Ulysse's robot friends...

Robot Pompier, Popy,
Macau, 1981

Robot réparateur, Popy,
 Macau, 1981

 

Robot Docteur, Popy, 
Macau, 1981

Robot Sport, Popy,
Macau, 1981 

Nono - modern

Nono, High Dream (HL PRO), 2003, China

This one comes with a trapdoor in the belly where he can keep his "petits clous" ("little nails" - favorite snack)

The smell of vintage blisters part II

Nono, Popy, Macau, 1981

Wait... a Spanish Greek and son combo ?

Ulises 31 + Telémaco, VICMA, Spain, 1981

The Nanette project (2)

Nanette, 3-D print + Tamiya paints

A big thanks to my brother Benjamin for making me this !

Next project ? 😊😊😊 :

The Nanette project.

Sometimes you just have to build your own, especially for these specific characters that never had their toy-equivalent to start with. This is the first figurine my brother printed for me with his 3D printer. 

Nanette without ears, boots and with lots of lines...

My little setup and reserve of sandpaper and sanding blocks

Putty ? of course - lot's of it to hide all gaps in the figurine...

like so...

then the sanding...

then the cleaning...

Polystyrene balls for the ears... not a good idea 

My "do it yourself" spraybooth

Some plastic tubing for the boots

Mat yellow and glossy pink

Eyes and mouth ? colour print reworked by my little helper ! 

Reunited at last !

The Italian NONO robot from Ulysse / Ulisse 31

Nono robot, ?, Ulisse 31, Italy, 1980's

This one is rare. I mean, I don't recall having seen another one. No idea who produced it (it is not licensed - no markings). 

It is 20 cm tall and has articulations at shoulders, wrists, legs and feet (not at the head which is one piece with the main body). Blown plastic, paper eyes...

It is bigger and brighter than his French counterpart seen here.

 If you have any extra information on this one, please give me a call.

Scooter to goof around in the Odysseus

Ulysse 31 Scooter, Popy, Macau, 1981

Nono

Nono mask, César, France, 1981

Portuguese Ulysses 31 books

Ulysse 31 has always been a big serie in my youth - great spaceships - good scripts, and a whole new modern take on mythology.

As you can see, this cartoon also was famous abroad... here two Portuguese booklets (only 8 pages each...) with images taken straight of the cartoon. It aired on RTP from 1984 to 1985.

Ulisses 31-A lagoa dos duplos,
Disvenda, Portugal, 1980's

Ulisses 31-A insurreição dos companheiros,
Disvenda, Portugal, 1980's

Thémis (Yumi) is called Thais in this version...

The Nono family picture !

A bunch of Nono's !

Lightsaber with gun attached ? Ulysse (s) 31

I still find things I never knew existed, even of my favorite series. This lightsaber/laser pistol belongs to this category. Somebody said the lightsaber was a more elegant weapon for more elegant times... now attach a laser pistol in the handle and you are ready for the Gods of Olympus !

Ulysse 31 saber, A.G. Excominsa, Spain, 1982

Simple toy, water squirter thing, I guess to be sold in Spanish newspaper kiosks or beach stores, hanging from the ceiling with hooks or something similar ? Exists also with yellow handle/gun.

No marking on the toy, only on the card...

For scale, with a plastic Popy figurine

For the sake of Poseidon !

Ulysse 31 bendeable, Ceji Arbois, Hong Kong, 1981 

Never angry the gods ! Especially when they have the Cyclops and Sirens and Sorceresses...

Ulysse's ELIOS

Elios, Popy, Singapore, 1980's

Another really cool ship is this Elios from the Ulysse 31 series. Fully transformable, from a flying saucer to... this.

Ulysse 31 and son

The Classics !
Metal and platic with removeable helmets...
and pistol + pistol/sword

Ulysse + Telemaque, Popy, Singapore, 1980's

Ulysse in need of a haircut ?

He's back, ready to confront Zeus and all the mythological figures that stand between him and his home...

Ulysse 31 - High Dream, China, 2003

Quiconque ose défier la puissance de Zeus doit être puni !

Masque - Ulysse 31, César, France, 1981

The petrified look on Ulysse's face... Did Medusa transform him into stone ? Will he reach home again ? Penelope is waiting for him...

El "Nono"

Spain has had its share of "cheaper" toys - made using existing tooling but produced in plastic instead of, let's say, plastic. VICMA used the molds of Popy toy and of French Chewing-gum figurine Nono to make this toy - which was complementary to its bendable line of the series.

Nono, Vicma, Spain, 1980's

Génération Galactik - "Coup de Coeur"

A great new book came out for all of you out there that are from the génération Goldorak - it's called "Génération Galactik" and by opening it you will just understand how kid's from the 70ies and 80ies in France (and Belgium, Switzerland...) were living their dreams with toys (and stickers, bowls, lamps, even bed-linen and pillowcases !) of their heroes.

Génération Galactic, une enfance dans les étoiles,
Vincent Dubost, Hors Collection, 2012- ISBN 978-2-258-00000-0

Merci Vincent ! Amitiés du Portugal !

It has it all ! Japanese Popy toys - French costumes and masks - stickers - and even the oh-so elusive "Goldorak" lamp !

Thanks for giving us back a piece of our childhood !

You can order this book directly with the publisher: www.horscollection.com or on Fnac, Amazon... Check also www.facebook.com/HorsCollection !