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MICROMAN 2006 KIGURU-MICROMAN

Kiguru-Microman series makes a surprise return in 2006 Microman line. The first series of Kiguru-Microman was debuted in 2004 for the 50th Anniversary of Godzilla but the line did not do well with collectors. Kiguru Microman has very unique concept of using Microman Full Action Body as micro-size "actor" for the rubber suit monster just like in real life. While the series idea is very interesting (using Microman as core body for rubber suit), the execution is far from perfect. The first series, the Godzilla suits are so small and it is almost impossible to get the figure inside. The figures became an exercise in frustration.  Later releases has bigger suits but the figures are more or less a gimmick than an actual usable core body that can fully articulate the rubber monster.

MICROMAN INSIDE A RUBBER SUIT

Each Kiguru Microman comes with real Microman figure and not just Material Force. Each figure has unique color scheme and head design. The figure come in plain body and has to be decorate using provided stickers. The first series the stickers are very difficult to apply and Takara seem to make some improvement for the 2006 series. The stickers for Ricky and Vain are much easier to apply and go on very easy, still a small tweezers and may be magnifying glass are probably helpful. Ricky and Vain is much more colorful than the first Kiguru Microman. The bodies are now all clear (instead of having opaque chest). Ricky is clear blue with red joints (a nice contrast) with yellow body stripes and silver Gamera-like shell for their chests symbol. Vain is clear red (almost pinkish) with pale red joints. Vain comes with metallic pink stripes and orange chest symbol. The two new Kiguru-Microman are quite colorful when fully decorated with stickers.

GAMERA The 40th Anniversary!

2006 mark the "official" 40th anniversary of Gamera. Gamera is a live-action monster along the same concept as Godzilla. He is a giant size radioactive turtle and a creation of Studio Daiei. The first Gamera appear in 1965 during what is now known as the "Showa" period of live-action monster movies. Gamera arrived a full ten years after the debut of Godzilla. Like Godzilla, Gamera was revived in 1990's during the giant monster cinema revival period (known as the Heisei era).  The new Gamera has more modern look and bulkier than the original. For 2006, Daiei introduce a new Gamera movie for the Millennium age (follow Godzilla) and to celebrate the 40th years of this fire-breathing, flying hard shell monster.

MONSTERS ACTION!

Takara improve on much of the original Kiguru design and the new Kiguru Gamera figures are far superior to the first series and the special two-pack series. Unlike the first Kiguru Godzilla, the Gamera use larger scale suits which make it a lot easier to insert Microman figure. But unlike the larger size Kiguru Godzilla and Ghidrah from the two-packs, the suits are much better engineer and the figures fit in nicely with the seams well hidden and the hands and feet joints are well connected. The molding and paint job are also very nicely done on both Gamera suits. If you are fans for giant monsters then the Gamera set will make excellent and unique addition to Gamera. For Microman collectors, the two new Kiguru-Microman have very nice unique color scheme with cool head sculpts. Without the stickers, the figures are essentially clear Material Force body and with them the figure actually do look very nice (and the stickers are much easier to apply this time around).