Robocon

[admin1 aka Ed]

-Robot Riki

Anyone else have pics to share?

Ed

[daltron]

I used to have the talking Robocon, he was so much fun. Needed the money real bad, so I had to let him go.

[admin1 aka Ed]

You have GA-14 ....nice score!

longduckdong said:

I picked up this little guy for $10. I think he is the original Robocon and not the GA-14R or the GA-38 but I can't tell from the markings... Any help would be greatly appreciated!

[longduckdong]

Thanks! I appreciate it.

As I learn more and more about vintage Popy's, I find that some of the markings are obvious, but some - like this one - are not.

I'll post photos of my other vintage robots too.

[admin1 aka Ed]

Great LD ....keep the pictures coming1

[KingboyD]

Nice pickup, lungduckdong. That thing is pretty heavy for its size.

Ed, what markings does the reissure have? Typically from the wear, I would assume that it is vintage too - the GA-14R was a pretty new release, so I doubt it would have that kind of playwear. But I am unfamiliar with the markings on the reissue.

[magengar]

Here's a chinese kockoff of Robocon that I saw in ebay...





cgi.ebay.com/ROBOCON-Soul-Of-Soft-Vinyl-figure-VOLUME-33-BANDAI_W0QQitemZ190087726200QQihZ009QQcategoryZ1345QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItem

I've never seen the series for Robocon... I think this
little robot is kinda cute! ;D

Pics courtesy of ebay member Siamsky,
(ebay store: Siamsky die-cast N Tokusatsu toys )

(...This seller is the one who originally has
the cool Chinese "jumbo" kockoffs such as my Mazinger.)

zozo-Magengar

[admin1 aka Ed]

kingboyd said:

Nice pickup, lungduckdong. That thing is pretty heavy for its size.

Ed, what markings does the reissure have? Typically from the wear, I would assume that it is vintage too - the GA-14R was a pretty new release, so I doubt it would have that kind of playwear. But I am unfamiliar with the markings on the reissue.

I think it is a near exactness....maybe with a stamping from China though and new copywright. My toy is away in a different city

[admin1 aka Ed]

kingboyd said:

Nice pickup, lungduckdong. That thing is pretty heavy for its size.

Ed, what markings does the reissure have? Typically from the wear, I would assume that it is vintage too - the GA-14R was a pretty new release, so I doubt it would have that kind of playwear. But I am unfamiliar with the markings on the reissue.

I think it is a near exactness....maybe with a stamping from China though and new copywright. My toy is away in a different city

[zambot3]

Is there a definitive website about Robocon in English? I'm curious about all the other characters? What are they about? What is Robodoro? He looks kinda like a frog. It probably is the best assortment of characters from one show made by Popy.

[Mr. Ginrai]

Actually, it looks like the American Wikipedia article has been updated very recently.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ganbare!!_Robocon

You can also find an article on Japanese or Chinese Wikipedia through Google. Copy and paste the kanji from the American Wikipedia article above into google and the foreign one should come up. You can then google translate that page. That article will most likely have one of the best character breakdowns.

Robocon basically goes to robot school. His job is to learn how to be helpful to humans at home and in the outside world (he is a family household/assistant robot). All of the robots are to some extent, some are different.

"Ganbare" literally means "Do your best", so you can see where the grading aspect applies. The big silver guy is Gantsu Sensei (aka "Teacher") and he gives all the robots tasks to do as part of the robot school and they receive grades and/or hearts that come out of the computer in his belly, the color depends on if they do well or not.

The other robots are his schoolmates. Some are friends and some are not. The really strong guy is actually a bully to Robocon, along with another guy.

One robot is very haphazard, one is training to be a top notch chef. The idea is that many of them screw up, it's a running gag of the show.

Robin chan (the little girl) is actually not human. She is an android. Robocon has a crush on her and gets very blushed and uncoordinated when she is around. He gets better and she eventually becomes his girlfriend of sorts.

And Robocon is afraid of cockroaches. Deathly afraid!

[zambot3]

Thanks. I appreciate the reply. i actually looked at that wikipedia article before and I notice they either intentionally or unintentionally mixed in the reboot with the original. I'll have a look at the chinese or japanese wikipedia.

Even watching the show, it's a little confusing. This is what i got from watching some on youtube.

Robodoro has special powers.
Robo Pu has an affinity for Yams and also passes air.
Robo Pa falls apart.
Yes and robocon fears roaches thus the plastic roaches that come with the toy. The toys are great! You can get a good collection for not too much money although Robin Chan, Robodoro and Robowaru go for thousands of dollars in box.

[demizer]

I now have quite a few of them. What Ive done is simply buy unboxed but good to very good condition examples from RJ that are relatively complete and clean them up really well. They are display pieces so its ok. I do have several MIB versions of some of the less rare ones. I only do this with excellent condition rare pieces that would be out of my price range, some of the rarer Zendaman and Time Bokan stuff.

[admin1 aka Ed]

Based on the wear, I'll guess it a GA-14 original toy. The reissue probably adjusted the back markings (it shows Popy toys on the back oval)

Maybe someone can confirm there is a Bandai marking on the -R reissue.

Ed

[cybermuton]

Just checked. The reissue doesn't have the Popy mark, but does say 'Bandai 1999 Made in Japan' So it's pretty clear.
And the GA38 version's mark shows 'GA38', the Popy Mark, 'Made in Japan', and some Japanese copyright info.

Can't find my beat up GA14 right now, but given that there are just these 3 versions (GA14, GA14R (Reissue), and GA38), the one pictured above is an original GA14.