Yamato USA is grouping its 2005 releases into three lines -- a high-end anime line; the story-image-figure line that's based on the normal progression of property development in Japan, in which only the most successful properties are made into figure lines; and collections of figures around particular artists. 

 

High-end Anime Products

The Votoms Scopedogs anchor the high-end anime line.  They're very popular in Japan, where an exclusive Scopedog for Toys R Us sold out in four hours.  Following up the successful release of the Scopedog ATM-09-ST, Yamato plans to release the Scopedog Melquiya Version in August.  At an MSRP of around $130, this will be a big-time mecha, not for the faint of heart.  Made of over 300 separate pieces, this fully articulated figure has rollers in its feet so it can do the gliding motion from the anime.

 

A third Scopedog may be released before the end of 2005 -- 'brutish' Scopedog.  Accessories, such as a parachute backpack and weapon set, are also planned. 

 

Bubblegum Crisis

Story-Image-Figure

Miniature figures based on Trigun Maximum, Cowboy Bebop, and G-Taste are planned for July, with future releases based on Hellsing and Samurai Champloo also planned. 

 

Videogames are also a source of material for mini-figures.  Yamato will ship two series of Metal Gear Solid mini-figures, along with a series based on Suikoden, another Konami character, in June.  Each series will include seven mini-figures. 

 

Other releases in this line include PVC Statues based on Burst Angels (June), Ikki Tousen (June), Trigun Maximum (July), and Dirty Pair Flash (August). 

 

Several series were displayed at the Yamato Toy Fair showroom in order to gauge interest -- Bubblegum Crysis (their spelling) figures, Please Twins PVC statues, cold cast Banpresto Please Teacher resins, and figures based on Conan the Boy and the Future (a 1978 anime series -- most episodes are directed by Miyazaki). 

 

Glen figure
from Intron Depot

Artists Collection

Masamune Shirow's work will be featured in two additional series of mini-figures based on his Intron Depot book series.  Two older Shirow properties, Orion and Dominion, will be featured subjects of mini-series figures due for rlease in June. 

 

Range Murata is the other artist whose work is in the Artists Collection; he's an industrial designer who also did the designs for the Last Exile.  Next up from Murata is the PSE Solid Collection Ver. 2, which will include six blister-packed SKUs. 
 
The blister-packed SKUs are packaged in the U.S., but there is increasing demand for authentic Japanese blind-box packaging, which Yamato has brought in on occasion for pre-sales.  It seems a natural to us, because it combines the thrill of collecting with the lottery ticket effect, similar to opening a CCG or CMG pack.