threezero Interview

SDCC 2026

July 23, 2026

Chester Wong: CEO of threezero Corporation.

Interview by The Articulation Series

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Established in 2000, threezero has collaborated for over two decades with international brands and world-renown designers, successfully navigating changes in the toy industry to pioneer new technical advances and nurture the growth of the collectibles medium with properties such as Hasbro’s Transformers, Tsuburaya Productions’ ULTRAMAN series, AMC’s The Walking Dead, HBO’s Games of Thrones, and Tencent’s Honor of Kings. In recent years, threezero has further expanded its licensed properties with an increased focus on iconic popular products, including Marvel Studios’ The Infinity Saga, Netflix’ Stranger Things, Evangelion: New Theatrical Edition from Khara, Mobile Police Patlabor from HEADGEAR, Hasbro’s G.I. Joe and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and many more. As of 2022, there are more than two-hundred projects in development behind threezero’s doors.

THE ARTICULATION SERIES (TAS): Joining me today is Chester Wong, CEO of threezero, for a discussion regarding the upcoming KAIJU-DOU Shin Godzilla figure as well as the overall vision for the lineup.

Chester: Hi everyone, I'm Chester Wong, CEO of threezero. Currently, we're working on Shin Godzilla (2016) the Fourth Form. Personally, I really love the sculpt our team created. While you only see the gray resin prototype for now, our team is hard at work on the articulation and engineering because we have some ambitious lighting effects in mind. We want to do some really fancy stuff, so the engineering is challenging; we’re balancing separating parts for articulation with maintaining the internal wiring for the lighting. It’s taking some time, but I hope the fans will love it.

TAS: A major highlight of the KAIJU-DOU line is its seamless movement system. Godzilla (1974) is on display right next to Shin Godzilla, and while it's mostly seamless, there are visible connection points where the arms, legs, and tail attach to the body. Should we expect a similar construction method for Shin Godzilla?

Chester: For the KAIJU-DOU line, we implemented an internal die-cast metal frame, which is covered by soft PVC to conceal most of the articulation points and create a seamless look matching the film. Some points like the tail will be connected separately. Additionally, it features sound effects—pressing the chest triggers the roar. We plan to maintain these same specifications and features across the entire line.

TAS: In terms of the lighting, will LED units be built directly into Shin Godzilla’s back and chest? Also, regarding the audio features, are additional sound effects like footsteps and atomic beam attacks planned?

Chester: Regarding lighting in the chest, we’re not certain yet, but we’re investigating that option. Currently, it only features the roar sound effect. I should clarify that the back LED feature isn't confirmed yet. We are still testing it to determine if it's feasible. Our engineering team is actively working through the articulation challenges, and for the LED electronics, we have to evaluate safety considerations to ensure the mechanical components and electronic systems function cohesively.

TAS: With Godzilla (1974) standing around 9 inches tall, is that roughly the standard height baseline for the KAIJU-DOU line?

Chester: Yes. That said, Shin Godzilla stands approximately 11 inches tall since it is a taller Godzilla by comparison.

TAS: What led to the choice of 11 inches for Shin Godzilla?

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Chester: When we began working on Shin Godzilla, a key topic of discussion was determining the figure's size. Navigating that proportion balance was the trickiest step. Ultimately, we decided to use the tail length as our starting baseline, engineering the design backwards from the tail all the way up to the head.

TAS: Considering the length of the tail, have you run into any structural or weight distribution challenges during development?

Chester: The legs are substantial enough to support the full weight of the tail. Naturally, we will refine the engineering aspect, which has long been a key strength at threezero. You can see this in our Transformers line, where figures can balance on a single leg due to our precise distribution of weight and materials. Achieving that proper balance is our responsibility and expertise, so maintaining the position of the entire tail will not be an issue.

TAS: What specific accessories or add-ons are planned, or at least under consideration, for this release? Is a beam effect piece currently in development or under consideration?

Chester: Absolutely! I think that is an essential inclusion. While additional accessories are certainly planned, they remain under active development, so specific details cannot be confirmed just yet.Chester: Absolutely! I think that is an essential inclusion. While additional accessories are certainly planned, they remain under active development, so specific details cannot be confirmed just yet.

TAS: Are you able to share who sculpted Shin Godzilla? 

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Chester: Although I can’t reveal their identity, they are a sculptor from Japan. Even though threezero is based in Hong Kong, we collaborate extensively with Japanese partners through our Japanese subsidiary and counterpart. As a result, we work alongside many talented sculptors and partners in Japan.

TAS: Do you happen to know if this is the same sculptor behind Godzilla (1974)?

Chester: No, it's actually a different sculptor. Different sculptors bring unique styles, and the designs for Godzilla (1974) and Shin Godzilla are vastly different in art direction and level of detail, so we select sculptors best suited for each specific project.

TAS: Is Shin Godzilla sculpted by hand?

Chester: Not hand-sculpted, but the entire piece is 3D sculpted from the ground up by our Japanese sculptor.

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TAS: I know an official price hasn't been finalized yet—what range might we expect?

Chester: Regarding pricing, it has not been set yet, but it could end up around $240. Since it is significantly larger and its engineering is much more intricate than the Godzilla (1974) figure, the higher price tag reflects that added scale and complexity.

TAS: When can we expect Shin Godzilla to hit the market? Is there an estimated release timeline for it?

Chester: Due to the complexity of the project, significant time has been dedicated to its sculpting and overall development. We hope to start taking Pre-orders later this year and anticipate shipping to begin next year, likely around Q2 or Q3 of 2027.

TAS: Could you talk a bit about how threezero got started with the KAIJU-DOU line?

Chester: Our entire team shares a deep passion for kaijus and Godzilla culture. Starting this line grew naturally out of that genuine love. We realized that a seamless kaiju figure line didn't exist in the market yet, and we saw a great opportunity to create one. Because of our team's enthusiasm, we have many more releases planned.

TAS: That’s fantastic. Another major point of distinction from standard super-articulated figures is the use of a zinc alloy die-cast internal framework instead of standard plastic materials.

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Chester: Yes, a kaiju figure should definitely have some weight to it. You can really feel that heft, though it's not overly heavy. The die-cast internal skeleton makes posing these figures simple while ensuring exceptional durability.

TAS: Regarding future additions to threezero's Godzilla line, what other figures are currently in the works?

Chester: We can share that our upcoming lineup consists of Shin Godzilla, Mechagodzilla (1974), Godzilla (1954), and Fake Godzilla (1974).

TAS: Whoa, Fake Godzilla! Given the distinct visual differences between Fake Godzilla and the real Godzilla, are those design variations being incorporated?

Chester: Naturally, we created a brand-new sculpt from scratch to account for those distinct design differences.

TAS: In the film, Fake Godzilla features a major reveal where a section of its skin gets torn away in combat against Godzilla. Given that this figure utilizes a seamless silicone exterior, will it be engineered to replicate that feature?

Chester: Indeed, that is an option currently being evaluated. We aim to deliver the best result possible, as our core objective is to ensure authenticity.

TAS: That’s great to hear. Beyond that, it was previously mentioned that threezero had been looking into the additional kaiju featured in Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla (1974). With Mechagodzilla (1974) currently in development, is there a possibility we’ll see other co-stars from the film, such as Anguirus or King Caesar?

Chester: As we progress, we will gauge fan interest regarding potential releases for the remaining monsters.

TAS: To wrap things up, which Godzilla design stands out as your personal favorite?

Chester: My personal favorite is Godzilla Minus One. Although another movie is coming out soon, Minus One is currently the latest release, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think its design is really impressive.

TAS: Fantastic. I'm really looking forward to seeing what threezero produces down the road. Thank you again for taking the time today to talk about Shin Godzilla—I can't wait to see the final product.

Chester: We appreciate it! We're thrilled to introduce Shin Godzilla to the KAIJU-DOU series and look forward to further growing the lineup with additional Godzilla figures.

KAIJU-DOU

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