Antonio Inoki Bottlecap Figure Keyholder review

For generations, one of the most common practices among toy companies is recycling figure molds. Instead of designing an entirely new figure from scratch, toy manufacturers will reuse preexisting figures and convert them into new products.

In the 90's and 2000's, Character Product shrunk down figure releases from their Super Star Figure Collection line and converted them into keychains. In 2003, Character Product would then go on to recycle figures in another format by creating the Pro-Kaku Heroes; a popular line of Mini Big Heads that lasted for five years and spanning 8 volumes in the process.

Recently, I discovered a figure that wasn't featured in the original Pro-Kaku line.


Blog #287 Antonio Inoki Bottlecap Figure Keyholder

Known in Japan as:
アントニオ猪木 ボトルキャップフィギュアキーホルダー


This figure was released in 2003.




The Inoki bottlecap figure looks nearly-identical to Character Product (back when they were known as Toukon Shop)'s Antonio Inoki figure (1970's version) that was released several years prior in 1999.



The surface of the red base reads February 20th, 2003 (Antonio Inoki's 60th birthday).



There is also a variant with a gold base. I would imagine this is the rarer version of an already rare figure.



Around the same time, Inoki international re-released the Inoki 70's figure to also commemorate the legend's birthday; bundling Inoki with a commemorative display base, NWF Heavyweight Championship belt, and collector-friendly packaging.

Inoki International licensed Antonio Inoki's image to Character Product going back to the 90's. Though, this partnership wasn't an exclusive one, as Inoki continued to have figures made in his likeness by other toy manufacturers and through brand endorsement deals themselves.

Judging by these two releases, it seems Antonio Inoki was able to legally release his own modifications of Character Product/Toukon Shop figures. Much the same as The Ultimate Warrior was able to strike up a deal with Jakks Pacific to produce exclusive figure variants of his likeness from Jakks' Classic Superstars and Ring Giants toy lines.