Whoa, is that Pikachu running around the shelves at Trainz? Look over there, that’s Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon parked next to some Dragon Ball Z figures! So, how did all of these iconic TV and film characters find themselves here at Trainz.com? Well, the answer is simple – Bandai brought them. Ok, that was perhaps too simple of an answer. Here at Trainz.com we carry plenty of great products from Japanese toy giant Bandai. We’ve got everything from some pretty complex Gundam kits to Star Wars fighters, which means I have to show off a few. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the world of Bandai right here at Trainz!
Who is Bandai?
Founded shortly after World War II, Bandai -roughly translated to “forever unchanging”- saw its humble beginning as a smaller division of a struggling textile company. Bandai’s founder Naoharu Yamashina was a WW2 veteran who was blinded in one eye during the war, and struggled mightily to achieve success with the textile company he worked for, leading him to start the small Bandai subsidiary. In 1950 Yamashina would release his first line of small metallic and rubber toys – many of which suffered from a lack of quality assurance leading to a rebranding, and by the late 1950s Bandai was one of few companies exporting goods from Japan.
Growth would stagnate outside of Japan during the early 60s, prompting Bandai to try something different – licensing characters and places from famous television and film productions. The move would prove to be the ultimate game-changer with Bandai going from a small textile subsidiary to a global giant with headquarters in Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Over the last seventy years, Bandai has featured some of the most popular characters from various different realms of pop culture including Star Wars, Pokémon, and Pixar to name just a few.
Bandai’s most popular product – which also happens to be the same thing that propelled them into the stratosphere of collectibles -- is their Gundam kits and die-cast figures. The 1980s saw Bandai release their first kit of a popular animated Japanese TV show called Mobile Suit Gundam. In the show two warring factions engage in space combat – using large robot suits as both vessels for travel and as a weapon. There’s much more to the show with beautiful animation, and a more mature tone than that of a traditional cartoon. The show would see a meteoric rise in popularity earning its place amongst the second golden age of cartoon television in the 90s. Bandai was there to capitalize, and continues to release great Gundam kits which now feature various characters across multiple iterations of the show.
At Trainz.com we thought they were pretty sweet too, and decided to order a few for our own shelves. The great thing about grabbing some of the Gundam kits was also getting a chance to scan the massive inventory of incredible products Bandai has to offer. Naturally I took to our own inventory here at Trainz, and was able to find a great array of products from various franchises whose popularity spans across several generations. If you’re in the market for some finely detailed die-cast collectibles, or want to try your hand at some kit building, then you won’t be disappointed with Bandai at Trainz.com
“A not so long time ago at a Trainz store not so far, far away”
The Force is strong here at Trainz.com, and so is our inventory of Star Wars collectibles from Bandai. We’ve had visitors from all over the galaxy stop by – some are friendly like the Mandalorian and baby Yoda and some are not so nice like Kylo Ren with his commitment to carrying out Darth Vader's legacy. Good or Evil? Republic or Empire? We’ve got plenty to choose from if you’re still on the fence of what side of the Force you want to be on.
Bandai’s Star Wars figures come in all scales and sizes, and naturally they have kit style figures you can put together as well. Personally, I had a blast checking out the Boba Fett kit up close, and loved all of the detail from his chest-plate to the red trim on his helmet. There’s also a great Mandalorian kit that comes with a few neat little weapons you can swap out, and movable limbs that make for a great photoshoot. I’ve got both kits pictured below for a visual reference.
Of course, not all of the action takes place on the ground when it comes to Star Wars, so having your own ship is definitely a must. Our shelves are filled with some of the most iconic Star Wars fighters from the franchise. The first kit you can see below is the famous Millennium Falcon captained by the legendary captain Han Solo and his best friend Chewbacca. Don’t get Han started on the Kessel Run and twelve parsecs – yes we all know, Han.
If the Millennium Falcon is a little too flashy for your taste, we have plenty more space fighters you can pick from some solid X-Wings to Darth Vader’s infamous TIE Fighter. The kits are fun, interactive, and make for some great Star Wars gifts with the holidays that are fast approaching.
So whether you’re saving the galaxy or helping the evil empire – Trainz.com has everything you’ll need for your galactic escapades. Check out our inventory where we have plenty of Star Wars products from Bandai to choose from.
The Gundam Experience
It wouldn’t be a Bandai article if I didn’t mention their most popular product – the Mobile Suit Gundam model kits. Bandai has been making these Gundam kits since the 80s, and it doesn’t look like they’ll be slowing down anytime soon with the show’s popularity still pretty high. Most of the Bandai Gundam kits we have in our inventory come in either a 1:100 or 1:144 scale. I tend to stick with the 1:100 scale because the detail captured on the larger body kits is just slightly better than their smaller 1:144 counterparts.
The Gundam franchise has been around since the late 1970s, and has introduced several different runs of the show and a countless number of Gundam Pilots with their assigned Gundam fighter. We’ve managed to rustle up some of the most popular Mobile Suits ranging from Gundam Wing, Gundam Seed, Gundam: Unicorn, G Gundam, and so much more. We have a couple beautiful 1:100 scale models of the legendary Wing Gundam from the Gundam Wing series that aired during the 90s – I say legendary because it was this particular version of the Gundam show that got myself and the rest of North America hooked on the Japanese franchise.
The Mobile Suit Gundam kits are a blast to work on, and if you’ve never been a kit-builder in the past, this is a great way to get started. The plastic kits all come with instructions should you run into some road blocks, and feature a sturdy plastic construction. If you’re new to the Gundam franchise, I’d highly recommend checking it out – who knows, maybe you'll find your own Mobile Suit on our shelves. If you’re feeling really adventurous, the Gundam kits can be paired with some Dwarvin lighting products to create a hyper realistic dynamic!
Gotta Catch ‘em All at Trainz!
Oh man, we are at my absolute favorite part of the article. No, seriously, I was looking forward to writing this part so much! Pokemon has been a staple of childhoods since its introduction to North American audiences way back in the fall of 1998. If you’re a parent, at some point your kid wanted a Pikachu toy, and Bandai was right there to provide.
Nintendo’s Pokemon franchise is a global giant recognized all over the world thanks to their video games, tv shows, movies, and the trading cards we all didn’t take care of as kids that are worth thousands now. Uffff, that last part really hurts to say. Bandai has been in the Pokemon game since the start of the 2000s releasing some incredible kits along the way. The kit pictured below is an awesome snap to fit piece featuring the legendary guardian of the seas, Lugia.
If you’re a nostalgia freak like me then these are the perfect Pokemon gifts for your favorite trainer. I’ve got plenty of Pokemon products on our website that come from Bandai, but there’s also some neat options from Nanoblock too. My favorite from the Bandai line so far is the Zekrom kit that showcases the legendary thunder dragon, and doesn’t require any tools or glue to assemble. But one just isn’t enough, and Bandai is here to help you catch them all so be sure to check back to our inventory for the latest addition of Pokemon kits and figures.
Bandai Loves Anime
Being a Japanese company it was only right that Bandai includes some of Japan’s most popular anime shows in its catalog. For those of you unfamiliar – anime refers to a specific type of Japanese animation that focuses greatly on color and story telling. Popular shows like Dragon Ball, One Piece, and Demon Slayer have all had Bandai produce different scale models showcasing popular characters from each franchise.
Our Dragon Ball selection is extensive with everybody from Goku to the Ginyu Force finding a home on our shelves. If you’re looking for some awesome Dragon Ball products, I’ve got a couple of different scale models pictured below – the first depicts Goku in his famous Kamehameha stance and the second is a beautiful scale model of Goku’s former nemesis turned best friend, Vegeta. Wow the chosen one and the Prince of all Saiyans in one spot together. I couldn’t think of a better gift due than these two proud warriors. I’ve got some of Dragon Ball’s evil-doers available too in our great selection of Bandai Dragon Ball products.
One Piece is another popular Japanese Anime that’s become so popular with both a successful tv show spanning over a thousand episodes and a popular manga both of which are still running today. I have tons of great One Piece figures and even a couple of One Piece kits for you superfans out there that are ready to become the King of all pirates! Luffy would be so proud.
Demon Slayer is another anime whose popularity came a little bit later than Dragon Ball and One Piece, but has since found itself at the center of popularity with this new generation of Japanese anime tv shows. Since 2016 Demon Slayer has been taking the anime world by storm with original story concepts, and some of the most beautiful animation that’s hit screens over the last twenty years. We’ve managed to assemble some of your favorite Demon Slayer figures here at Ttrainz.com, all of which come from Bandai.
The Best of Bandai at Trainz!
Bandai is a global giant, and so far as they remain in the kit and collectible figures business – Trainz.com will be there to carry some of your favorites. Whether you’re shopping for anime products or adding Star Wars collectibles to your shelves, we’ve got you covered. With Bandai releasing new products routinely, we do our best at Trainz.com to keep up with the latest Bandai Products. So warm up that Millennium Falcon and get ready for travel – on your way make sure you stop by Trainz HQ to check out our entire Bandai catalog that features everything from figures to kits!