Company: Bandai
Release date: 2020+
Size: +/- 5cm
Main distribution: Japan / USA / UK (Gashapon machines)
These are Gashapon figures of animals sitting in the sauna.
9 series have been released so far, making 46 figures total. I got 5/46.
The figures come in clear balls so you can see immediately which one you got without opening it. The figures are packaged in plastic.
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.
I got no leaflet with it.
Cat
Cat is sitting with its legs hanging over the edge, its paws on its knees and with a content, closed eyes, face. It has an orange towel draped over its lap. It appears to be a Calico cat, and is white with orange and black patches. The branding is on its bottom, and reads in raised font the 4 dots of Bandai and “©BANDAI B. 2631427”.
Animal Sauna 8
Release date: July 2023
Set 8 exists out of 6 figures; Crocodile, Baby Polar Bear, Baby Red Panda, Baby Hippopotamus, Raccoon and Gorrila.
I got 4/6.
The leaflet is quite large, in colour and in Japanese.
Crocodile
Crocodile is sitting with its legs straight forward, its front paws resting on its knees and has a neutral face. It has an orange towel draped over its lap and a blue hat. The branding is on the bottom of its towel, and reads in raised font “B. © BANDAI 2649287” and the 4 dots of Bandai.
Baby Red Panda
Baby Red Panda is sitting with its legs straight forward, its paws to its sides and with a zen, closed eyes, face. It has an orange towel draped over its lap. The branding is on the bottom of its tail, and reads in raised font “©BANDAI 2649287 B.” and the 4 dots of Bandai.
Baby Hippopotamus
Baby Hippopotamus is sitting with its legs straight forward and its paws in between them, leaning slightly forward, and has a happy face. It has an orange towel draped over its lap and is wearing a blue hat. The branding is on the bottom of its left leg, and reads in raised font “©BANDAI B. 2649287” and the 4 dots of Bandai.
Gorilla
Gorilla is standing with its left arm behind his back, and its right arm up waving an orange towel. It has a happy, neutral face. It has a second orange towel wrapped around its waist. The towel in its hand can be removed. The branding is on the back of the towel that is wrapped around its waist, and reads in raised font “B. ©BANDAI 2649287” and the 4 dots of Bandai.
Animal Sauna 9
Release date: 2023
Set 9 exists out of 5 figures; Meerkat, Donkey, Shoebill, Frog and Cat.
I got 0/5.
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.
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 don’t seem to bother translating the leaflets for it either, and with the 7th set I didn’t even get one. They only translated the front image for the machine.
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. Later I returned, and now set 8 was out. I wanted the Baby Polar Bear, and my other half tried 3 times for me, but we ended up with the Red Panda, Baby Hippo and Gorilla. At least the Red Panda and Baby Hippo are cute too. When we tried again later, we got another Gorilla. A week later we tried a final time, and got the Crocodile. I guess the Baby Polar Bear will allude us forever.
Overall this series is funny and cute and if they get the next set in I might have to try it again, despite being a bit 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!