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Godzilla x Eva Mash-Up Reaches New Heights at WonderFest

Anime News Network's merchandise coverage sponsored by Tokyo Otaku Mode.

Godzilla's ongoing battle with Unit-01 reached its zenith at this year's WonderFest Summer on July 24. Amidst the crowds of figure prototypes was where a booth displaying the toys, art, and other merchandise crossing over Japan's iconic monster and Hideaki Anno's popular psychological mecha series.

The most prominent attraction to the booth was the huge replica of the reimagined Godzilla from the recently released Shin Godzilla film. The monster was recreated in detail, from his cracking skin to his whip-like tail. This 1/60-scale version was available for anyone who could forfeit 993,600 yen (US$9,689). Smaller versions were also on display for inspection.

Behind the Godzilla models were the artwork and merchandise created since this April's Fools joke grew legs. The Unit-01 and Unit-02 MechaGodzilla figures and the recently announced new entry in the TOHO 30cm Series, the "Unit 01 'Awakened G Form'" figure and the newly revealed "Unit-02 Beast 'G' Mode" figure were on display.

The Awakened G Form figure images what Unit-01 would look like if it was injected with "G cells." The concept is based on "Berserk Mode" seen in the Neon Genesis Evangelion series. The Awakened G Form figure is currently available for pre-order at the Bandai Premium shopping site and the official Evangelion Store. It retails for 32,400 yen (US$316) and will ship in January. The Unit-02 Beast 'G' Mode figure is not yet available.

Godzilla and WonderFest share a special connection. The first garage kit event was held in 1984, the same year Godzilla was "resurrected." The first film for the so-dubbed "Heisei Godzilla" was The Return of Godzilla released in December 1984. The film would lead into the "VS series" pitting the titular monster against the likes of Mothra, King Ghidorah, and MechaGodzilla.

The booth also displayed the Evangelion Unit-01 plastic model in Burning Godzilla's color scheme from the Godzilla vs. Destoroyah film, the Unit-01-colored Godzilla, and prints of the artwork drawn by Takashi Murakami (Superflat Monogram, 6HP - Six Hearts Princess), Mahiro Maeda (Gankutsuou, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo), Shinji Nishikawa (Godzilla monster designer), Akira Amemiya (Inferno Cop, Ninja Slayer From Animation), and more.

FUNimation Entertainment announced at Comic Con International that it will release TOHO's Godzilla: Resurgence (Shin Godzilla) film. It plans to release the film in theaters in North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean in late 2016.

The film is the 29th Godzilla film by TOHO. Evangelion director Hideaki Anno and live-action Attack on Titan film director Shinji Higuchi are collaborating on the film. Anno is serving as chief director and writer, while Higuchi is directing the new film and is also serving as visual effects director. Mahiro Maeda (Mad Max: Fury Road, The Animatrix, Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, "Kyōshinhei Tokyo ni Arawaru") worked on the image designs, and Takayuki Takeya (Kamen Rider Drive, live-action Attack on Titan) worked on the character designs based on the concepts by Maeda and Anno.

The film opened in Japan on July 29, and has IMAX, MX4D, and 4DX screenings.

Source: Kai-You