Figure Review - NECA 24" Head to Tail Godzilla

"Nature has an order, a power to restore balance. I believe HE is that power..." -Dr. Serizawa, Godzilla (2014).

NECA has certainly had their ups and downs in regards to figure quality, especially with those in more larger scaled lines. However, I will say this up front... They really nailed it with their 24-inch head to tail Godzilla figure! 

This figure stands at 12 inches (30 centimeters) at its tallest. In length it is around 24 to 25 inches. It may not be the 18" Godzilla figure that fans were hoping for from the very start, but this figure is quite massive in size and hefty in wight as it is!

Knowing NECA, the sculpt for this figure, like the smaller 12" head to tail figure, were based on the 3D models of Godzilla utilized in the actual film. The detailing is pretty sharp and does a great job replicating what we see in the actual film. The paint job on this figure is definitely one of my favorite aspects of this figure. It isn't as glossy as the smaller figure, and features a wide range of grays, blues, greens, and browns in the overall color scheme. The combination of these colors adds a great deal of depth to this figure, and makes it quite pleasant to look at.

In comparison to the original 12" head-to-tail figure, released earlier this summer, the 24" head-to-tail figure is a GIANT! The range in articulation is greater in some aspects as well such as the mouth, knees, and tail (which I'll get to in just a bit.)

One aspect of the figure that I have a bit of a pet-peeve with is the eyes. They aren't bad in retrospect, but I kind of wish that they were better painted and were more respective to the actual eye design in the film which was a much more darker hazel-like color with rounded pupils instead of slitted pupils like on the smaller figure. Still, that's just a personal issue on my part rather than a complaint. Overall, it still works with the figure.

Like I've mentioned before, the tail articulation on this figure is a massive improvement over the smaller figure. Almost each section of the tail is on an articulated ball joint much like an S.H. MonsterArts figure. For me it is one of the best features on the figure and allows me to display it on a shelf seamlessly without worrying about taking up too much space.

One of the key selling points of this figure is definitely the sound feature. Unfortunately with many collectors, I have been hearing horror stories in regards to this. Since the figure is packaged in two pieces (the main body and tail segment) the sound mechanics are located at the base of the tail in the main body. When some people connected the tail (sometimes forcefully) it damages the sound feature. This has made collectors and fans irate to some degree. Due to this, NECA released an official instruction manual on their Facebook and Instagram outlets to show people the "correct" method of connecting the body and tail through the use of a hairdryer to soften the plastic on the tail socket. 

Fortunately for me, I followed the directions accordingly and the sound feature works flawlessly on my figure. The button for the sound effect is cleverly disguised as one of Godzilla's spines on the base of his tail. Unless you look at it close up and under sufficient lighting, it is rather unnoticeable. Once pressed, the figure will emit Godzilla's trademarked roar (as heard from the movie). It is a neat gimmick, but acts more as an added bonus to an already excellent figure. 

To collectors that nitpick about scale, this figure is a godsend! It gives people a good and firm look at how the new Godzilla properly (give or take a few meters) to the Jaegers and Kaiju from last year's Pacific Rim. In that film, the Jaegers and Kaiju range from 70 to 90 meters (with a few standing above 100 meters like Slattern). The new Godzilla stands at around 105 meters tall. The 24" head-to-tail figure gives a decent look at the scale difference between them. I really appreciate this aspect and gives exactly what figure photographers need to depict an epic crossover battle (as seen below.) 

By far this is my FAVORITE figure of the new Godzilla thus far! It has an amazing sculpt, stunning detail, and great articulation. NECA, despite their various flaws, have knocked it out of the park on this guy. Very well done! Even if you have or don't have the smaller 12" head-to-tail figure, I highly recommend this one. Just be sure to follow the instructions on how to assemble the figure once you take it out of the box...