New Release Roundup: Late Mar. 2010 Edition

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I wanted to have my Saber Lily review ready for today, but evidently it’s just not going to happen. You’ll have to make do with more previews instead. *sigh* -_-

Alter - 1/8 Momohime

  • Character: Momohime
  • Series: Muramasa: The Demon Blade
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 210 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 7,800 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Alter
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Preorders have started for Alter’s Momohime. I think she looks even better in the official photos than she did at Wonder Festival, last month. It looks like she’ll have a switchable forearm in case you want to display the sword unsheathed.

I’m planning to pick up Momohime even though the budget’s getting pretty tight. I don’t have any particular attachment to Muramasa: The Demon Blade, but this figure looks too good to pass up.

Good Smile Company - 1/8 Misaka Mikoto

  • Character: Misaka Mikoto
  • Series: To Aru Kagaku no Railgun
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 180 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Good Smile Company
  • Price: 5,524 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Good Smile Company
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

GSC’s new Mikoto figure looks rather mundane next to some of the other figures they’ve pushed out recently. As such, she’s probably going to appeal primarily to fans of the To Aru series. I haven’t see either show, but they look like something I’d like to watch eventually.

I do find it interesting that GSC tucked shorts under Mikoto’s skirt rather than the typical pantsu. I imagine this it some kind of nod to her character design rather than a concerted effort to be different, but it’s nice to see all the same. Also, the clear base shown in the preview shows is probably a good indication this this figure won’t be getting the fancy base treatment GSC has been doing of late.

Kotobukiya - 1/8 Senjōgahara Hitagi

  • Character: Senjōgahara Hitagi
  • Series: Bakemonogatari
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 215 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Kotobukiya
  • Price: 6,800 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Kotobukiya
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Here’s the final version of the Hitagi figure Kotobukiya showed off at WF2010W. I definitely like GSC’s version better, but I guess Koto is technically first to the market with a scale Bakemonogatari figure. I like the motion conveyed in Hitagi’s skirt, tie, and hair, but the tentacle thing is just creepy. -_-‘

PS: Somebody needs to hurry up and license this show!

New Release Roundup, Mid-Mar. 2010 Edition

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I don’t have any new reviews ready yet and there have been several interesting new releases since my last roundup, so I’m doing this post earlier than usual. February’s roundup was kind of lengthy anyway, so maybe this is for the better. ^_^’

Alter - 1/8 Clalaclan Philias ~Armor Ver.~

  • Character: Clalaclan Philias
  • Series: Shining Wind
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 215 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 9,800 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Alter
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Alter showed off their upcoming Clalaclan figure at WF2010W, but she really didn’t catch my eye for whatever reason until I saw these official release photos.

Clalaclan definitely isn’t my favorite Shining Wind character–I’m embarrassed to admit that I actually thought her name was “Clanclan” previously–but Alter’s rendition is looking awesome in her full battle regalia. There are a lot of unique and interesting visual details to be had here, like the multi-layered skirt and diadem, but I particularly like the medieval shield, which is a relative rarity among anime figures.

There’s a pretty decent chance I’ll be picking this one up. ^_^

Kotobukiya - 1/8 Feena Fam Earthlight ~Royal Dress Up Ver.~

Here we have the completed version of Kotobukiya’s prototype Feena Fam Earthlight previewed earlier at WF2010W. The good news is she looks much, much better than I thought earlier. The bad news is she’s another Japanese online and mail order exclusive. -_-

I’m a bit conflicted on this one. Feena is rather high on my list of characters for whom I want a nice figure and Koto’s Feena looks pretty good from what I can see here. That said, this is a terribly expensive figure for its size and my (limited) experience with Koto in the past has been decidedly average. IMO, average doesn’t cut it from a 12,000 yen 1/8 scale mandatory-proxy-buy figure.

So, do I give Koto the benefit of the doubt or hope for another Feena?

Max Factory - 1/7 Seena

  • Character: Kanon Seena
  • Series: Shining Wind
  • Scale: 1/7
  • Height: 235 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Max Factory
  • Price: 6,477 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Max Factory
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Max Factory’s new Seena figure is–from what I’m reading–the first of four Shining Wind figures we should expect to see from MF this year. I’m not terribly exited about this particular figure–I think the outfit and pose are rather plain–but I am optimistic about the prospect of more Shining Wind figures from a top manufacturer like Max Factory in the near future. Personally, I’m hoping to see Xecty in her normal outfit.

New Line - 1/6 Revy ~Swimwear Ver.~

  • Character: Revy
  • Series: Black Lagoon
  • Scale: 1/6
  • Height: 260 mm
  • Material: PVC/ABS
  • Company: New Line
  • Price: 8,800 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: New Line
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

New Line actually managed to sneak their new Revy announcement last month after my February recap post, so I’m covering her in March. -_-

Black Lagoon initially flew under my radar, but it proved to be a great series once I got around to checking it out. Revy totally makes the series work and she’s a great character that deserves some great figure treatment.

Unfortunately, I have yet to see a Revy figure I really like and I think New Line missed the memo on this one. The bikini feels terribly out of character for Revy and smacks of blatant fan-service on New Line’s part, which is really too bad considering that their other Revy might well be the best one to date.

New Release Roundup, Feb. 2010 Edition

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Alter - 1/8 Nakano Azusa

  • Character: Nakano Azusa
  • Series: K-ON!
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 200 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 6,800 yen
  • Date: Jun. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Alter showed off their upcoming Azusa figure at WF2010 and online shops started taking reservations for her a few days later. Azusa is probably my favorite K-ON! character design after Mio, mostly owing to her hairstyle. I would probably display her in Azu-nyan mode, but I’m always a bit leery of customizable bits on my fixed-pose figures these days after seeing too many unsightly gaps or loose parts on figures I’ve purchased in the past.

Griffon Enterprises - Tomoe

  • Character: Tomoe
  • Series: Queen’s Blade
  • Scale: Non
  • Height: 170 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Griffon Enterprises
  • Price: 6,400 yen
  • Date: Apr. 2010
  • Link 1: Hobby Search
  • Link 2: AmiAmi

When I first saw Griffon’s new Queen’s Blade figure on the Hobby Search page in a modest outfit and pose with no mention or images to suggest a cast-off ability, I was impressed. Figures from the Queen’s Blade series so often fall into the generic ecchi/cast-off/crap category that seeing something more normal is refreshing. Or at least it was… until I poked around further and found that the figure is does indeed feature a cast-off ability. Ugh.

Alter - 1/8 Senhime

  • Character: Senhime
  • Series: Hyakka Ryoran
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 205 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 7,800 yen
  • Date: Jun. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Senhime is Alter’s latest entry in their line of Hyakka Ryoran figures. I have to admit that I really like the character designs for this series. They’re definitely fan service-oriented, but it’s not generic fan service.

I’m liking Senhime’s outfit.  The neatly pleated skirt seems to be the visual centerpiece and the purple/red/black color combo works very well here. The one thing that I’m not so sure that I like is Senhime’s expression here. I’m guessing it’s part of her character, but the frown she’s wearing seems to suggest she’d rather be doing other things. -_-

Alter - 1/8 Sanya V. Litvyak

  • Character: Sanya V. Litvyak
  • Series: Strike Witches
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 220 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 7,800 yen
  • Date: Jun. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

February seems to be the month for Strike Witches figures; two from Alter and one from Kotobukiya. I haven’t personally seen the series–though I do have the DVD set on order–but I have noticed that the series has been thoroughly vilified in the West for reasons I can understand, but don’t necessarily agree with. Regardless of how you feel about Strike Witches, you have to admit that it is at least unique from a character design standpoint. The moefication of girls as WWII fighter planes isn’t something you see every day, even in anime.

Sanya isn’t my favorite design among the Strike Witches characters–that distinction probably belongs to Lucchini–so I can’t say I was exactly looking for a Sanya figure, but I can see some appeal here. For one, I find the dark colors of Sanya’s outfit and her Striker Unit appealing. I also think there could be some value in the fact that this Sanya is probably going to be one of the tamer figures from the Strike Witches series, for someone who’s conscious about their figure collection.

Alter - 1/8 Miyafuji Yoshika

  • Character: Miyafuji Yoshika
  • Series: Strike Witches
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 255 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 7,800 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Alter’s other Strike Witches figure for this month is a re-release of main character Miyafuji Yoshika. Sometimes I wonder how and why manufacturers decide to re-release certain figures and not others. I considered Alter’s Yoshika briefly the first time around, but ultimately decided to pass. Among the motley assortment of character in Strike Witches, I actually find Yoshika kind of plain. Sad but true.

Kotobukiya - 1/8 Erica Hartmann

  • Character: Erica Hartmann
  • Series: Strike Witches
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 220 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Kotobukiya
  • Price: 6,800 yen
  • Date: May 2010
  • Link 1: Hobby Search
  • Link 2: AmiAmi

As mentioned in the Sanya comments, Kotobukiya also got in on this month’s Strike Witches action with their own Erica figure. Like the others, Erica isn’t my favorite character design from the series so this figure doesn’t win any brownie points there. It also looks like stand Koto is using for Erica would be more visually intrusive than the minimalist metal pins that Alter is using. I’m not a fan of bases that have visible supports in the first place, so the less I see, the better.

Gift - 1/4 Minamoto Chizuru

  • Character: Minamoto Chizuru
  • Series: Kanokon
  • Scale: 1/4
  • Height: 400 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Gift
  • Price: 12,000 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

You’ve got love a figure that’s gratuitous in more ways than one. Outrageous outfit. Enormous size. Massive price tag. Gift’s latest is a 1/4 scale bunny girl who does all things in large proportions. ^_^

Kotobukiya - 1/6 Kousaka Tamaki ~Panic~

  • Character: Kousaka Tamaki
  • Series: To Heart 2
  • Scale: 1/6
  • Height: 210 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Kotobukiya
  • Price: 8,000 yen
  • Date: Jun. 2010
  • Link 1: Hobby Search
  • Link 2: AmiAmi

It seems that Kotobukiya isn’t quite done milking To Heart 2’s Tamaki for their 4-Leaves series. Here we have the third 1/6 scale Tamaki figure in a similar crouching pose. This one features a slightly different sculpt with Tamaki in the middle of a wardrobe malfunction rather than supporting her bra using her mouth as in the previous 4-Leaves figures. Of the three, I think I like the look of this version the least.

FREEing - 1/8 Akiyama Mio

  • Character: Akiyama Mio
  • Series: K-ON!
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 200 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: FREEing
  • Price: 7,429 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Yay! It’s another Mio figure!

Boo! She’s not wearing her ending sequence outfit! -_-

FREEing’s new Mio was one of the handful of upcoming Mio figures shown off at WF2010W. It’s hard not to compare her to Alter’s maid Mio, which I probably liked more between the two. I’m missing the musical references from the series here–Alter’s maid Mio is shown holding her guitar–which I think leaves Mio looking a little too generic. I’m also not particularly fond of the troubled expression she’s wearing here. Oh well, the wait continues…

Review: Alter 1/8 Yagyu Jubei

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Time for my first photo review! (Yay!) It took numerous sessions, much trial and error, and seeking photography tips online before I came up with a set of photos I was (mostly) happy with.

I chose Alter’s 1/8 Yagyu Jubei figure to serve as my first review. It was released relatively late in 2009; right around the time I was trying to launch this new figure blog. From the moment she was announced, Jubei became one of my most anticipated figure releases of the year. Combining Alter’s vaunted quality with a dynamite character design should be a recipe for instant win, no?
Continue reading →

Alter – 1/8 Yagyu Jubei (Swimsuit Version) PVC

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Alter - 1/8 Yagyu Jubei [Hobby Japan Ver.] PVC

  • Character: Yagyu Jubei
  • Series: Hyakka Ryoran
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 180 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 6,980 yen
  • Date: Mar. 2010
  • Link 1: Hobby Channel
  • Link 2: ToysLogic

It seems that Alter has managed to sneak in another Yagyu Jubei figure before their first one has even been released.  Jubei’s looking great in her new swimsuit, but acquiring her could get downright ugly.

First, this figure is a Hobby Japan mail order exclusive.  Second, it’s limited to 1,500 pieces.  Third, those 1,500 pieces will be distributed via lottery rather than first-come, first-served.

All of this means lots of uncertainty and added expense for potential buyers outside of Japan.  For what it’s worth, ToysLogic seems to be accepting a limited number of orders for Jubei and I will be trying my luck with them.

Alter – 1/8 Mercedes PVC

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Alter - 1/8 Mercedes PVC

  • Character: Mercedes
  • Series: Odin Sphere
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 230 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 7,800 yen
  • Date: Feb. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search

Alter appears to have done an excellent job of rendering Odin Sphere’s unique, painterly style into 3D space with their new Mercedes figure.  I’ve never even played the game, but I’m tempted to pick up this figure after seeing the elaborate detail in the preview shots.  I did find the pose kind of odd at first, but I eventually realized that Mercedes is shown in flight with her crossbow acting as a cleverly-disguised support peg.  All in all, the design looks very smart and well executed.

Alter – 1/8 Akiyama Mio PVC

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Alter - 1/8 Akiyama Mio PVC

  • Character: Akiyama Mio
  • Series: K-ON!
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 200 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Alter
  • Price: 6,800 yen
  • Date: Nov. 2009
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search

Alter appears to be the first out the gate with a K-ON! figure (at least that I’ve seen).  I’m surprised it has taken this long with the buzz surrounding the series.  The Alter/Mio combo is the best I could have hoped for.  That said, I find myself a little disappointed with what they came up with.  I’m thinking that it’s probably my preference for Mio’s stage outfit over the school uniform, but this figure just doesn’t scream “buy me” like it could.  For now, I’m probably going to hold off and hope for more quality K-ON! figures in the near future.