Next on my list of has-been space toys are the Tomy Z-Knights. An offshoot of the Zoids line, the Z-Knights existed in Japan as a popular line of model robots, large 12" battery powered models and smaller 7" clockwork ones. They saw limited release in Europe with blindingly derivative names such as Hacker, CPU, Hardware and Shutdown, whereas the japanese versions sported much more evocative names such a Aegir, Skullviper, Marine Kaizer and Gilga.
I managed to find a japanese model, which had not reached the U.K in the form of Aegir, a Submarine Attack model in a lovely turquoise finish. All the models walk, are poseable and can brandish weapons such as cannons, shields and huge bladed implements. Like Zoids they also house tiny silver figures, which look like miniature X-Wing pilots and also resemble seated Golden Astronauts.
They are straightforward to make and need no painting, being self coloured.
The japanese versions are much more authentically packaged in the mould of Gundam MS, with technical stats and weapon information, whereas the European packaging was much simpler and dumbed down.
A contemporary Zoids leaflet shows the line from around the same period, with a riot of mechanical dinosaurs, insects and fish.
A further extension of the Zoid line was a larger scaled series of toys called Zevle - these were about the same size as Zoids, but carried a small action figure about 2.5" tall.
Once more, they were meticulously detailed and the battery powered motors allowed them to crawl on multiple limbs, while flexing menacing claws and thrashing the tail.
Didn't have any Z-Knights, but got plenty of Zoids. Great designs and clever mechanisms.
ReplyDeleteYes!!! I have these wonderful mecha!
ReplyDeleteThe packaging art is brilliantly executed, almost harking back to the days of Shigeru Komatsuzaki!
In fact, some of the Zoids artwork was done by his disciple, Yoshiyuki Takani (probably best known for his Macross work)
I had the European issues of the Zoid Knights, so I never knew about the more intricate Japanese packaging!
On a strangely connected thread, I have had sucessful sessions of hypnosis to help me deal with my constant Tinnitus. When the news of Generative AI broke , I was very depressed as my career as a creative seemed to have been completely bypassed. In my hypnosis sessions to combat those feelings, I had to visualise a colour that I could focus on and Aegir popped into my mind!
A toy robot to protect me from the real robots!
Who'd a thunk?
Who'd a think it indeed Looey? Aegir is a wonderful colour, he stands right out from his peers. As a creative myself, I did worry briefly about the proliferation of AI art and the fact that artificially generated images were winning photographic competitions! But then I realised that A.I is simply another tool and still needs human direction, even if the results are good. I've even had recourse to using it myself, as it's now an integral part of Adobe Photoshop. Back to Z Knights, have you got either of the Gilga releases, I think there were two sizes, but I've never seen one for sale! Bill
Delete