Toy Fair 2014: Bandai's Sprukits Action Figure Model Kits

I wasn't expecting to see much past new Power Rangers toys when I visited Bandai America's booth at Toy Fair 2014, but I was straight up stoked when I rounded a corner to see its upcoming line of Banda Japan-designed SprüKits. What are SprüKits? Try all-new action figure model kits of Superman, Batman, Joker, Halo soldiers and more -- all available in several scales of size and complexity. Additionally, the SprüKits line is being used to import Bandai Japan's existing Danball Senki LBX figure kits.

SprüKits, like Gundam model kits, will come in a series of tiered scales and require nothing more than a knife or pair of scissors to cut pieces from runners before they're snapped together (you can twist pieces out, but that method has... diminishing returns). While they come with decals and other accessories to give them a fully-finished look, customization and decoration is encouraged to make each figure unique.

Level 1 models will retail for around $10 and consist of 30-40 pieces used to build a 4" tall figure. Characters include a New 52 Batman, a The Dark Knight Rises Batman, a New 52 Superman, and a Joker figure based on his archetypical classic comic book appearance. Achilles, Deqoo, and Hunter will lead the LBX line. Bandai estimates these kits will take users about half an hour to put together.

Level 2 model kits stand around 5" tall and consist of 70-90+ pieces, enabling increased detail and articulation. DC characters at this level include The Dark Knight Rises Batman, Batman: Batman: Arkham City Batman and Man of Steel Superman. Master Chief, Spartan Gabriel Thorne and Commander Sarah Palmer round out the Level 2 Halo figures. On the LBX side, fans will be able to pick up Achilles, Deqoo, The Emperor and Hunter. These figures will retail for around $20 a piece and take closer to an hour to assemble.

At $55, individual Level 3 SprüKits are the biggest and most detailed of the bunch. Each of the kits will pack more than 150 pieces and stand 8" when completed. Fans can expect a Batman: Arkham City Batman and Master Chief from Halo at this more expert-level scale. They can also expect to invest some quality time working on them.

Seeing Bandai really go for marketing new model kits in America whisked me away to a time in my youth when finding Japanese action figure model kits for a reasonable price in the Kansas City suburbs was next to impossible... until Toonami started airing various Gundam anime series and the things suddenly appeared at major retailers. I even joked to one of the presenters that I felt like I needed to set my TiVo to record Gundam Wing (he humored me, bless him). I'm especially pleased that Bandai America's got "Designed in Japan" right on the box, giving credit to its toy tradition overseas. It'll be really interesting to see how these perform when they arrive at retail and online later this year.

You can see all of Bandai's upcoming SprüKits below.

DC Comics

Level 1

*prototype packaging - not final product