Prepare, Dragon Ball collectors! The HG line of highly detailed anime figures is making a triumphant return with an all-new Goku release that includes various Super Saiyan forms, including Ultra Instinct Goku.
Figure manufacturer Gashapon has announced on the official Dragon Ball website that it will release “HG Dragon Ball 01 GOKU EDITION” at the end of July. The new figures are about 10 cm tall and cost 500 yen (US$3.25) each. Gashapons are small plastic toys sold in capsules at toy vending machines for a small fee. The toy that a buyer receives is selected at random. Fans can win a Goku figure in his base, Super Saiyan, Super Saiyan 3, or Ultra Instinct forms. The official Gashapon website currently lists the locations of these Goku figures in Japanese toy vending machines, though they frequently make their way overseas through later official releases or unofficial resellers.
Although the new Goku figures were designed as capsule toys, Bandai’s Gashapon did not sacrifice quality. The various Goku toys are highly detailed, evoking key scenes from the series. The Super Saiyan Goku figure is based on the cover art for its Volume 27, which depicts Goku’s first transformation into a Super Saiyan. The figure faithfully recreates Goku’s strong and determined pose, as well as his incredible muscular details. The Super Saiyan 3 Goku figure is even more impressive, with KI energy sparkling through Goku’s Sonic the Hedgehog-like hair.
It has been a while since a new line of figures in the HG Dragon Ball series was released. According to Gashapon’s project lead, YOSHIKI, the toy developers wanted to make a “definitive addition to the Gashapon Dragon Ball series that would appeal to fans of all ages.” Gashapon is able to accomplish this thanks to recent technological advances. The most difficult challenge for the developers was balancing affordability and high-quality details, especially given Dragon Ball’s reputation and high expectations for its products. “In the end, our team managed to create a remarkably high-quality product that I’m sure will surpass all expectations,” he said.
The new EDITION adds to an ever-growing list of new Dragon Ball projects in the series’ 40th year. There’s also a new anime figure of Vegeta, based on his brutal defeat by Frieza in the “Namek Saga.” Dragon Ball Daima, a new anime television series created by the late Akira Toriyama, will premiere in October. Crunchyroll streams the Dragon Ball anime franchise.
Source – Dragon Ball website
