Bandai
The Bandai selection here sits mostly in the Shokugan end of the catalogue rather than the mainline retail ranges. The SMP (Shokugan Modeling Project) kits are Brave Exkaiser, the Great Mazinger Fire On set, the VRV Robo from Carranger and the GaoKnight reissue from Gaoranger. Alongside them sit the SO-DO Chronicle sets from Kamen Rider, the G6 set and the G7 with G3-X pairing. The exception to the Shokugan framing is Zwarth from Aura Battler Dunbine, which comes under Robot Spirits.
SO-DO and SMP both assemble from runners rather than arriving built, which is worth knowing if you are used to finished figures. UK delivery is free.
Collector's Guide
Product Lines
Zero Variant's Bandai range shows how serious modern candy toys have become through SO-DO Chronicle and SMP.
- SO-DO Chronicle: Kamen Rider figure sets supplied as pre-coloured parts for simple assembly, building into compact, highly articulated Riders. The sets in this range are Premium Bandai exclusives.
- SMP Shokugan Modeling Project: the Great Mazinger Fire On! model kit set, a Premium Bandai exclusive that builds the legendary super robot with the engineering depth of a full hobby kit.
Because Premium Bandai items are released through Bandai's direct-order shop in Japan rather than general retail, sourced examples like these are a genuine find for UK collectors.
Why Collectors Rate Them
Bandai's great skill is tooling. Few companies can pack this much articulation, proportion and mechanical detail into formats this small. The shokugan lines have become a showcase for exactly that discipline. SO-DO figures pose as well as figures many times their size, while SMP kits deliver transformation and combination gimmicks that honour their source designs. With heritage licences such as Kamen Rider and Mazinger held close through decades of partnership, these are collectibles with real pedigree behind them.
Bandai Collectibles at Zero Variant
Everything in this Bandai range is official Bandai product, produced under licence from the rights holders and sourced through legitimate channels, including genuine Premium Bandai exclusives. We pack orders carefully so boxes travel safely and our UK-based team is happy to answer questions. Have a look through the range and discover how much engineering fits inside a candy toy box.
FAQs
Who is Bandai?
One of Japan's biggest toy companies, founded in Tokyo in 1950 and part of the Bandai Namco group, with hobby lines that span model kits, candy toys and collector figures.
What is shokugan?
Literally a food toy, known in English as a candy toy: a Japanese format in which a figure or kit is sold with a small sweet. Modern shokugan such as SO-DO and SMP are engineered to collector standards.
Are these products officially licensed?
Yes. Everything in this Bandai range is official Bandai product made under licence, including the Premium Bandai exclusive releases.
Do SO-DO and SMP sets require assembly?
Yes, both are supplied as pre-coloured parts designed for straightforward assembly, which is part of the fun and needs no glue or paint skills to enjoy.