The Giant
Ghidorah

1.9.2025

This is the 1984 Bandai Giant Monster Series Showa King Ghidorah (バンダイ限定版キングギドラ 1984), an amazing vintage figure that I didn’t know existed until just a couple years ago when a friend and fellow collector described it in NYC many years ago. When I opened The Unauthorized Guide to Godzilla Collectibles by Sean Linkenback (1991) there it was all the time (VT4012). I always assumed it was the smaller Ghidorah from The Godzilla Collection series released that same year. It’s mysterious, a unicorn, a rare bird and species of flying figure. I’ve never seen it in anyone’s collection. It’s a holy grail for collectors of a certain age who grew up in the 80s like me. So when I spotted it on Buyee Japan a week ago, there was no way I was passing it up.

VT4012 Great Monster Series King Ghidorah (about 14″ tall) (Source: The Unauthorized Guide to Godzilla Collectibles (Sean Linkenback, 1991, p 141)

This Bandai Ghidorah was part of the Great Monster Series that included the Bandai Limited Edition Godzilla and Mothra Larva. Ghidorah was released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Godzilla (1954).¹ In Japan, the retail price for Ghidorah was 8,000 yen.² My giant Ghidorah arrived just a day ago complete in the box. The body and detached wings are in pristine condition and along with its original box. Ghidorah’s body is about 14 inches (355mm) tall. There are two slits on the back for inserting the two wings. The wings are delicate and fragile. For that reason I decided not to insert them. The wingspan, proportion and sculpt capture the movie memories it conjured in the 80s. The paint application and Ghidorah’s eyes are simple.

Bandai Giant Monster Series Showa King Ghidorah body and detached wings

The feet have the classic markings of a Bandai figure (Bandai Japan 1984 東宝.東宝映像 “Toho Toho Pictures”) and the official gold Godzilla square merchandise sticker. The box reads Limited Edition King Ghidorah (限定版キングギドラ), Bandai Poppy Division (バンダイポピー事業部). The box is showing wear after forty years but is intact with its original tape.

1984 Bandai Giant Monster Series Showa King Ghidorah (バンダイ限定版キングギドラ 1984) Box

1984 Bandai Giant Monster Series Showa King Ghidorah (バンダイ限定版キングギドラ 1984) Box Sides

Bandai Giant Monster Series Showa King Ghidorah body and detached wings

Inside are the single-sides paper instructions with a simple line-drawing of King Ghidorah illustrating the insert of the wings. The process may be difficult so it recommends the application of the heat of a hair dryer or hot water to soften the plastic slits for the wings. Ghidorah should not be left in direct sunlight so that its plastic body will not deform.

Instructions

限定版キングギドラ Limited Edition King Ghidorah

翼の取り付け方 How to attach the wings

上面より正しい入れ方。The correct way to insert them from the top.

· 翼が少し差し込みずらい場合がございます。40度前後の湯か、あるいはヘアードライヤーで差し込み口付近をやわらかくしてください。スムーズに脚を差し込むことができます。The wings may be a little difficult to insert. Please soften the area around the insertion point with hot water at around 40 degrees Celsius or with a hairdryer. This will allow you to insert the legs smoothly.

注意
素材に塩化ビニールを使用している為、直射日光が当たる場所や、高温になる場所には置かないでください。変形する場合がございます。Note: Because the material used is polyvinyl chloride, please do not place it in direct sunlight or in places where it will be exposed to high temperatures. It may deform.

お問い合せの際は････ When making an inquiry…
発売元 / Distributed by /
㈱バンダイ Bandai Co., Ltd. | ポピー事業部
〒111 東京都台東区駒形2-5-4 Poppy Division, 2-5-4 Komagata, Taito-ku, Tokyo 111

Only a few Godzilla collectibles from the 80s remain outside my collection. Back then it was conceivable to imagine every Godzilla toy. Since I resumed collecting in 2015, I have obsessed over the 80s. We are living in the greatest Godzilla boom to date where rare toys like this giant Ghidorah can still be found.

Reference and Resources

1 Club Tokyo: King Ghidorah (Showa)

2 ゴジタToy博物館, p 44

The Unauthorized Guide to Godzilla Collectibles by Sean Linkenback (1991, p 141)

Hero image source: ゴジタToy博物館, p 44