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Complete 1980 Yamakatsu Box from "The Legendary Giant Ideon" 1980-81 TV Mecha Series . . .

"Space Runaway Ideon" 伝説巨神イデオン (Densetsu kyojin'ideon)
30 Packs of Keshigomu Vinyl Figures, each with Anime Trading Card
Super Robot Figures and More from Gundam's Creators

The complete 1980 Yamakatsu Space Runaway Ideon TV Mecha box of 30 packs. Each pack has a vinyl keshigomu -- a highly collectible mold injected figure of a mecha or TV character -- plus a full-color anime trading card. That's thirty (30) vinyl figures and 30 cards from the 1980-81 super mecha TV series, "Space Runaway Ideon" 伝説巨神イデオン (Densetsu kyojin'ideon), literally the "Legendary Giant Ideon"). Reasonable offers will be considered.

"Ideon" immediately followed Tomino's most famous work, Nippon Sunrise's 1979-80 TV anime series, "Mobile Suit Gundam." Ideon's mecha - mechanical designs were created by Yuichi Higuchi at Studio Submarine. The television series credited only the design studio, while Higuchi received full credit for the subsequent films. The mecha characters were designed by Tomonori Kogawa. The Ideon series won the Animage Anime Grand Prix prize for the second half of 1980. Each of the 30 packs contains one vinyl Ideon figure and one Ideon trading card. Though over 40 years old, the cards and the vinyl figures are in "pack fresh", choice condition. Each individual vinyl figure was stamped in the injection mold with Nippon Sunrise's copyright notice, " © 日本サンライズ " (Nihon sanraizu). See the fifth scan for a close-up of the Sunrise copyright notice on the yellow Solo Ship, the easiest one to scan as an example.

"Ideon" was a production of Nippon Sunrise Studios 日本サンライズ (Nihon sanraizu), created and directed by Yoshiyuki Tomino. In 1982, two "Ideon" feature length anime movies were produced. The titular mecha, characters, and other aspects of "Space Runaway Ideon" also make appearances in two of the "Super Robot Wars" series of anime mecha crossover video games: "Super Robot Wars F Final" and "3rd Super Robot Wars Alpha." Reflecting its status in animation, the "Ideon" is considered one of the most powerful mecha ever featured within the "Super Robot Wars" ("SRW") games. Ideon has a gauge, known as the "Ide Gauge", which increases as Ideon is attacked. As the Ide Gauge rises, Ideon's general capabilities increase dramatically (including Ideon's "EN" becoming infinite) and the unit unlocks three weapons: Zen-houi (All Directional) Missile, Ideon Sword, and Ideon Gun (the latter two are available in both a "normal" version and a MAP version). The Ideon Gun is particularly powerful; along with an attack power of 9999, enough to destroy most lesser enemies in one hit, the MAP version has a massive blast radius which often almost covers the battlefield. It is one of the most dangerous attacks in the "Super Robot Wars" series. However, when the Ide gauge reaches the maximum level, the Ideon becomes uncontrollable and goes berserk, destroying the universe by self-destructing, which means the end of the game. Thus, while absorbing attacks can rise the Ide Gauge and let the player use the devastating weapons, there is a great risk that the Ideon may go berserk and wipe out all.

The Ideon designer is now called Sunrise Inc. 株式会社サンライズ (Kabushiki-gaisha Sanraizu) since Nippon Sunrise was acquired in 1994 by Bandai (now Bandai Namco Holdings), one of the top plastic mold injection toy businesses in the world. Sunrise continues its focus on the difficult task of animating super robot films and their complicated "super mecha," with Bandai franchising each of the new "mecha" that Sunrise designs into the toy industry.

Figure and card manufacturer, Yamakatsu is a Japanese Fine Toy and Game manufacturer founded in 1949 during the Occupation. Yamakatsu was well known early on for its production of baseball, menko and other trading cards and vinyl mold-injected figures. Yamakatsu is especially known world-wide for its 1983 classic line of vinyl Godzilla franchise figures (including various Godzilla, Baragon, Angilas, King Ghidorah, MechaGodzilla, MechaniKong (King Kong) and Mothra (Larva) figures), based on the dai-kaiju ("giant-beast") suits worn by various actors in Godzilla franchise movies since 1954. Ya,akatsu Godilla line was issued in conjunction with Toho's reboot of its Godzilla "tokusatsu" (live action with special effects) franchise with release of the much publicized "Return of Godzilla" movie in 1984. You can see the small white Yamakatsu logo in the lower right corner of both the box top and the light blue side of the packs. The lower center of the box top also shows 全玩規協東No.172 (Zen 玩規-Kyō azuma nanbā 172), for "All Toy Cooperative License East No. 172," Yamakatsu's official toy company registration number.

The top of the box reads : "Legendary Giant Ideon" 伝説巨神イデオン (Densetsu kyojin'ideon). Near the upper left corner is the tiny silver "Nippon Sunrise" official license sticker stuck on top of the Japanese Ideon name. To the right of the name is 消ゴム (Keshigomu) for the vinyl figure and カード付 (Kādo-tsuki) meaning 'with Card." Each original staple-sealed Ideon pack has a keshigomu figure and a full-color trading card. Additional copyright notice, pricing and quantity information also appears. We opened two packs to take photos. The items were returned to their packs and are included in this lot. We found additional Ideon photos on the internet of the types of figures and cards in this set and include them for reference. Since we only opened two packs, we do not know just which figures or what cards are in the other packs. The cards will be anime art from the Space Runaway Ideon Series and the figures could be any of its characters, mecha, or other features. The packs appear quite fresh and are bulging with the figures inside. The box has some wear for long term storage but is clean in its unsealed format as issued. By itself, the box is also highly collectible and quite scarce.

Storyline / Plot Space Runaway Ideon begins in 2300, far enough in the future that mankind has begun colonizing other planets. On the planet Solo in the Andromeda Galaxy, a group of archaeologists had come across the mysterious remains of the Ideon—three large armored trucks with the ability to transform into a godlike mecha. They also come across a large spaceship, known as the Solo Ship. For six months, they had diligently restored the machines but failed to get the giant tanks to move. Suddenly, a humanoid alien civilization known as the Buff Clan comes across Solo. Karala, the daughter of the Buff Clan's military commander flies down to the planet against orders with her assistant Mayaya to investigate (her commanding officer, Gije, is reluctant with her, due to her standing and the fact that he once was a soldier under her father). She is pursued closely by comrades sent by Gije, but they lose sight of her. Assuming the "aliens" (Earthling colonists) have attacked Karala, the Buff Clan begins to attack. Cosmo Yuki, the afro-wearing protagonist of the series, and his friends Kasha Imhof and Deck Afta climb aboard the three tanks, which activate on their own, and, when they initially form the Ideon, fend off the first assault, repelling Gije's men.

This is a short respite, though, as another Buff force is sent down soon after. Bes Jordan, leader of the sparse military force stationed with the colonists orders that the Ideon tanks be armed with missiles, but while that's happening the cities on Solo are obliterated by the Buff Clan soldiers. Gije and his partner Damido, meeting up with the leader of their expedition, Abadidi Gurimade soon launch more attacks on the planet Solo in an attempt to capture the Ideon (which they refer to as the 'Giant God'). The survivors flee inside the Solo Ship and Karala, who was mistaken by Bes as a colonist is let aboard as well. Other civilians who quickly get aboard the Solo Ship include Sheryl Formosa, a linguist studying the civilization on Solo, Sheryl's sister, Lin; Banda Lotta; three children: Piper Lou, Ashura Nobaku and Fard Maraka; mechanic Joliver Ira, pilot Hatari Naburu and Moera Fatima. The pilots Tekuno and Bento soon join Cosmo and Kasha as pilots of the Ideon's 3 parts and Moera soon replaces Bes as another pilot. Karala and Mayaya are soon discovered to be aliens and while Mayaya is shot to death, Bes has taken a liking to Karala and she is allowed to live, although Sheryl and others distrust her. Karala tells everyone of the Legend of Ide (the Ideon), a story of the Buff Clan's savior, who saved them with the power of Ide. The Buff Clan have searched the universe for this legendary existence, which is what powers both the Ideon and the Solo Ship.

The Solo Ship soon flees the planet Solo using its powerful DS Drive engines and after a fight in sub space with the Buff Clan arrive at the Planet Saurus Star. Bes, Cosmo and the others confront Gije in a powerful Dogg Mack Mobile Suit and later in man to man fighting. Abadidi receives orders from above - Karala's elder sister Harulu that they no longer have to worry about harming her and could kill Karala if need be, since she has ashamed the Ajiba family by associating with the humans. The Buff Clan force chases the Solo Ship to the planet Crystal Star where Abadidi heads out himself in a Dogg Mack. His attempts to destroy the Solo Ship with giant winged creatures known as Bajins backfires and it is he who is killed by them. With Abadidi dead and Damido injured Harulu herself heads to the front. Arriving on the planet Ruins Star, Karala tries to make peace with her sister but is humiliated by Harulu's underlings. Things get even worse for her when Banda Lotta, upset by all the harm the Buff Clan has caused tries to kill her but folds under pressure. Karala willing to die impresses everyone on the Solo Ship with her strength.

The Solo Ship arrives at an Earth base where Cosmo meets Camyula, a female officer who reminds him of his mother. She soon dies right in front of him which renews his desire to fight. Damido, now recovered makes one final attempt to destroy the Ideon but is killed as well. The Solo Ship heads to the planet Ajian and when Gije attacks the planet the Ideon uses its powerful Black Hole Cannon, which prevents the Buff Clan's missiles from hitting the planet, but destroys a lot of the planet as well. Gije heads back to the Buff Clan homeworld as the Solo Ship travels to the planet Flag Star. The Solo Ship and Harulu's Dorowa Zan meet in space and the Dorowa is destroyed. Harulu flees in an escape capsule and meets up with Daram Zuba, a former lover and member of the Ome Foundation, which is plotting with Harulu and Karala's father, Doba, to overthrow the Buff Clan Emperor. With Gije with him Daram now becomes the main adversary of the Solo Ship as it goes to the planet Kyaral. There Cosmo meets Kitty Kitten who desires for the Solo Ship to flee since it will bring nothing but more heartbreak to their wartorn planet. Kitty is shot to death soon after by Daram and Cosmo is injured, saved only by a blood transfusion from Karala.

The Solo, still pursued by Daram, approaches Earth but find that their fellow Earthlings will not welcome them. Sheryl and Joliver head to the moon to use the Earth Military's powerful Gloria computer and discover that the power of Ide is infinite. The Solo Ship is attacked yet again and the Ideon uses its newest weapon, the Ideon Gun to defend itself. The 3 children sneak aboard the Ideon in their latest battle with the Buff Clan's Barume Baram Mobile Weapon but this becomes an unforeseen benefit as the reaction of the children in danger make the Ideon even more powerful and yet another weapon, the Ideon Sword is revealed. Gije, abandoned by Daram meets Sheryl and sneaks aboard the Solo Ship. Few trust him even after he kills Daram in a battle on Earth. The Earth military completely rejecting them, the Solo Ship flees without a home to go back to.

The Buff Clan continues to send high ranking Buff Clan Officers after the Solo Ship, but all fail. Moera is killed in battle to the distress of everyone, especially medic Rapot. Gije takes his place as one of the Ideon's pilots. The Solo Ship returns to Ajian who now despises them for what happened earlier in the series and their military leader takes hostages, killing Sheryl's sister Lin before he is stopped. The Solo Ship flees to the planet Steckin Star and Gije is killed when the Ideon is heavily damaged. The Ideon continues to get more and more powerful as the battles and deaths escalate and the Ideon chops the entire planet in half as it makes its escape. (Story line from Wikipedia and elsewhere.)

Free local pickup at a mutually agreeable time, or we ship by U.S. Postal Service with USPS Tracking by close of the next postal business day from payment. Shipping includes full value insurance. We can often consolidate purchases of our other items of the same day into a single package with this lot to save you shipping costs.

NOTICE: Since insurance covers only the goods but not the costs of shipping them, the buyer agrees that once we have proof of delivery of the package to the post office (which is usually the postal receipt we receive from the postal window clerk at the time of mailing), that if the package or its contents is lost in the mails and not delivered or is damaged in shipping that any refund is limited to the purchase price and any sales tax (if applicable) and does not include a refund of the shipping or insurance. For international buyers, we label our customs tags as "merchandise" and you are responsible for all customs, duties or other import fees into your country.