It is an incredibly exciting time to be a collector of the Dragon Ball S.H.Figuarts line. This week, TAMASHII NATIONS Japan published an in-depth blog post detailing the long, engineering-driven history of Son Goku within the series. The post chronicles how figure technology has advanced over the last 16 years, culminating in a brand new articulation standard that is set to define the line throughout 2026.

For those interested in the engineering magic behind these collectibles, we have summarized the key takeaways from their official post below, tracking Goku's journey from 2010 to the cutting edge of today.

The Journey of Articulation (2010-2024)

The S.H.Figuarts Dragon Ball series began in 2009, with the first Super Saiyan Goku arriving in 2010. The goal was always the "pursuit of character expression through articulation." The official blog highlights several key milestones where technology took a massive leap forward.

Significant updates included the 2015 "Super Warrior Awakening Ver." which introduced completely new sculpting, and the 2021 "Super Saiyan 4 Goku," which debuted a revolutionary shoulder mechanism to allow for natural Kamehameha posing. Tamashii Nations also highlighted their ability to adapt this high articulation to smaller bodies, such as the "GT" and upcoming "DAIMA" versions of Goku.

The New Standard: 2025 and Beyond

The culmination of this historical evolution is the "Super Saiyan Goku -The Beginning of the Decisive Battle-" released in October 2025. This figure represents the new benchmark for the line. It features completely revamped structures in the neck, waist, and knees.

Most importantly, it introduced the "Dynamic-Movable Shoulder System" (patent pending). This new system allows the arms to be brought together naturally across the chest or raised high without breaking the character's silhouette, solving a long-standing challenge in action figure design.

Coming in 2026: The Evolution Continues

The most exciting news from the blog post is that this new articulation standard isn't a one-off; it will be applied to a wave of new Goku figures throughout 2026. Tamashii Nations revealed three upcoming releases that utilize this cutting-edge engineering:

• May 2026: Base form Goku (Cell Saga outfit with darker, anime-accurate colors).
• June 2026: Super Saiyan God Goku (featuring a new slimmer body sculpt).
• July 2026: Super Saiyan God Super Saiyan (Blue) Goku (with completely new head and facial sculpts).

Conclusion

The dedication Bandai Spirits shows to improving their craft is what keeps the S.H.Figuarts line at the pinnacle of the import figure market. By constantly refining how these figures move, they allow collectors to recreate scenes with increasing accuracy and dynamism.

As an official reseller, Zenkai Zone is proud to carry these incredible pieces of engineering. We will have these highly anticipated 2026 Goku releases available for pre-order soon. Keep an eye on our shop to ensure you don't miss out on the definitive versions of Earth's greatest defender for your collection.