Bandai Diversity of Life animal figures

Justice said:
The chameleon seems to be sold out everywhere.
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Are you seeing them listed anywhere besides BBTS? I still can't find them anywhere but there.

I watched a review of the croc from a few years ago last night and the reviewer "Steven's Toy Reviews" said that when it was for sale in 2022 it was only on a "Bandai Premium" web site for sale, and that you had to live in Asia to order it from there. Everyone who got one in the Western hemisphere had to go through an Asian proxy to get it.

So I might not be seeing any of these on the Japanese sites because they're detecting that my browser's IP address isn't coming from Asia so they don't show it to me as an option to buy. I have no idea if these new re-issues are only sold on Bandai Premium or not.
 
Another thing I've noticed is that besides these re-issues visible through BBTS there's no indication I can find that the line is continuing with any new releases. That suggests to me that it didn't sell well, but then again if it didn't sell well you'd think they wouldn't re-issue them so who really knows.

Another possible reason the line ended is that the croc reviewer I watched said that the sculptor was someone who was relatively famous in the gashapon community who also sculpted many of the Bandai MonsterArts figures, and maybe he got too busy with those or doesn't even work with Bandai anymore. No idea really, just guessing.
 
One thing that made me a bit skeptical in watching the croc review was that Steven said the leg joints at the body weren't tight enough to hold the weight of the figure. When you extend them down and put the figure down he said all four legs just flop right out. I was worried about that with the GI Joe Classified croc, but that one holds its weight pretty well.

Hasbro has gotten REALLY good about having figures with nicely tight joints in recent years, and so has Medicom in their Mafex line. But I've bought several recent Bandai figures--Han Solo and Anakin Skywalker from the Ahsoka show--and their joints just aren't as tight as Hasbro's or Medicom's. Completely functional, but just not as tight as the other companies are making me used to. My son has also bought quite a few Figuarts figures, and they mostly have looser joints than those other two companies. So I have no specific reason to believe these Diversity of Life re-issues will have tighter joints than the 2022 releases.
 
EnigmaticClarity said:
In searching for info about the Bandai line I heard several references to these gashapons. One description I heard is that in Japan they're sold in coin-dispensing machines kind of like little toys used to be sold in gumball machines in America, but the gashapons are much more detailed and articulated than their American equivalents.
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Yes, they're gashapons and come out of vending machines oveseas. Unfortunately, all the ones I like (the animals and insects) aren't offered here in the States. It seems like mainly licensed properties make it into US gashapon stores. It's not too hard or expensive to import them though. Especially if you get a few of them. The quality is really great for essentially $10. The gashapon line also offered a bearded dragon. It's obviously not as detailed in sculpt or paint as the more expensive one, but it's a fraction of the price. I can try and take pics in the near future. In fact, I do have some pics but have to figure out how to get them on this site.
 
Here are the Bandai gashapon hornets

https://imgur.com/a/Qgznjis

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EnigmaticClarity said:
Are you seeing them listed anywhere besides BBTS? I still can't find them anywhere but there.

I watched a review of the croc from a few years ago last night and the reviewer "Steven's Toy Reviews" said that when it was for sale in 2022 it was only on a "Bandai Premium" web site for sale, and that you had to live in Asia to order it from there. Everyone who got one in the Western hemisphere had to go through an Asian proxy to get it.

So I might not be seeing any of these on the Japanese sites because they're detecting that my browser's IP address isn't coming from Asia so they don't show it to me as an option to buy. I have no idea if these new re-issues are only sold on Bandai Premium or not.
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Just BBTS. That was more an "everywhere" in that I can't find it not sold out anywhere I guess.
 
As an FYI, search BBTS for Diversity of Life, as they have the cheaper capsule line under Bandai Namco, not Bandai Spirits - frogs, beetles, ladybugs, shellfish, etc. - generally about $10 a piece but blind packaging.

I had looked at the Bandai Spirit beetles when they were first put up for pre-order - impressive looking but do I really need them? The turtle 4-pack in the Bandai Spirits line is tempting as well.

I would say that a lion or tiger or bear or bison in 1/12 scale with that quality of the crocodile would be very tempting. But they may be avoiding animals with fur.
 
Not sure why this never occurred to me before, but if Legends after got around to doing Micronauts, some of the insects and small reptiles would be perfect for a display in the "scale" the figures are supposed to be when on Earth.
 
I think any of the multipack Diversity of Life items on BBTS are the gashapon ones. There's only a few of the larger expensive ones. Maybe only a handful.

BBTs prices are marked up. Especially the multipacks. Those can be sourced for cheaper but it all comes down to home much you want to pay for international shipping.
 
Ashtalon said:
I think any of the multipack Diversity of Life items on BBTS are the gashapon ones. There's only a few of the larger expensive ones. Maybe only a handful.
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Yes, I agree - the multipacks listed under Bandai Namco indicate they are blind packaging, so I assume they are the gashapon; those under Bandai Spirits are the more detailed and more expensive.
 
CRIKEY! That croc is a real beaut!

Damn....I now find myself wanting to get lots of these critters...especially spiders, insects, and snakes to put into displays! I mean, to have Conan & Red Sonja fighting a giant snake would make for an incredible scene!
 
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