Mechagodzilla Gets A Shogun Warrior Makeover By Super7


File this under the better-late-than-never category: Super7 is releasing a 20-inch tall Shogun Warrior version of Mechagodzilla this summer, complete with wheeled feet and spring-loaded finger missiles. Even though Mechagodzilla first appeared in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla back in 1974, this is the first time this Toho Studios kaiju character has been redesigned as a Jumbo Machinder, the robot toy type that the Shogun Warrior line popularized back in the ‘70s.



What makes this a significant moment in American toy history is that a generation of kids got their first exposure to Toho kaiju Godzilla and Rodan through their toy versions which were released during Mattel’s original Shogun Warrior run. Mattel brought these two movie monsters in to serve as enemies to the Shogun Warrior super robots, even though these characters had nothing to do with these super robots in their home country of Japan. Nevertheless, many toy buffs fondly remember these toys, so it’s nice to see another Toho character getting added to the Shogun Warrior line (albeit over four decades later).


The vintage Shogun Warriors Godzilla (left) and
Super7’s Shogun Warriors Mechagodzilla


Personally, I’m surprised that more Toho kaiju characters haven’t been added to Super7’s version of the Shogun Warrior line. Ever since the Shogun Warrior license was first revived by Toynami back in 2010, we’ve seen Jumbo Machinder versions of characters from Star Wars, Futurama, Transformers and He-Man, characters that don’t fit the Shogun Warrior aesthetic. Hopefully, Super7 will be adding other Toho kaiju such a Jet Jaguar and Mechani-Kong to its Shogun Warrior line in the near future. It would also be nice if they also added a few Jaeger robots from the Pacific Rim franchise while they’re at it.  



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