Godzilla Island – 1995 saw a temporary end to the Godzilla series. During this time, Toho turned their attention to filming its Mothra Trilogy. Bandai produced toys of the kaiju featured in Mothra 96 and Mothra 97. There seemed little hope that Bandai would make Godzilla toys again untill late 1997 when a new television show featuring the King of the Monsters aired.
Godzilla Island aired on October 10, 1997 and had a one year run. There is little information stateside on what the show was actually about, except that it featured several customized Godzilla related Bandai figures filmed it a stop motion type manner with actors behind the scenes. Here’s a list of the toys featured in the show. slot
Heisei Godzilla, MechaGodzilla 74
DX Powerful Walk Godzilla, MechaGodzilla 93
SpaceGodzilla, Destroyah
Angilas, three sizes of Mothra Larva
Megalon, two sizes of Hedorah
King Seesar, Gigan
Jet Jaguar, Mothra Adult 92
Rodan, Baragon
Gorosaurus, Kamakiras premium303
Mothra Adult 96, Battra Adult
Godzilla Junior, G-Force Mogera
Mysterians Mougera, King Ghidorah 91
Mecha King Ghidorah, the Molten God from Yamato Takeru
And Marmits Glow Dogora
The show also featured various Mecha, such as Maser Tanks and Atragon.
It appears the show was popular enough for Bandai to once again produce Godzilla toys with an unexpected twist. The new toys would be six inches in size and they would be reissues of Bandai previous figures. Known as the “Godzilla Island” figures, Bandai released its first four figures in early 1998
Godzilla 94, Mothra Larva 92, King Ghidorah 91, & MechaGodzilla 93
Godzilla Island Godzilla and MechaGodzilla appear to be the same mold as their standard eight inch counterpart. Mothra Larva, while the mold appears the same when compared to the standard version, the feelers in front of the face and lower body are shorter and duller. King Ghidorah is a completely new sculpt.
The heads/necks have no articulation with the two side heads being the same mold with open mouths and the middle head being a different mold with its mouth closed. All four figures are done in soft vinyl which is the current process of all future vinyl toys.
The tags are folded and pictures the respected kaiju on the front with the “Godzilla Island” TV logo on the top right of the tag. There is no year type of the kaiju listed on the tag, which makes it difficult to determine which suit type is used for Godzilla. Since the tag pictures the 94′ version of Godzilla, this article will refer to the six inch Godzilla Island version as “Godzilla 94”.
Each respected tag is numbered in the front: Godzilla 94 G-01, Mothra Larva 92 G-02, King Ghidorah 91 G-03, and MechaGodzilla 93 G-04. The back of the tag pictures Godzilla and the actors featured on the “Godzilla Island” TV show. Inside of the tags have the usual information and a picture of the actor that appears to be a General on the Godzilla Island television show with a type of message from him in Japanese. The Toho license sticker for all four figures is silver with the Marvel comics Godzilla pictured.
The Godzilla Island figures proved to be real popular with collectors. With plenty of quantities available at very affordable prices, collectors were able to add vinyl figures that were becoming scarce and very expensive in the standard form, such as the Mothra Larva 92.
Bandai continued the Godzilla Island line in the following months with three more vinyl figures.
G-Force Mogera, Gigan, & Angilas
Godzilla Island G-Force Mogera and Angilas appear to be the same mold as the standard version except for Mogera’s drill nose and Angilas back spikes, which are not as sharp as the standard toy. Godzilla Island Gigan was the most anticipated toy. A brand new and more accurate sculpt when compared to its standard counterpart done in a greenish blue vinyl had the new Gigan in high demand.
The tags are the same mentioned above except the respected kaiju pictured and the following numbered: G-Force Mogera G-05, Gigan G-06, and Angilas G-07. The Toho license sticker is the same as above for all three figures.
Bandai continued the Godzilla Island line in the following months with three more vinyl figures.
SpaceGodzilla, King Seesar, & Fire Rodan
All three of Bandai latest Godzilla Island figures appear to be the same mold as their standard counterparts, except there is no articulation in SpaceGodzilla’s legs. While King Seesar almost mirrors the standard version, SpaceGodzilla and Fire Rodan ended up with undesirable paintjobs.
The tags are the same mentioned above except the respected kaiju pictured and the following numbered: SpaceGodzilla G-08, King Seesar G-09, and Fire Rodan G-10. The Toho license sticker is the same as above for all three figures.
With the anticipation of the upcoming Toho film “Mothra 3”, Bandai produced two more figures for the Godzilla Island series as well as toys of the kaiju featured in “Mothra 3”.
Mecha King Ghidorah & Destroyah
The most anticipated yet controversial of the new Godzilla Island toys. It is rumored that the schedule demand to have the new “Mothra 3” toys ready in time for release cause limited quantities made of Godzilla Island Destroyah and Mecha King Ghidrah. This resulted in American dealers raising the prices for the new toys as high as double of what was charged for the previous Godzilla Island figures. Despite the higher cost, this was Bandai best work yet and collectors were eager to add these toys to their collection.
Destroyah is a new and improved mold when compared to the standard version with its wings extended. Mecha King Ghidorah is also a new mold and fashioned after the Forever Series Mecha King Ghidorah with its accurate paint style. Mecha King Ghidorah’s two side heads are the same used for the Godzilla Island King Ghidorah 91.
The tags are the same mentioned above except the respected kaiju pictured and the following numbered: Mecha King Ghidorah G-11 and Destroyah G-12. The Toho license sticker is the same as above for both figures.
There is a six inch Lottery Crystal Clear Godzilla 94. Little is known about this figure except that it’s made of translucent clear vinyl and it’s very limited, anywhere from 10 to 20 pieces if not less. No tag appears to be with the toy.
There is a known bootleg of the six inch Godzilla 94. It’s made of translucent orange vinyl with red highlights and is fashioned after the Bandai Theater Exclusive Melting Godzilla. This bootleg is very hard to come by these days.
September 30, 1998 saw the end of the Godzilla Island television show. With the Godzilla Island figures proving to be a profitable line, Bandai had to make a decision on how to continue the line without using the “Godzilla Island” name, as well as promote the upcoming “Mothra 3” toys.