Extreme heat hit Makuhari Messe this weekend for Wonder Festival 2026 Summer, but the real story was the convention floor’s aggressive pivot toward Patlabor. In a review piece by Ollie Barder at Forbes covering the event, attendees braved the blistering temperatures to view a significant shift toward the classic franchise. That intense focus is driven entirely by anticipation for the upcoming Patlabor EZY anime.
According to an exhibition floor report, “The 1st Patlabor Exhibition” anchored the show with official model contest winners, fan dioramas, and brand new product displays. That focus marks a sharp departure from recent iterations of the Japanese hobby show. Previous events heavily favored Evangelion during Summer 2025 and Ultraman earlier this Winter. Similar to the retro revivals dominating recent convention panels, this summer belonged exclusively to the labor units.
One highly anticipated crossover didn’t survive the climate. Organizers originally planned to sell “Freshly Picked Hiromi-chan’s Tomatoes” directly at the main booth. Unfortunately, unfavorable weather in Gunma Prefecture stunted the crop. The tomatoes failed to reach the required size, forcing a last-minute cancellation of the agricultural sale.
Good Smile Company Teams Up With CCS Toys
Good Smile Company made a noticeable strategic shift this year. Instead of building out its usual standalone booth, the manufacturer opted for a leaner presence. The big reveal came through a surprise partnership with CCS Toys. Known for producing heavy diecast mecha figures out of China, CCS Toys will collaborate with Good Smile Company on future premium releases.
Armored Core VI’s Massive SMP Balteus
Bandai Spirits drew heavy crowds with a highly detailed mockup of the SMP Balteus kit from Armored Core VI. Displayed with every single missile pod fully deployed, the figure commanded serious floor space. According to a hands-on event review, fans immediately noted the mockup was unnervingly large.
Pose+ Reveals Go-Saurer
Pose+ also made waves with a fresh lineup of upcoming releases. The standout piece was a brand new chogokin figure of Go-Saurer. That reveal adds another highly engineered, transformable piece to their growing catalog of classic anime robots.
The Non-Commercial Halls
Inside the independent halls, attendees found a massive surge in fan-made garage kits. Independent Patlabor items stood right alongside classic resin builds from Vifam and the Brave series.
Good Smile Company’s Strategic Shift Opens the Diecast Market
The newly forged alliance between Good Smile Company and CCS Toys alters the production pipeline for premium anime figures. Good Smile Company historically relied on in-house engineering or domestic Japanese partnerships for its high-end releases. Aligning directly with a China-based manufacturer famous for heavy diecast alloys streamlines production for complex mecha figures. This move allows them to directly challenge Bandai’s dominant Chogokin line while keeping manufacturing overhead manageable. If you track the premium collector market, expect heavier, more durable figures to hit retail shelves over the next 18 months.