Within the ever-evolving panorama of Japanese popular culture, the place the boundaries between the weird and the good usually blur, Bandai’s current toy creation stands as a proud, towering testomony to this distinctive mix. Meet the S.J.H.U. Undertaking Shin Universe Robo: a large robotic that smashes collectively 4 of Japan’s most iconic heroes into one unholy mecha creation. Shin Godzilla, Evangelion Unit-01, Shin Ultraman, and Shin Kamen Rider all be a part of forces Voltron-style to type a singular, barely unhinged determine. This isn’t only a toy. It’s a plastic monument to the so-called “Shin” period, a interval outlined by director Hideaki Anno’s auteur takes on these legendary franchises.
Standing at a proud 24 centimeters, the Shin Universe Robo is a piece of insanity and meticulous engineering. Every part of the robotic pays tribute to its supply materials with a fan’s eye for element. Godzilla types the mecha’s chunky torso and legs. Ultraman provides the suitable arm and leg. Evangelion Unit-01 contributes the left limbs. And capping all of it off is Kamen Rider himself, forming the top whereas using atop his Cyclone bike. It shouldn’t work in any respect. It seems like a toy thought scribbled by an overstimulated third grader. However due to Bandai’s spectacular craftsmanship, it in some way holds collectively, each structurally and thematically.
The Arsenal of an Anime Fever Dream
Powered by the Shin Japan Heroes Universe
And sure, it comes with weapons. The Spacium Beam Sword fuses Ultraman’s classic beam attack with Godzilla’s spiny dorsal fins to create a glowing blade of crossover energy. There’s additionally an A.T. Subject Defend lifted straight from Evangelion, which in some way makes the entire thing really feel much more canonically complicated. Might it beat a Megazord in a struggle? Probably. However provided that the Megazord was distracted making an attempt to determine why Godzilla has robotic knees and Kamen Rider is now the top of the category.
The true-world origin of this monstrosity might be traced again to the Shin Japan Heroes Universe (S.J.H.U.), a cross-company collaboration involving Toho, Khara, Tsuburaya Productions, and Toei. The concept was to take 4 of Japan’s most beloved franchises—Godzilla, Evangelion, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider—and let Hideaki Anno run wild with reboots and reimaginings. Whereas every of the brand new “Shin” films stands alone, the S.J.H.U. serves as a shared model platform for wild concepts, merch explosions, and fever-dream crossover initiatives like this one. Consider it because the Avengers Initiative however with extra rubber monsters.
4 Icons, One Frankenstein Robotic
Followers Weigh In: Sensible or Busted?
To advertise the Shin Universe Robo, Bandai even went the additional mile and made a live-action promo video directed by tokusatsu veteran Hiroshi Butsuda. Finest identified for his work on Tremendous Sentai and Kamen Rider reveals, Butsuda introduced out the kaiju fits and the miniature cities to shoot an epic battle sequence that includes a full-sized Shin Universe Robo go well with in motion. It’s loud, chaotic, and completely superb. The entire thing performs like a tribute to Japan’s practical-effects custom, mixing old-school tokusatsu spectacle with fashionable crossover power.
Nonetheless, it wouldn’t be a contemporary Bandai determine with out some fan complaints. Some early patrons famous that the robotic has a couple of stability points, significantly due to these large Godzilla ft, which may throw the entire thing off steadiness. Others say the articulation is a bit stiff, and mixing all 4 figures into the complete mecha type can take a little bit of persistence and observe. But, even with these nitpicks, there’s one thing so essentially bizarre concerning the idea that collectors can’t assist however adore it.
A Value Tag Worthy of a Pop Tradition Mash-Up
A Wonderful Mess We Can’t Assist However Love
At ¥23,100 (roughly $159 USD), the Shin Universe Robo is priced as a premium collectible, and it’s simple to see why. You’re not simply shopping for a toy. You’re shopping for the concept of what occurs when Japan’s greatest popular culture icons merge into one thing gloriously nonsensical. It’s the sort of factor that might solely come from Japan and solely make sense in a world the place Hideaki Anno is allowed to run the present with no brakes.
Associated
10 Kaiju Who Could Appear in The Shin Japan Heroes Universe
In anticipation of Shin Ultraman and Shin Kamen Rider, these following Kaiju might probably wreak havoc within the Shin Japan Heroes Universe.
Flawed? Possibly. Over-the-top? Positively. However the Shin Universe Robo remains to be one of many boldest and strangest items of mecha design to ever roll off the Bandai meeting line. In a tradition that’s continuously remixing the previous, that is one remix that goes all in.
