Here we have the S.H.MonsterArts Godzilla (2023) Exclusive Edition, which is being made available to the U.S. market for the first time. For those who don’t know, this figure was originally released in Japan back in November 2024 as a Tamashii Nation event lottery exclusive. When that figure was announced, there was major fan outcry from collectors worldwide who were frustrated about not being able to get it outside of Japan. And that’s how this U.S. Exclusive Edition came to be.

 

How To Obtain:

 

SDCC attendees will have first dibs on getting their claws on this figure. No reservation through the online portal is necessary! That's right—any attendee can walk up and purchase this figure at any time. Godzilla (2023) will be available at either the TAMASHII BOOTH (3329) or the GODZILLA BOOTH (3345) located right behind the Tamashii booth.

 

What about those who are unable to attend SDCC 2025?:

 

Godzilla (2023) [Exclusive Edition] will be available for preorder from the USA PREMIUM BANDAI WEB SHOP and for purchase at the TAMASHII NATIONS STORE NEW YORK. Details for when these methods are available will be revealed at a later date.

 

More info about Tamashii Nations at SDCC 2025:

www.tamashiiweb.com/event/680

 

Now, for those wondering, let’s just get this out of the way early—this figure is meant to be an identical release to the Tamashii Nation 2024 version, (TN2024 throughout the review). However, due to Bandai’s exclusivity policies, it can’t be a 1:1 reissue. So, while this version includes the atomic heat ray effect part, it does not come with the Shinden plane accessory. This figure will be made available at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 for event attendees, and afterwards through Premium Bandai USA, the Tamashii Nations Store New York, and other U.S. events. The figure is priced at $160, which is about $20 less than the original TN2024 release. So, the big question—does it justify picking up?

 

Design:

 

This figure uses the 3D CGI data from Godzilla Minus One, and its production was overseen by Yuji Sakai, who added additional sculpting detail and paint direction. If you want a deeper dive into how Sakai approached this project, there’s an article you can check out for more insights into his process.

 

Starting at the head, you’ve got a sculpt packed with small, intricate scales, along with detailed bumps and divots. The eyes and teeth are tiny on this figure, but they’re sharply defined for mass production standards. One interesting point from Sakai’s interview is that the teeth had to be scaled up from the original CGI model because they were so fine they couldn’t be replicated correctly at six-inch scale. The tongue and inner mouth are also packed with texture, even down to the inner-webbing, (masseter muscle). You can always count on S.H.MonsterArts to deliver on those finer details. The top of the head has smaller spikes that naturally flow into the dorsal plates, and the neck follows with contrasting textures on the front and back to give it depth.

 

​

 

The main body is where this figure really shows off the benefits of using CGI model data, along with Sakai’s additional tooling. The chest and abdomen feature deeply layered charred textures that are well-defined and crisp. The dorsal plates are made from translucent plastic and look absolutely stunning. I’m a sucker for translucent pieces, and these deliver, especially when backlit. They’re not just solid plastic either—Bandai added layered paint detailing to enhance the illuminated effect. Be cautious though, these dorsals are delicate. The first three dorsal fins near the base of the neck are designed to sit in slotted grooves, which is a clever idea to allow them to move with the neck articulation. However, they can fall out if you're not paying attention while posing, so just be mindful when adjusting the neck.

 

​

 

At the base of the torso, there’s a floating ring piece with dorsal plates on it, designed to add more flexibility for torso movement like crunches and twists. The arms and claws carry over the same level of detail as the body, with some unique scale patterns on the fingers to break up the texture. The claws are long and sharp, giving this Godzilla a more primal look. The legs are massive and feature sculpted details that push this design away from something like a Heisei Godzilla. Around the knees and ankles, the skin looks like it’s jutting out in spike-like formations, which is a really fierce interpretation of the design. The feet are broad, with a plated texture on top, and articulated toes that are as good as ever for dynamic posing.

 

​

 

The tail is about average in length for a Godzilla figure, but it’s sculpted with a ton of complexity. The underside feels familiar to a Heisei-style tail, but the top side is unique, packed with dorsal plates along the center and side spikes that add extra aggression to the silhouette. It’s sharp and it looks fantastic.

 

​

 

The sculpt detail on this figure is outstanding and showcases the benefits of combining digital CGI data with Yuji Sakai’s expert refinement. Every inch of the figure is packed with texture—from the intricately scaled head and sharply defined teeth, to the deeply layered charred skin on the torso and the aggressive, spike-like formations on the legs. The translucent dorsal fins are a major highlight, blending beautifully into the sculpt while adding a striking visual presence. Even smaller elements like the claws, articulated toes, and the uniquely designed tail with its complex dorsal and side spikes contribute to a sculpt that feels both screen-accurate and dynamic in hand. This figure captures the fierce, battle-worn look of Minus One Godzilla perfectly, offering a level of depth and complexity that fans will appreciate whether on display or in-hand.

 

Articulation:

 

Let’s talk articulation. There's been no changes in engineering compared to past variants of Minus One. However, because this figure uses translucent plastic, the joints are stiffer out of the box compared to softer materials used on other S.H.MonsterArts figures. You’ll want to warm up the head and neck with a hairdryer before attempting any dynamic poses. Once you’ve loosened things up, tilting the head and neck side to side becomes manageable with an okay range. The up and down movement is excellent—Godzilla can look straight up into the sky or down to the ground, thanks to the neck’s flexibility. Twisting is a bit more limited at the base of the neck due to the sculpt design, so most of that movement will come from the head itself. The mouth is a nice touch because the masseter muscle is also articulated and adjusts as the jaws open and close. The mouth itself is on a ball joint, but because of how the cheeks are sculpted, it mainly moves up and down. The tongue is also articulated, but you’ll need tweezers to get it into position since it’s such a small piece.

 

​

 

Torso articulation is effective, but you’ll need to be careful around the dorsal plates when twisting or crunching the figure forward and back. The floating dorsal fins at the base of the neck move with the pose, which is helpful for extreme crouching poses where Godzilla’s looking straight up. You can even remove those floating fins if you want more range, but just be sure you don’t misplace them. It’s also worth noting that this isn’t a “charging variant” Godzilla—the dorsal fins stay in their neutral state, the same as the TN2024 Heat Ray Version. This is because Toho has strict licensing rules that prevent releasing a charged-up raised dorsal variant bundled with a beam effect.

 

​

​

 

The arms have decent articulation and can bend with out popping off easily. The shoulder range is excellent, and the wrists are very expressive with full rotation and tilting. The elbows are where it gets a bit tight, mainly because of the sculpt detail in the area where the bicep meets the elbow joint. You can work through this with some heat and patience. The legs, on the other hand, are one of the highlights. They’re incredibly expressive at the hips, allowing for wide stances or more neutral poses. They can twist a full 360 degrees at the hip, which is impressive. The knees are a little limited, but they still get decent range. Ankle articulation is solid—you can position Godzilla on his toes or plant him flat depending on your setup. The articulated toes add even more posing options, with all three main toes being ball-jointed for a variety of foot expressions.

 

​

 

The tail might look stiff at first glance because of all the sculpted detail, but it moves well once warmed up. It’s built with 15 points of articulation and can flex in multiple directions. While it won’t curl upward dramatically because of the sculpt, you can still get dynamic side-to-side and downward curves. I was able to get the tail to curl underneath the figure to touch its stomach, which is pretty impressive. Again, heat is your friend here.

 

​

 

Articulation on this figure is impressive once you work through the initial stiffness from the translucent plastic. After a quick heat-up, the head, neck, and especially the legs offer dynamic posing options, with clever touches like the shifting dorsal fins adding to the range. The legs and articulated toes are a standout, providing excellent stability and expression. The tail is far more flexible than it looks, offering fluid, sweeping poses. With a little prep, this figure poses beautifully.

 

Paint:

 

When it comes to paint, this version is designed to match the TN2024 Heat Ray Version release, but slight variances are to be expected because it’s a different production run. The base color is a muddy gray with tan highlights. In fact, the tan highlights are more vibrant this time around. The scar isn’t a bright pink like on the standard Minus One Godzilla but instead is a thicker, lighter brown. The eyes are metallic blue—not translucent—but painted to look like they’re glowing. The teeth are now fully painted white, whereas the original Tamashii Nation version had a blend of blue and white gradients. Personally, I preferred the blended look, but I know some collectors had issues with that blend, so this may be a welcome change for some. Interestingly, the paint application isn't as thick as the TN2024 Heat Ray Version, so the teeth appear more sharp.

 

​

 

The body paint application remains mostly consistent with the TN204 Heat Ray Version release, though you might notice slight differences in how the dry brushing is applied from figure to figure. The dorsal fins are the showstopper. They’re painted to give an illuminated effect even though they're already translucent, and they look amazing, especially when backlit. However, this version does have more noticeable overspray on the glow effect, especially on the tail. This is one of those things where some collectors may prefer the painted glow for shelf display, while others (like me) would rather rely on lighting and the natural translucency of the plastic. The glow overspray wasn’t present in the promo images for either release, so it’s clear there were production changes along the way. The glow effect comes off as more of a snowy blue-white tone rather than a neon glow.

 

​

 

The arms, legs, claws, and tail all follow the same paint scheme as the main body. The claws look good, though they don’t have any blending at the base where they meet the fingers, which is hit-or-miss depending on the unit. The feet and claws are actually some of the best-painted areas on this figure compared to other Minus One releases.

 

The paint application remains mostly faithful to the TN2024 release, but with some subtle differences. The dry brushing is more vibrant this time, with tan highlights that bring out the sculpt’s charred textures in a bolder way. The translucent dorsal fins are still the standout feature, glowing beautifully with layered paint that catches light even without backlighting. This release also has heavier glow overspray, especially along the tail, enhancing its shelf presence. Details like the metallic blue eyes and painted claws round out a striking finish that looks great in-hand and on display.

 

Accessories:

 

As for extras, this release comes with the atomic heat ray effect part from the TN2024 Heat Ray Version. There are no changes in sculpt or paint application. It’s a translucent piece with white paint towards the end where it plugs into the mouth. It’s a great-looking effect part that stands out from other beams in the line. Unfortunately, the Shinden plane isn’t included, which ties back to Bandai’s policy that exclusives can’t be reissued 1:1. For those who really want the Shinden, there are third-party options out there, such as 3D print storefronts like Kujira Designs, that offer alternatives.

 

​

 

Here's a few action shots featuring the Exclusive Edition.

 

​

​

 

Overall:

 

All in all, this is a fantastic figure if you’ve been waiting for a heat ray version of Minus One Godzilla. The fact that Bandai made a Tamashii Nation lottery exclusive available to the U.S. is incredible, even if it’s in a limited capacity. The translucent dorsal fins illuminate beautifully, and fans of beam-effect Godzillas will appreciate this version in their collection. For those who already own the TN2024 Heat Ray Version release, this may be an easy skip since it’s essentially the same figure with minor paint adjustments. That said, the box art is super cool, and if you’re a packaging collector, it might tempt you. With how much Minus One merch we’ve seen in S.H.MonsterArts over the past two years, all that’s left is a pressurized version and the Odo Island Godzillasaurus. Here’s hoping we see those sooner rather than later!

 

Please take a look at the comparison gallery between the TN2024 & Exclusive Edition. Which do you prefer? Be sure to check out the SHOWCASE GALLERY to see more of S.H.MonsterArts Godzilla (2023) [Exclusive Edition] in action.

 

 EE (Left) vs. TN2024 (Right)