Bandai – the Japanese toy giant

Bandai is a Japanese company founded by Naoharu Yamashina in 1950. The company is known for its toys and model-making products, and successfully markets its products worldwide. Bandai is one of the largest toy manufacturers in the world, producing a wide range of items including model kits and action figures. The company is best known for its collaborations with major brands such as Star Wars, Gundam and Dragon Ball.

Bandai – a Japanese success story

Bandai started producing toys in the 1950s and quickly became a leading toy manufacturer after its founding by Naoharu Yamashina. In the 1980s, Bandai experienced a huge success with the introduction of the Gundam model kits, also known as Gunpla (Gundam Plastic Models), which became a worldwide success. These model kits allowed fans of the popular anime series Mobile Suit Gundam to recreate the robot models from the series.

Over time, Bandai expanded its range of model kits and entered into further partnerships with international franchises, including Star Wars and Pokémon. This made Bandai even better known and more successful worldwide. Today, Bandai is not only a leading manufacturer in the toy and model construction sector, but also in the fields of video games (Namco) and anime figures.

The turnover of Bandai Namco Holdings Inc. has risen steadily in recent years, growing to over one billion yen in 2024.

Bandai – the Japanese all-rounders from analogue to digital

Bandai is particularly well known in the modelling world for its snap-fit technology, which allows models to be assembled without the need for glue. This makes the construction process easier and allows the parts to be easily assembled into the finished model. This method is particularly suitable for beginners who are starting out in the hobby.

Another feature of Bandai models is the level of detail. By using the popular injection moulding process and carefully designing each model, Bandai offers models that are in high demand.

Bandai – an overview of the range of toys and model kits

The Bandai range also includes a wide selection of model kits, toys and collectibles. Particularly noteworthy are the model series based on anime, science fiction and films.

Bandai has built up a huge fan base with its Gundam models. The kits are available in different scales and levels of difficulty, so that both beginners and experienced model builders will find something in the range.

For fans of the popular anime series Dragon Ball, Bandai offers a range of figure model kits that depict characters such as Goku and Vegeta in different poses.

Bandai is also known for its Star Wars model kits. These models impress with their attention to detail and authenticity and are available in different scales. The models inspire both beginners and professionals.

In addition to these core series, Bandai also produces model kits and figures from other franchises such as Pokémon, Kamen Rider and Ultraman.

Bandai Star Wars model kits

Bandai offers its Star Wars model kits in 1:72, 1:48 and 1:144 scales. These are detailed models of spaceships and figures from the Star Wars universe. These models are very popular due to their quality and offer great assembly fun for both beginners and experienced model builders.

The Bandai Star Wars kits offer fans of the franchise the opportunity to recreate their favourite spaceships and characters. The range includes classics such as the Millennium Falcon, the X-Wing Fighter and the TIE Fighter.

Bandai places a high value on the models being authentic and as close as possible to the originals from the films. The use of injection moulding ensures that the models are rich in detail and authentic. The 1:72 and 1:144 scales in particular offer a good compromise between detail and size.

Models with snap-fit technology can be assembled without glue and are therefore also suitable for beginners. They are ideal as an introduction to the world of modelling.

Short and sweet

Bandai has established itself as one of the major toy manufacturers worldwide. In addition to a very large number of toy products, the company also offers a wide range of franchise model kits, similar to Revell (Star Wars), Meng (Dune) or Hasegawa (Mangas). With its long history, innovative technologies such as snap-fit assembly and franchise products, Bandai has revolutionised the toy industry in many areas, both analogue and digital.