4 replies to this topic

[AndrewLyall]

Hello.

 

I am looking for information about Spinjas (released by Tomy in 1987). Especially the original Japanese release.

 

How many Spinjas are there?

 

I have found 40 (26 different molds plus 14 color variants) released in Japan. I have 36 of those.

 

 _DSL0893pp.JPG   97.05K   19 downloads

 

There are the 24 that were also released in the USA, 7 more variants of Volcano (3 more translucent colors & 4 metallic colors), 8 variants of Chihei (a character not released in US, 4 translucent & 4 metallic) & Rock (another character not released in USA).

 

In Japan, I think that there were 2 different sale displays. Each had 72 Spinjas.

 

Type #1 had the 8 different translucent Spinjas. Also these:

Emperor Gar

Champion Shotgun

Stalker Blud

Iron Top

Blowgun

Whipshot

King Dethblo

Bludgeon

Odor

Butcher

Slug

Maggot

https://aucview.aucf...oo/s1085206266/

 

Type #2 had the 8 metallic ones. Also these:

Emperor Gar

Stalker Tangle

Stalker Gash

Nightmare

Trident

King Dethblo

Champion Switchblade

Stalker Gore

Stalker Blowtorch

Stalker Mangle

Sloth

Rock

https://www.mandarak...item/1199489433

 

Both displays had Emperor Gar & King Dethblo. The others were unique to their respective displays.

 

Stalker Klaw was available carded with a winder. I think Stalker Scorcher was too, going by the card art, but I am not sure.

 

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Stadium came with 10 Spinjas:

Stalker Tangle

Whipshot

Nightmare

Stalker Scorcher

Emperor Gar

King Dethblo

Champion Switchblade

Maggot

Stalker Mangle

Stalker Gore

https://aucfree.com/items/d386574662

 

As for the arenas, I have only found 2 different sets released in Japan, and only one with the box:

https://aucview.aucf...oo/c1142996444/

https://page.auction...tion/r164823380

 

Does anyone have any additional info or corrections?

 

Thank you.

 

 

[jkaris]

Great info!

 

I have a full US set packed away somewhere and I grabbed one of the Japanese singles boards a couple years back.

 

Someday I'd like to grab the other Japanese versions, but not until the price drops significantly.

[AndrewLyall]

I found a very interesting photo on Twitter. I use it here with the permission of the original poster: オリテクさしだ様 (Sashida Minoru-san)

 

Source: https://twitter.com/...144728548020227

 

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According to this photo, originally the Type #2 sale display was supposed to have 10 Spinjas that I have never seen before. I think that they were not released, but instead replaced with the 8 metallic Spinjas, Emperor Gar and King Dethblo.

As Stalker Scorch was also part of this "second wave", I wonder if his set was ever released or perhaps it was canceled along with the "Lost 10"?

 

(In the photo, the Spinjas with the blue background are the "second wave".)

The photo only shows blue and green arenas. Perhaps those were the only 2 colors released in Japan.

 

I will post more info if I find any.

Edited by AndrewLyall, 24 October 2024 - 01:36 PM.

[AndrewLyall]

Here are some photos of the Akakage Battle Shooter set. It came out in 1987 and seems to reuse some parts originally from the Spinjas line.

Akakage (full name: Kamen no Ninja Akakage / Masked Ninja Red Shadow) was a manga by Yokoyama Mitsuteru that went on to become an anime and tokusatsu show.

 

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[SiberianSpecialForces]

Still got a handful them with the little arenas and stadium. When the spinner springs broke, I'd hand spin them. Fast enough to occasionally have one or both get some air when hit. I want to say in the mid or late 90s, WWE/WWF had their own Spinjas.