Bandai Brings a Bold New Vision to Godzilla, Ultraman, Digimon and More at New York Toy Fair 2026
by Mike Stencel
At this year’s New York Toy Fair, Bandai made one thing abundantly clear: 2026 will be defined by reinvention. Rather than relying solely on faithful recreations from film and TV, Bandai is reimagining its most iconic properties with colorful, experimental designs, creative play patterns, and accessible price points aimed at both longtime collectors and brand-new fans.
Godzilla Scramble
One of the most unexpected surprises was Godzilla Scramble, a brand-new collectible line that reinvents the King of the Monsters in a playful way. Each figure comes packaged inside a blind egg that fans must “unscramble” by unfolding the compacted figure inside. The transformation mechanic adds an interactive element rarely seen in small collectibles, turning the unboxing itself into a fun experience.
What truly makes this line stand out is the company’s wildly creative redesign of Godzilla himself. Instead of traditional monster depictions, Bandai embraces whimsical, imaginative concepts to create fantastical themes, including an Astronaut Godzilla, Zebra and Cheetah-inspired Godzillas, and a Birthday Cake Godzilla with adorable (yes, Godzilla can be adorable) sprinkles on top. There will even be a delicious, mouth-watering Hamburger Godzilla, making this lizard the tastiest item on the menu. And for collectors who love the thrill of the hunt, Bandai confirmed an ultra-rare Hawaiian shirt–wearing Godzilla chase figure, bringing tropical vacation vibes to the King of the Monsters. One can only hope we see future additions to this line involving other popular kaiju in wild color schemes like a camouflaged Rodan, a cotton candy scented Mothra and a gummy worm-headed King Ghidorah (my twins came up with that last idea). Launching this fall, Godzilla Scramble hits the sweet spot for impulse buys, stocking stuffers, and desk collectibles, with an affordable price of $9.99.
Godziburst
Bandai’s centerpiece Godzilla line for 2026 is Godziburst, a fully customizable action figure, built around imagination and personalization. Each figure features swappable arms, legs, and accessories, which are interchangeable across the entire line. Collectors can mix and match pieces freely, creating entirely new, customizable monster combinations. With enough figures, the possibilities feel nearly endless.
But that’s not all. Bandai is expanding the experience beyond physical toys. In collaboration with Toho, Bandai will release original digital content on its website this fall to support the new characters and worldbuilding. Like Godzilla Scramble, the figures retail for $9.99 and arrive in the Fall.
Honoring Japanese Culture
Bandai is also honoring Godzilla’s heritage with a visually striking new collection inspired by Japanese culture. Each translucent figure represents an iconic element of Japan: pink figures inspired by cherry blossoms, green figures themed after matcha tea, and
blue figures representing Mount Fuji.
The semi-transparent plastic creates a glowing effect when displayed with lighting, giving collectors a visually dynamic display option. This line beautifully merges cultural symbolism with collectible design.
Kaiju Colors
In addition, Bandai continues to reinvent itself by refreshing its Ultraman lineup with the new Kaiju Colors series.These figures take classic Ultraman monsters and reimagine them with bold, fun, vibrant color schemes designed to catch the eye of even the most casual fan of the series. The approach will introduce younger fans to the Ultraman universe, while offering longtime collectors visually unique variants. The colorful redesigns act as an entry point for fans unfamiliar with Ultraman or the 3D-animated series on Netflix, while still honoring the franchise’s iconic creatures.
Digimon Returns
In a more nostalgic move, Bandai announced the return of the original Digimon digital pets. Launching this fall, the revived devices preserve the classic features fans remember from the 1990s, including raising and training their Digimon, connecting with friends’ devices for battles, and embracing the portable virtual pet experience.
The company is also introducing four new shell designs, giving collectors fresh options while preserving the original experience that defined a generation. For longtime fans, this revival appeals to an older fan’s nostalgia, while reestablishing a new collecting opportunity.
Pikmin
And finally, Bandai is entering the fidget and ASMR world with a clever toy inspired by the strategy and puzzle-solving game series, Pikmin.
The small figure attaches to keys or backpacks and allows users to “pluck” the character upward. When released, it snaps back down with a satisfying popping sound. The toy is designed to relieve stress and provide sensory engagement, blending collectible charm with functional fidget appeal.
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