Shogun Warriors
|
|
Shogun Warriors were a line of toys, made by Mattel during the late 1970s that consisted of a series of imported Japanese robots all based on then-popular giant robot anime shows. They were manufactured in two sizes, the 24 inch plastic versions and the 3.5 inch diecast metal versions.
Shogun Warriors included the following:
- Raideen
- Dragun (aka Getterobo)
- Dangard Ace
- Mazinger
- Great Mazinger
- Gaiking
- Poseidon
- Combattler V
- Grendizer
- Godzilla
The most attractive features on these toys were the spring loaded launcher weapons such as missiles, star shuriken, and battleaxes. Some robots were able to launch their fists. The diecast versions of these toys also had the ability to transform. Grandizer, for instance, was changeable into a saucerlike spaceship. But unlike the 80s toyline Transformers, Shogun Warriors transformations were based on dissasembly and reassembly into a new mode.
Shogun Warriors was also licensed in 1979-1980 for a 20-issue Marvel comic written by Doug Moench where several of the robots (Raideen, Combatra, Dangard Ace) were incorporated into Marvel Universe stories.
Like certain other toylines of the 70s, the Shogun Warriors came under pressure due to safety concerns regarding their spring loaded weapons features. Toy manufacturers were facing new regulations due to reported child injuries as a result of playing with these toys. Consequently, many toy companies were forced to remodel existing toylines with child safe variations (such as spring loaded "action" missiles that would remain attached to the toy). For this reason, as well as decreasing sales, the Shogun Warriors toyline disappeared by 1980.
Several of the anime from this toyline were seen in the 80s as part of Jim Terry's Force Five series.