Toy car company Hot Wheels is celebrating the Godzilla franchise by releasing two new vehicles inspired by the legendary kaiju.
Hot Wheels recently announced the “Hot Wheels Godzilla Character Car” and the “Hot Wheels Godzilla Monster Truck,” the former of which hit shelves this November while the latter will be released in early 2023. Both toys feature designs based on the iconic monster, who made his big screen debut in 1954 with the release of Ishiro Honda’s Gojira. The announcement also comes shortly before Godzilla day, which is Nov. 3, the same day that Gojira hit theaters in Japan.
The Hot Wheels Godzilla Car is a 1:64 die-cast vehicle based on the Japanese HINO construction truck, a large six-wheeled junk hauler. The choice to model the new toy after a junk hauler is inspired by the kaiju’s destructive history. The cab of the truck features a glaring brow and sharp teeth biting down on the vehicle’s engine, while the side of the truck features Gojira’s Nov. 3 1954 release date and katakana characters that spell out Godzilla’s name. The load in the truck is shaped like the dorsal fins that Godzilla has on his back and neck, and the rear of the vehicle features a massive tow hook shaped like Godzilla’s tail. This model will be sold exclusively at Target for $3.99. The Hot Wheels Godzilla Monster Truck, which is also in the 1:64 scale, features a similar design to the car, except with the addition of monster truck wheels and the absence of the tow truck tail in the back.
Godzilla Takes Over the World
Godzilla’s popularity extended far beyond Japan after his film debut, ultimately cumulating into a global phenomenon. The kaiju has now starred in over 34 feature films, in addition to numerous standalone books, comics and TV series. Last year, American filmmaker Adam Wingard directed the 2021 film, Godzilla vs. Kong, which pitted Godzilla against the famous skyscraper-scaling ape. Wingard is also directing the film’s sequel, which does not yet have a set release date.
While awaiting the release of the new Godzilla Hot Wheels cars, Godzilla fans in the United States will also have the opportunity on Nov. 3. to see the 2002 film, Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla, in theaters for its first-ever U.S. screening. This exclusive one-day-only event, which is being held in over 450 theaters nationwide, will present the movie in Japanese with English subtitles, along with a never-before-seen featurette and an exclusive message from Toho International’s Chief Godzilla Officer, Keiji Ota.
The Hot Wheels Godzilla Character Car and the Hot Wheels Monster Truck launch in early November and early 2023, respectively.
Source: Hot Wheels.
