Giant Robot from "Kikai Sentai ZENKAIJAR" Upgraded for Adults with Metal Parts and Newly Sculpted Parts! Interview with the person in charge of planning the "DX METAL APPEND ZENKAIJOU JURAGAON" chogokin toy

The "Super Sentai" series has become a long-running series, with 45 titles in all. The giant robot Zenkaio, which appears in the latest "Kikai Sentai ZENKAIJAR," is now being released as a complete toy for adults.

The name is "DX METAL APPEND ZENKAIO"!　We asked Akira Terano of the Brand Design Department of Bandai Toy Division, a formula company, about the product concept of this work.

--Please tell us about the new item "DX METAL APPEND ZENKAIO". First of all, what meaning did you put into the brand name "DX METAL APPEND"?

Terano: The "DX" is a big part of the name. DX" is derived from "DX Chogokin," which was also used for Sentai Robo. In 1992, "Chogokin" disappeared from "Evolutionary Combination DX Daijushin" (Dinosaur Sentai Juuranger), leaving "DX" only with the connotation of a standard version of a toy. Later, that standard version also disappeared, and "DX" became a symbolic term for Bandai's official toys.

--I heard that the brand name "DX Chogokin" was also considered at the beginning.

Terano: That's right. First of all, we definitely wanted to add "DX" to the name. However, the "DX Chogokin" is currently used by the Collectors Division for "Macross" and other products, so I consulted with them about whether or not it would be okay to use it. However, when I was in charge of "Chogokin" in the Collectors Division, I thought that the appeal of this brand name was the old-fashioned retro feel, and that it was therefore difficult to convey to younger generations. So I decided to combine "METAL," which emphasizes materials, and "APPEND," which means to add to, to create the brand name.

--What was the impetus behind your decision to launch ZENKAIO for adults?

Terano: One of the reasons we planned this was that items for adults have been sharpened. The regular "Zenkai Gattai DX ZENKAIO Juragaon Set" is priced at 7,480 yen (tax included), which is in the same price range as the "ROBOT Soul" and other products in the collectors division of BANDAI SPIRITS. This is because the number of parts and the coloring process increases for smaller products such as "ROBOT Soul" in order to focus on modeling and movability, resulting in a reasonable price. On the other hand, Sentai Robots have limitations in terms of modeling expression and use of materials in order to pass the strict test of being intended for ages 3 and up.

In this way, there is a clear difference between toys for children and those for adults in terms of the way they are made, but 20 years ago, "Hyakuju Gyokutai DX Gao King" from "Hyakuju Sentai Gao Ranger" was made for slightly more mature audiences. At that time, before the Collectors Division was established, I heard that the same team was in charge of both Sentai Robo and "Soul of Chogokin. That is why the technology of "Soul of Chogokin" was introduced to Sentai Robo as well. The white color of Gao Tiger was expressed with pearl paint, you know (laughs). Of course, that is not necessarily the original direction of Sentai Robots, but we believe that there are users who want the quality of those days. So, although our first priority was for children, we wanted to change the specifications to products for adults like "METAL BUILD" and "Soul of Chogokin".

-Then, please be specific about the appeal points to users.

Terano: Some parts that require strength, such as joints, are left in their molded color, but silver parts are basically plated.

The plastic parts of the upper jaw teeth are plated with the same plating as the die-cast parts to unify the texture. The leg parts of ZENKAI JURAN and ZENKAI GAOON, the parts from thigh to lower jaw, the blade of JURAN SWORD, the arms of JURAN (Kikai mode) attached to the leg append parts, and the claws of GAOON CLAW are replaced with die-cast parts. The thighs and shields of Djuran and Gaon are painted with silver metallic paint. Also, some parts have been painted after the suits used for the photo shoots.

The orange bands on ZENKAI JURAN's arms were only painted on the front in the previous version, but in the "DX METAL APPEND" version, they are painted all the way around. The head marks of ZENKAI JURAN and ZENKAI GAOON, which were previously painted only silver, have also been painted gold, and the black parts of the horns of each have been painted more.

The modeling has also been changed. The head has been changed to a new part that is closer to the suit, and its size has been increased to the limit of the clearance that can accommodate it. The legs have been made thicker and longer by covering them with append parts.

Comparison of legs with and without append parts. The proportions are clearly better!

--So not only have the materials and coloring changed, but the modeling has also been upgraded.

Terano: The "DX Zenkaioh" is a product that adds the element of a Kamen Rider transformation belt to the fun of transforming and combining, and the sequence of combining can be enjoyed with sound. Because of this concept, the modeling expression was lacking in some areas, so we decided to take this opportunity to improve the modeling as well.

--What do you want people to pay attention to in future Sentai Robo products?

Terano: If products like the "DX METAL APPEND" continue to be made, I think adult users will also pay attention to Sentai Robo. Through the "DX METAL APPEND," with its upgraded modeling, texture, and weight, I hope that people will be surprised by the simple structure and fun of playing with these toys, which are unique to toys rather than figures.

(Interview and text by Koji Igarashi (TARKUS))

Product Information

Kikai Sentai Sentai ZENKAIJAR DX METAL APPEND ZENKAIOJURAGAOON

Release date: Scheduled for February 26, 2022. Pre-orders are now being accepted.

Price: 16,500 yen (tax included)

・Sold by: Bandai

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