Bandai Ultimate Collection checklist
Oct 17, 2023 9:39:36 GMT -6
doomprevails88, Machine00Mutant, and 1 more like this
Post by Branjita on Oct 17, 2023 9:39:36 GMT -6
Note: I am not an expert in these, but we lack a checklist for these on DBF, so I need to make one.
Overview
Bandai Ultimate Collection was a line of approximately 4 inch tall figures sold in the US and Europe in 2008 and 2009. For their time period, they were fairly highly articulated and reasonably priced. Their critics (which included me) did not like that they had the appearance of Happy Meal toys (glossy plastic and relatively cheap looking). The line had two series released in the US, and one additional series released in Europe, though the figures are very uncommon.
During the same time period, Bandai's Real Works figures were being sold in the US as "Original Collection" figures. They were similar in size (though a bit larger honestly), but were statues.
Pic credit: phantasmoe on ebay
And "Quick Change" figures, which were approximately 4 inch scale, very minimally articulated, and had clothing/armor that could be taken on and off.
Here is a photo of Quick Change Vegeta's body and armor next to two Ultimate Collection figures. I don't think the SS Vegeta head came with this body.
Pic credit: hankhillp65 on ebay
Other figures sold at the exact same time were called "Ultimate Sparks" and they were approximately 2 inch scale figures. Similar to those were "Flash Changer" figures, and they were sold at a similar time as well.
Checklist
Series 1 had yellow and orange packaging in the US. There were 8 characters.
SS Goku, SS Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza form 4, Perfect Cell, SS4 Goku, Super Bebi Vegeta 2 (Bebi's final form), and a build a figure Shenron (each figure came with a piece).
Series 2 had black packaging in the US. There were 6 characters.
Goku, Vegeta, SS Future Trunks in armor, SS Adult Gohan in orange gi, Vegito, and a build a figure Porunga (each figure came with a piece).
I've also read that SS3 Goku and Kid Buu were formally released, but in Series 2 packaging, without Shenron pieces, but with effect pieces to connect to their hands. This is supported by the cardboard backing on Series 2. Some people might consider these two figures Series 3.
Pic credit: hirotoyshop on ebay
Blitzwinger has a video on YouTube about SS3 Goku and Kid Buu.
Series 3 (or what some people might consider Series 4) had yellow packaging. There were 7 characters. SS3 Goku, Kid Buu, SS4 Vegeta, SS4 Gogeta, Omega Shenron, SS Gotenks, and a build a figure yellow/gold Shenron (each figure came with a piece). These might have been released in 2010 and possibly only in Europe (specifically Spain and the UK). It's also possible that a few of these characters were never formally released in packaging at all. Some might have only been available as loose figures sold by sellers selling factory rejects, prototypes, etc.
Here are photos by lasombra of his collection. He says that he has not found Omega Shenron or SS4 Gogeta before, but he has all of the others.
And here are photos by Jay Diaz of his collection.
And photos of series 3 collected by doomprevails88 :
Photos of SS Gotenks found by lysk1
Omega Shenron: this is the only known picture proving that he exists. Why he was used in a promotional image for an unlicensed AF Omega Shenron figure (alternate link) is a mystery, but it's great that we got to see him thanks to this photo.
No known picture of SS4 Gogeta has been found. The best I have seen is this photo of the back of the package. If you can provide a better quality version of this photo, please post it.
Overview
Bandai Ultimate Collection was a line of approximately 4 inch tall figures sold in the US and Europe in 2008 and 2009. For their time period, they were fairly highly articulated and reasonably priced. Their critics (which included me) did not like that they had the appearance of Happy Meal toys (glossy plastic and relatively cheap looking). The line had two series released in the US, and one additional series released in Europe, though the figures are very uncommon.
During the same time period, Bandai's Real Works figures were being sold in the US as "Original Collection" figures. They were similar in size (though a bit larger honestly), but were statues.
Pic credit: phantasmoe on ebay
And "Quick Change" figures, which were approximately 4 inch scale, very minimally articulated, and had clothing/armor that could be taken on and off.
Here is a photo of Quick Change Vegeta's body and armor next to two Ultimate Collection figures. I don't think the SS Vegeta head came with this body.
Pic credit: hankhillp65 on ebay
Other figures sold at the exact same time were called "Ultimate Sparks" and they were approximately 2 inch scale figures. Similar to those were "Flash Changer" figures, and they were sold at a similar time as well.
Checklist
Series 1 had yellow and orange packaging in the US. There were 8 characters.
SS Goku, SS Vegeta, Piccolo, Frieza form 4, Perfect Cell, SS4 Goku, Super Bebi Vegeta 2 (Bebi's final form), and a build a figure Shenron (each figure came with a piece).
Series 2 had black packaging in the US. There were 6 characters.
Goku, Vegeta, SS Future Trunks in armor, SS Adult Gohan in orange gi, Vegito, and a build a figure Porunga (each figure came with a piece).
I've also read that SS3 Goku and Kid Buu were formally released, but in Series 2 packaging, without Shenron pieces, but with effect pieces to connect to their hands. This is supported by the cardboard backing on Series 2. Some people might consider these two figures Series 3.
Pic credit: hirotoyshop on ebay
Blitzwinger has a video on YouTube about SS3 Goku and Kid Buu.
Series 3 (or what some people might consider Series 4) had yellow packaging. There were 7 characters. SS3 Goku, Kid Buu, SS4 Vegeta, SS4 Gogeta, Omega Shenron, SS Gotenks, and a build a figure yellow/gold Shenron (each figure came with a piece). These might have been released in 2010 and possibly only in Europe (specifically Spain and the UK). It's also possible that a few of these characters were never formally released in packaging at all. Some might have only been available as loose figures sold by sellers selling factory rejects, prototypes, etc.
Here are photos by lasombra of his collection. He says that he has not found Omega Shenron or SS4 Gogeta before, but he has all of the others.
And here are photos by Jay Diaz of his collection.
And photos of series 3 collected by doomprevails88 :
Photos of SS Gotenks found by lysk1
Omega Shenron: this is the only known picture proving that he exists. Why he was used in a promotional image for an unlicensed AF Omega Shenron figure (alternate link) is a mystery, but it's great that we got to see him thanks to this photo.
No known picture of SS4 Gogeta has been found. The best I have seen is this photo of the back of the package. If you can provide a better quality version of this photo, please post it.
