Sofubi, soft vinyl, and Japanese vinyl are all the same thing. Kaiju is a subset of that. Kaiju can be sofubi, but it's specific characters. The newer stuff like RxH and Super7 and Greasebat isn't really Kaiju. Really, I'm not sure even Zagoran is Kaiju, strictly speaking.
The reason I'm asking is that Gatchabert uploaded a ton of RxHs years ago and put them as 'sofubi' : http://rotocasted.com/toy/522... I just had the feeling that sofubi was 'punk' toys that didn't really fit into the Kaiju ie Strange Beast niche, but still were more 'twisted' than your usual Touma or whatever Japanese toy.
Technically RealxHead figures are not kaiju toys. Kaiju are usually monsters based on and inspired by the old tokusatsu (special effects) movies and shows like Ultraman, Godzilla, and Power Rangers, to name a few. RealXHead figures owe more to "fight figures" than they do to kaiju figures. Fight figures were first started by artist Takeshit with his Fink Shit fight figure.
Takeshit was a big fan of (and participated in) shoot fighting (kind of like the Japanese version of MMA mixed with pro wrestling) and created a stylized figure that brings to mind the look of Japanese boxers with his shorts and boxing gloves. Companies like Secret Base, Gargamel, and others started making figures that were similar to the Fink Shit figure, and there was a big boom in the fight figure style. Mori Katsura stepped into the ring with his own take on the fight figure and it has evolved past the fight figure realm. I think his characters have the most involved backstories of all the fight figure styled figures. I'd be hesitant to label all of the RealXHead figures as "fight figures"-- certainly some fit right in with their fighting trunks and fight figure stances, but they have really evolved into something that is all their own. They have a bit of the kaiju flair to them, but they aren't really kaiju in the true sense of the word. I believe the "sofubi" tag works best... it's general enough to encompass all that RealXHead stuff embodies and specific enough to not include kaiju and other types of figures.
Kaijin is a pretty good term for them... it doesn't take away from the fact that they are like fight figures and doesn't quite put them in the same range as kaiju. (You start going into crazy territory when you start calling things "kaiju." People will cut you over that! Not really... or maybe really... I'm scared! Maybe not.)
I know a lot of collectors of Japanese soft vinyl call ALL of it "sofubi" because it is a generic term. I wanted to err on the side of safety. (No knife attacks from crazed kaiju purists for me, good sir!)
In my opinion, people can call 'em whatever they want... I prefer to call them "AWESOME!" :D
monster - I also love knowing the right terms for things as much as I can. I get slightly annoyed whenever people call anime mange or vice versa, and I'm not that big of an anime or mange fan :D
I like knowing the proper terms, but I think it behooves one to not get all buttdestroyed over people who are new to things not getting it right. People learn a lot more by encouragement than they do by chastising. I agree though... sometimes hearing people call any comic book a "graphic novel" makes my spine rattle. But then I get all over it and stuff and keep on keepin' on! XD
I first found out about fight figures in an old issue of Super Seven magazine and started looking around online for more information. You can find out a LOT about Japanese toys by looking at sites like:
Skullbrain is a forum, but you don't have to join to search for terms and read stuff there. Those guys are a big source for information about most Japanese vinyl.
this type of conversation & knowledge sharing is a big part of what adds so much awesomeness to this site, thanks to all involved above for both great questions and super in depth answers :)
4
ToyPunkJan
1881 1896 2109
13 years ago
Has anyone here an idea of what the hell 'Sofubi' means? When you're on ebay all kinds of Nintendo figures show up!!!
MisterQuiche
185 83 831
13 years ago
my understanding is soft vinyl but i could be wrong, quick someone educate us
SillyK
154 1426 1657
13 years ago
i think Mr. Quiche is correct. Sofubi stands for soft vinyl.
Shankweather
432 4 822
13 years ago
Sofubi, soft vinyl, and Japanese vinyl are all the same thing. Kaiju is a subset of that. Kaiju can be sofubi, but it's specific characters. The newer stuff like RxH and Super7 and Greasebat isn't really Kaiju. Really, I'm not sure even Zagoran is Kaiju, strictly speaking.
ToyPunkJan
1881 1896 2109
13 years ago
The reason I'm asking is that Gatchabert uploaded a ton of RxHs years ago and put them as 'sofubi' :
http://rotocasted.com/toy/522...
I just had the feeling that sofubi was 'punk' toys that didn't really fit into the Kaiju ie Strange Beast niche, but still were more 'twisted' than your usual Touma or whatever Japanese toy.
monsterforge
280 124 209
13 years ago
Technically RealxHead figures are not kaiju toys. Kaiju are usually monsters based on and inspired by the old tokusatsu (special effects) movies and shows like Ultraman, Godzilla, and Power Rangers, to name a few. RealXHead figures owe more to "fight figures" than they do to kaiju figures. Fight figures were first started by artist Takeshit with his Fink Shit fight figure.
http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/20...
Takeshit was a big fan of (and participated in) shoot fighting (kind of like the Japanese version of MMA mixed with pro wrestling) and created a stylized figure that brings to mind the look of Japanese boxers with his shorts and boxing gloves. Companies like Secret Base, Gargamel, and others started making figures that were similar to the Fink Shit figure, and there was a big boom in the fight figure style. Mori Katsura stepped into the ring with his own take on the fight figure and it has evolved past the fight figure realm. I think his characters have the most involved backstories of all the fight figure styled figures. I'd be hesitant to label all of the RealXHead figures as "fight figures"-- certainly some fit right in with their fighting trunks and fight figure stances, but they have really evolved into something that is all their own. They have a bit of the kaiju flair to them, but they aren't really kaiju in the true sense of the word. I believe the "sofubi" tag works best... it's general enough to encompass all that RealXHead stuff embodies and specific enough to not include kaiju and other types of figures.
lordsketch
381 1089 1433
13 years ago
thanks monster, that was really eye opening! I had no idea there was this tradition in Japanese toys
CoMus
171 468 619
13 years ago
It is a new Japanese word created from English words -
Soft Vinyl -> Sofoto Biniru -> Sofu Biniru -> Sofubi
Kaiju is just Japanese for strange/odd/not of this world beast. Yet in reference to toys Monsterforge is correct - They are old tokusatsu beasts.
The lines of what makes a Kaiju toy "kaiju" are blended, as people are creating monster toys inspired by Japanese toys inspired by old Kaiju toys.
If anything, Mutant Chaos is a Kaijin (humanoid monster)
monsterforge
280 124 209
13 years ago
Kaijin is a pretty good term for them... it doesn't take away from the fact that they are like fight figures and doesn't quite put them in the same range as kaiju. (You start going into crazy territory when you start calling things "kaiju." People will cut you over that! Not really... or maybe really... I'm scared! Maybe not.)
I know a lot of collectors of Japanese soft vinyl call ALL of it "sofubi" because it is a generic term. I wanted to err on the side of safety. (No knife attacks from crazed kaiju purists for me, good sir!)
In my opinion, people can call 'em whatever they want... I prefer to call them "AWESOME!" :D
lordsketch
381 1089 1433
13 years ago
monster - I also love knowing the right terms for things as much as I can. I get slightly annoyed whenever people call anime mange or vice versa, and I'm not that big of an anime or mange fan :D
lordsketch
381 1089 1433
13 years ago
is there anywhere I can read more about fighting figures?
monsterforge
280 124 209
13 years ago
I like knowing the proper terms, but I think it behooves one to not get all buttdestroyed over people who are new to things not getting it right. People learn a lot more by encouragement than they do by chastising. I agree though... sometimes hearing people call any comic book a "graphic novel" makes my spine rattle. But then I get all over it and stuff and keep on keepin' on! XD
I first found out about fight figures in an old issue of Super Seven magazine and started looking around online for more information. You can find out a LOT about Japanese toys by looking at sites like:
http://robotxmonster.blogspot...
http://www.collectiondx.com/
http://toyboxdx.com/
http://skullbrain.org/
Skullbrain is a forum, but you don't have to join to search for terms and read stuff there. Those guys are a big source for information about most Japanese vinyl.
Hope that helps! :D
MisterQuiche
185 83 831
13 years ago
this type of conversation & knowledge sharing is a big part of what adds so much awesomeness to this site, thanks to all involved above for both great questions and super in depth answers :)
CoMus
171 468 619
13 years ago
Don't you just hate jargon!
Mark Nagata has some good posts about Kaiju works - http://toykarma.blogspot.com/
CoMus
171 468 619
13 years ago
Also, check out this link - http://www.pecha-kucha.org/pr...
Don Kratzer teaches us the meaning of "Kaiju,"