

Toybox REVIEW: Sentinel Choukou Senshi Changerion

Release Date: October 2022

RRP: 18,000 yen

Bandai may effectively rule the roost when it comes to tokusatsu toys, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other companies out there leaving that stone unturned – particularly when it comes to things Bandai themselves aren’t releasing. While the likes of Evolution Toys are doing interesting things when it comes to lesser-known heroes from the Showa era, one of the more surprising additions from the last few years was the Sentinel Choukou Senshi Changerion figure. With Sentinel perhaps best known amongst collectors for applying their talents to high-end mecha figures, I don’t think anyone saw an articulated action figure of the titular hero from the 1996 series of the same name. Or maybe even a modern Changéríon toy at all for that matter really.

Toybox REVIEW: JoyToy TMNT Shredder

Release Date: November 2024

RRP: $25.99

Even though JoyToy’s Warhammer 40,000 range has been incredibly expansive, when the company revealed they would also be tackling the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 1/18 scale fans still probably weren’t prepared for just how many characters they planned to release. Since the release of the main four Turtles the line has successfully dived into the realm of villains and side-characters, naturally starting with their greatest foe – the leader of the Foot Clan himself, the Shredder. JoyToy TMNT Shredder is another interesting release that clearly has design cues from previous iterations of the character, but also a fresh take unique to this toy line.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Romance Dawn- Gum Gum Option Parts Set

Release Date: February 2025

RRP: 4950 yen

As great as the recent string of One Piece S.H. Figuarts have been, there's been one complaint among them that just seems to persist - why don't any of the standard Luffy figures come with stretchy arm parts? After all, being a rubber man is the future Pirate King's entire gimmick! It seems Bandai Tamashii Nations were prepared for such a complaint though, and as such have released the S.H. Figuarts Monkey D. Luffy -Romance Dawn- Gum Gum Option Parts Set! This rather extensive accessory pack has been produced with the -Romance Dawn- version of Luffy in mind, but has some parts that are also compatible with the earlier -Raid on Onigashima- version.

Toybox REVIEW: Shokugan Modeling Project Victory Mars

Release Date: October 2024

RRP: 7200 yen

While there are plenty of things to praise Bandai for when it comes to the Shokugan Modeling Project (formerly Super Mini-Pla) line, one thing that should be commended is how thorough it is - particularly when it comes to the Super Sentai range. In the years since it began back in 2017 it's covered a number of different series, and nearly every time it's done the complete mecha line-up. Some things do occasionally fall through the cracks though, and in the last few years it does feel like there's been effort to fix that. First the Kakuranger line finally got its Ninjaman after five years in 2023, and now it's KyuuKyuu Sentai GoGoFive's turn with the release of Shokugan Modeling Project Victory Mars. Last seen with the release of Black Max Victory Robo back at the end of 2020, Victory Mars has been LONG overdue. Comprised of five Mars Machines built for deep space rescue missions, the final mecha in the GoGoFive arsenal was released as a Premium Bandai exclusive.

Toybox REVIEW: THE GATTAI DX Bravern

Release Date: January 2025

RRP: 16,800 yen

Brave Bang Bravern! was quite the surprise hit last year, luring anime fans in with what seemed like a fairly run-of-the-mill real robot show and then instead dropping a love letter to the Super Robot genre full of over the top action and hot-blooded romance between men. That said, with Masami Ōbari involved perhaps it didn't come as a complete surprise to everyone. With the series airing back at the beginning of 2024 the wait for merchandise has felt like an eternity, and nearly a year later Good Smile Company are the first to come out swinging with THE GATTAI DX Bravern - the latest release in their ever-growing high-end mecha line.

Movie REVIEW: Fuuto PI: The Portrait of Kamen Rider Skull

The announcement of a Fuuto PI anime series felt like a huge moment for the Kamen Rider franchise, particularly as its worldwide simulcast would allow the series to have a far wider reach than any others had previously. But although the sequel to 2009's Kamen Rider W certainly delivered in terms of story and spectacle, the 12-episode series barely scratched the surface of the manga it was adapted from. However despite a few years of silence it seems the story of the half-and-half detectives isn't quite over yet, as return once more in Fuuto PI: The Portrait of Kamen Rider Skull. Adapting the "Portrait of S" arc from the manga, the feature film looks back at the origins of Kamen Rider Double as well as Shotaro's mentor Sokichi Narumi. Once again animated by Studio Kai, the film also serves as the 2024 "Winter movie" for the franchise - unexpectedly taking the place of a Gavv and Gotchard crossover.

Toybox REVIEW: Transformers Studio Series 86 Springer

Release Date: May 2024

RRP: $54.99/£55.99

So far the Studio Series 86 line has provided us with four great years of Transformers: The Movie figures, but with most of the cast now covered it's definitely beginning to wind down a bit as the franchise moves on to other things. While there's still plenty to look forward to in 2025-26 (the Constructicons especially), pretty much all of the key characters are present and accounted for. For example the release of Studio Series 86 Springer finally saw the main group of Autobots rounded off entirely within the line itself, even though some of the characters had previously appeared in the War for Cybertron trilogy lines. Springer is a retooled version of the War for Cybertron: Siege figure previously released in 2019, somewhat controversially upgraded from a voyager class figure into a retooled leader class release in the same manner as Coronation Starscream. 

Special REVIEW: The Dark Revelation: Lachesis

Kamen Rider Gotchard is a series that certainly isn’t short of backstory. Between the creation of the Chemies, Glion’s relationship with Fuga Kudo and experiments with dark alchemy as well as the formation and students of the Alchemy Academy, it has plenty of potential for spin-off material for long after the series has come to an end. But a good place to start is with fan favourite characters, and when they’re also villains you’ve got the perfect recipe for a Toei Tokusatsu Fan Club special. The Dark Revelation: Lachesis is an exploration into the origins of the youngest of the Three Dark Sisters, receiving a limited theatrical release in Japan before arriving on the streaming platform at the beginning of April 2025.

Anime REVIEW: The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World

The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World is available to stream on Crunchyroll

There has been a steady increase in tokusatsu-inspired/adjacent superhero anime series in recent years, not just thanks to the likes of the Gridman and GARO anime adapations or Fuuto PI, but also manga adaptations like Love After World Domination, Miss Kuroitsu From the Monster Development Department and Go! Go! Loser Ranger!. Based on the number of series released each season, the popularity of Isekai-themed anime hasn't waned in the past few years either. So the two coming together in the lengthily titled (this is an Isekai series after all) The Red Ranger Becomes an Adventurer in Another World should pretty much be a match made in heaven. Animated by Satelight (the studio behind Symphogear as well as later instalments of the Macross franchise), the 12-episode series is an adaptation of the manga series of the same name by Koyoshi Nakayoshi - which began publication in 2020 and is currently still ongoing.

Series REVIEW: Choukou Senshi Changéríon

After a successful collaboration with Mechanical Violator Hakaider in 1995, SEGA Enterprises looked to work with Toei once more on a second tokusatsu project. Though the initial plan was to produce a Hakaider TV series, it was soon decided that the project instead would be a wholly original one-off superhero series - Toei's first since Kyodai Ken Byclosser back in 1985. Producer Susamu Yoshikawa and effects company Rainbow Zokei Planning, looking to work with new costume materials, put forth the idea of a transparent hero, and Yasushi Shinohara was brought on as character designer. With a team that included main director Takao Nagaishi (a regular on Super Sentai between Changeman and GoGoFive), action director Kazuo Sagawa and writer Toshiki Inoue (at the time best known among tokusatsu fans for his work on Chojin Sentai Jetman as well as various other Super Sentai series), the result was Choukou Senshi Changéríon ("Super Light Warrior Changéríon" or simply "Changerion"). Starring a young Takashi Hagino (who would famously go on to play Takeshi Asakura/Kamen Rider Ouja in Kamen Rider Ryuki) in the title role, Changerion aired from April to December 1996 - initially proposed for a full 52 episodes before being cut short to 39 due to low ratings.

Toybox REVIEW: Power Rangers Lightning Collection Dino Thunder Black Ranger

Release Date: June 2023

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

Even as the Power Rangers Lightning Collection bowed out (at least for the foreseeable future anyway) after 15 main waves and countless sets/exclusives, it still continued to throw out a few last-minute surprises. But it also made sure to finish a few more teams nearing completion on its way out, including Power Rangers Dino Thunder. With the team spread across four years it was a bit of wait, but Hasbro definitely chose a good one to finish on. The Lighting Collection Dino Thunder Black Ranger is the final member of the team to be released, and is the final ranger form of legendary hero Tommy Oliver – now a palaeontologist and mentor a new team of rangers.

Toybox REVIEW: Star Wars Black Series Clone Commander Cody (Revenge of the Sith)

Release Date: March 2025

RRP: $24.99/£24.99

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge on the Sith, and of course Hasbro are getting in on the celebration. In addition to some much-needed updates to characters via new sculpts and/or revised paint jobs, this new selection of Black Series figures have also been given the retro packaging treatment – matching that of the original 3.75" figures released all those years ago. Among the range is an all-new Black Series Clone Commander Cody, finally updating one of the most iconic clone troopers with an all new sculpt, removable helmet and movie-specific accessories.

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Gridman

Release Date: January 2025

RRP: 11,000 yen

Although for the majority of its lifespan the S.H. Figuarts Shinkocchou Seihou line has remained fairly Kamen Rider-exclusive, the last couple of years particularly have seen it branch out into a number of other tokusatsu franchises. First there was a brief foray into GARO, eventually followed by the line expanding into both Ultraman and Super Sentai. 2025 is set to see the line expand even more – most surprisingly with Wingman later in the year, but first with something else Ultra-adjacent. S.H. Figuarts -Shinkocchou Seihou- Gridman sees the Hyper Agent make his long-awaited return to a Bandai Tamashii Nations line – his first since his Ultra-Act figure all the way back in 2012. The figure is a Tamashii web exclusive, adding to the renaissance of Gridman merchandise there's been since the release of the anime series SSSS.Gridman and its subsequent sequels/spin-offs. This figure is of course based on his appearance in the original 1993 series, later adapted in the West as Superhuman Samurai Syber Squad.