Gigan (Trendmasters)

Gigan first appeared in 1972’s Godzilla vs. Gigan. He is originally an extraterrestrial cyborg monster used by the M Space Hunter Nebula Aliens to invade Earth, but his backstory changes a bit depending on the media he is being featured in. Gigan’s abilities include a jet pack for flight, a circular saw on his chest, and hooked blades for hands. In Godzilla: Final Wars he can also shoot circular saws from his neck and lasers from his eyes.

This figure comes from Trendmasters and was released in 1995. Trendmasters made several Gigan figures, including 6” (15.24 cm) versions with and without sound, and a 10” (25.4 cm) version. This is the 4” (10.16 cm) version that was included in the Godzilla Wars set, along with a Godzilla figure. It was also included in other sets, like the Doom Island 40th Anniversary Set. There was also a 40th Anniversary Collector’s Edition repaint.

This Gigan is made of solid rubber with no articulation. The detail work here is pretty darn good for a 30-year-old toy. His golden chest is covered in scales and fringed in blue with a blue X across the chest, and his green body has a fibrous texture. The tail is also gold and scaly except for the underside, which is green.

Teeth are sculpted along the yellow beak, and the inside of the mouth is painted red and includes a tongue. Yellow spikes run down his head, neck, and tail. The circular saw on his chest, the spike on his tail, and his blade-like hands and feet are also yellow. All the yellow bits are inaccurate however, as these parts are silver on the film version. This figure is also more muscular than the film version, like the previously reviewed Anguirus.  Three fins run down the back and these are green and gold and smooth with a ridged texture. They should be more gold than what’s depicted here. The visor across his eyes is red.

This is a decent little toy of one of Toho’s strangest kaiju creations but does have some inaccuracies, especially with the paintjob. If you want one, they’re easy to come by on eBay for about $20. There are better Gigan figures currently in production but you’ll want this one if your a Gigan completest or collect Trendmasters toys.