Dreams in Diecast and Plastic

American manga-ka Tim Eldred has penned a mind-bendingly detailed guide to every toy ever created for the Space Cruiser Yamato series, a.k.a. Starblazers for those stranded in the 'States. From big guys like Nomura and Popy to garage manufacturers like Liberty Planet, from Yamato-shaped handguns to the fabulous Yamato bicycle, it's all in there. There's even a page dedicated to Aoshima's demented, not-quite-a-copyright-infringement Redhawk Yamato kits. It's live on the official Starblazers website. (And Tim, don't even try to deny that you've got a uniform just like this hanging in your closet.)

Comments

[wildarmsheero]

Where is my Mori Yuki hugpillow??

[Steve Harrison]

Which, of course, begs the question: What would it have been like if Nomura Toy had tried to release the Yamato as a Tin toy instead of die cast zinc? Would have it been awesome and dangerous or the most lame thing ever?

I really had to wrestle with Tim some on parts of that whole thing, about the context of manufacturing and other stuff. He did good.

The only real mystery to uncover is just WHY Nishizaki took the license away from Nomura and sold it to Bandai. Was it just the money? Was it the thought that Bandai could get stuff in more stores? Was it simply something like Nomura just didn't seem to know how to package well? (I mean, you look at the boxes for the Yamato and Blue Noah toys, and they look like they're made from recycled cardboard, and rather low end!)

There will always be questions.

[Matt Alt]

>>I really had to wrestle with Tim some on parts of that whole thing

I can only imagine these conversations ending in a John Woo style standoff, in the middle of a destroyed room with pistols in the shape of a Yamato pointed at each other's heads.

I don't know exactly what happened with Nomura (other than that Hasbro bought them out in 1992), but I do know that a successful license doesn't necessarily guarantee a company's success. Takatoku had the cash cow that was the Macross license in 1982, but went under in 1983.)

Blue Noah!
http://www.geocities.co.jp/Playtown-Dice/4403/sonota/burunoa/burunoa.html

[Steve Harrison]

Oh, so Hasbro (I assume Hasbro Japan...IS there a Hasbro Japan? I thought they partnered with Takara) bought up the name? Interesting...was it part of the overall buying of other defunct American companies like Kenner? Because it looks like Nomura Toy was firmly in business with Remco during the '80s.

(see, just like with Japan, I also miss the sheer variety of American toymakers. Remco, Topper, Coleco...)

[Matt Alt]

Hasbro Japan was purchased by Tomy several years later, which in turn merged with Takara several after that. What a tangled web they weave...

[Steve Harrison]

OK then, let's see...IIRC CM's Corp is a sub-arm of Takara/Tomy, so with the ownership of Nomura...and if they work with Tohokushinsha..hey! why NOT a Brave Gokin Blue Noah?

Or maybe WAVE could do it. I'm pining away for that
Crusher Joe Minerva.

Or Fewture, and be INSANE overpriced like their Mighty Jack. Which I also crave because I'm stupid.