Mattel Metal Figures

Mattel TV Commercial

Chogokin and Popynica

Mattel released several different sizes of the smaller metal Shogun Warriors known as Chogokin in Japan. These smaller Shoguns are collected by both robot toy collectors and people who collect Japanese die-cast toys. These came in various sizes/price points and are loosly grouped as follows: 5 1/2 to 6" Two-in-Ones which transformed or had 2 different functions; Five-inch Action figures which came with various weapons and accessories; Collector's Shogun Warriors which were three to four inches in height and packaged in window boxes; and lastly a group of vehicles often referred to as Popynica, many of which came with firing parts/missiles or small figures. 

Two-in-Ones There were six different 5 1/2" Two-in-One figures which were much like (and the predecessors of) the Transformers line that came out years later. These were Danguard, Daimos, Gaiking, Grandizer, Raydeen and Voltez V. Both because of their sophistication (making them more desirable) and because they came out toward the end of the toy line, these figures are extremely hard to find in original packaging and command much higher prices.

Action Figures There were four different diecast 5" Shogun Warrior action figures: Dragun, Mazinga, Poseidon and Raider. Due to cost-cutting measures implemented by Mattel during the 70's, there exists two or three versions of each figure, each new version further simplifying the figure that came out before it (i.e. fewer weapons, features, fists and weapons becoming non-firing, missiles becoming "safer" and less general "play-ability").

Collector's Figures There were 10 different Collectors Shogun Warriors: Combatra, Dragun, Gaiking, Grandizer, Great Mazinga, Poseidon, Dangard, Leopaldon, Voltes V and 17 (Daitetsujin 17 in Japan). These colorful die-cast shoguns featured metal bodies with plastic heads and limbs. Their only moving parts were the arms and hip joints.

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