16 replies to this topic

[Soupie]

1) Were MUSCLEs -- and by that I mean molds, made with the American-type material, that were released in 1987 by Bandai and Mattel -- ever released in Japan? Do they only have Kinkeshi? I know GODBEAST customs have been auctioned on Japanese sites, but have MUSCLEs ever been? Do they sell? (I'm not interested in the money; I'm just curious whether they collect American Kinnikuman stuff.)

2) What is the deal with garbage can-packaging for the ten-packs? What do garbage cans have to do with MUSCLE? Is there some Kinnikuman connection? Does it have anything to do with Garbage Pail kids?

(If these topics have been discussed before, please just point me in the right direction.)

Thanks

[Tortle]

1) To my knowledge, Kinnikuman figures in MUSCLE plastic were never released in Japan. I'm not sure if MUSCLEs have ever been auctioned off on Japanese sites, though. What do you think, Johnny?

2) I suspect the garbage cans were made because "gross stuff" was part of the kid-culture back then. Many kids loved that stuff (like Garbage Pail Kids, Madballs, Mad Scientist, etc), and Mattel obviously wanted to tap into that market. That's pure conjecture, though.

-Nathan

[max powerz]

M.u.s.c.l.e.s do sell on yahoo jp, but ive only seen the 28 boxed sets...

[Drtooth]

1) To my knowledge, Kinnikuman figures in MUSCLE plastic were never released in Japan. I'm not sure if MUSCLEs have ever been auctioned off on Japanese sites, though. What do you think, Johnny?

2) I suspect the garbage cans were made because "gross stuff" was part of the kid-culture back then. Many kids loved that stuff (like Garbage Pail Kids, Madballs, Mad Scientist, etc), and Mattel obviously wanted to tap into that market. That's pure conjecture, though.

Hmmm...

They probably did sell a few of the MUSCLES over there... I mean, they do sell many American Products... maybe they had them... but that's a maybe.

2) I'll second that... plus they were "Millions of Small creatures lurking everywhere" so obviously theylurked in Garbage cans some times...

[jkaris]

1) Were MUSCLEs -- and by that I mean molds, made with the American-type material, that were released in 1987 by Bandai and Mattel -- ever released in Japan? Do they only have Kinkeshi? I know GODBEAST customs have been auctioned on Japanese sites, but have MUSCLEs ever been? Do they sell? (I'm not interested in the money; I'm just curious whether they collect American Kinnikuman stuff.)

2) What is the deal with garbage can-packaging for the ten-packs? What do garbage cans have to do with MUSCLE? Is there some Kinnikuman connection? Does it have anything to do with Garbage Pail kids?

(If these topics have been discussed before, please just point me in the right direction.)

Thanks

MUSCLEs by your definition were never released in Japan. They do get listed from time to time on Yahoo Japan, but I have never seen any of those auctions sell. The Ultimate Muscle stuff sells decently though.

As far as the garbage cans go, there is no Kinnikuman influence for that. It was just a cool way to buy them, similar to slime and gpk's.

[pasvagrsvj]

The first time I ever saw M.U.S.C.L.E.s was in my day care...this kid dumped a 10pack garbage can out on a table while he was all by himself, and within seconds, he was surrounded by curious onlookers...myself included. The image of those little pink "creatures" was burned into my brain for quite some time afterwards.

Garbage cans are probably responsible for my collecting in the first place.

[smackman]

Heh heh, cuz that's where they belong, in the garbage.
























Just kidding

[Soupie]

Toy companies often reuse molds from previous products.

Ewok village and, much later, the Robin Hood forest environment is one example that I'm particularly familiar with.

Though I agree that the garbage can packaging was cool and worked for MUSCLEs, I've always felt that it was originally designed for something else (though, as Nathan might say, this opinion is mere conjecture).

In any case, I like Veers idea of looking for the garbage cans in other Mattel toy lines.

[Drtooth]

I have seen Slime in Garbage Pail containers recently if that means anything. I can't tell if they were the same, though...

It would have been cool if the line expanded. And the Garbage cans obviously fit in with the millions of small unusual creatures lurking everywhere motif...

Be cool if they made a 20 or 15 pack of these guys, not in a garbage can, but a Gym locker or a refrigerator shaped container....

[Soupie]

In regards to the MUSCLE garbage can and its origin: I was looking at pictures I got off of Yahoo Japan of the kinnikuman clay factory and noticed what looks like a MUSCLE garbage can included with the set. (It's pictured on the back of the box, which is dated 1984.)

If the garbage can pictured is the same as the one used for American MUSCLEs, it would seem that Bandai -- rather than Mattel -- first conceived the idea of the garbage can.

Of course, I may be missing something...

Attached Files

•  MUSCLE_Factory_03.jpg   225.53K   71 downloads

Edited by Soupie, 18 December 2003 - 04:06 PM.

[jkaris]

Great find Soupie!

[ToyMan]

this is a bit off-topic, but that kit is one of the coolest things i've seen in quite some time. i wonder if you could make decent figures with that kit if you used sculpy, or fimo clay...

[AmoiMan]

yeah, that thing is definitely Ultra-cool. japanese stuff is always better

[Soupie]

Stumbled across this old thread and thought I'd update it with the new info we've learned.

It's seems Bandai used the garbage can with another toy line as well: Canfull of Monster @ Toypedia. This use of the garbage can appears to precede even the Kin clay press featured above, as it has a date of 1984 and Canfull of Monster a date of 1979.

[Soupie]

This is an interesting idea. The garbage can really has nothing to do with MUSCLE’s. Perhaps Mattel used this same packaging for something else? Toy companies often reuse molds from previous products.

Do you think Mattel designed this packaging specifically for MUSCLE’s? They probably did. But I figured it wouldn’t hurt to look for Mattel Garbage Cans from other toy lines.

Veers, seems you were on the right track, but it turns out it was Bandai who re-used the can, not Mattel.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were a still earlier use of the garbage can by Bandai.

Edited by Soupie, 07 March 2008 - 07:15 AM.

[Jamesullivan]

If only they made those garbage cans 100% clear.
I also remember after getting into trouble for MUSCLEs lying around the house, I assured my Mom that it was unacceptable for me to leave M.U.S.C.L.E.s scattered about, and I informed her that I was going to solve this problem by throwing any deserted figures into a garbage can myself . LOL