Series: Dragonball Z
Company: Bandai
Set: Metal Collection
Year: 1992+
Size: 3.2~4.5 cm
Main distribution: Japan
The Metal Collection is a series of metal figures all the way back from 1992. It’s a Gashapon series that came out alongside the Keshi Cross Up.
The figures come in either gold, silver or bronze colours.
Kinkeshi was a popular subgenre of toys in Japan. Small figures with various designs, molded out of a single color of plastic to keep costs down. They were cheap and school-aged children could easily buy a figure from a vending machine using loose change. The West got to know these as M.U.S.C.L.E. figures, but Japan also had them from other manga, like Dragonball and Pokémon.
Dragonball Keshi got a new line Keshi Cross Up, which were Keshi figures but you could add Metal armour to them. Alongside that the Metal Collection was made, whereby the entire figure was made out of metal.
I’m not sure how many there are in the Metal Collection, but I got 4 of them so far.
Goku Super Saiyan – gold
Goku is 3.5 cm tall and stands in a battle ready pose. He is in his Super Saiyan form. He wears his trademark gi. On the back is his branding, it reads © BS/S · F · T B.
Broly Super Saiyan – gold
Broly is 4.5 cm tall and stands with one arm open, as if ready to slap someone. He is in his Super Saiyan form. He wears his trademark outfit and is bare chested. On the back is his branding, it reads © BS/S · F · T B.
Gohan is 3.5 cm tall and stands in a battle ready pose. He is in his Super Saiyan form. He wears his Great Saiyaman outfit, without the headgear or cape. On the back is his branding, it reads © BS/S · F · T B.
Trunks (kid) Super Saiyan – gold
Trunks is 3.2 cm tall and stands in a battle ready pose. He is in his Super Saiyan form. He wears his trademark gi. It is young Trunks from the original timeline. On the back is his branding, it reads © BS/S · F · T B.
I really like the metal figures. There is something old and retro about them and they don’t take up much space. I also love how heavy these feel. Makes it feel like you’re holding something expensive (and to be fair, they are! The weight also adds in shipping costs!).
Metal figures also seem much more “grown up” then coloured figures. They have a certain class and elegance to them in my opinion.
Hence I would love more of these guys!
I got these 4 from a fellow collector on a Facebook group. He buys up a lot of lots of Keshi in Japan and sells them on.
I had never seen Dragonball ones before! I love the Kirby and Pokémon Metal and Keshi figures, so it was great to see similar ones of my favourite anime Dragonball Z!
I hope to find a few more of them. I’ve seen a gold Vegeta Super Saiyan, a silver Gohan Super Saiyan 2, a silver Android #20 / Dr. Gero, silver Goten Super Saiyan, a bronze Goku and a silver version of the Goku I already got. I don’t know how many there are and they seem quite hard to find, but I’ll keep looking for them.
I’m sad how quick these oxidise though and it’ll be hard to find some in good condition due to their age.
If you want to start collecting these too be advised they do cost a pretty penny and shipping costs can add up due to their weight. But I still think they are worth it!
Got any more details / information? Did I get something wrong? Do you own the same figures? Let me know in the comments below!