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Post by xiombarg on Dec 15, 2009 13:31:01 GMT -5
Obviously there is a big market for SD figures, but who is it? I never see or hear anybody who is an avid SD collector. Are there guys hiding out in basements with huge stashes of SD figures or what?
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ex99
Junior Robot
Posts: 24
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Post by ex99 on Dec 15, 2009 14:01:00 GMT -5
Me me me~! I am not a huge SD collector but I do buy some from time to time, and all of my SD collections are the SD samari Gundam..
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Dec 15, 2009 14:30:37 GMT -5
In my limited experience I find SD Gundam kits are the domain of casual robot collectors... and they don't go anywhere beyond that. I know a guy who couldn't even get rid of his and wound up donating his completed kits to the Salvation Army so they could sell the whole collection for a few dollars.
My female cousins like building the SDs - they're simple enough that they feel they can accomplish a complete build and it's have something in teh hobby to share with their boyfriends, etc...
As for myself, I haven't built an SD Gundam in years... But I've been tempted to pick one up from time to time.
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Post by gokinrob on Dec 15, 2009 15:07:18 GMT -5
I am not sure what the appeal is on these critters. Sure, they're cute and all. But maybe it's the kid/female market that is the manufacturer's primary target group.
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Post by quinjester on Dec 15, 2009 15:46:03 GMT -5
Considering the continued production of Bandai's SDX line, which feature diecast and a fairly sizeable (for the size) pricetag, as well as Megahouse's Deformer line (even MORE expensive, based on various niche properties such as Super Robot Wars and Kamen Rider) and the upcoming ES Gokin lines (made by the kings of expensive diecast collectibles, Fewture), I don't see the kid/female market as panning out as a valid answer. When you go on Yahoo Japan you see TONS of SD stuff as far as merchandise goes; gashapons as well as higher end collectibles, keychains and resin model kits. Frankly I think the only real valid answer to "who is the market" is, simply, "Japan". It's one of those things, like animation products themselves, that they see as "normal" in the realm of collectibles. For ourselves as overseas collectors, we don't have quite the level of exposure to that culture so we just get the more basic animation interest, as opposed to its more specialized aspects. EDIT: But myself, I have to admit I dig it.
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Post by magengar on Dec 15, 2009 16:16:44 GMT -5
I have a small Gundam Eagle "SD" figure which I bought from my local BigLots! store... it has eyes (with blue irises), and a push-button to make sounds from the chip inside its body. Also comes with some weird wing pack. I haven't opened it from its carded blisterpack since I bought it a couple years ago. Still, it is kinda cute just to have it hangin on my wall as part of my collection... but it's not anything significant compared to my Mazinger figures collection.
zozo-Magengar
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Post by Ben-Ohki on Dec 15, 2009 17:06:32 GMT -5
Oh, I see where you guys are going with this. I was speaking primarily of the cheap SD kits. But for more general terms, Japan loves to SD just about anything they can get their hands on. And you answered you're own question - it's so universal the market is just about anyone who likes cute stuff.
As for the more expensive stuff... well, who knows? I suppose they're trying to cross over and tap into the designer-model stuff. Urban art has an uncanny resemblance to traditional SD. Just look at anything by Kid Robot (and their by-products like the Munny-inspired Mighty Muggs from Hasbro; who by the way are sculpted by the creator of Munny), etc...
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Post by magengar on Dec 15, 2009 18:01:51 GMT -5
I wonder where "SD" came from, and who started that trend? I used to think it was a trend to parody some of the early super-robot animes, in such a manner as seen in some of the old Japanese arcade game consoles, rpg games, and game systems like Nintendo and such... The Japanese console game "Super-Robot Wars" comes to mind.
zozo-Magengar
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Post by xiombarg on Dec 16, 2009 21:35:13 GMT -5
Not to draw any comparison to the quality of SD figures, but on animenewsnetwork.com the worst rated anime ranking in at number 3239 is "SD Gundam Force" (TV). I've been really curious how bad this anime is but haven't made an effort to find it yet.
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Post by coldiron on Dec 16, 2009 21:52:40 GMT -5
I have a box in a the closet with a bunch of SD gundam I plan on building someday. I like a lot of SD stuff, but I also collect urban vinyl... so, ya know.
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Post by kencoesta on Dec 18, 2009 14:02:40 GMT -5
Correct me if I'm wrong, but "SD" means Super Deformed. I think I picked that up in a Newtype a zillion years ago. BIIIG head - liiitle body. I've got quite a few SD gundams (BB Senshi and the like). The designs and ideas are really really cool and some of the gimmicks are pretty sweet. I wish BanDai would mimic these in some of the full-figure lines. I've got a few that would sooo sweet in the 1/100 scale.
As far as SD in general goes, I see it as just an accessory to my existing collection. e.g. I've got the 1/100 endless waltz models and the 1/60 perfect whatever Wing Zero custom, so... there in Target I see the SD versions. *SNAG* Now they can all just stand there together. For me, it just adds a little extra dimension, but nothing really to be sought after.
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