1.3.16

Happy New Year! 2015 ended with a bang! The highlight of the year was my two-week trip to Japan. After returning with a great haul of toys, books, and memories, the first box day of the here. When I saw it there was no hesitation to buy it. Iwakara Cast figurines are highly collectible and sought after. Iwakura creates iconic and memorable scenes from Godzilla and other Japanese kaiju films. They can be very expensive and difficult to find. Don’t sleep on them and grab them while you can. In my last blog post, I mentioned acquiring the pipe from Godzilla vs MechaGodzilla. I had no idea that I would stumble across it. When this happens grab it. The one rule of collecting to follow is when you see what you want, buy it, because chances are you may not see it again.

Flying Godzilla from Godzilla vs Hedorah

I’ve been very fortunate to nab several of my coveted Cast figurines. They make for great toy photography particularly for recreating those icon moments. My last figure is Flying Godzilla from Godzilla vs Hedorah (1971). For many G-Fans this scene was the most embarrassing and unfortunate. The film is considered by many to be a strange. For me it is one of my favorite Godzilla films despite its criticism. Although I too dislike the thought of Godzilla flying, this moment is just as iconic as infamous.

I love Riichiro Manabe’s score marking this moment climatically. Unfortunately, Yoshimitsu Banno and his film were considered a blow to the Godzilla franchise. Godzilla vs Hedorah was a unique contribution to Godzilla and had hopes for another. Its message about pollution and mature content make continue to argue for its relevance today.

The Cast Flying Godzilla (キャスト特撮大百科 ゴジラ空を飛ぶ!/ゴジラVSヘドラ 1971) was a must have for many reasons. A chance to recreate another iconic moment was atop the list. Here’s the finish shot and the original shot.

Flying Godzilla from Godzilla vs HedorahFlying Godzilla from Godzilla vs Hedorah