Soul of Chogokin (SOC) (超合金魂, Chōgōkin Damashii) or "Soul of Super-alloy", is a popular line of adult collector's toys produced by the Japanese company Bandai.
The line, which began in 1997, focuses almost exclusively on mecha (robots) taken from various 1970s and 1980s anime series, although the line has diverged from this on a number of occasions, most notably the release of several mecha from the mid-1990s anime Neon Genesis Evangelion. More recently, the line has expanded further to include 1970s mecha from Super Sentai and other tokusatsu series, such as the Battle Fever Robo from Battle Fever J and Leopardon from the Japanese TV adaptation of Spider-Man.
In 2017, Bandai released yet another Super Sentai mecha Daizyujin from Kyōryū Sentai Zyuranger which became the first Super Sentai series adapted for American audience under the name Power Rangers as the first season of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. This would mark the first Power Rangers Megazord to be given the Soul of Chogokin treatment. In 2018, Gipsy Danger from Pacific Rim became the first non-Japanese mecha to receive the SOC treatment. Also in the same year, Bandai initiated the "F.A. (Full Action)" sub-line beginning with Voltes V; the F.A. sub-line sacrifices transformation and combination gimmicks in favor of anime-accurate proportions and dynamic articulation.[1]
Some accessories, die-cast weapon or special items...
Number
Figure
Edition
GX-01X
Motorized Hangar
Hangar for Mazinger Z
GX-02?
Great Mazinger Box
Metallic box display for Great Mazinger
GX-03?
Com-Battler V Kunaï
Weapon "Kuna¨" in metallic version
GX-04X
Drill Spacer & Marine Spacer
Add-ons to Grendizer (included in GX-04S)
GX-06?
Getter Robo Mobile strap
Cell phone strap with pictures of each getter
n/a
Nambara Base
Display base for GX-50 Combattler V
GX-48?
Big O Expansion set
Sold by Bandai Tamashii web site
GX-68/GX-69
Star GaoGaiGar Option Set
Limited Edition sold by Bandai Tamashii
GX-76X
Spazer Set
GX-76X2
Drill & Marine Spazer
GX-XX01
Secret Super Weapons Set 01
Weapons pack for DC figures
Black versions, recolors and renewal versions
Bandai released many variants of the original releases. Most are just repaints, while some of them have a totally different sculpt or add more features to the original SoC.
Even though they were never too difficult to find, the following versions were never released in shops. Most of them required the use of coupons found in manga/magazines/CDs. Some were released in fairs/exhibitions.
Number
Figure
Edition
Release Date
GX-01RG
Mazinger Z
Restyling Gold. Tamashii Expo 2004 Pre-Exhibition
2003.04
GX-01R+
Mazinger Z
Weathered paint. Tamashii Nation 2008. Limited to 3000 pieces.
2008.03
GX-07E
Energer Z
Sold at the "40th Anniversary of Go Nagai's Works" exhibit
2008.12
GX-07I
Iron Z
Mail-in coupon from the manga "Mazinger Z Angels (魔神天使 Z)", vol. 1
2008.01
GX-08MAW
Aphrodai A
Mazinger Angels Snow White. Mail-in coupon from Magazine Z
2004.09
GX-09MAB
Minerva X
Mazinger Angels La Sirene De Noir
GX-09SS
Minerva X
Mazinger Angels Shining Shadow. Mail-in coupon from the manga "Mazinger Z Angels (魔神天使 Z)", vol. 2
2009
GX-11MAM
Dianan A
Mazinger Angels Marine Blue Mermaid
GX-12MAG
Venus A
Mazinger Angels Queen of Gold
GX-24 (DVD)
Tetsujin 28
DVD Special Edition. Mail-in coupon.
2007
GX-24N
Tetsujin 28
Naked version. Sold at Spring 2009 Tamashii Nation Expo
2009.03
GX-40G
Gaia
Real Color version. Mail-in coupon from the book "Soul of Chokogin Project (超合金魂計画)", vol. 3
2009.10
GX-45A
Mazinger Z
Atami Night version. Sold at Autumn 2009 Tamashii Nations Expo
2009.10
GX-47T
Energer Z
Test Type. Mail-in coupon from the book "Soul of Chokogin Project Z (超合金魂計画 Z)"
2010.04
GX-47N
Energer Z
Normal Color version. Sold at Autumn 2010 Tamashii Nations Expo
2010.10
Special items
The following special items were released in predetermined limited numbers. They have all reached incredibly high prices in secondary market.
Number
Figure
Edition
Limited to
Release Date
GX-01RB
Mazinger Z
Restyling Black chrome. DVD Limited Edition
1000
GX-01 (黒金)
Mazinger Z
Kurogane no Shiro (黒金の城). Reward from the book "Iron Castle: Mazinger Z Disassembly" (鉄の城:マジンガーZ解体)
10
GX-06G1
Getter 1
Metallic version. Sold at San Diego Comic Con 2008
