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The Iron Bible

- Figure King 299

 On this page will be taking a look at the 40th Anniversary article from Figure King Issue 299. This issue features a look back over the 40 years of history in the Zoids franchise, all the way back to the 80s, and includes an interview with two of the staff members.

* Disclaimer: Please be advised that this page relies on machine translations, and may contain mistakes! It's only provided for those who would like to get the gist of what's being said, and shouldn't be used as a citation.

- Introduction

 What are the Zoids of the 40th Anniversary!?

 The ultimate realistic moving kits are born!

 A playback of Zoids, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Bio-Machine Zoids!

- Special Feature: ~40 years since Bio-Machine Zoids!

 Composition and Writing: Koji Shimada and Akira Tanizaki (TARKUS)
 Editorial Assistance: Masayoshi Akao
 Photography: Tomoaki Tsuruta (WPP)
 Cooperation: Takara Tomy Co.
 BANDAI SPIRITS
 © TOMY

 Next year in 2023, it will have been 40 years since TOMY (now known as Takara Tomy) released Bio-Machine Zoids. The kits were assembled without the need to paint thanks to multiple color-coded runners and stickers. The mechanical beasts, powered by spring-driven motors, could be assembled to move like real living organisms. Their sci-fi design and interesting movements immediately captured the hearts of science-loving children. In this issue, we'll take a look back at the world of Zoids, which is now celebrating its 40th anniversary, through the history of the toys that started it all, as well taking a look at valuable development materials.

 ● A Bigasauru, the first large motorized-type Zoid, is still preserved by Takara Tomy. It was the flagship Zoid during the earlier series. A battery-operated motor was installed to the central power unit. The dynamic movements produced by cranks and cams, which moved the four legs and the neck, greatly emphasized the appeal of Zoids in storefront displays and commercials for toy stores and toy departments.

- What Are Zoids?

 Announced as an anniversary Zoid for the 40th Anniversary, the Blade Liger is the most popular of the Second Phase of Zoids, which began in 1999. First, let us once again emphasize the appeal of Zoids using the Zoids AZ-01 Blade Liger, built with the latest technology.

 The greatest feature of Zoids, which are defined as "Real Moving Kits" is their realistic movement.

 The power mechanisms created by redesigning the Masterpiece MPZ-01 Shield Liger, released in 2016 under the title of the "Ultimate Zoids" is literally brushed up to the absolute limits of moving with a dynamic sense of life, the key element of Zoids.

 The styling has been completely refined based on the original toy and the anime designs. The power unit was designed to be as slim as possible to reproduce the proportions of a lion. The mechanical, futuristic detailing is very Zoids-like.

- Anniversary Zoid: AZ-01 Blade Liger

 ● The E-Shield Generator Republic Spec., which recreates the shape of the generator from the old kit, is also included as an option part.

 ● The E-Shield Generator (mane) parts around the head can be extended and retracted. The cockpit is an anime-style double-seater type, with Bang and Fine figures boarding.

 ● As it walks, every part of the body, from the head to the tail, links to the motorized mechanisms that were created by studying the movements of real felines.

 ● To recreate the Blade Liger from the old kits as well as the anime, movable components were implemented in every part of the body.

 ● The Laser Blades folded over the back can be deployed, the E-Shield Generators on the head and the Compression Refrigerator on the legs can be extended, and the Rocket Booster on the back can also be deployed. Its appearance changes from form to form. The long tail can also be posed.

 ● The Laser Blades connected to its sides by an extending arm can be pointed forwards by using the telescopic mechanism built into the arms. This recreates the Laser Rifle firing pose.

 ● Let's enjoy "Assembly", the fascinating part about Zoids.

 ● All of the exterior parts can be removed to recreate the bare body. This semi-assembled kit uses a polycarbonate locking cap instead of the rubber caps used in the old kits. These caps are resistant to detachment and deterioration.

 ● A look at the body and exterior parts. The body itself is partially assembled.

 What is the charm of Zoids, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary next year? Takara Tomy's answer to that question is these Anniversary Zoids. They continue to pursue the limits without deviating from Zoids' constant product concepts of "unique mechanical designs," "the joy of creating them by yourself," and "life-like dynamic movements." They're a treasure that always allow you to fully enjoy the fundamental charm of Zoids, which come to life the very moment you flip the switch. While the scale follows the same 1/72 scale of the old kits, the design and mechanisms have been refined to achieve a sleeker and slightly more voluminous appearance. The cockpit and chest Zoid Core are equipped with LED light-up gimmicks to express a sense of life. It's so frustrating that we cannot show you the 'movement' of Zoids in magazine format, but the gesture of lifting the front legs when walking is just like a real feline. We hope you'll check out its realistic movements on the official Takara Tomy Hobby Channel over on Youtube.

 This anniversary model follows the "Main Road" of Zoids.

AZ-01 Blade Liger Design Sketches

- Second AZ 'Liger Zero' Now Under Development!

 As the catchphrase on the special site says, "Evolved Ligers are now here!" The main characters from the anime series that began in 1999 are appearing one after another as Anniversary Zoids. Next in development is Liger Zero, one of the most popular Zoids of all time! Stay tuned for more information!!

 Takara Tomy Zoids 40th Anniversary Special Site

 It'll be interesting to see how it differs from the Blade Liger in shape, as well as how the CAS (Changing Armor System), the machine's most distinctive feature, will be implemented.

- Another "Solution" Led By A Dream Project

Creating A Metal Life Form With Chogokin

Bandai Spirits Chogokin RZ-041 Liger Zero

 Scheduled to be released in June 2023 / Price: 35,200 Yen


 If the origin company follows the main road, then Bandai Spirits aims to create the utimate Zoid by pouring all of their own development know-how into the project. A miraculous item, the Chogokin Liger Zero, has thus been born from the dream project "Dream Together — Connecting Thoughts, Creating Dreams Together", a collaboration project between Takara Tomy and Bandai Spirits.

 ● Focusing on the setting of Zoids as "Metal life forms", the Liger Zero is sculpted as a full-action figure using die-cast parts at key points, with edgy styling standard for the Chogokin brand.

 ● The rigid body is equipped with newly designed movable mechanisms to give it the flexible movements of a beast. The body boasts an unbelievable flexibility for a robot character.

 ● A gold-colored pilot figure is seated in the cockpit, honoring the Zoids series.

 ● The rear legs have a wide range of motion. The flexible posing can mimic that of real felines.

 ● The detachable Zero Unit (exterior armor), which is the greatest feature of Liger Zero, has also been realized. You can also recreate the unarmored form.

 ● The connection between the legs and the body is equipped with a novel, patent-pending movable mechanism.



 The first ever Bandai Spirits x Takara Tomy collaboration project, Liger Zero, made by the historic Chogokin brand has been realized. As is typical for Bandai Spirits, which has released many high-end action figures of robot characters, they've thoroughly explored the movability that's been the charm of Zoids, bringing movable mechanisms that allow you to pose the figure yourself. Looking at the photos, you may be surprised at the natural posing of the figure. A dedicated pedestal with joints that can be moved forwards, backwards, left, and right, allows the figure to be displayed in aggressive poses. In addition, the eyes shine and the Zoid core can be taken in and out. For more details on the development process, please read the meeting between the staff members of the two companies in Figure King No. 297. The release of the CAS (Changing Armor System), which an be swapped out with the Zero Unit, has also been announced, so there are high expectations for the future developments on this particular gem.

The Birth of Bio-Machine Zoids!

It was 40 years ago in 1983 when Bio-Machine Zoids were born. Let's take a look back at the development of the Showa period, known as the First Phase.

1983 - Zoids Year, Bigasauru Launches!

 The Bio-Machine Zoids action toys using the world's smallest micro-spring, which were the pride of Tomy (now Takara Tomy) were launched as "Assembly kits that satisfy the scientific minds of boys and their endless admiration for space" (from the manufacturer's catalog). This was a renamed version of its three predecessors, Mechabonica - Messengers To The Space, which were renamed to Zoids when they were developed in the U.S. and Europe. The image shown here is from the Boys' Toys page of the catalog released by the vendors. In the cutaway image, modified Zoids are shown alongside the Armtron, whose arm moves freely using a single motor, and the flywheel-driven Beyrobo. This indescribable sense of science was the impression of Tomy toys at the time.

 ● Zoids Mammoth appeared in the year-end manufacturer catalog. Big Manx was also listed as a Zoid, mixed in with large and small Zoids.

 ● The flagship item when the series was rebranded as Zoids was the Bigasauru (mother-ship type) the first large motorized Zoid.

1984 The Zoids World of Republic Vs. Empire Is In Full Swing!

 The booklet "Zoids Information -HOBBY NEWS-" was also released with the plastic model boom in mind, and during this year, the framework of the Zoids World was solidified. The technological power of the Globally III, a spaceship from Earth that had crashlanded on the Zoids planet, strengthened the modification of battle machines, Zoids, and thus the battle between the Helic Republic and the Zenebas Empire intensified.

 ● Gojulas, the mainstay of the Showa Era Zoids was a big hit!

 ● The large Zoid of the Republic, Gordos.

 ● The Zoids of the Empire, whose existence had been mentioned since the very first package, finally made an appearance. The medium-sized motorized Zoid, Red Horn, as well as smaller Zoids were released. The coloring differed from the Republic Zoids, and the heavily armored bodies made a huge impact.

1985 The Zoids Boom Has Arrived!

 ● The Iron Kong, the Empire's first large-scale motorized Zoid. The gorilla motif was also unique. Incidentally, a blue prototype, different from the product, appeared in the manufacturer's catalogs as well as some magazines. The blue Imperial Zoids were said to be "special colors used for the Special Forces."

1986 Completion of the Ultrasaurus, The Largest Ever!

 The Zoids boom reached its peak with the synergistic effects of high-detail design with a sci-fi mindset, a powerful war-like story, and appealing as plastic models with modifications. The Ultrasaurus was introduced into the market.

 ● The Ultrasaurus (dinosaur type), a superdreadnought flagship. In the battle story, it played an active role as a boarding ship for President Helic, acting as the largest and most powerful Zoid.

 ● By using remodeling parts for large Zoids, Ultrasaurus, which originally had four cannons, could be further powered up.

 ● In the same year, the Sabre Tiger entered the battle on the Empire's side, adding to the confrontational composition.

- The Fascination of Zoids Special Effects

 In the first Zoids phase, commercials and videos filmed using actual toys were promoted in toy stores. These videos are still available in the library of the official Zoids website, so be sure to check out these powerful images with your own eyes.

- 1987 Emperor Zenebas Strikes Back!

 The Imperial Army of Zenebas lands again with Zoids from the Dark Continent. Newly designed Zoids boasting overwhelming combat power enliven the series. Shogokukan also began publishing the Zoids Battle Story, a collection of fictional war stories and powerful gravure articles featuring modified Zoids. At the end of the year, the most powerful Imperial Zoid, the Death Saurer, would also make its appearance. As a derivative series, the 1/24 scale "ZOIDS 24" series was also launched with an eye towards action figures seen in overseas markets.

 ● The Shield Liger, the core of the second and subsequent phases, was born during this point.

- 1988

 In 1988, new products and recolors were developed centering on medium-sized Zoids. The large motorized Zoid released at the end of the year was the Mad Thunder. The Republic gained the upper hand thanks to the success of the Mad Thunder, which was considered a decisive combat Zoid for use against the Death Saurer.

- 1989 Entering The Dark Continent!

 The Zoids Story entered the Dark Continent arc. The capital of the Empire had fallen and the defeated Zenebas Empire forces were overrun by the Guylos Empire (Dark Army), which had emerged from the Dark Continent. Thereafter, the battle shifted to the New Republic Zoids, which used a lot of plating, versus the Dark Continent Zoids, which used luminescent parts throughout their black bodies. The power mechanism also changed, with Zoids compatible with Grade-Up Units.

- 1990

 The transformation boom reached Zoids, giving birth to the Gungyalado and Transfighter Zoids. When the most powerful King Gojulas was completed, the war finally came to an end. However, a catastrophic natural disaster had befallen the planet, and the Zoids Story came to an end as the Globally (enterprise) ship returned to Earth. The following year, in 1991, the Zoids' genes were passed on to the Z-Knights, realistic walking humanoids.

- The Era of Zoids Anime

 After a quiet period, Zoids started up development in earnest again in 1999, along with an anime. This marked the beginning of the Second Phase, the golden age of Zoids. Here's a look back at the representative Zoids from 1999 to 2022.

RZ / EZ / Zi Series

 A series that interweaves re-releases of previous Zoids with new items, with RZ being the Helic Republic, EZ being the Guylos Empire, and Zi being the anime version.

RZ-001 Gojulas (Dinosaur Type) Helic Republic  1999  The masterpiece of the large Zoids, Gojulas marked the start of the second phase. In addition to its coloring, some of the molds have also been improved. Its eyes light up, it swivels its head left and right, it opens and closes its mouth, and it moves forward while swinging its arms.	RZ-002 Guysack (Scorpion Type) Helic Republic  1999  A small wind-up Zoid that moves forward while moving its head.	RZ-003 Barigator (Dinosaur Type) Helic Republic  1999  A small wind-up Zoid. It moves forward while swaying its tail.
EZ-004 Red Horn (Styracosaurus Type) Guylos Empire  1999  A large Zoid representing the early Empire had reappeared. It walks while opening and closing its jaws electronically.	EZ-005 Redler (Dragon Type) Guylos Empire  1999  Equipped with a high-power unit. This Zoid moves forward while flapping its wings.	EZ-006 Molga (Insect Type) Helic Republic  1999  Molga is popular for its caterpillar-like design. It moves forward while bending its torso.
RZ-007 Shield Liger (Lion Type) Helic Republic  1999  After playing an active role in the battle story, it appeared as an early leading machine in the anime. It walks while opening and closing its mouth electronically.	RZ-008 Gordos (Stegosaurus Type) Helic Republic  1999  It swivels its head left and right, opens and closes its mouth, and walks while swinging its cannons up and down.	RZ-009 Command Wolf (Wolf Type) Helic Republic  1999  It's equipped with a High-Power Unit. Its has two speeds depending on what position the neck is in.
RZ-010 Pteras (Pterosaur Type) Helic Republic  1999  It moves forward while flapping its wings, driven by springs. A small flying-type Zoid.	EZ-011 Hel Digunner (Iguana Type) Guylos Empire  1999  The first entry from the former Dark Continent Zoids. Equipped with a High-Power Unit, it opens and closes its mouth and moves forward while lifting an lowering the Beam Cannon on its back.	EZ-012 Brachios (Brachiosaurus Type) Guylos Empire  1999  Equipped with a High-Power Unit. It walks forward while opening and closing its mouth and moving its head up and down.
RZ-013 Cannon Tortoise (Tortoise Type) Helic Republic  1999  A small Zoid that retracts its head in and out of its shell.	RZ-014 Godos (Dinosaur Type) Helic Republic  1999  The first Heavily-Armored Special small-scale Zoid. It moves forward while swinging its arms.	EZ-015 Iron Kong (Gorilla Type) Guylos Empire  1999  A large-scale Zoid that rivals the Gojulas. It moves forward while swinging its head from side to side and moving its arms. The large missile rotates and its eyes glow. Its gears also make a growling sound.
EZ-016 Saber Tiger (Tiger Type) Guylos Empire  1999  This is the Guylos Empire version of the Sabre Tiger, a rival to the Shield Liger. It walks while opening and closing its mouth.	EZ-017 Iguan (Iguanodon Type) Guylos Empire  1999  A small Zoid that moves forward while swinging its arms.	EZ-018 Saicurtis (Rhinoceros Beetle Type) Guylos Empire  1999  A small Zoid that moves forward while opening and closing its wings and moving its legs.
RZ-019 Double Sworder (Stag Beetle Type Type) Helic Republic  1999  An Anti-Saicurtis Zoid that moves forward while opening and closing its mandibles and extending and retracting its tongue.	RZ-020 Stealth Viper (Snake Type) Helic Republic  1999  The small-scale Zoid "Snakes" renamed. It moves forward while undulating its body.	EZ-021 Death Saurer (Dinosaur Type) Guylos Empire  1999  The strongest Zoid of the Zenebas Empire has been revived by the Guylos Empire. It swings its arms and opens and closes its mouth. Its eyes flash. The Charged Particle Intake Fan on its back rotates, and it moves forward while swaying its tail.
EZ-022 Gator (Dimetrodon Type) Helic Republic  1999  A small Zoid with a large dorsal fin. It walks using a wind-up motor.	EZ-023 Helcat (Panther Type) Guylos Empire  1999  A small Zoid with a wind-up motor.	Zi-024 Command Wolf Irvine (Wolf Type) Helic Republic  1999  It came with the newly-sculpted Long-Range Rifle (the first new mold of the Second Phase!) and two Irvine figures, one sitting and one standing.
Zi-025 Gustav (Insect Type) Helic Republic  1999  The Gustav moves forward while moving its antennae, stretching and contracting its armor, and rotating its sensors. It still moves strong with Zoids on its trailers. Some parts of the Diograma base "Factory Base" were included in this re-release.	EZ-026 Geno Saurer (Tyrannosaurus Type) Guylos Empire  2000  A completely new large-scale motorized Zoid. Its eyes light up, its mouth opens and closes, and it walks while swinging its arms. It also opens and closes its claws. It comes with a Raven figure.	EZ-027 Rev Raptor (Velociraptor Type) Helic Republic  2000  A completely new small-scale Zoid. It walks while moving the sickles on its back and swinging its arms.
RZ-028 Blade Liger (Lion Type) Helic Republic  2000  This was the main machine of the second half of the anime, a Shield Liger with a completely redesigned exterior. The cockpit had been modified to be a double-seater, and included figures of Bang and Fine (smaller than normal pilots). Two standing figures and Sieg were also included. Die-cast parts were used for the fangs and claws.	RZ-029 Storm Sworder (Pteranodon Type) Helic Republic  2000  A new motorized Zoid that walks while moving its wings. Its legs and tail allow it to stand on its own.	RZ-030 Gun Sniper (Velociraptor Type) Helic Republic  2000  A new small-scale Zoid that moves forward while swinging its arms.
RZ-031 Dibison (Buffalo Type) Helic Republic  2000  It moves while moving its head up and down. The horns and hooves are made of die-cast parts.	EZ-032 Sinker (Ray Type) Helic Republic  2000  A small-scale Zoid used in both aquatic and air combat by the Zenebas Empire. It moves forward on wheels while moving its fins.	RZ-033 Hammer Head (Hammerhead Shark Type) Helic Republic  2000  Equipped with a medium-sized wind-up motor, this new Zoid moves forward while undulating its body.
EZ-034 Geno Breaker (Tyrannosaurus Type) Guylos Empire  2000  A motorized Zoid modified from the Geno Saurer, including things like the Wing Thruster pack. It boasts an assembly difficulty level of 5.	EZ-035 Lightning Saix (Cheetah Type) Guylos Empire  2000  A new motorized Zoid. It has a low-speed and high-speed walk mode. The sold-separately Zoids Controller (remote control) allows it to move forwards and backwards.	EZ-036 Death Stinger (Sea Scorpion Type) Guylos Empire  2000  A new motorized Zoid. Its scissors and mandibles open and close in tandem. It can move forwards, backwards, and turn left and right when used with the Zoids Controller.
RZ-037 Ultra Saurus (Ultrasaurus Type) Helic Republic  2000  A superdreadnought Zoid. Its eyes light up and it moves while moving its head. The power supply has been improved for this rerelease.	EZ-038 Elephander (Elephant Type) Guylos Empire  2000  A new motorized Zoid with conversion functionality. It walks while lifting its long trunk.	RZ-039 Raynos (Pteranodon Type) Helic Republic  2001  Equipped with a High-Power Unit. It moves forward while flapping its wings and opening and closing its mouth.
EZ-040 Wardick (Fish Type) Guylos Empire  2001  The first Zoid to have been equipped with a High-Power Unit was rereleased. It can move both in the water and on the ground while swaying its tail fin.	RZ-041 Liger Zero (Lion Type) Helic Republic  2001  A new motorized Zoid equipped with CAS (Changing Armor System), a function for converting its exterior armor. The exterior units are also sold as customize parts.	RZ-042 Command Wolf AC (Wolf Type) Helic Republic  2001  Command Wolf equipped with a 2-Barrelled Long-Range Cannon.
RZ-043 Spino Sapper (Spinosaurus Type) Helic Republic  2001  A new small-scale Zoid equipped with Laser Chainsaws that can be deployed on an arm, or swapped out for a Laser Excavator.	EZ-044 Zabat (Bat Type) Helic Republic  2001  A rare new type of Zoid that uses only manual gimmicks. When the homing bomb housed in its chest is detached, it can zoom using a pull-back spring.	RZ-055 Mad Thunder (Triceratops Type) Helic Republic  2001  A large Zoid that moves forward while spinning its two large horns, the Magnezers. The Hyper-Rolling Charger on its back also rotates.
RZ-064 Gojulasgiga (Giganotosaurus Type) Helic Republic  2002  A new type of large-scale Zoid with a fighting mode, where its upper body is raised, and a pursuit mode, where the body is tilted horizontally. Its movements and sounds change depending on the mode.	Seismosaurus (Seismosaurus Type) EZ-069 Guylos Empire  2003  A new type of large-scale Zoid, reaching approximately 80cm in length. It moves forward while swaying its neck, tail, and machine guns. It can be combined with BLOX Zoids.	RZ-070 Gairyuki (Tyrannosaurus Type) Helic Republic  2003  A new large-scale Zoid from the Berserk Fuhrer lineage. It's equipped with a B-CAS functionality using BLOX tehnology, including the horseshoe crab type Gekkou and the swallow type Hien, which can be separated from the main unit. It can also take a motorized Concentrated Charged Particle Cannon firing stance.
RZ-071 Liger Zero Phoenix (Lion / Phoenix Type) Helic Republic  2003  A new type of Zoid consisting of a blue-purple Liger Zero equipped with B-CAS and the Phoenix, a BLOX Zoid.	EZ-072 Energy Liger (Lion Type) Guylos Empire  2003  A new type of Zoid equipped with an air-action mechanism. By switching and replacing the air tubes, the wings can be deployed and the weapon gimmicks can be activated.	EZ-074 Death Raser (Therizinosaurus Type) Guylos Empire  2004  A new motorized Zoid designed to combine with BLOX. It combines with the BLOX Para Blade to become the Decalto Dragon.
RZ-075 Rayse Tiger (Tiger Type) Helic Republic  2004  Combines with the BLOX Pterorayse for support to become the Jet Rayse Tiger.

- FZ Series

 This series was introduced alongside the domestic development of the Zoids Fuzors anime. The series is based on the theme of merging (unison), and is centered on products that combine BLOX and Zoids.

FZ-001 Liger Zero Phoenix (Lion / Phoenix Type)  2004  Alongside the color changes, the name of the BLOX Zoid was also changed to Fire Phoenix.	FZ-002 König Wolf MK-II (Wolf Type)  2004  Includes the additional Missile Launcher and Dual Sniper Rifle.	FZ-003 Command Wolf AC (Wolf Type)  2004  Added Attack Unit.
FZ-004 Boldguard (Panoplosaurus Type)  2004  BLOX Zoid Recolor.	FZ-005 Leoblaze (Lion Type)  2004  BLOX Zoid recolor.	FZ-006 Buster Fürher (Tyrannosaurus / Eagle Type)  2004  Berserk Fürher and Buster Eagle combined.
FZ-007 Lord Gale (Gargoyle Type)  2004  BLOX Zoid Recolor.	FZ-008 Gojulasgiga (Giganotosaurus Type)  2004  A new police light was added to the shoulder to match the anime.	FZ-009 Arosaurer (Allosaurus Type)  2004  Like with the Gojulasgiga, it includes an additional police light.
FZ-010 Gorhecks (Stegosaurus Type)  2004  Like with the Gojulasgiga, it includes an additional police light.	FZ-011 Killer Spiner (Spinosaurus / Crab Type)  2004  Killer Dome merged to the back of Dark Spiner.	FZ-012 Command Striker (Wolf Type)  2004  Command Wolf AC and Leostriker combined.
FZ-013 Matrix Dragon (Dragon Type)  2004  A Changemize Form composed of parts from Leoblaze, Unenlagia, Mosasledge, and Nightwise.	FZ-014 Chimera Dragon (Dragon Type)  2004  Composed from parts of the Chimera BLOX Flyscissors, Shellkarn, Diploguns, and Demonshead.	FZ-015 Energy Liger (Lion Type)  2004  EZ version recolor. It includes the unique ability to function with BLOX Zoids, so it can be combined with Jet Falcon.
FZ-016 Liger Zero Falcon (Lion / Falcon Type)  2004  Replacing the Fire Phoenix, the Liger Zero now combines with the Jet Falcon.	FZ-017 Jet Falcon (Falcon Type)  2004  BLOX Zoids stand-alone version.	FZ-018 Gairyuki Shin (Tyrannosaurus Type)  2004  In addition to Gekkou and Hien, the boar-type BLOX Raiden is also included in this package.
FZ-019 Gravity Wolf (Wolf Type)  2004  A new type of Zoid (a localized overseas version) with a Gravity Unit that moves using a flywheel instead of a wind-up spring or motor. Can move on large tires.	FZ-020 Gravity Saix (Cheetah Type)  2004  A new type of Zoid that moves using the Gravity Unit.	FZ-021 Gravity Saurer (Suchomimus Type)  2004  A new type of Zoid that moves using the Gravity Unit.
FZ-022 Ultimate Seismo (Seismosaurus Type)  2004  A set of Seismosaurus and 3 BLOX (Styluarmor, Scissorstorm, and Laserstorm). They can be reconfigured into the Berserk Seismo.

- GZ Series

 This series released alongside the Zoids Genesis anime. Its main focus was on custom Zoids.

GZ-001 Cannon Fort  2005	GZ-002 Molga Cannory  2005  Custom Parts were added to the Molga.	GZ-003 Command Wolf LC   2005  Irvine Spec. Recolor
GZ-004 Hound Soldier  2005	GZ-005 Hebby Rhimos   2005  Black Rhimos renamed.	GZ-006 Zabat   2005
GZ-007 Sword Wolf  2005  A remodeled Whitz Wolf. Various parts have been added.	GZ-008 Soul Tiger   2005  A remodeled Rayse Tiger. The main changes were the visor on the face, the claws, and the electronic gimmicks.	GZ-009 Brastle Tiger   2005
GZ-010 Murasame Liger  2005  The main character of the anime appeared as a new motorized Zoid. The Murasame Blade on its back could be deployed.	GZ-011 Rainbow Jerk   2005  A new type of Zoid without electronic features, it sported an excellent peacock-themed motif.	GZ-012 Lanstag   2005  A gravity-wheel type moose. It became a new type of Zoid.
GZ-013 Bamburian   2005  A panda-type Zoid based on the Bear Fighter, with the head and limbs replaced with new parts.	GZ-014 Deadly Kong  2005  A new gorilla-type Zoid created using mechanisms from the Iron Kong.	GZ-015 Hayate Liger   2005  A recreation of the evolved form of Murasame Liger, and the star machine in the second half of the anime. The exterior parts are all newly created.

- GB Series

 A series of Bio Zoids based on dinosaur skeleton motifs. Developed alongside the GZ series.

GB-001 Bio Megaraptor (2003)	GB-002 Bio Tyranno  (2005)	GB-003 Bio Kentro  (2005)
GB-004 Bio Tricera (2003)	GB-005 Bio Ptera  (2005)	GB-006 Bio Raptor  (2005)
GB-005 Bio Raptor Gui (2003)

- ZW Series

 In 2018, the series was revived as the "Zoids Wild" brand. As newly designed and sculpted realistic moving model kits, the Zoids Wild series now included a 'Special Move' (Wild Blast) gimmick that transformed Zoids into a more aggressive form, in addition to their main gimmicks of assembly and motorized movement. Assembly was based on the concept of excavating and restoring Zoids, and the "Excavation Pack" contained parts that had already been separated from the runners. The Zoids were restored (assembled) based on the "Book of Restoration", an assembly instruction manual. A clear rider figure was also included.

ZW01 Wild Liger (Lion Type)  2018	ZW02 Gilraptor (Deinonychus Type)  2018	ZW03 Kabtor (Hercules Beetle Type)  2018
ZW04 Scorpear (Scorpion Type)  2018	ZW05 Gannontoise (Proganochelys Type)  2018	ZW06 Gabrigator (Sarchosuchus Type)  2018
ZW07 Kuwaga (Stag Beetle Type)  2018	ZW08 Grachiosaurus (Brachiosaurus Type)  2018	ZW09 Raptor (Velicoraptor Type)  2018
ZW10 Knuckle Kong (Gorilla Type)  2018	ZW11 Triceradogos (Triceratops Type)  2018	ZW13 Gusock (Giant Isopod Type)  2018
ZW34 Gatling Fox (Fox Type)  2019	ZW35 Drei Panther (Panther Type)  2019	ZW36 Rising Liger (Lion Type)  2020
ZW37 Kuwaganos (Stag Beetle Type)  2020	ZW38 Omega Rex (Tyrannosaurus Type)  2020	ZW39 Sonic Bird (Archaeopteryx Type)  2020
ZW42 Kill Scythe (Praying Mantis Type)  2020	ZW43 Zero Phantoth (Elephant Type)  2020	ZW44 Zero Grizis (Giganotosaurus Type)  2020
ZW45 Burning Liger (Lion Type)  2020	ZW48 Gilraptor LC (Deinonychus Type)  2020	ZW52 Xeno Rex (Tyrannosaurus Type)  2021

- Treasured Development Manuscripts

Introduction

 Here we'd like to introduce some valuable manuscripts relevant to Zoids Development. We hope that you'll get a sense the backstage of Zoids development through the many ideas that went into various concepts.

● A drawing of the Ultrasaurus head. The mold was made based on this drawing.  ● A gorilla-type Zoid that looks like the Iron Kong. A small boat was mounted on its chest.  ● A sketch of the Death Saurer's head.

● A lion-type concept.  ● Rough sketches of the head. You can see the progress of refining the mane.

● A concept for a new Republic Zoid, which had numerous barrels that looked like they were tightly bundled together.  ● The wyvern of the Dark Army. The sketch that led to the Gil Vader.  ● A side view of the Gil Vader.

● "Metal Zoids" concept. The product was envisioned to have a plated body and die-cast parts.  ● Ultimate Liger's (Liger Zero's) Frame  ● The underside of the abdomen

● A side view of the same unit.  ● The design for the Type Zero.  ● Spino Liger (Liger Zero Schneider.) It's equipped with a Laser Cannon on its chest and a remote-controlled reconnaissance pod on the tip of its tail.

● Booster & Blades deployed.  ● A state where the E-Shield and front blades are deployed.  ● Visored Liger bare frame.

● Heavy Arms. In addition to the Long-Range Cannon and the Missile Launchers on its body, this heavily armed model is equipped with a High-Speed Rapid-Fire Cannon and two Anti-Zoid Beams.  ● Task Force. A highly maneuverable type equipped with Magnessor Drive thrusters on its back and Attack Pods on the tip of its tail.  ● Murasame Liger color plan.

● Hayate Liger, the second form. It has a sharp mane and short swords on its front legs.  ● A sketch of the Mugen Liger under the pseudonym "Murasame Liger Unit 3". It carries two swords connected by arms.  ● A sketch from the First Phase, when the Berserk Führer was drawn as just a tyrannosaurus-type Zoid.

●Image 1~2: A draft drawn during the First Phase. The impactful visual composed of straight lines was put to bed because of the sheer novelty of it.  ● Development started moving at the start of the Second Phase, based on these concept sketches. The internal frame was designed as a Zoid with CAS functionality, with exterior parts attached to the frame.

● Image 1~2: The design for the boosters on the back and the Buster Claw, a standard weapon.  ● The Sturm Unit, one of the proposed variations.

- Discussing Zoids

 To wrap up this special feature, we have Yutaka Tajima, the oldest staff member currently involved with Zoids, and Takashi Nakase, who became a Zoids developer because of his love of Zoids, and we'll be discussing the 40-year history of Zoids.

 — Please begin by telling us about your involvement with Zoids.

 Tajima: I joined TakaraTomy (Tomy at the time) in 1988 as an engineer. I joined the development team as I had hoped I would when I joined the company, and designed gearboxes in accordance with the plans proposed through planning sketches, etc., as well as turned the lathes to make prototypes. When I joined the company, Bio-Machine Zoids were just in the year-end sales season, and I remember being surprised at the tremendous sales of the then-recently released Mad Thunder. The following year, I was assigned to the Character Development Department, which incorporated the Zoids Deveopment Department, and became involved with Zoids. I think the first thing I did was to revise the drawings for the Gunbluster. In the beginning, I also did mainly support work for the engineer in charge, such as revising the Gil Vader prototype and creating samples for commercial filming.

 Nakase: I joined the company in 2001. At the time, the Zoids New Century /ZERO anime was being broadcast, and it was aroun that time that I started making prototypes of the Zoids that'd appear. My parents were engineers, so my parents didn't buy me mass media (TV) character products when I was a child, and the only things they did buy me were electronic construction sets and radio-controlled kits. Given those circumstances, they eventually bought me Zoids. I then started saving my allowance to buy them myself. When I was in college, a friend told me about the Zoids revival, and I had a reunion with Zoids at that time, and it ruined my life (laughs). Since I was in a technical university, I decided that my life might be about making toys (Zoids). So, I decided that I wanted to join Tomy.


 — Do you start developing Zoids starting with the exterior design or the internal gimmicks?

 Tajima: We consider the ideal design and gimmicks, and then consider whether they're mechanically feasible. If it's too complicated, we may omit them or use factory-assembled parts. In the end, we think about what the children will enjoy and incorporate that into the product.


 — So, it's a combination of design and gimmicks, while making sure that children can still assemble it.

 Tajima: I think it's because of the development know-how that began with the extremely simple structure of Garius and culminated in the complex Ultra Saurus. In the Showa period, everything was done in-house by designers, engineers, and mechanism development. No matter how impossible the ideal design drawn by the designers might seem, the engineers would try with all of their might to make it work. If it was not realistically possible, the design would be changed slightly and the prototype mechanism would be sent back to the designers, who would then redesign it to take advantage of the mechanisms, to 'make them look cool', no matter what kind of mechanism the product had. This kind of trust-based relationship cultivated by our Showa period predecessors has made it possible for us to make "Even complicated-looking gimmicks that are actually simple structures, and as a result, look realistic."

 Nakase: In fact, even if a design is drawn more slender, the mechanical prototype often ends up being thicker. Therefore, we've devised ways of making them look thinner, such as by using a black color scheme.

 Tajima: Shield Liger also has a diagonal slit to make the abdomen look slimmer even with a square power unit. Also, joints from the design are slightly shifted from the axis of the joints that correspond to the knees. In Zoids' case, sometimes the placement of the joints are different between the design and the movable mechanism. I think this is also the result of designing joints from the perspective of an engineer or the perspective of a designer.


 — Rubber caps are also incorporated into the design.

 Tajima: I've heard from the designer who invented the rubber caps, and it seems that it was an idea born of necessity. The parts initially proposed by the designers were made of plastic, bu even if they could be attached securely, they would be difficult to remove, and prone to cracking. In order to meet the demand for a secure yet detachable part, the material was changed and thus rubber caps were adopted, which have been used to this day.

 Nakase: The use of rubber caps in Zoids is also in consideration for child safety. Safety standards include drop tests and pull tests, so it's better for joint parts to come off than to be firmly fixed in place. Zoids use rubber caps to hold the parts in place, so that rather than cracking or shattering, the parts will just come off.


 — I didn't know the rubber caps had such history.

 Tajima: The micro springs that've been used in the smaller products since the early days are now also used in products sold at 100 yen stores, but that was originally developed by Tomy as well. At the time, Tomy had a hit micro-spring series category, and Mechabonica, the predecessor of Zoids, was probably created as a science project for boys within the micro-spring series.


 — The release of the first motorized product, Bigasauru, was quite the shock amid the micro-spring focused Zoids.

 Tajima: As the popularity of spring-operated Zoids increased, the Bigasauru was planned with the idea that "If we make a large motorized product, it'll be a great performance item in stores." However, the developers had a bad habit of saying "Let's make an amazing product anyway", and at first, there was a prototype made that walked on six legs. It seemed like the mechanisms moved incredibly well, but it was swapped to a four-legged version after being rejected at an internal presentation with the statement of "What kind of animal has six legs?" This also sent a message of "What's the point of making an animal that doesn't exist?" So, perhaps if the six-legged Bigasauru had been released, the following history of Zoids may have been different.

 

 Nakase: Thinking about it, Bigasauru was also designed to look like a dinosaur, and later designs were firmly designed to look like dinosaurs and mammoths.


 — The release of Gojulas in 1984 was also a hot topic.

 Nakase: For more recent fans, the leading Zoids are always Ligers, but for fans from the Showa period, the impression was that Gojulas was the star of the show. But in fact, back then, each of us had our own Zoids as the 'main character.' The story wasn't as clear-cut as in the anime series, so the Zoids that you owned and loved the most were the main characters. For me, it was the Red Horn.


 — The long-awaited release of the Zoids on the Empire's side made the confrontational structure more interesting.

 Nakase: With the introduction of the enemy force, what was once a science toy-like figure became more like characters, didn't they? There were also differences in the design: The Republican Army's Zoids had bare frames and were lightly armored, while the Imperial Army's Zoids were heavily armored. So, they could be viewed not only as "enemy side = bad guys", but also as "cool, heavily armored Zoids." Since there was no anime, it was important for users to determine which side was friend or foe, and they could come up with unit formations based on their own settings.


 — I think commercials and promotional in-store footage, along with books like the Zoids Battle Story were also a big factor in the Zoids story. How was the footage shot?

 Tajima: I heard that it was produced by a special effects team with considerable experience.

 Nakase: At that time, most commercials for toys and hobby products were either shot by arranging things in a diorama and moving the camera, or using stop-motion photography. However, only in the Zoids commercials did the products themselves move. There were no scenes with actors or showing children holding them in their hands. I remember them being sensational commercials that made it clear that these products moved.


 — Tajima, you were also involved in the development of the subsequent "Armored Gods Z-Knight" series, weren't you?

 Tajima: When the development of the King Gojulas had concluded, the Armored God Z-Knight series was planned as a "humanoid robot in the Zoids world", as part of a concept on how to revive Zoids. The world view of Z-Knights is also connected to Zoids', and in fact, the Zoids planet still exists. The humanoid giant robots with a Zoids life form as their core are the Armored Gods.


 — Then, please tell us how it was revived as "Machine Beast New Century Zoids" in 1999.

 Tajima: Even after Zoids ended after the release of the King Gojulas, there were many Zoids revival projects carried out in various ways. However, everyone was quite cautious about starting up content that had once been a big hit and then ended, so we were unable to take the crutial steps required to start it back up again. However, when the project was revived in 1999, there were big talks about reviving it as an anime. I think it's thanks to this that the company decided not only to revive it as a product, but also to have them compete as characters.


 — What position were you in at the time?

 Tajima: At the time of preparation, I was mainly working on site. Mostly in development, marketing, and communication with outside parties such as Shogakukan. After the broadcast of the Zoids anime had started, I took on the position of manager, which was equivalent to section chief.


 — What was the reason for the success of the revival at that time?

 Tajima: I was really surprised by the CG images. Until then, Zoids had been characterized by the fact that the products were electronic and moved in a realistic way, but the CG images of them moving and acting cool gave the impression that the impact of the products had been eclipsed. I think the anime production side must've gone through a lot of hard work, but they didn't compromise, and that's why they were able to produce work of such high quality. Because of the high impact of the images, we did our best to make the products just as good as the images.


 — The first wave also featured a number of re-released products.

 Tajima: One of the reasons was that we used existing molds. As it turns out now, that was a great solution, but at the time, I was very eager to "create something new" and put a lot of effort into planning and development. However, the manager, who was my supervisor at the time, said "Even the old Zoids are good enough for today's users. You can make new ones after the revival." It takes time to develop a new product, and there was also the problem of mold assets. Another reason is that instead of simply using existing molds, we kept in mind that we didn't want to betray our existing fans. We were able to help past fans rediscover the quality of Zoids while also making them known to a wider audience. I think the order of selling old products and then releasing new products was a great idea.

 Nakase: At that time, I was buying Zoids as a user, but when the old products were re-released, I was happy that I could buy products that I couldn't buy when I was a kid. I was so hapy to see the re-release of old products that I bought a lot of them every time they went on sale. The price was 3,000 ~ 4,000 yen, and the products that I felt were expensive back when I was a child were surprisingly cheap to a college student (laughs.) I also started buying CoroCoro Comic with the same momentum, and started applying for all the raffles. I was a university student then (laughs.)


 — Perhaps, Nakase, if it weren't for this revival, you wouldn't have been at Takara Tomy?

 Nakase: I really don't think I would have. This revival made me realize for the first time that "Oh, Tomy is the company that made Zoids!" In fact, when I saw Tajima at the company information session, I was so excited, thinking "That's Dr. T from CoroCoro!" I was so excited to meet the real Dr. T that I ended up talking way too enthusiastically about Zoids. The HR person even said "You should go home now." (laughs)

 Tajima: At the time, I thought "Someone just arrived that's gonna be a pain in the ass." (laughs)


 — As you mentioned earlier, Nakase, you joined the company around the time of /ZERO.

 Nakase: At the time, we were a team of about five people, with Tajima as the manager, and I was in charge of the Hammer Rock reprint and the new Snipe Master. Right after I was assigned, I went to the World Hobby Fair and saw that the Berserk Führer, which had been released in advance, was selling like hot cakes, but at the same time, I heard that the anime was about to end, so I thought "What should we do now?"

 Tajima: For our part, we thought that the popularity of Zoids wouldn't decline that much even without the anime, but we were quite naive. We had planned to continue Zoids as a hobby product even after the anime ended, so the big question was how to keep it going. After discussions within the team, we decided to extract the elements that had always fascinated children and incorporate them into our product planning. The result was Zoids BLOX.

 Nakase: I was also aware that Zoids were hobby products, so I proposed the Zoids BLOX project as a product that could be sold as a hobby. However, I also asked myself, "If you joined the company because you were drawn to Zoids because of their motorized features, why would you make a BLOX product with no motorized features?" But then I realized that the fun part of Zoids wasn't only in them moving, but also in their customization. The custom contests were a lot of fun, and the children among our users were sending us tons of ideas. "Here's my concept for #-type Zoid!" So, we thought, "If we lower the bar even further and make them freely customizable, the children in our user base will be able to create their own favorite animals." At first, we had the idea of using powered Zoids as a base and allowing customization by reassembling them, but that would inevitably lead to the power unit becoming a hindrance. That's why we came up with the BLOX concept. Also, by not including the power unit, we were able to lower the price.



 — I'm sure you must have had some difficulties commercializing this new concept.

 Tajima: In our in-house presentation, we dared to say "We're quitting Zoids!" But having said that, we were pretending to create a product that was different from the image we'd had in the past, and it was commercialized with that kind of impression.

 Nakase: We can't just continue to make things for the core fans as we have in the past. One of the reasons I became hooked on Zoids to the extent that it changed my life was because they were low-priced and easy to buy. That is why the three phrases of "lower price", "enjoyable customization", and "easy-to-play-with size" were incorporated into Zoids BLOX. Even before their introduction, however, there was controversy among fans (laughs.)
 As for myself, I was happy that the children I really wanted to deliver the product to were pleased with them. I was able to prove that Zoids could be a hobby product even without an anime.


 — And then in 2004, the anime started again, didn't it?

 Nakase: We established our position as a hobby product and developed a card game using an arcade cabinet called Zoids Card Colosseum. Around that time, the decision was made to make an animated series, Zoids Fuzors, which was first broadcast in the U.S. in 2003, and then in Japan in 2004, followed by Zoids Genesis the following year.

 Tajima: It would've been nice if we could have made it a project where mainstream Zoids and Zoids BLOX, which we had taken the trouble to launch, could coexist. It's unfortunate that Zoids BLOX ended during the anime adaption.


 — And after a period of inactivity, you started a completely new product, Zoids Wild, in 2018.

 Tajima: As with the period between the first and second phases, various revival projects were considered. At the time, in contrast to the second generation, there weren't any ideas of using the existing molds. We felt that if we didn't make more and more by ourselves, we wouldn't be able to portray the charm of the 'group' as a whole. We couldn't just say "We can start with lions vs. dinosaurs." In the world of Zoids, there are insects and herbivorous dinosaurs, too. This is also why we expanded our product lineup from the start.


 — In the Zoids Wild series, you incorporated a number of new approaches, didn't you?

 Tajima: For children, simply having a motorized machine no longerfeels 'natural.' Since they can't assemble them easily on their own, they aren't that impressed with the finished product. So, we decided to deliver a product with value beyond the children's expectations.

 Nakase: When I made a normal walking prototype, I thought "Isn't something missing?" It took me about three years to fill in that "something." Then I came up with "Wild Blast", a special animalistic move. Then, as we reflected on the Heisei period, we considered the difficulty of assembling the kits. These days, instead of asking "Do you have nippers and glue?" we have to ask "Has your father ever made a plastic model?" The age range has dropped due to the broadcast of the anime series, and even if a 5 ~ 6 year old child bought our product, he/she couldn't assemble it by him/herself, and even if his/her mother tried to build it, they wouldn't be able to help her. There were also stories of dads not being able to make them either. I would assume that "If you've got nippers at home, you can build a plastic model" but we decided to eliminate the runners based on the assumption that families might not have those things at home after all. When eliminating the runners, we created a parts diagram that made it easier to assemble the models without having to assign part numbers, so that users wouldn't have to assemble super-complex structures. As a result, Zoids Wild has become an easy-to-assemble product that still has surprising gimmicks.


 — Please tell us about the Anniversary Zoids.

 Nakase: When we launched Zoids Masterpiece in 2016, we were able to get a feel for the temperature of their distribution on the sales floor. Some of the experience we gained during that time led us to this project. As for the choice of Zoids to be commercialized, we decided to commercialize Zoids that appeared in the anime, such as the Blade Liger to suit that age group, as the generation from the Heisei anime broadcast are just at the age now when they're passionate about their hobbies.


 — Please tell us about what points you brushed up on this time?

 Nakase: The gimmicks of the parts and the electronic mechanisms. It's not just a walking figure, but has mechanisms that make you think "This is how a living creature moves." Another feature is the animal-like proportions. The previous Ligers had a rather stoute and broad design, but actual lions have narrow shoulders and a thin profile. As a new form of Zoids, we were conscious of bringing the designs and movements closer to those of real animals. We hope that people who have handled Zoids in the past will think "I like this kind of brush-up, it looks more grown up."


 — What developments will take place in the future for Zoids, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2023?

 Tajima: Even though we have 40 years of history, to start with, we're planning to focus mainly on the 1999 anime series with Bang, Sieg, and Liger. Once the whole thing has become more exciting, we'd like to expand things to include both past series and the future. In terms of products and topics, we're planning various measures to involve more and more fans from the Showa period and children who will become fans in the future.


 — Once again, what's the appeal of Zoids?

 Nakase: The mechanical design, including the mechanisms, which were created 40 years ago. The setting of Planet Zi, metal life forms, and weapons. The increase in the number of Zoids, the war stories that naturally arose from the increase in the number of different types, and the fascinatingly drawn 3DCG images and video games. Various Zoids products have been released over the years. I believe that all of this evolution over time has built up the charm of Zoids. Zoids will continue to evolve, so please stay tuned!

- Yutaka Tajima

 Joined the company in 1988. He supported the development of the first Zoids and was in charge of the walking mechanisms and other various things, including the following Z-Knight series. He's been involved in Zoids in a central position since the Second Phase starting in 1999. He appeared as Dr. T in CoroCoro Comic and in the TV program Oha Suta. Currently, he's the head of the Hobby Character Business Office, where he oversees all hobby characters, including other brands such as Transformers.

- Takashi Nakase

 Joined the company in 2001. He's in charge of Zoids development. He's worked on products such as Zoids BLOX, Masterpiece Zoids, and the Zoids Wild series, and is also in charge of the development of the 40th Anniversary Zoids.

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