Revoltech is a Japanese toyline of poseable action figures, usually around 5 inches tall and unique in using a specialized type of joint to allow for versatile articulation. It is produced by Kaiyodo, and was started in late 2006. They usually occupy the ¥2000–¥4000 price point and often have a fair range of accessories.
The main gimmick of the line, so to speak, is the Revolver Joint, a specialized point of articulation originally developed by Yasuhiro Nightow of Trigun fame. While other Japanese action figure lines tend to use organically moving joints such as ball joints and the like, Revolver Joints are a form of ratcheting joint that are designed to hold their position using rows of teeth on the inside of the assembly itself, and they tend to click quite distinctively when moved. The idea is that since the toys are being purchased mainly by collectors, they'll be holding poses for extended amounts of time on shelves, so more rigid joints that hold poses better are necessary. No other toyline uses these exact joints, and the line prides itself on the innovation; the name of the line is a portmanteau of "Revolver Technology", after all.
Being such a long-running series, it has covered a massive range of franchises. Initially it was very Super Robot and Mecha-centric, concentrating on franchises such as the Evangelion series, Getter Robo and Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann, and was exclusively sculpted by Katsuhisa Yamaguchi. Yamaguchi employed a very dynamic and exaggerated style of sculpting, intended to suit the "action poses" the figures would inevitably assume. Over time, it split into several sub-lines, and the overall range diversified:
- Revoltech Yamaguchi: The original line, now overseen by Yamaguchi rather than wholly sculpted. Has stretched into Video Game territory, with Professor Layton, Monster Hunter, and Zone of the Enders figures.
- Tokusatsu Revoltech/SFX Revoltech: A line concentrating on Kaiju monsters and Sci-Fi franchises, including Western properties. Popular for including a multitude of Toho monsters, Tobey Maguire's Spider-Man from the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy, several Iron Man suits and the infamous "Rapeface" Woody from Toy Story.
- Revoltech Fräulein: A small range of figures using a universal female body sculpt. Designed to compete with Figma, the leaders of that particular market.
- Hokuto no Ken REVOLUTION: A range of figures dedicated entirely to the titular series. Very popular with fans, as the figures are of a particularly high quality.
- Revoltech Takeya: A unique line that releases articulated Buddhist statues, eastern mythical creatures, Japanese skeletons and Gothic field armors.
- Assemble Borg: The line for which the Revolver Joint was originally developed and brainchild of Nightow. As the toys are highly modular, parts-swapping is actively encouraged and the official Web site showcases fan creations.
- Evangelion Evolution: A line reissuing all the previously-released Revoltech Yamaguchi figures for Rebuild of Evangelion, but with more precise paint jobs, additional accessories and some different joint choices (for example, using smooth turning joints for smaller joints instead of the usual clicky Revoltech joints).
- Amazing Yamaguchi: Currently the newest line, with Yamaguchi's take on Marvel Comics, DC Comics and My Hero Academia superheroes, plus other properties such as Transformers, Tokyo Revengers and Yu-Gi-Oh!. This line predominantly uses smooth turning joints instead of the ratcheting Revoltech joints, though the Revoltech logo is still on the box.
Once considered the line for small robot action figures, it is now one of many, Bandai's Robot Damashii and Super Robot Chogokin being the primary competitors.
Tropes specific to this toyline:
- Artifact Title: Amazing Yamaguchi predominantly uses smooth-turning joints, with most figures using them entirely with zero traditional ratcheting Revoltech joints. The Revoltech logo, however, is still on the box for these figures. More recent Evangelion Evolution figures have moved away from the ratcheting joints as well, but again, have the Revoltech logo on the bottom of the box.
- Dem Bones: Skeleton Army from Jason and the Argonauts, as well as Takeya Japanese Skeleton and Skeleton Samurai.
- Law of 100: Revochips, which used to come with all Revoltechs, would give you points toward specific rewards obtained through Kaiyodo-partnered retail outlets. The rewards were usually multiples of 100 points... but you could only get the rewards in Japan, making Revochips a Useless Accessory for Western collectors & other collectors who live outside of Japan..
- Not Quite Starring: To a degree with the SFX Revoltech Batman. He comes with an extra "unmasked" head, but it appears that Kaiyodo couldn't secure Christian Bale's likeness, so they had to fudge it a bit. The resulting representation of Bruce Wayne is...less than good.
- Units Not to Scale: Especially evident with human figures from different sub-lines. Hilariously obvious in the Gurren Lagann figures.
