We now finally have details on Kotobukiya’s much awaited first Armored Core V kit, dubbed the AGNI it uses a different config to the Super Robot Chogokin toy (despite looking somewhat similar). It will be released in may this year for 6,090 yen. As Kotobukiya have a record for making thoroughly excellent Armored Core kits, we’re looking forward to this one.

In a slightly weird move, Bandai will be releasing a toy of a mecha called GunGreat Nations which in turn may apparently be a boss in the upcoming Battle Robot Damashii. Utilising parts of Bandai’s Tamashii logo, it also seems to be a design intended to be emblematic of Bandai’s toy mecha dominion. If we’re honest we think it looks bloody ugly but it is at least a lot better than this Disney monstrosity Bandai have concocted. Oh to have that as a boss in the game, then at least we could cleave its disgusting figure in twain with a well placed aura sword strike. No word on a price or release date for the above GunGreat Nations toy, nor which toyline it will be part of.

Over at Hideo Kojima’s Twitter feed he previewed a shot of a Revoltech Vic Viper from Anubis. For one it looks lovely and it will be at least affordable. Talking of other Revoltech’s, Naked Jehuty is now out too and our review will be forthcoming. If you can’t wait for the Vic Viper Revoltech they you can still buy the Kotobukiya kit, in addition a RIOBOT toy is also planned.

As the new Super Robot Chogokin Gurren Lagann hits the shelves in Japan, Bandai have announced a limited edition Anti Gurren Lagann to be released in June for 6,000 yen. This was a special boss unit that appeared towards the end of Saisei-hen (shown in a video below), so this is yet again another unique progeny from the Super Robot Wars saga (much like our beloved Final Dancouga). Whilst this does indeed look lovely, it will only be available for purchase in Japan through Bandai’s premium online store.

In a nice move of not making yet another Jehuty toy, Kaiyodo have followed up with a toy of the orbital frame Ardjet this March. As with all Revoltechs, Ardjet looks to have decent articulation and won’t cost the earth. Whilst this feels like extended marketing for the ZOE HD Collection, it’s nice to see one of the lesser orbital frames from Anubis get the toy treatment. You can pre-order Ardjet here.

The rather fascinating RahXephon is getting, what looks to be, a lovely rendition in toy form. Released this May for 12,600 yen, the price is a little on the high side. That said, the previous Variable Action Hi-Spec entries have had substantial price drops shortly after release. RahXephon was an interesting series though, conceived and directed by veteran mecha design Yutaka Izubuchi it had a wonderful aesthetic and premise. Though the latter was very much inspired by the original Raideen, which also had a similar titular mecha something that Super Robot Wars MX and Scramble Commander the 2nd emphasized with both Raideen and RahXephon bro-fisting their way to victory. Talking of games, the less said about the PS2 game the better really. Anyway, this looks to be a great toy of a really great design so on that front we’re happy at least.

Bandai will be releasing some very cool HG UC kits from the much loved Dreamcast game Gundam Rise from the Ashes. These will be the White Dingo coloured RGM-79 GM and RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type, as well as Visch Donahue’s MS-07B Gouf and MS-14G Gelgoog (with each pack costing 2,100 yen and 2,520 yen respectively). Like the previous HG UC White Dingo GM Sniper II, these new kits will also only be available via Bandai’s premium online web shop. That aside, it’s pretty wonderful that we’re getting these kits at all. Both kit packs will be released in February of next year.

Following on from our review of the 1/60 VF-19 Custom Fire Valkyrie, our good friends at HobbyLink Japan have also sent us the 1/60 Sound Booster for VF-19 Custom Fire Valkyrie from Macross 7. It’s important to clarify that the Sound Booster doesn’t come with the Fire Valkyrie, that has to be purchased separately. In addition, we’ve also included some game and animation footage at the end of the review.

You can now pre-order the Todd Guiness and Tokamak Rovsky coloured Robot Damashii Dunbines via Bandai’s online premium shop. These are shortlived units from Aura Battle Dunbine, leaving only Show Zama’s iconic mauve Dunbine to hold out for the remainder of the series. Whilst we already bought the other Robot Damashii aura battlers we may pass on these but it’s pretty cool that Bandai are at least doing toys of them. Buying both toys will cost you 8,400 yen and they will be released in April of next year.

Over at AmiAmi they have a lovely photo report of the Tamashii Nations Akiba Showroom. From the cool diorama above with the Hanged Man Super Robot Chogokin from Armored Core V, to awesome shots of the alternate coloured Billbine there’s lots of interesting stuff to see here. Talking of the former, there’s also a nice little piece about the designers feeding back on the new Hanged Man toy. Following on in the same vein, HobbyLink Japan are running a Bandai sale at present and there are some very good bargains to be had.