Mechabonica

Mechabonica (derived from the romanisation of the two words 'Mechanical' and 'Bones') was the precursor to the Zoids line and was a set of 3 plastic wind-up toy model kits designed and produced by Japanese toy company TOMY (now Takara-Tomy). Each model was designed in 1/72 scale and had features that would activate once the kit was wound up, such as walking or flapping wings. The kits took the form of a dinosaur (named Mechagiras), a bird (Mechatoros) and an elephant (Mechaphantos) and all had characteristics that would later become trademarks of the Zoids line; small chromed pilots in their heads, rubber caps holding them together and ingenious action features.

The set went on sale in 1981 but was withdrawn almost straight away due to poor sales. However, a year later, the line was simultaneously re-released in America and Europe under the new name Zoids and proved far more successful than its precursor. In America, the Zoids line would become Robo Strux but in Europe it was to retain the Zoids name and undergo a vast expansion with new names and colour schemes (see Zoids - the OER). Shortly after, it was given a release in Japan and became the largest and most definitive Zoids line of its time.

The three Mechabonica kits are identical to their Zoid counterparts Garius, Glidoler and Elephantus. Several more kits were designed for the Mechabonica line, but not released due to the failure of the line. These include the Aquadon, Gargantulus and Bigasaur.

Starzeta

Starzeta was the Spanish version of the Mechabonica line. Since Tomy had no direct marketing power in Spain during the 80s the models were released under licence by a smaller company (Feber) but unfortunately the line performed even less well than its Japanese counterpart. The same 3 models were released but bizarrely they were given new color schemes; grey parts became silver and the dark blue caps became bright blue. The models were not given names but are listed as Starzeta I (Garius), II (Elephantus) and III (Glidoler).

SZ IV (Garantula), SZ V (Aquadon) and SZ VI (Gorgodos) were supposedly planned as a continuation of the series but their release status is currently unknown.

All Starzeta models are incredibly rare (even more so than the Japanese Mechabonica) and demand is boosted even further by their unique color schemes.

External links

Official Sites

* [http://www.tomy.co.jp/zoids/ Tomy's Zoids Page]
* [http://zoids.hasbro.com/ Hasbro's Zoids Page]

Information

* [http://www.pheno.zoids.org.uk Phenotype's Zoids Site (The largest English-based Zoids Site)]
* [http://www.kitty-bot.com/offline/models/models.htm Alteka's Zoids (with prototype Gashapon)]
* [http://www.bloodforthebaron.com/Blood/Zoids/Index.html Blood For The Baron!!!] Marvel UK Zoids comic scans
* [http://kryptotoyz.com/goj/ Gojulas' Lair (Fan site with vintage collection photos)]
* [http://www.creativeinsanity.net/zoids Tilly's Zoids Page]