Exploring the Great Outdoors with GSC’s Canaan

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I doubt anyone noticed, but I missed a couple weeks’ worth of posts while I moved from my apartment into a new house. I’m still very much in that “settling in” period and all of my figures are still packed, but I feel like I have enough time again to resume blogging regularly.

This week, I wanted to share the results of my first foray into outdoor figure photography. On a recent trip to see family, I decided to take Good Smile Company’s 1/8 scale Canaan and my camera along for the ride to see what kind of results I could get outside of my usual shooting environment. Overall, I was rather pleased with the results.
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Review: Good Smile Company 1/7 Saber Lily ~Distant Avalon~

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I don’t think Saber needs any great introduction. She’s easily one of the most iconic anime characters from the past decade and I can think of precious few characters who have received more figure reproductions.

Saber Lily was introduced as a new variant of Saber’s character for the Fate/unlimited codes fighting game series. This new “form” swaps Saber’s traditional blue & white long-sleeved dress for a cream & black sleeveless dress and her unique braided hairstyle for a bow and ponytail. The new look serves to meaningfully differentiate Saber Lily from Fate/stay night-era Saber while retaining the key visual cues that make Saber instantly identifiable.
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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, Jan. 2010 Edition

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It’s drawing near the end of the month, which means it’s time to look at some of the interesting new figures that opened for reservations this month. ^_^

Good Smile Company – 1/7 Saber ~Triumphant Excalibur~

  • Character: Saber
  • Series: Fate/stay night
  • Scale: 1/7
  • Height: 250 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Good Smile Company
  • Price: 9,800 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Good Smile Company has another Saber figure hot on the heels of their Saber Lily figure released late last year. This new figure features Saber wearing her original FSN battle armor in a nice aerial action pose. I’m thinking her face looks a little funny in one of the official photos, but otherwise the new Saber is looking top-notch. I haven’t preordered her yet, but I imagine it’s only a matter of time.

Kotobukiya – 1/8 Xecty ~E.V.E.~

  • Character: Xecty
  • Series: Shining Wind
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 200 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Kotobukiya
  • Price: 7,140 yen
  • Date: Jul. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Kotobukiya has another Shining Wind figure ready for preorder. This one features Xecty sporting a bit of a different look than what I’m used to seeing. Her new outfit reminds me of Kingdom Hearts for some reason.

Kotobukiya – 1/8 Kasugano Sora ~Sukumizu~

  • Character: Kasugano Sora
  • Series: Yosuga no Sora
  • Scale: 1/6
  • Height: 130 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Kotobukiya
  • Price: 7,140 yen
  • Date: May 2010
  • Link 1: Hobby Search
  • Link 2: AmiAmi

Here’s the next entry in Kotobukiya’s 4-Leaves series, featuring Kasugano Sora from the eroge Yosuga no Sora. I like Sora’s character design, but this particular figure comes across as a bit too generic for my liking. Considering it as a school swimsuit figure, I can think of other examples I like better (To Heart 2‘s Tamaki has several that come to mind). As a Sora figure, I think MegaHouse did a better job of capturing her character.

Yamato – Creator’s Labo #024 Tsukasa Bullet Compact Hog

  • Character: ??
  • Series: Tsukasa Bullet
  • Scale: Non
  • Height: 185 mm
  • Material: PVC/ABS
  • Company: Yamato
  • Price: 11,340 yen
  • Date: Jun. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search
  • Link 3: AmiAmi

Yamato’s newest entry in the Creator’s Labo series features the work of Tsukasa Jun, whose style here reminds me of Range Murata. While I am appreciative of Jun’s artistic style and this particular piece is eye-catching enough, it doesn’t quite push all the right buttons to make it my first steampunk figure purchase. Interesting, nonetheless.

Well, I think that about does it for this month’s new release roundup! See anything you like? I think Saber’s a pretty sure bet for me.

Good Smile Company – 1/8 Canaan PVC

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Good Smile Company - 1/8 Canaan PVC

  • Character: Canaan
  • Series: Canaan
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 200 mm
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Good Smile Company
  • Price: 8,800 yen
  • Date: Jan. 2010
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search

Good Smile Company recently announced this figure featuring the character Canaan from the series of the same name.  The dynamic pose is something I’d expect to see more from Alter, but I expect that GSC will execute this rather well.  I normally find the use of pegs (see Canaan’s left leg) to support mid-air poses a big turn-off, but the lone peg I see here is minimal enough that I probably wouldn’t be bothered by it.  The detailed base helps to distract from the peg supporting Canaan, so I’m really hoping GSC doesn’t go with a plain base for the final product.

Good Smile Company – 1/8 Black Rock Shooter PVC

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1/8 Black Rock Shooter PVC (promo image)

  • Character: Black Rock Shooter (Hatsune Miku)
  • Series: Vocaloid
  • Scale: 1/8
  • Height: 290 mm (including base)
  • Material: PVC
  • Company: Good Smile Company
  • Price: 9,800 yen
  • Date: Aug. 2009
  • Link 1: Official Site
  • Link 2: Hobby Search

This upcoming Black Rock Shooter figure from GSC looks awesome.  Despite officially being a 1/8 scale figure, it’s rather large at ~290mm, which is a good thing in my book.  Normally, this would be an instant get for me, but my 2009 budget is already shot.  I’m hoping to pick it up some time early in 2010, instead.