I remember getting Daitarn on Veterans Day in 1984. I got it at the local Toys R Us, as Voltron had not hit the shelves yet. That Toys R Us is now UFC Gym. How times have changed.
I never had one of these, but I know what you're talking about. The Sears store in my hometown always had these weird die cast robot imports from Japan merchandised from shows that nobody here knew anything about. I saw one there once that I convinced my parents to get me for my birthday because it looked so cool. It was called Godaikin Gardian, and it was a small human pilot and three increasingly larger humanoid robot suits that fit inside each other, like Russian nesting dolls. I remember the largest robot suit was called "Garbin" and it was about the same size as the Chogokin Voltron. Obviously I had no idea what the story with this thing was - just pretended it was some sort of super bad-ass new Transformer that was neither Decepticon nor Autobot and was just there to destroy them both. The thing was the size of the largest Transformer I had (Metroplex), so it looked pretty intimidating. Thanks to the internet I discovered that toy came from an early 80s anime series called "Gordian Warrior", and a complete set like I had goes for ridiculous amounts on eBay now. Sadly, I didn't take good care of mine, even though I remember the robots being a very sturdy, able to withstand a lot of abuse, but it did have a lot of weapons and small parts that got lost, especially the human pilot guy who was about the size of a pen cap. I think my parents eventually sold what was left of it in a yard sale.
That's so funny that you mention "Our crazy aunt or grandmother bought one of these Japanese Robot toys for us that we never played with" lol Because that's EXACTLY what happened! Except it was my Grandmother that bought me the toy for 1986 Christmas I believe the same year that Canada wouldn't let my mom & me through Customs with my Megatron toy (which was stupidly packed in gun mode by my mother) so she ended up buying me Galvatron in Kingston Canada (way up in northern Canada where our summer home was) to make up for it. I was happy with Galvatron but not happy that Megatron was gone from.Shelves. Anyway I had that Diatarn toy at the bottom of my comic bin that I found at 28 years old I didn't even know I had. I had over 75 comics ALL of Todd McFarlane's ASM/Spider-Man #297-328, & #1,2,4,7,9,11-54 of Marvel Transformers comics all in great shape (cept #2 missing a cover still have the TF comics today) along with Mad Scientists Disect an Alien toy, Diatarn 3 in pieces (which I gotta admit even in my mid to late 20's I had no idea what that was), and a Pretender. that's it. Just thought I'd share bc it's very similar to your story. Mine of course was missing a bunch of parts and stickers looked like paper stickers and thr D.A.A toy had dried up slime goop residue all inside & out and in rough shape of course the actual slime wasn't there in the Disect an Alien ziplockbag it was in. :P
I'm so glad that I subscribed to this channel! Not only am I digging the reviews and anthropology/ analysis of the 80's cartoons and toys, but I'm seeing stuff here that I hadn't seen for years! I got this toy for Christmas probably around the same year you did ,and for the life of me I didn't know how to find it as an adult because I never bothered to learn the name as a kid. I loved this toy. I don't recall what happened to mine. Although, I can say that I really did get mine at Christmas courtesy of one of my Aunts.
A month later for Christmas, my parents got me the miniature Voltron I, as the regular sized Voltron I, II and III were immediately sold out everywhere. At that point, I had no idea there was a Voltron II and didn't know that the lion version was called Voltron III. I did however see Lionbot (Voltron III) on Christmas Eve 1984 for the sale price of $94.99 at the now defunct Carl's Toys. I did manage to get it a few months later for my birthday.
I wanted a Voltron so bad back in the day, it was before I got my LJN one but I had a die cast one with plastic limbs ... they couldn't change or anything but it had to be some kind of knock off, I still haven't found one like it ... I think it had fists that could shoot etc. but not sure ... would love to find another one like it.
Congratulations for your ended quest. We use to have a Daitarn just like dat! Dis video put a smile on my face.. unfortunately ours ended up abused. Played and taken apart. (Probably to simulate damage). Then parts start to get lost. Its so ironic that in our childhood we were careless. And when finally we grew up dats when we appreciate the value of toys such as these.
Awesome, looking forward to a video of it! Ive been meaning to show mine but I have it mummified and in storage. I'm trying to preserve mine forever, but at the same time, it's a toy and meant to be "played" with. In other words, I should unmummify it and show my viewers my most prized piece.
Very true. One of the more popular knockoffs here in the L.A. area was called Motor Jumbo. It consisted of 5 motorcycles- Typhoon, Hurricane, Tsunami, Monsoon and Tornado, that formed into 1 big robot with a sword. After not seeing once since 1985, I happened to find one a year ago at a local collectible show. I also happen to find one that I never heard of before called Pentabot, which was similar to Motor Jumbo and had a 1980's J.C. Penny sticker price on it.
Michael, is your aunt still alive? She deserves a Thank You, don't ya think? I'm sure you were appropriately gracious back in the day, but a sincere thank-you today would likely bless her heart. You fared pretty well. I usually got knock-off Go-Bots from extended relatives. Or worse: Transistors. Remember the knock-off Transformers? Ugh.
Ese robot es espectacular.....también lo tengo....y completo, solo me falta la caja.....y fue un regalo de mi padre para la navidad de 1985.....un bonito recuerdo....saludos desde 🇨🇱
Hey, Im just glad I found this channel, seems real cool! So wait, your Golion is unused? you mean the the window is sealed to the styro? I have a Popy that in good shape but used with the chrome elbows and chrome tail, but they are scratched from play. The weapons are all there unopened though. The previous owner pieced it together. I wish the box was nicer though.
great stuff ... I had a knock off robot guy with about the same story ... but sadly mine is gone ... but luckily it wasn't a piece with much demand so nothing major of a loss
I got Daitarn the same way from uncle. I became obssessed later with it. I own a bunch and did reviews for it. Yours is in good shape. These are notorious for their crotches breaking. The swivels on the leg are fragile. Not too fragile but when swiveling dont bend wrong way. Nice Golion you have there behind the D3! Have you seen the modern Bandai Daitarn 3? Thanks for sharing
so have you looked into Daitarn more now that you have the whole toy? Since the early 2000's when the internet open the gate up on info of import toys. It got me more robot crazy
I think I had a blue and green one like that when I was a kid, or a cheap knock-off of it. If I remember it right, the plastic they used was extremely brittle, and one of the pegs that held the wings on snapped as soon as it was out of the package. :/
dude I remember there were guys selling japanese robots KOS most likely at the the grocery store we use to go to!! it was awsome I would love to have got an orguss toy
Awsome, I actually had that toy, got it from a swap meet many years ago, but mine was Japanese, no English writing, I didn't know it was originally called!
I had the late 70’s version. Loved it. Never knew where it came from. There was no media accompanying it as far as I knew.
I remember getting Daitarn on Veterans Day in 1984. I got it at the local Toys R Us, as Voltron had not hit the shelves yet. That Toys R Us is now UFC Gym. How times have changed.
I never had one of these, but I know what you're talking about. The Sears store in my hometown always had these weird die cast robot imports from Japan merchandised from shows that nobody here knew anything about. I saw one there once that I convinced my parents to get me for my birthday because it looked so cool. It was called Godaikin Gardian, and it was a small human pilot and three increasingly larger humanoid robot suits that fit inside each other, like Russian nesting dolls. I remember the largest robot suit was called "Garbin" and it was about the same size as the Chogokin Voltron. Obviously I had no idea what the story with this thing was - just pretended it was some sort of super bad-ass new Transformer that was neither Decepticon nor Autobot and was just there to destroy them both. The thing was the size of the largest Transformer I had (Metroplex), so it looked pretty intimidating. Thanks to the internet I discovered that toy came from an early 80s anime series called "Gordian Warrior", and a complete set like I had goes for ridiculous amounts on eBay now. Sadly, I didn't take good care of mine, even though I remember the robots being a very sturdy, able to withstand a lot of abuse, but it did have a lot of weapons and small parts that got lost, especially the human pilot guy who was about the size of a pen cap. I think my parents eventually sold what was left of it in a yard sale.
That's so funny that you mention "Our crazy aunt or grandmother bought one of these Japanese Robot toys for us that we never played with" lol Because that's EXACTLY what happened! Except it was my Grandmother that bought me the toy for 1986 Christmas I believe the same year that Canada wouldn't let my mom & me through Customs with my Megatron toy (which was stupidly packed in gun mode by my mother) so she ended up buying me Galvatron in Kingston Canada (way up in northern Canada where our summer home was) to make up for it. I was happy with Galvatron but not happy that Megatron was gone from.Shelves. Anyway I had that Diatarn toy at the bottom of my comic bin that I found at 28 years old I didn't even know I had. I had over 75 comics ALL of Todd McFarlane's ASM/Spider-Man #297-328, & #1,2,4,7,9,11-54 of Marvel Transformers comics all in great shape (cept #2 missing a cover still have the TF comics today) along with Mad Scientists Disect an Alien toy, Diatarn 3 in pieces (which I gotta admit even in my mid to late 20's I had no idea what that was), and a Pretender. that's it. Just thought I'd share bc it's very similar to your story. Mine of course was missing a bunch of parts and stickers looked like paper stickers and thr D.A.A toy had dried up slime goop residue all inside & out and in rough shape of course the actual slime wasn't there in the Disect an Alien ziplockbag it was in. :P
That is just so cool. Amazing how some of the more obscure stuff can still have memories attached to them. Glad to see you complete him.
Thats what made these toys so cool--The spring was king--LOL--
I'm so glad that I subscribed to this channel! Not only am I digging the reviews and anthropology/ analysis of the 80's cartoons and toys, but I'm seeing stuff here that I hadn't seen for years! I got this toy for Christmas probably around the same year you did ,and for the life of me I didn't know how to find it as an adult because I never bothered to learn the name as a kid. I loved this toy. I don't recall what happened to mine. Although, I can say that I really did get mine at Christmas courtesy of one of my Aunts.
What a great collectible---All the robots had a rocket punch fist--haha--Thanks for sharing
A month later for Christmas, my parents got me the miniature Voltron I, as the regular sized Voltron I, II and III were immediately sold out everywhere. At that point, I had no idea there was a Voltron II and didn't know that the lion version was called Voltron III. I did however see Lionbot (Voltron III) on Christmas Eve 1984 for the sale price of $94.99 at the now defunct Carl's Toys. I did manage to get it a few months later for my birthday.
I wanted a Voltron so bad back in the day, it was before I got my LJN one but I had a die cast one with plastic limbs ... they couldn't change or anything but it had to be some kind of knock off, I still haven't found one like it ... I think it had fists that could shoot etc. but not sure ... would love to find another one like it.
That's one GREAT looking robot you've got there!
Wish i had that toy as a child! In my country Daitarn 3 had great success.
Congratulations for your ended quest. We use to have a Daitarn just like dat! Dis video put a smile on my face.. unfortunately ours ended up abused. Played and taken apart. (Probably to simulate damage). Then parts start to get lost. Its so ironic that in our childhood we were careless. And when finally we grew up dats when we appreciate the value of toys such as these.
Was never aware of these at all!!
Awesome, looking forward to a video of it! Ive been meaning to show mine but I have it mummified and in storage. I'm trying to preserve mine forever, but at the same time, it's a toy and meant to be "played" with. In other words, I should unmummify it and show my viewers my most prized piece.
Very true. One of the more popular knockoffs here in the L.A. area was called Motor Jumbo. It consisted of 5 motorcycles- Typhoon, Hurricane, Tsunami, Monsoon and Tornado, that formed into 1 big robot with a sword. After not seeing once since 1985, I happened to find one a year ago at a local collectible show. I also happen to find one that I never heard of before called Pentabot, which was similar to Motor Jumbo and had a 1980's J.C. Penny sticker price on it.
Mechas weren't much famous as Transformers. Good thing that Daitarn remained in mint condition
Michael, is your aunt still alive? She deserves a Thank You, don't ya think? I'm sure you were appropriately gracious back in the day, but a sincere thank-you today would likely bless her heart.
You fared pretty well. I usually got knock-off Go-Bots from extended relatives. Or worse: Transistors. Remember the knock-off Transformers? Ugh.
Ese robot es espectacular.....también lo tengo....y completo, solo me falta la caja.....y fue un regalo de mi padre para la navidad de 1985.....un bonito recuerdo....saludos desde 🇨🇱
awesome review as usual Mike. I never even heard of Daitarn, let alone know it had a figure of a robot.
Finally complete.
Hey, Im just glad I found this channel, seems real cool! So wait, your Golion is unused? you mean the the window is sealed to the styro? I have a Popy that in good shape but used with the chrome elbows and chrome tail, but they are scratched from play. The weapons are all there unopened though. The previous owner pieced it together. I wish the box was nicer though.
great stuff ... I had a knock off robot guy with about the same story ... but sadly mine is gone ... but luckily it wasn't a piece with much demand so nothing major of a loss
thnx !!! you as well !!
I had one of these as a kid! Complete! I always wondered what it was but until now I did not know what it was called....
I still have It intact! the only i don't have Is the front cover box😐 only the foam box 😕
I swear you are my bro from another mo !!! I've been wanting a complete Daitarn to replace my crap version !!! Sweet !!!
Another great video. Thx.
I got Daitarn the same way from uncle. I became obssessed later with it. I own a bunch and did reviews for it. Yours is in good shape. These are notorious for their crotches breaking. The swivels on the leg are fragile. Not too fragile but when swiveling dont bend wrong way. Nice Golion you have there behind the D3! Have you seen the modern Bandai Daitarn 3? Thanks for sharing
so have you looked into Daitarn more now that you have the whole toy? Since the early 2000's when the internet open the gate up on info of import toys. It got me more robot crazy
Yep, exact same thing happened to me. A odd ball robot. Didn't know it's called Daitarn . I had lost wing bits. Still have hands and weapons.
I think I had a blue and green one like that when I was a kid, or a cheap knock-off of it. If I remember it right, the plastic they used was extremely brittle, and one of the pegs that held the wings on snapped as soon as it was out of the package. :/
Also, you have to at least put him in each mode once!!
Daitarn 3 is now Kirby's.
Tex
(Cat Law, man)
dude I remember there were guys selling japanese robots KOS most likely at the the grocery store we use to go to!! it was awsome I would love to have got an orguss toy
you don't seem to know what you hold in your hands... what transformation is that? wings should be on the back, not on the arms in robot mode.
Shout out to the "crazy aunt" toys!! lol Oh, how I miss them....
Awsome, I actually had that toy, got it from a swap meet many years ago, but mine was Japanese, no English writing, I didn't know it was originally called!