Bullmark
Encyclopedia
Bullmark is a defunct Japan
ese toy company that is most famous for selling PVC vinyl kaiju
character toys in the 1960s and 1970s. Founded in 1969 after the bankruptcy of pioneering toy manufacturer Marusan, the company was also known simply as Bull by many people as their logo of a bull was stamped on the bottoms of the feet of many of its toys.
and Ultraman
toys are extremely popular among Japanese toy collectors; some currently retail for thousands of dollars. Bullmark's vinyl toys were produced in a variety of sizes from "mini" (3-4") to "standard" (8-9") to "giant," (usually 12" or more) and a small number were also re-painted for sale in Hawaii. These Hawaiian versions of the characters, which were produced in relatively small numbers, are often more garishly colored than their Japanese counterparts and are popular among collectors in Japan and abroad.
When the fad for soft-vinyl monsters began to fade in the early 1970s, Bullmark began re-thinking the concept and released a series of soft-vinyl toys containing missile launchers, magnets embedded in hands so figures could pick up cars, and other play gimmicks. These were sold under the brand "Meka Machine," among other names.
In an attempt to compete in a changing toy marketplace, in 1973 Bullmark also branched out into die-cast toys, which were sold under the brand name of "Zinclon." Perhaps most famous among these are a small line of diecast metal renditions of characters from the Godzilla films. Bullmark co-founder Saburo Ishizuki explained in the afterword to the book Super#1 Robot that the diecast Mekagodzilla toy was "so popular that I could hardly keep up with demand... [so] I updated the look of the [other] monster characters with more robotic appearances and incorporated all-new action features." The Zinclon series would eventually incorporate a variety of giant robot characters as well as monsters.
Bullmark went out of business in 1977. The same year, Ishizuki took Bullmark's sales and marketing subsidiary Ark and turned it into a full-fledged toy manufacturer in its own right.
Saburo Ishizuki currently assists Japanese toy manufacturers M-1 and Bandai
in producing licensed reissues of many classic Bullmark vinyl toys. The Ultraman monster series of standard sized figures included Gomess, Kanegon, Garamon, Kemuru Jin, Ragon, Goro, Baltan Seijin,Gamakujira, Red King, Dodongo, Telesdon
, Dorako
, Kiyla
, Geronomon, Gabora
, Neronga
, Pestar
, Seabozu
, Jamila
, Kemular
, Zarab Seijin
, Antlar
, Jirass
, Zetton, Gomora
, Mephilas Seijin
,Bemler, Aboras
, Banila
, Eleking
,Giledoras, Icarus Seijin
, Guts Seijin
,Gunder, Windam
, Dino-Tank, Agira
, Pandon
, King Joe
, Miclas
,Metron Seijin,Takkong,Eledortus, King Zaurus, Gudon
, Twin Tail
, Bemstar
,Seagoras, Seamons,Beacon, Danger, Muruchi
, Sadora
, Nackle Seijin
, Zazahn, Earthtron
, Brocken, Ghostron
, Black King
, Vakashimu, Velokron, Aribunta, Doragory, Baraba, King Crab, Tempeler Seijin
, Tyrant
, Astromons,
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese toy company that is most famous for selling PVC vinyl kaiju
Kaiju
is a Japanese word that means "strange beast," but often translated in English as "monster". Specifically, it is used to refer to a genre of tokusatsu entertainment....
character toys in the 1960s and 1970s. Founded in 1969 after the bankruptcy of pioneering toy manufacturer Marusan, the company was also known simply as Bull by many people as their logo of a bull was stamped on the bottoms of the feet of many of its toys.
Products
Bullmark's vinyl GodzillaGodzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
and Ultraman
Ultraman
is Japanese television series that first aired in 1966. Ultraman, the first and best-known of the "Ultra-Crusaders," made his debut in the tokusatsu SF/kaiju/superhero TV series, , a follow-up to the television series Ultra Q...
toys are extremely popular among Japanese toy collectors; some currently retail for thousands of dollars. Bullmark's vinyl toys were produced in a variety of sizes from "mini" (3-4") to "standard" (8-9") to "giant," (usually 12" or more) and a small number were also re-painted for sale in Hawaii. These Hawaiian versions of the characters, which were produced in relatively small numbers, are often more garishly colored than their Japanese counterparts and are popular among collectors in Japan and abroad.
When the fad for soft-vinyl monsters began to fade in the early 1970s, Bullmark began re-thinking the concept and released a series of soft-vinyl toys containing missile launchers, magnets embedded in hands so figures could pick up cars, and other play gimmicks. These were sold under the brand "Meka Machine," among other names.
In an attempt to compete in a changing toy marketplace, in 1973 Bullmark also branched out into die-cast toys, which were sold under the brand name of "Zinclon." Perhaps most famous among these are a small line of diecast metal renditions of characters from the Godzilla films. Bullmark co-founder Saburo Ishizuki explained in the afterword to the book Super#1 Robot that the diecast Mekagodzilla toy was "so popular that I could hardly keep up with demand... [so] I updated the look of the [other] monster characters with more robotic appearances and incorporated all-new action features." The Zinclon series would eventually incorporate a variety of giant robot characters as well as monsters.
Bullmark went out of business in 1977. The same year, Ishizuki took Bullmark's sales and marketing subsidiary Ark and turned it into a full-fledged toy manufacturer in its own right.
Saburo Ishizuki currently assists Japanese toy manufacturers M-1 and Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
in producing licensed reissues of many classic Bullmark vinyl toys. The Ultraman monster series of standard sized figures included Gomess, Kanegon, Garamon, Kemuru Jin, Ragon, Goro, Baltan Seijin,Gamakujira, Red King, Dodongo, Telesdon
Telesdon
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman.Subtitle: .-History:After the Underground People captured Shin Hayata, they released their ancient weapon, Telesdon. As Telesdon terrorized a city he emerged from underneath, the Underground People began hypnotizing Hayata to learn what...
, Dorako
Dorako
Dorako is a monster from the television show Ultraman. Dorako appears in an episode which in English is entitled "Night of the Comet."Dorako appeared in Episodes 25.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Kiyla
Kiyla
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman. Kiyla appeared in Episodes 38.Subtitle: .- History :While searching the planet of Q for life, a robotic camera came upon a huge eye that released a bright light into the lens. The people watching were blinded for a few minutes and soon...
, Geronomon, Gabora
Gabora
Gabora was a monster from the television series Ultraman. The suit is a re-used Baragon with King Kong's roar from 1962 King Kong vs GodzillaSubtitle: .- Ultraman :...
, Neronga
Neronga
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman. The kaiju was made from the 1965 Baragon.Subtitle: .-History:Hiding underneath an old well, Neronga awoke when two friends of the Science Patrol ran into his eye. Bellowing in hunger, the invisible monster emerged form underground, and...
, Pestar
Pestar
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman.Pestar appeared in Episodes 13.Subtitle: .-History:Pestar was a natural beast from the depths of the sea, who made himself known to the world of man by lighting an Iranian oil plant ablaze, but they couldn’t locate the cause. The oil...
, Seabozu
Seabozu
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman. Seabozu appeared in Episodes 35.Subtitle: .- History :A disturbance from outer space had the Science Patrol investigate the matter to find themselves in the Monster Graveyard, where all aliens and monsters go when they are destroyed by...
, Jamila
Jamila (Ultra monster)
is a monster who appeared in the Japanese superhero show Ultraman. The episode in which he so appeared was titled "My Home Is Earth."Once a human astronaut, Jamila was subsequently de-humanized and returned to Earth. Alternate spellings of his name include "Jamira" and "Jamyra"...
, Kemular
Kemular
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman. Kemular appeared in Episode 21.Subtitle: .- History :Dozens of birds are found dead and Kemuar soon emerges and attacks a few girls picnicking. The Science Patrol begins an investigation...
, Zarab Seijin
Alien Zarab
is a race of alien creatures originally featured in the 1966 tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman.Subtitle: .- History :In order to take over the planet, The Alien Zarab tried to gain Earth's trust by returning a damaged spaceship and promised to get rid of a deadly poison mist that was plaguing the city....
, Antlar
Antlar
Antlar is a fictional beetle-like kaiju featured in the tokusatsu 1966 TV series, Ultraman. He first appeared in episode seven of the series, The Blue Stone of Baraji, and has made subsequent returns in more recent entries of the Ultraman franchise....
, Jirass
Jirass
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman. The suit of the monster is actually a loosely disguised Godzilla suit, the same one used for the first Ultra Kaiju, Gomess...
, Zetton, Gomora
Gomora
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu television series Ultraman, and first appeared in the show's only two-part storyline, The Monster Prince . Gomora has since become one of the franchises' toughest and most popular monsters, returning in subsequent Ultra Series...
, Mephilas Seijin
Alien Mephilas
is a race of alien creatures originally featured in the 1966 tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman.Subtitle: .- History :Alien Mephilas, much like the other aliens of the show came to Earth to conquer it...
,Bemler, Aboras
Aboras
was one of two ancient monsters that appeared in an Ultraman episode known in English as "The Red and the Blue." Aboras's counterpart was Banila. Aboras appears as a blue-skinned theropod-like creature with a large tyrannosaur-like head, a single ceratosaur-like horn, and a jagged-tooth mouth...
, Banila
Banila
was one of two ancient monsters that appeared in an Ultraman episode known in English as "The Red and the Blue." Banila's counterpart was Aboras. Banila appears as a red-skinned theropod-like creature with a narrow tall head, and a short snout with an upturned, almost pig-like nose...
, Eleking
Eleking
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven.Subtitle: .- History :Eleking was a monster born and raised by two twin sisters, who let him loose on the earth after stealing Dan's Ultra Eye, which prevented him from assuming his Ultraseven form. With Ultraseven nowhere in sight,...
,Giledoras, Icarus Seijin
Alien Icarus
is a race of alien creatures originally featured in the 1967 tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven. Alien Icarus appeared in Episodes 10.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Guts Seijin
Alien Guts
is a fictional race of bird-like aliens that were originally featured in the 1967 tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven. They appeared in a two-part story in Episodes 39 and 40....
,Gunder, Windam
Windam (Ultra monster)
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven. Windam appeared in Episodes 1, 24, and 39. This monster is Ultra Seven's Capsule Monsters.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Dino-Tank, Agira
Agira (Ultra monster)
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven. Agira appeared in Episodes 32 and 46. This monster is one of Ultra Seven's Capsule Monsters.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Pandon
Pandon
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven. Pandon appeared in the final two episodes of the original Ultraseven.Subtitle: .- Ultraseven :His height is around 40 meters tall. He weighs around 15,000 tons....
, King Joe
King Joe (Ultra monster)
is a fictional robot from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven.Subtitle: .- History :Appearing first In the form of four ships, King Joe was sent by the Alien Pedan as their main weapon to conquer Earth. The four ships first appeared attacking and destroying a submarine as they alerted an SOS to...
, Miclas
Miclas
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultra Seven. Miclas appeared in Episodes 3 and 25. This monster is one of Ultra Seven's Capsule Monsters.Subtitle: .- History :...
,Metron Seijin,Takkong,Eledortus, King Zaurus, Gudon
Gudon
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, The Return of Ultraman. Gudon appeared in Episodes 5・6.Subtitle: .-Stats:His height is around 50 Meters tall. He weighs around 25,000 Tons. He is the insinctive rival of the monster Twin Tail.-History:...
, Twin Tail
Twin Tail
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, The Return of Ultraman. Twin Tail appeared in Episodes 5・6.Subtitle: .-Stats:His height is around 45 Meters tall. He weighs around 15,000 Tons...
, Bemstar
Bemstar
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, The Return of Ultraman . Bemstar appeared in episodes 18 and 37.Subtitle: .-The Return Of Ultraman :He stands at around 46 meters tall, weighing around 61,000 tons....
,Seagoras, Seamons,Beacon, Danger, Muruchi
Muruchi
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, The Return of Ultraman . Muruchi appeared in episode 33.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Sadora
Sadora
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, The Return of Ultraman . Sadora appeared in Episode 3.Subtitle: .-The Return of Ultraman :Its height is around 60 Meters tall. It weighs around 24,000 Tons....
, Nackle Seijin
Alien Nackle
is a race of alien creatures originally featured in the 1971 tokusatsu TV series, Return of Ultraman. Nackle appeared in Episodes 37-38.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Zazahn, Earthtron
Earthtron
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, The Return Of Ultraman .Subtitle: .- History :Earthron first appeared mysteriously in a mountainous region without warning or origin, attacking a nearby village and setting fire to the homes with its heat ray...
, Brocken, Ghostron
Ghostron
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, The Return of Ultraman. Ghostron appears in episode 8. The suit of Ghostron is actually a redesigned Earthtron suit.Subtitle: .-The Ultraman:This monster re-appeared in the series The Ultraman....
, Black King
Black King (Ultra monster)
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Return of Ultraman. Black King appeared in Episodes 37-38. This monster was planned the elder brother of Red King, but his origin changed to the bodyguard of the Alien Nackle.Subtitle: .- History :...
, Vakashimu, Velokron, Aribunta, Doragory, Baraba, King Crab, Tempeler Seijin
Alien Temperor
is a race of alien creatures originally featured in the 1973 tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman Taro.Temperor appeared in Episodes 33-34.Subtitle: .- History :Alien Temperor was an alien tyrant of awesome power...
, Tyrant
Tyrant (Ultra monster)
is a fictional kaiju from the tokusatsu TV series, Ultraman Taro.Tyrant appeared in Episodes 40. He is one the most popular monsters in the series.Subtitle: .-Powers and Abilities:...
, Astromons,