Misfit Toys is Houston’s home for Godzilla, kaiju, and sofubi. We carry the largest selection of Godzilla and kaiju in the city, from 1960s Japanese vinyl to today’s limited designer releases, and we are one of the largest buyers of Godzilla, kaiju, and sofubi in the country. Our aim is to make Houston a destination for kaiju and sofubi collectors across Texas and the South, and to present sofubi here as what it is in Japan: an art form.
We are also collectors ourselves. As toy store owners, nearly everything passes through our hands, and sofubi is what we choose to keep. Our personal collection is extensive, and it shapes what we bring into the store.
What is sofubi?
Sofubi (ソフビ) is short for sofuto biniru, Japanese for “soft vinyl.” It describes hollow vinyl figures cast in metal molds and finished by hand, a tradition Japanese toymakers have practiced since the 1950s. Kaiju, the giant monsters of Japanese film and television, have been its signature subject since the 1960s, and Godzilla is its most famous face.
What began as children’s toys has become one of the most distinctive collecting categories in the world, spanning vintage originals from the 1960s and 1970s, faithful reissues, and small-batch works by independent artists.
How sofubi is made
A sofubi figure passes through many hands before it reaches a shelf:
- Sculpt. An artist sculpts the original by hand, traditionally in wax.
- Mold. The sculpt is electroplated to create a metal mold.
- Cast. Liquid vinyl is poured into the mold, heated until it sets, and pulled out by hand, leaving a hollow, lightweight piece.
- Finish. Each part is trimmed, fitted, and painted by hand with a spray gun. To keep each color crisp, the painter holds a stencil over the figure, so a detailed figure is painted in many careful passes, one color at a time.
One Japanese maker estimates that around eight separate companies are involved in bringing a single figure from concept to completion. Because every step is done by hand, no two figures are exactly alike.
Why collectors are turning to sofubi
- Handmade in small numbers. Independent releases are often produced in runs of 5 to 50 pieces worldwide.
- Artist-driven. Collectors follow individual makers the way art collectors follow painters.
- Colorways. A single sculpt is released in limited paint variations, each its own collectible.
- Hard to get outside Japan. Many releases are sold directly by artists at events such as Super Festival in Tokyo, through lotteries, or in small online drops, and never reach American stores.
- Sixty years of history. Vintage originals and rare colorways can command four, five, and occasionally six figures.
In our view, sofubi is where serious toy collecting is headed: handmade, limited, and rooted in a long artistic tradition.
A short history of Godzilla and kaiju toys
- 1954: Toho releases Godzilla.
- 1950s: Japanese toymakers move from celluloid to soft vinyl, laying the groundwork for sofubi.
- 1966: The First Kaiju Boom. Marusan produces the first Godzilla vinyl toy, molded in blue vinyl, alongside kaiju from Ultra Q and Ultraman.
- 1969: After Marusan closes, Bullmark is founded and takes over its molds. Its Godzilla and Ultraman kaiju, produced in mini, standard, and giant sizes and in brightly colored “Hawaiian” export versions, are among the most valuable vinyl kaiju ever made. Bullmark’s Mechagodzilla is considered its rarest toy. The company closes in 1977.
- Late 1970s: Popy’s giant Godzilla joins the Jumbo Machinder craze in Japan, and Mattel brings it to America as the 19½-inch Shogun Warriors Godzilla, complete with launching fist and flame tongue.
- 1980s: Collectors rediscover vintage vinyl, and Marusan begins reissuing its classic figures. Bandai begins its long-running Godzilla soft vinyl figures.
- 1990s and 2000s: Collector-focused makers such as Marmit, M1go, and CCP produce high-quality Godzilla vinyl. At the same time, Tokyo’s Ura-Harajuku street brands, including Bounty Hunter, launch designer sofubi.
- 2001: Bandai launches its Movie Monster Series, soft vinyl Godzilla and kaiju figures that continue today.
- 2009: Bullmark is revived as an independent company.
- 2011: Bandai’s Tamashii Nations debuts S.H.MonsterArts, highly articulated Godzilla and kaiju figures.
- 2014: NECA begins its Godzilla line with figures from the Legendary film and adds classic Toho designs the same year.
- Today: Medicom Toy’s Godzilla: Vinyl Wars line brings classic Marusan, Bullmark, M1go, Marmit, and CCP figures to Western collectors, while independent artists in Japan and around the world push sofubi forward as an art form.
Lines we carry
We aim to carry the full range of Godzilla and kaiju, from NECA and Bandai figures to large-scale X-Plus, Omega Beasts, and Prime 1 Studio busts. Stock changes daily, so if you’re after a specific piece, call us at (832) 524-8700 and we’ll check.
Vintage Godzilla and kaiju
- Marusan and Bullmark sofubi
- Popy and vintage Bandai
- Mattel Shogun Warriors Godzilla
- Ultraman and Tsuburaya kaiju, Gamera, and other Japanese monsters
Modern Godzilla and licensed kaiju
- NECA Godzilla figures
- Bandai Movie Monster Series and S.H.MonsterArts
- X-Plus, including its large-scale figures
- Omega Beasts
- Prime 1 Studio busts and statues
- Medicom Toy Godzilla: Vinyl Wars
- Marmit, M1go, CCP, and Bear Model
Designer and independent sofubi
- Vintage sofubi from Japan’s classic makers
- Modern Japanese artists, such as Akametenshi
- Artists from Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and across Asia
- American sofubi artists
- Mexifubi: sofubi from Mexican artists
- Limited colorways, event exclusives, and one-off hand-painted pieces
Mexifubi holds a special place in our collection. Made by Mexican artists and often cast by hand in Mexico, it carries sofubi’s kaiju tradition into lucha libre, Aztec mythology, and Mexican folk art. We seek it out for the store and for our own shelves.
One of the largest buyers of Godzilla, kaiju, and sofubi in the country
We buy Godzilla, kaiju, and sofubi of every era, from a single figure to an entire collection:
- Vintage Marusan, Bullmark, and Popy
- Japanese releases with original header cards, bags, and tags
- Modern licensed Godzilla and kaiju
- Designer and independent sofubi, including limited colorways and event exclusives
Because we collect sofubi ourselves, we recognize the details that set a piece apart: the maker, the release, the colorway, the edition size, and the condition of the vinyl and paint. We buy single pieces and whole collections from across the country. Payment is by check, wire transfer, or store credit. Start with a quote on our Sell Your Collection page.
How we value Godzilla, kaiju, and sofubi
Two figures that look alike can be worth very different amounts. When we make an offer, we look at:
- Demand: how quickly the piece sells in our store
- Current stock: whether we already have it in inventory
- Maker and release: vintage original or later reissue
- Colorway and edition size: how many were made in that paint
- Paint: crisp original paint versus rubs, wear, or touch-ups
- Vinyl: sun fading, discoloration, stickiness, warping, or smoke odor
- Packaging: original header card, bag, and tags
- Designer sofubi: the artist, and whether it was an event or lottery exclusive
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Godzilla toys in Houston? Misfit Toys, at 3511 Houston Avenue in the Heights, carries the largest selection of Godzilla and kaiju in Houston, from vintage Japanese vinyl to modern figures and designer sofubi. We’re open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where can I find Japanese sofubi in Houston? Misfit Toys is the only store in Houston that specializes in sofubi, including Japanese, designer, and independent releases.
What is sofubi? Sofubi is Japanese soft vinyl: hollow figures cast in metal molds and painted by hand. Kaiju like Godzilla have been its most popular subject since the 1960s.
Why is sofubi so expensive? Most pieces are made by hand in small runs, often just a few dozen worldwide, and many are sold only in Japan. Vintage originals from the 1960s and 1970s are scarcer still.
Do you buy Godzilla and sofubi collections? Yes. We are one of the largest buyers of Godzilla, kaiju, and sofubi in the country, and we buy everything from single pieces to entire collections.
Do you ship? Yes. Items in our online shop can ship, including internationally.
Visit or call
Misfit Toys · 3511 Houston Avenue, Houston, TX 77009 · (832) 524-8700 · Open daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. · misfittoystx@gmail.com