Zoids
Zoids began in 1983 as a Tomy model kit line about mechanical lifeforms from planet Zi, beasts and dinosaurs reborn as armoured war machines. Where other mecha transform or combine, Zoids move, with motorised and articulated kits that walk, stomp and snap their jaws once assembled. Four decades of battle stories, anime series and ever more ambitious kits have made the line a cornerstone of Japanese model making. Takara Tomy continues to push it forward with ranges aimed squarely at grown-up builders.
Collector's Guide
Collectibles
Zero Variant's Zoids range covers three official Takara Tomy lines:
- Realize Model kits at 1/100 scale, an action-focused series prioritising articulation and ease of assembly, featuring the RMZ-011 Geno Saurer Raven Special, the tyrannosaur-type dreaded for its charged particle cannon finished in the colours of its anime pilot Raven, plus the RMZ-024 Storm Sworder, the blade-winged flying Zoid
- ADVANCED Zi kits at 1/72 scale, motorised builds powered by an electric unit, led by the colossal AZ-17 Ultra Saurus, the AZ-17DX set pairing it with the Gravity Cannon and the separate AZ-17EX Gravity Cannon accessory
- The Synergenex Fangriffon at 26 cm, the third instalment of the Mobile Police Patlabor x ZOIDS collaboration, reimagining the Griffon from the comic project ZOIDS x PATLABOR Code Name B.U.D.D.Y.
Why Collectors Love It
Zoids offer something rare in the hobby: a build that comes alive. Assembling a kit and watching it take its first motorised steps is a ritual generations of Japanese modellers grew up with and the ADVANCED Zi line delivers it at spectacular scale. The designs themselves are masterclasses in animal mechanics, from the predatory menace of the Geno Saurer to the sheer landmass of the Ultra Saurus, a kit that dominates any shelf it stands on. Crossovers like the Fangriffon show the concept flexing into other beloved mecha worlds, while the Realize Model series makes the universe approachable for builders who want poseability without a lengthy project.
Shop Authentic Zoids Collectibles at Zero Variant
Every kit in this range is an official Takara Tomy product, the same maker that has steered Zoids since its earliest days. Orders are packed carefully, which matters when a kit the size of the Ultra Saurus is involved. Our team is happy to advise if you are weighing up where to start. Choose your Zoid and let it earn its place in the pack.
FAQs
What are Zoids?
Mechanical lifeforms from the fictional planet Zi, realised as model kits by Tomy from 1983 and continued by Takara Tomy. The designs draw on dinosaurs and animals rearmed as war machines.
Do Zoids kits actually move?
The ADVANCED Zi kits such as the Ultra Saurus are motorised and walk under electric power once built. Realize Model kits are non-motorised, focusing on articulation and posing instead.
What is the Geno Saurer?
A tyrannosaur-type Zoid feared for its charged particle cannon. The Raven Special kit finishes it in the colours of Raven, its pilot in the Zoids anime.
What is the Fangriffon?
A Synergenex series kit from the Mobile Police Patlabor x ZOIDS collaboration, rebuilding the Griffon as a Zoid based on the comic project ZOIDS x PATLABOR Code Name B.U.D.D.Y.