Bandai is a Japanese toy manufacturer that had first launched their Hyper Yo-Yo range in 1997, in time for the worldwide yo-yo boom. The company didn't develop their own yo-yos initially (though they did develop the Hyper Dragon and Hyper Dragoon yo-yos), but rather licensed products from other manufacturers such as Yomega, Duncan and Russell. Bandai was very active in the community, sponsoring teams such as Team High Performance Japan and Team Hyper Viper. Also produced during the 1990s was a side-series, Hyper Diabolo, which focused on diabolos.
Hyper Yo-Yo products were sold in a number of countries including Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, United States, United Kingdom, France, Taiwan and Spain. For each of these countries, a different line was produced (i.e. the yo-yos sold were not the same in all countries).
In 2003, Hyper Yo-Yo was briefly revived in Japan, distributing Duncan and Yomega yo-yos, as well as new yo-yo models such as the Duncan Hyper Freehand.
Starting in 2010, Bandai revived the Hyper Yo-Yo line for the third time, again distributing Duncan and Yomega yo-yos, but this time also featuring YoYoFactory products, along with the introduction of the customizable HyperCluster series and the motorized Hyper Infinity yo-yo.
In 2018, Bandai gave their previously Japan-only HyperCluster line an international release, especially in Western nations.
In 2024, Bandai revived the Hyper Yo-Yo line yet again with a new series called Hyper Yo-Yo Accel.
Yo-Yos Released[]
Note that the countries mentioned below refer to the countries where the products are released or mainly released.
Before Hyper Yo-Yo[]
- Paul's Miraculous Adventure "P" Yo-Yo (1977 Japan)
Hyper Yo-Yo (1997-2000 Japan)[]
Bandai Hyper Dragon Series[]
- Bandai Hyper Dragon
- Bandai Hyper Dragon THP Japan Special
- Bandai Hyper Dragon Fire
- Bandai Hyper Dragon Aqua
Bandai Hyper Dragoon Series[]
Duncan[]
- Duncan Hyper Imperial
- Duncan Hyper Glow
- Duncan Hyper Midnight
- Duncan Hyper Neo
- Duncan Hyper Papillon
- Duncan Hyper Wheels
- Duncan Hyper Pro
- Duncan Hyper Millennium
- Duncan Hyper Yo-Yo 1 Year Anniversary
- Duncan Detective Conan
- Duncan France '98 Fifa World Cup
- Duncan Japan Football Association
- Duncan Nagano 1998 Olympics
- Duncan Hello Kitty
- Duncan My Melody
- Duncan Tamagotchi Angel Tenshitchi
Henrys[]
ProYo II[]
Russell[]
Yomega[]
- Yomega Hyper Brain
- Yomega Hyper Brain Glow
- Yomega Stealth Brain
- Yomega Fireball
- Yomega Fireball Glow
- Yomega Stealth Fire
- Yomega Hyper Impulse
- Yomega Hyper Mirage
- Yomega Hyper Raider
- Yomega Stealth Raider
- Yomega Hyper RB II
Yomega Mini Series (Keychains)[]
- Yomega Hyper Brain
- Yomega Hyper Brain Glow Corocoro Comic Special
- Yomega Stealth Brain
- Yomega Fireball
- Yomega Fireball Gold Congratulations 1997
- Yomega Stealth Fire
- Yomega Hyper Raider
- Yomega Stealth Raider
Hyper Yo-Yo (1998-1999 USA)[]
Yomega[]
- Yomega All Star
- Yomega All Star Glow
- Yomega All Star Ultra
- Yomega X-Brain
- Yomega X-Brain Wing
- Yomega Firestorm
- Yomega Firestorm Wing
- Yomega Hyper Warp
- Yomega Power Spin Wing
- Yomega Z-Raider (Promotional yo-yo, distributed only at the 1999 World Yo-Yo Contest)
Hyper Diabolo (1999 Japan)[]
- Dia Big
- Dia Spin
- Dia Wave
Hyper Yo-Yo (2003-2004 Japan)[]
Duncan[]
Yomega[]
- Yomega Hyper Star
- Yomega Mega Brain
- Yomega Fireball
- Yomega Stealth Fire
- Yomega Hyper Raider
- Yomega Stealth Raider
Hyper Yo-Yo (2010-2014 Japan)[]
Bandai Hyper Cluster Series[]
- HyperCluster PB Star Loop
- HyperCluster PB Star Wing
- HyperCluster PB Pad Loop MachPhoenix
- HyperCluster MB-S2 Star Wing BlazeGriffon
- HyperCluster CB Clutch Loop SlashDragon
- HyperCluster Wide Wing S SpeedFalcon
- HyperCluster MB2-S3 String Loop D FlashFenrir
- HyperCluster MB-S4 Pad II Loop MachPhoenix EX
- HyperCluster MB2-S3 Laser Wing-H ThunderDrake
- HyperCluster MB2-S5 Laser II W Laser Eagle
- HyperCluster King Cluster
- HyperCluster MOB-S3-HMW Meteor Bahamut
- HyperCluster Legend Cluster
- HyperCluster Legend Coro Dragon
- HyperCluster Dunlop Dragon Cluster (promotional)
Bandai Hyper Infinity[]
Duncan[]
- Duncan WoodBullet (rebrand of ProYo)
- Duncan WindOrbit (rebrand of Speed Beetle)
- Duncan FlameWing (rebrand of Dragonfly)
- Duncan MetalBullet (based on Bumblebee)
- Duncan SparkBat (rebrand of Butterfly XT)
- Duncan SonicBreath (based on Pro Z)
- Duncan Torqave (released internationally as the Torque)
Yomega[]
- Yomega MonsterShell (rebrand of All-Star)
- Yomega CrossDragon (rebrand of X-Brain)
- Yomega SpinPhoenix (rebrand of Fireball)
- Yomega StormTiger (rebrand of Raider)
- Yomega SpiralJaguar (rebrand of Raider EX but with two less spacers)
- Yomega FreezeWyvern (rebrand of Crossfire 2012)
- Yomega WildClaw (rebrand of Brain)
- Yomega Stavity (rebrand of Dash)
YoYoFactory[]
- YoYoFactory HyperComet (rebrand of Firedog V2)
- YoYoFactory Mercury (rebrand of F.A.S.T. 201)
- YoYoFactory StarFly
- YoYoFactory DialMars (rebrand of Velocity V1)
- YoYoFactory GalaxyFly
- YoYoFactory GrindSaturn
- YoYoFactory AstroFly
- YoYoFactory Divault
- YoYoFactory AceLash (rebrand of Loop 1080)
- YoYoFactory Acronizer (rebrand of Superstar 2013)
HyperCluster (2018 International)[]
Hyper Yo-Yo Accel (2024)[]
Other Yo-Yos[]
- Digimon Digi-Yo Series (2000 USA)
- Sukeban Deka 1/1 Yo-Yo (2006 Japan)
- Sukeban Deka 80's Yo-Yo Deluxe Set (2006 Japan)
- Pokemon Sun & Moon Monster Ball Yo-Yo Collection (2007 Japan)
- Pokemon Pokeball Yo-Yo Series (2010 France)
Trivia[]
- Bandai is also well known for the popular Tamagotchi virtual pet toys, as well as the Digimon franchise and model kits based on the Gundam franchise.