Crested Gecko (Diversity of Life on Earth by Bandai)

Review and images by Fembrogon; edited by bmathison1972

There’s a Gashapon for just about everyone, I’d wager. Bandai’s trademarked capsule toy brand (an onomatopoeia name for the “gacha-pon” sound of the machine crank and tumbling capsule) has been running strong for over forty years, covering just about anything that can feasibly be made into a miniature – from company mascots and popular anime characters, to erasers and food items, to even highly realistic insects and lizards. High-quality articulated animal figures aren’t exactly a large niche in the collectibles market; but Bandai stepped up to the plate in 2018 with a new line called Dango Mushi, dedicated mainly to pill bugs and other isopods, which are apparently quite popular in Japan. In 2020, the line evolved into the Diversity of Life on Earth Series (sometimes also labeled the Ikimono [Living Things] Encyclopedia), which featured insects, arachnids, crustaceans, and the occasional amphibians or reptiles, spread across multiple sub-lines of different styles.

One of the most recent reptile sets introduced (under the realistic “Advanced” sub-line) was released in September 2022, featuring the popular pet lizard Correlophus ciliatus – the crested gecko. Originally hailing from a small region of New Caledonia’s South Province, the crested gecko (or eyelash gecko) has exploded in population within captive breeding and become a staple of the reptile pet trade. There are surprisingly few crested geckos in the toy market, however, with perhaps the only notable example outside of Japan being Safari Ltd.’s Incredible Creatures toy. Both Safari’s item and Bandai’s item coincidentally released the same year in 2022, at opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean. Unlike the all-ages Safari toy, however, Bandai’s Gashapon figurines are intended strictly for adult collectors; so what unique array of features does Bandai’s replica reptile have to offer?

Bandai’s Ikimono crested gecko comes packaged in a capsule of 7 cm (2.75 in) in diameter; the figurine may be partly disassembled to fit. A paper insert describing the set is included in the capsule, as well as two tongue accessories for alternate display options. Once opened and put together, the gecko toy measures 16 cm (6.5 in) in length; live geckos range from 15-25 cm long, so the toy fits in 1:1 scale for a smaller individual. Since most of the articulation is accomplished by ball/socket joints, and the quality of the plastic is strong yet slightly soft, the figurine can be taken apart and reassembled easily for storage.

Said articulation is very impressive for a relatively small item. A total of 26 articulation points are featured in the design, most of which are ball/socket joints running from the neck through the tail. The tongue and feet are ball-jointed as well, while the jaw and limbs have hinges or swivel joints. Although some cuts are a little obvious – namely between the segments of the body – the resulting effect is a highly flexible toy that can match a variety of poses one might see the real creature contort itself into. The body can twist and turn into all manner of reactions and fit into a variety of spaces; only the absence of actual clinging pads on the feet prevent the toy from truly matching the real deal. My one complaint would be that the neck joint, while offering decent up-and-down motion, has very little side-to-side range, which limits the “personality” of the figurine somewhat.

The tail is a little bit limited as well; despite having the most joints out of all body parts (7 in total), the engineering is tighter than the body joints, so it can’t curl or bend as extremely as live geckos, although it still has a good range of flexibility given how small the joints are. The ball joints in the feet are also slightly limited by the articulation cuts, so one has to work with the whole limb in order to keep the feet level for more challenging poses. Despite these hindrances, the figurine can still be extremely expressive and highly entertaining to handle and display.

Not all Gashapon toys come articulated – in fact fewer probably are than aren’t – but Gashapon do have a reputation among many of their series for high levels of detail, and the Diversity of Life series is no exception whatsoever. Sculpting is truly excellent on the crested gecko, capturing every anatomical trait to near perfection. While obviously not as soft-bodied as real geckos, the Gashapon figurine is no less finely textured in scales, tiny and circular in shape, adjacent along the skin with small degrees of variation in size and prominence. The belly is intricately cross-stitched, with the underlying body shape shifting ever so slightly between segments to recreate the sensation of a real gecko’s soft tummy and organs. Even without articulation, the sensation of handling this toy is delightfully realistic. Also featured on the underside are what appears to be the bulge of male reproductive organs at the base of the tail, in case one cares about the gender of one’s toys.

Although the figurine can’t stick to surfaces like a real gecko, Bandai didn’t skimp on the details underneath the feet. Each sole is covered with a grid of minute scales, and each toe bears the distinct velcro-like grooved pads used for clinging and climbing. Each toe also bears a tiny claw just as seen in live geckos; and the membrane on the back of the hind legs is also present, sculpted in two pieces to permit articulation in the knee. Larger scales can be found when moving to the mouth line, and wrinkly skin texture surrounds the ears at the back of the head. Inside the mouth, a tiny row of individually-sculpted teeth line the upper and lower jaws. The tongue is smooth but carefully shaped; if one can grab it securely, the tongue can be flipped around or replaced by alternated pieces with different licking poses for cleaning the eyes or tasting at the tip of the snout.

The skull itself is the one caveat I’ll note for the sculpt. Although the head features the recognizable diamond shape known for the species, I’ve yet to see a live gecko, in person or photographed, with a snout as short as depicted here. As a whole, the skull seems a bit blunter and broader than is usual for the species, resulting in some proportions looking skewed. Fine detailing on the skull is still very good, though. The nostrils and orbits are clearly defined, and the texture of the bone on the skull roof is also given care and attention. Completing the design are the signature rows of fringed scales lining the eyes, head, and torso, each scale individually sculpted and distinct, almost pointy but not harmful to touch. If you’re looking for a convincing likeness of this popular pet lizard, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better one.

Since crested geckos are bred in a wide variety of color variants, Bandai took the opportunity to release their Gashapon figurine in a set of four, each with a unique color scheme. The first version represents the “normal” morph, resembling the simpler patterns often seen in wild individuals. This figurine is mostly a sandy pale yellow, with soft blotches of dark brown highlighting the body, head, legs and tail (with the added benefit of disguising some of the articulation joints). The patterning is fairly even, but not perfectly uniform, capturing a convincingly natural appearance. It’s the least vibrant morph of the four, but attractively painted nonetheless.

The second morph is a vivid red “Patternless” version – the term literally referring to the lack of patterned coloration in lieu of mostly monochrome appearance. Patternless geckos can come in different solid colors, but the bright red of choice helps this figurine stick out clear as day among the set. There is still some variation to the color, with more faded patches adorning the feet and tail. A slightly darker tone of red runs atop the head and back, with some extra yellowish-brown brushing bringing out the detail of the skin and scales.

The third morph is “Bicolor”, which resembles the more normal wild coloration but with sharper contrast in patterning. Bandai’s bicolor gecko is solidly dark chocolate-brown on its flanks and legs; while the head, back, and feet are more of a rich golden-brown/yellow hue. Some additional pattering is visible again on the back and tail, breaking up the solid colors. It’s a very striking color scheme which displays well against the plainer normal morph and the bright patternless morph, and possibly my personal favorite of the bunch.

The fourth morph is “Dalmatian”, aptly named for its splotchy, polka-dot patterning. Dalmatian geckos range in degree of patterning from a few scattered spots to full-blown spot covering, which also affects their value in the trade. Bandai’s morph represents a particularly rare variant high spotting on a near-white base body, taking the “dalmatian” moniker to the extreme. The spots are erratic and diverse in shape, but neatly and intricately applied across the body to a very organic effect. A pinkish tint adds more definition to the flanks and limbs, and the “eyelash” scales are highlighted in yellow. This is almost certainly the most complex morph coloration of the set.

A few coloration details are consistent between all four morphs. The bellies are white, with a faded gray stripe down the length of the head and stomach on the first two morphs. The inside of the mouth is soft, saturated pink with a slight gradient; the teeth are essentially unpainted. Most notably on all the figurines, the eyes are painted a slate gray with tall black slit pupils. The irises are intricately detailed with veined red patterns, giving the eyes an entrancing marbled appearance. A glossy finish over the eyes completes the illusion of a real, living lizard having emerged from the toy capsule.

When I first learned about Bandai’s Diversity of Life series, I quickly caught interest; having held these lizards in hand, I can confidently say the line has my full attention. The Advanced Gashapon crested geckos are marvelous figurines, among the best on the market, and guaranteed to delight any reptile hobbyist. I eagerly anticipate acquiring more reptiles from the line, be they past or future releases. It must be kept in mind, though, that Gashapon toys tend to be limited-time products; the crested geckos are no longer in production, so one will have to search the 2nd-hand market to acquire them. I had the good chance of finding my set for a good price on AliExpress; Mercari and Yahoo Japan are also good places to search (eBay is better off as a last resort). Trust me, though: these geckos are worth the hunt.