Company: Bandai
Release date: 2020+
Size: +/- 5cm
Main distribution: Japan / USA / UK (Gashapon machines)
These are Gashapon figures of animals sitting in the sauna.
8 series have been released so far, making 41 figures total. I got 1/41.
The figures come in clear balls so you can see immediately which one you got without opening it.
Animal Sauna 1
Release date: 2020
The first set exists out of 5 figures; Panda, Polar Bear, Pug, Red Panda and Dog.
I got 0/5.
Animal Sauna 2
Release date: 2020
The second set exists out of 5 figures; Orangutan, St. Bernard, Bear, Hamster and Otter.
I got 0/5.
Animal Sauna 3
Release date: 2021
Set 3 exists out of 5 figures; Elephant, Pig, Koala, Chihuahua and Gorilla.
I got 0/5.
Animal Sauna 4
Release date: 2021
Set 4 exists out of 5 figures; Hippo, Monkey, Pug, Cat and Rabbit.
I got 0/5.
Animal Sauna 5
Release date: 2021
Set 5 exists out of 5 figures; Bear, Human, Tanooki, Fox and Squirrel.
I got 0/5.
Animal Sauna 6
Release date: 2022
Set 6 exists out of 5 figures; Chimpanzee, Red Panda, Polar Bear, Penguin and Lion.
I got 0/5.
Animal Sauna 7
Release date: October 2022 (JPN) / Spring 2023 (USA / UK)
Set 7 exists out of 5 figures; Momotarō, Dog, Cat, Baby Panda and Capybara.
I got 1/5; Cat.
Cat
Cat is sitting with his legs hanging over the edge, his paws on his knees and with a content, closed eyes, face. He has an orange towel draped over his lap. He appears to be a Calico cat, and is white with orange and black patches. The branding is on his bottom, and reads in raised font the 4 dots of Bandai and “©BANDAI B. 2631427”.
Animal Sauna 8
Release date: 2023 TBA
Set 8 exists out of 6 figures; Crocodile, Baby Polar Bear, Red Panda, Baby Hippo, Raccoon and Gorrila.
I got 0/6.
I have finally found a Gashapon store in the UK, and even better, it’s quite close near me. So I of course had to check it out.
Sadly the mark up is extortionate. You have to buy special coins for the machines, which are £2 each. Then each machine, depending on what’s inside, take a different amount of coins. These took x2! So £4 a try. Considering these are ¥300 in Japan that is a bit more (especially now that the yen is quite low). They didn’t even bother translating the usual leaflets for it either, as you just don’t get one. They only translated the front image for the machine.
You’d be better off finding a full set, or buying specific wants online. I don’t mind a slight mark up considering the import, but for a random pull this felt expensive. Which is a shame, as I like these random funny animal ones, but I wouldn’t import them online either like branded IP ones. And if they were cheaper, I’d probably try more of it by chance. If I wanted to collect a full set, I’d buy it online for these prices.
Still, it’s a novel experience. They had set 7, and I had hoped for the Baby Panda, or the Capybara or Dog, but I got the Cat. Not a huge cat lover, but I have friends who are so perhaps I can trade in the future.
Overall this series is funny and cute and if they get the second set in I might have to try it again, despite being expensive.
If you like Gashapon, little figures, cute and/or funny animals, you’ll like this series. Be advised they may be expensive depending where you find them.
If you prefer larger or articulated toys, you might give these a miss.
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own these figures? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!