Meet the Beetles, Barons, and Blazers

I've said it before and I'll say it again. They don't make 'em like they used to. And I'm not even talking about toys -- I'm talking about the BOXES! Here's a selection of the finest vintage toy package art, unearthed during a recent excavation & housecleaning of the Alt Vault.

A vintage illustration of the co-star of the demented 1975 TV series Rockbat, painted by the legendary Tohl Narita, designer of "Ultraman" and many, many other kaiju creations. 

 

Next up: a pair of vintage 1976 illustrations of vehicles from "Time Bokan," a wacky Tatsunoko animated series that spawned a decade of sequels (one of which, Yatterman, was made into a live-action flick last year.) 

 

 

Here's the ever-popular Mach Baron. The instructions suggest consuming large quantities of Hoppy and a quick viewing of the theme song before assembly. Just kidding. That's what *I* suggest.

 

And last but not least, here's a vintage Bandai kit of the Godbird from Raideen. Classic hallmark of Seventies toy packaging: the character absolutely MUST be portrayed in triumphant flight over some bombed-out military facility or vehicle. Those men had FAMILIES, damn it...!

Comments

[Roger]

A question for the Japanese literate: why is Narita's first name transliterated as "Tohl" instead of something like "Toru?"

[MattAlt]

For the same reason that Matsumoto uses "Leiji" instead of "Reiji" -- because he likes it that way!