Figu-San - Japanese toys, figures and more

To Heart 2 Another Days: Kousaka Tamaki Panic!

2010-02-28T22:16:00.002-04:00

Ok, so coming out in June in Japan comes this shy and reserved figure of Kousaka Tamaki from To Heart 2. Of course by shy and reserved I mean...well...I think you know what the main appeal of this figure is. Lets just say it's not aimed at the militant feminists out there and leave it at that.

Expensive but I'm sure there are lots of people out there that will find many many reasons (or at least two) to place that preorder.

Freeing Mio Akiyama

2010-02-25T22:40:00.003-04:00

So Freeing are set to release a really rather pretty figure of Mio Akiyama from K-On. It's a show that I've not watched yet but I know lots of people that have. I'd say that the Alter version will be the better figure but this release will probably do well.

Set for release in July at a SRP of 7,800Y.

Felli Loss

2009-05-30T17:35:00.001-03:00

Atelier Sai so the quality may not be all that great but the design certainly appeals to me.

web-image-dfae3318ae3a058ec89605a7f6c0c88a

I'm so very very bored with Ikki Tousen figures...

Komaki Manaka Under Wear & Apron Ver. Pastel Blue

Polystone figure that is actually rather hot. ;)

web-image-ddf7ff7285159c6b71ad7ec6b27bc131-1

2009-05-30T17:30:00.001-03:00

Griffon version of Allean - I'm waiting for the Megahouse one

Gurren Lagann - Yoko at her finest!

2009-05-30T17:24:00.001-03:00

Fantastic song and video!

Queens Blade Risty - Could be a good one!

2009-05-23T14:04:00.001-03:00

Queens Blade Alleyne - reserving judgment on this one

Posted via Pixelpipe.

figma Golgo 13 - I wonder how this will sell in N. America?

2009-05-21T22:20:00.001-03:00

Wahh ugly figure alert! :P

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Nendoroid Usakottsu - ADORABLE!

2009-05-21T15:22:00.003-03:00

Ok, I'm sorry but that is just ridiculously cute. Never heard about the anime show but I cannot help but want this. :)

Direct from the Good Smile website:

Recently broadcast on Niconico Douga, TV Kanagawa and Kids Station, and with a second series on the way, 'Tentai Senshi Sunred' is a comedy anime holds large popularity with the people of Kanagawa City and the users of Niconico Douga. Usakottsu, the mysterious stuffed bunny and part of the evil organization Florsheim, and is on his way to becoming a Nendoroid!   His arms can be replaced to recreate his ultimate move, 'Demon Claw', as well as hold various items from the show. His legs can also be replaced to place him in a sitting position. Stickers of sweat drops are included to help recreate your favorite scenes from the show!

Conventions and Bootlegs

2009-05-20T21:00:00.004-03:00

So bootlegs, they're a bit crap then don't you think? If you answered no to that question, then I'm afraid come the end times you will NOT be allowed to pass go and collect two hundred assorted PVC figures.

Photo comes courtesy of ebay which as most people know is the centre of the universe when it comes to appallingly bad yet readily available bootleg figures.

Now at most Cons you really do not often see bootleg dvds anymore - far less than you used to that's for sure. That's a good thing. Yet, you nearly always see endless amounts of fake pvc figures, plushies and charms, keychains etc.

Now I'm sorry but why is one not ok and the other seems to be acceptable? They're both harmful to the industry. Many conventions state that they simply do not know what's fake and what's real. That may be so but you know something lets take plushies as an example - Japanese official plush ALWAYS have the copyright label somewhere, they ALWAYS come with a tag, they ALWAYS state the manufacturer. So when you see a guy selling a 3ft tall Death Note plush that looks like crap you may just may want to check into that. For a number of reasons, it hurts legitimate sellers, it hurts the customers who think they're spending good money on a decent item and maybe because that item was not put through any quality control system in any way shape or form. I cringe every time I see a young kid with a fake plush, who can say what that thing is actually stuffed with..

There is no easy answer but a line should be drawn in the sand. Bootlegs are not ok. People who sell them are not ok. They should not be allowed to profit from conventions. I'd like to see the Japanese manufacturers take a much stronger stance on this. It hurts them and it hurts the industry.

Bleh this is a topic that I could write about all night. Suffice to say, bootlegs and bootleggers are one of the things I despise most in the world.

Kannagi: Crazy Shrine Maidens - or How to Kick Start Your Local Economy

2009-05-19T20:52:00.005-03:00

Ok, this article came straight from www.yomiuri.co.jp and so all credit to them. Really very interesting how successful media productions can lead to unforeseen benefits in the wider world. I think it's great that the show is helping out and credit to the town for knowing how to cash in on a good thing. I wonder how many of those non anime watching townspeople have now become closet otaku. ;)

Article begins:

A small seaside town in Miyagi Prefecture is proving popular with a new type of visitor, many of whom carry handmade leaflets and take photographs of scenes that appear in a highly popular TV anime series.

Shichigahamamachi has turned into a mecca for otaku (geeks) who are fans of the anime "Kannagi," as the work is said to be set in the town. To many of them, visiting the town is the same as making a pilgrimage to a holy site.

The town's residents were quick to pick up on the phenomenon, and this month several commercial facilities in the town started selling items related to the anime series. They quickly sold out in many of the stores and restaurants where they were put on sale.

The TV series, which began in October, features a Shinto deity who appears as the manifestation of a girl named Nagi.

The town's Hanabushi Shrine is believed by fans to be the model for a shrine dedicated to the deity in the anime.

Glancing from a shrine to a leaflet containing a scene from the series, a 30-year-old company employee from Fukushima said, "Look here, this is very similar!"

"The positions of the koma-inu (lionlike statues of Korean dogs) and the height of the stone staircases are exactly the same [as those depicted in the series]," he said.

He said he visits the town every month and tours the shrine, a residential area and other locations that are said to have served as models for the TV series.

The man carried more than 20 pages containing scenes from the anime to compare with the shapes of houses, the color of roofs and other elements in the town.

Since last autumn, an increasing number of fans of the anime have been visiting the town.

On weekends, dozens of young people descend on the area. Over the New Year period, some fans came and worshipped at the shrine.

Many of the fans are careful to keep the local community in mind, with some walking around checking whether any garbage has been discarded by thoughtless visitors, while others attend rituals at the shrine.

Atsuko Hongo, 69, chief priest of the shrine, said she welcomed young people.

"At first, I was embarrassed. But they're all polite and have a sense of respect for the deities," she said.

Officials of the town's tourism association had been worried about the decreasing number of visitors in recent years, so they were extremely happy that the anime series was instrumental in attracting a new type of visitor.

Believing the phenomenon could serve as an opportunity to the raise the town's profile, the association recently produced seven kinds of cell phone strap featuring characters from the TV series.This month, 15 restaurants and stores began selling the products.

The association employed a clever tactic to help as many businesses as possible by having each of the stores or restaurants sell only one or two of the straps. In this way, a visitor who wants to collect all seven straps must visit a number of stores.

Matty's, a surfers shop, has proved popular even among people without a suntan--a rarity before the recent boom.

On May 1, the store's 20 items associated with the anime sold out quickly. Some of its customers had traveled from as far away as Shizuoka and Ishikawa prefectures.

The shop's owner, Toshinari Hoshi, 42, expressed surprise, saying: "Until recently, my place was frequented only by surfers who wanted to hit the high waves. But anime also has great drawing power."

The town's tourism association has produced a map of the town indicating places where character goods are sold, as well as the locations of restaurants and inns.

One association official said, "We want people to learn everything that's positive about our town, not only those parts related to the anime. We hope people keep returning here."

Article ends.

Just to tie it all together, here's a picture of the rather lovely new Zange-chan figure from FREEing.

Macross - Do you Remember Your First Love

2009-05-19T13:10:00.004-03:00

Macross is one of the true classics of Japanese animation. A series whose fans tend to lean towards the fanatical, it's most recent series was Macross Frontier. A series that was in many ways a return to form for a show that had become weighed down under its own history and the expectations of its fans.

Macross was one of the first shows that I remember seeing. I remember thinking that I had never seen anything quite so impressive as a transforming Valkyrie.

So for all of those people who have never seen Macross - do so. At its best, Macross is everything anime should be; imaginative, creative and visually stunning. At its worst, it remains far better than many other anime series.

Macross Frontier OP courtesy of Youtube:

supercell feat. Miku Hatsune: World is Mine

2009-05-18T21:00:00.001-03:00

Ok so as a person who finds Miku extremely appealing I just don't know what to think of the World is Mine PVC figure frame. I think I would have preferred just a standard figurine. The quality will be high I expect but I just don't really find the concept all that appealing. Also Miku looks less appealing in this form than in the standard GSC figure release. Of course, my favourite Miku remains a close call between the Nendoroid version and the Sega Prize music box. Official blurb below:

The best princess in the world.

From supercell's beautiful PV 'World is Mine', with music composed by ryo and graphical designs by redjustice, comes this regal figure of 'Princess' Miku.
She has been sculpted in an identical pose to the original illustration - her charming eyes gazing deeply ahead, as she lies relaxed on a comfortable bed with her cute, yet selfish expression suiting her pose perfectly.
As a new idea to bring a new sense of interior design to figures, the stand has been created as a frame, allowing you to display her in a range of new ways! Besides displaying the figure simply by itself, you can now also use the frame to display her as a wall-mounted decoration, or a leaning ornament. The frame comes in two colors, 'Brown' and 'Natural', allowing you to pick the color that suits your room best!

approximately 220mm in height (with stand) 180mm (without stand)

Posted via Pixelpipe.

supercell feat. Miku Hatsune: World is Mine

2009-05-18T20:56:00.002-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

PVC Pricing

2009-05-18T14:53:00.003-03:00

Ok, so pretty much anyone who follows the whole PVC figure market from Japan will have noticed and felt the pain of ever increasing prices. My question though, if given a chance to pose it to the manufacturers, would be what exactly is the reasoning behind it?

Collectors and their money is a relatively finite resource. It CAN run out. Surely a lower price point is healthy for sales and for the market as a whole? It seems that if sales are down across the industry then that should indicate that perhaps the pricing is no longer acceptable to the market in general?

It just seems that we are squeezed more and more when it comes to SRP on PVC figures. This is a niche market - higher prices just push these items further and further away from the reaches of new fans. I don't feel all that optimistic about this industry right now.

The photo below says it all..

Wild Flower Shunya Yamashita Art Works 2

2009-05-17T15:06:00.001-03:00

Wild Flower Shunya Yamashita Art Works 2

Featuring over 100 pieces of lovely artwork this is a great book that's now available as a domestic N. American release. Pretty much any online store or comic store should be able to source it. Shunya art can sometimes look a little samey I find but if it appeals then this will not disappoint.

Posted via Pixelpipe.

S.O.G. Max Otoha Karas - I'll pass thanks

2009-05-16T23:52:00.001-03:00

Well I'm just not sure about the figure below, amazingly enough it's a male figure release but to be honest it's just not appealing to me. Also, the price is excessive at 11,800Y. I cannot help but think this will be another figure that ends up drastically discounted. Good for those who have the testicular fortitude to possibly miss out on a figure they want. ;)

Here is the official blurb from the Good Smile site:

The dark watchmen, Karas!!

From Tatsunoko Production's 40 year aniversary OVA 'Karas', comes a figure of the main character from the show, 'Otoha Karas', who threw away his individuality to protect the city. The design of the figure has been created by the popular designer of the Eko Karas, Kenji Ando.

Flexible materials have been used all over the body, creating a very poseable action figure that never loses its style. The Karas sword in both its original version and expanded version are inlcluded, as well as exchangeable face parts and an abundance of replaceable hand parts.

The ability to recreate scenes from the anime has never been this easy!

Posted via Pixelpipe.

S.O.G. Max Otoha Karas

2009-05-16T23:48:00.002-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

MegaHouse Sheryl

2009-05-16T22:28:00.001-03:00

A deeply impressive looking figure from MegaHouse. The cast off option is cool and does for once make sense. For all of you that don't know Sheryl is a character from the rather superb anime Macross Frontier. Go watch it now!

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Excellent Model Macross Frontier Sheryl Nome

2009-05-16T22:17:00.001-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Yoko: Real Image ver.

2009-05-16T22:04:00.001-03:00

Possibly my new favourite Yoko, truly a gorgeous looking release! I WANT. ;)

Specs

* Product name Yoko: Real Image ver. (よーこりあるいめーじばーじょん)
* Series Gurren Lagann
* Price 9,800 Japanese Yen
* Release Date 2009/09
* Specifications Complete painted PVC figure - 1/6 scale - stand included - approximately 200mm in height
* Sculptor Shunshi Hagii
* Sold by Max Factory
* Distributor Good Smile Company

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Yoko: Real Image ver.

2009-05-16T22:02:00.010-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Yoko: Real Image ver.

2009-05-16T22:02:00.009-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Yoko: Real Image ver.

2009-05-16T22:02:00.008-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Yoko: Real Image ver.

2009-05-16T22:02:00.007-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

figma Meiya Mitsurugi: UN Troop Ver.

2009-05-16T20:13:00.001-03:00

As you can see by the photo, the figma releases just keep getting better and better. :) Although not a show I have any attachment to this release still looks very tempting.

Posted via Pixelpipe.

figma Meiya Mitsurugi: UN Troop Ver.

2009-05-16T20:10:00.001-03:00

Posted via Pixelpipe.

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

2008-12-18T23:29:00.003-04:00

When I was younger than I am now one of the anime series that had a huge impact upon me was Neon Genesis Evangelion. I remember being young and watching it for the first time and really not being too sure what exactly was going on but I was sure that on some level it was IMPORTANT. Meaningful even. Of course as time passed and the list of imitators grew many people began to forget the impact that NGE had when it first came out. I never really thought that I would see a show that would rival the affection I still feel for Evangelion.

I certainly never forgot the people that produced it: Studio Gainax. Once of their recent productions is Gurren Lagann. Chances are if you are reading a blog about anime or are even vaguely a fan of anime you will have heard about it. Well this is a show that quite honestly is the best thing I've seen in probably close to a decade. Not because of the animation (which is great) or the characters (which are memorable) or even the story (which is superb) but for one simple reason: It's fun. I mean serious fun. Fun that involves smiling at your TV screen like a demented monkey, fun like your pulse is racing, fun like you've had a bad day and your now watching something that gets that and says you know something, don't worry about it.

Gurren Lagann is special and it is worth watching and I am very very grateful to Studio Gainax for producing it.

Gurren Lagann opening song courtesy of Youtube:

Familiar of Zero: Nendoroid Louise

2008-12-17T23:30:00.003-04:00

The Nendoroid series of excessively adorable PVC figurines are released by Good Smile Company. The latest announcement to the line comes from Familiar of Zero a series of light novels and the accompanying anime adaptations. For more details on the anime take a look at Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_no_Tsukaima

Louise is a prime example of why I love this figure line. She is adorable. It's an undeniable fact. The usual series of facial expression changes are great and cover a wide range of emotions. The production values will no doubt be up to the usual Good Smile standards. The only issue I have with Nendoroids is that they do tend to be a little on the small side, 14cm is not tiny but sometimes I do yearn for just one extra inch. I was still talking about Nendoroids there, get your mind out of the gutter. ;)

Image comes courtesy of the official Good Smile website:

http://www.goodsmile.info

an excellent source of information on some of the very best figure releases.

Simultaneous transmission of anime in Japan, South Korea and the US

2008-12-17T00:13:00.002-04:00

Bandai Entertainment recently announced that the anime adaption of Kurokami is going to air simultaneously in Japan, South Korea and in the US on the iaTV network. I cannot help but wonder if this is a sign of things to come. What will be most interesting to note is whether it cuts down on the downloading of the original broadcasts or not. It will also be interesting to see if the anime fansub groups still release the series. Either way the series sounds cool and will hopefully be a hit for Bandai Entertainment. What I would like to see is an ad supported online streaming option to see the episodes with subtitles rather than dubs. Growing up watching a lot of foreign films made me very open to subtitles and somewhat averse to dubs. Definitely a step in the right direction though.

Promotional image courtesy of Bandai Entertainment.

Soul of Chogokin

2008-12-16T22:34:00.002-04:00

Soul of Chogokin is a toy line from Bandai aimed at the collectors market. First started in 1997 it really is mainly focused on mecha from some of the most popular and memorable shows of the 70s and 80s.

The first thing you should know (this is an obvious one) is that they tend to be expensive. Think hundreds of dollars. For your money you do get a high metal content and access to some of the best robot toys to come out of Japan in a very long time. If you've taken a look at the S.O.C releases in the past but have been put off by not knowing what series they are from then it's a great way of introducing yourself and becoming familiar with some truly excellent shows. On occasion you do come across some of these releases on sale, if you can get them for a good price they really do add a little bit of prestige to both new (and small) and older (read: it's taking over the house!) collections.

Image is of the front of the box of the S.O.C Mazinger Z release.

The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya: Haruhi Suzumiya Live Version

2008-12-15T21:51:00.003-04:00

This is probably one of the most impressive figures I've seen in quite a while. Although I must admit to suffering a little from Haruhi figure fatigue this one did still stand out as something just a little bit special. The detailing on the outfit and the guitar just look great, really impressed with the recent figure work from Max Factory. I do believe the other Haruhi girls are getting similar releases, assemble the band for an admittedly expensive yet awesome jam session. :)

The closing song that's now permanently established in anime fandom courtesy of Youtube:

Japanese Disney Merchandise

2008-12-15T21:12:00.002-04:00

Here in the West Disney merchandise is everywhere, there is so much of it available that you quite often forget just how consistently present it is in stores, malls and product aisles everywhere. Disney really is amazingly good at getting its brand in front of peoples eyes. Like everywhere else, Japan also has its fair share of Disney merchandise.

One of the things that interests me the most though are the Sega produced Disney UFO Catcher prize items. For some reason Sega seem to be able to produce items that are of a higher quality than many of the items you'll find in the Disney Store. As the picture shows some of the releases are very Japan-centric but I still believe there is a market for that kind of item in the West. Those two plushes will typically sell for between $20.00 and $30.00 - at just over a foot tall that's a real live bargain right there. ;)

So for all you Disney fans (or friends of Disney fans) next time you want to get yourself something excessively cute take a few minutes to search for some Sega Disney releases, you might find something a little more unique than your average Wal-Mart offering.

Final Fantasy Dissidia

2008-12-15T17:46:00.003-04:00

As someone who has been playing videogames since I was about 8 years old Final Fantasy is a game series that seems to have been present at almost every stage of my life. Final Fantasy: Dissidia is a game set for release on the PSP, not a traditional JRPG but this time an action game, I admit to being rather curious as to how this game will play.

The character roster features both heroes and villains from many of the Final Fantasy series. Ever wanted to know who would win in a fight between FF6s Kefka and FF7s Sephiroth? This may be the game for you. :) So far the reviews from Japan have been very promising. This is a game I'm very much hoping lives up to its potential.

One good thing, the box artwork is done by Yoshitaka Amano who remains one of my favorite artists.

Re-Ment Miniatures

2008-12-15T10:35:00.002-04:00

Japan has long had a reputation for taking things and making them smaller. Well that philosophy has been taken in a somewhat unexpected direction. Re-Ment are in the business of creating very small but really quite stunningly detailed miniature versions of everyday household items. I dare anyone to spend time browsing through the official North American site at www.re-mentusa.com without feeling just a little hungry by the end of it. :)

Image source: www.re-mentusa.com

Monster Hunter - Game Characters Collection DX

2008-12-14T21:38:00.005-04:00

These figurines from MegaHouse are based off of the Capcom videogame series Monster Hunter, which oddly enough I am playing on the PSP at the moment. They are adorable it must be said. :) Looking at them they remind me of what I would expect figures based off of the Redwall Abbey books by Brian Jacques to look like. Set for release in February with pricing at 4,000Y each. I think if I ever saw these on sale they'd be definitely purchased.

Kuroshitsuji (Black Butler) and why it's ok to like dolls

2008-12-14T21:22:00.005-04:00

Kuroshitsuji AKA Black Butler is a manga series (and now and anime series) about Sebastian Michaelis who is your average run of the mill demonic butler who because of a contract spends time carrying out the wishes of Ciel Phantomhive, the 12 year old head of an english noble family. If I've said it once I've said it a million times...you just cannot have too many demonic butlers. ;) The premise of the show sounds interesting and it's one that appeals to me.

While I was looking around for info on the show and manga I came across the dolls that are pictured. Now when I was a kid dolls were (unsurprisingly) not really all that interesting to me. However, I honestly think these ones look cool in a way that most do not. I'm not sure if its because of the subject matter of the anime or not but these really do appeal to me. Pullip items are not cheap however but I do find myself in the unusual situation of hoping that for my next birthday I somehow manage to get given a pretty dolly. Clearly it's time to go watch sports or something involving trucks. ;)

1/12 Cobra & Airbike

2008-12-14T18:54:00.003-04:00

This is a pretty cool release from MegaHouse. Cobra is a manga classic which was turned into a successful anime move and tv series in the early 80s. In 2008 there was also a new 4 episode OVA series. It is a little pricey at 15,000Y but for fans of the original series this may prove very very tempting. :) Set for release in Japan in mid March.

Super Robot Shows - Brave Raideen

2008-12-14T16:15:00.004-04:00

Recently with the success of the Gainax anime Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann there seems to be a bit more interest in the classic Super Robot shows from the 70s and 80s. One of the ones I remember the most is Brave Raideen.

Brave Raideen first aired in the 70s, I remember watching repeats of it when I was very young. Growing up in the 80s spoiled me when it came to the robot shows. :) Raideen was also one of the very first Super Robot shows to be shown in the US. Raideen looks awesome, I liked the show but even someone with no attachment to the original series should still be able to appreciate it if they approach it with an open mind.

Taken from Wikipedia, here's a quick breakdown of the show:

After a slumber of 12 millennia, the Demon Empire awakens to seize control of the Earth. Reideen, the giant robot-like protector of the lost continent of Mu, senses the evil presence and awakens within its golden pyramid. A young Japanese boy, Akira Hibiki, is alerted about the Demon Empire by a mysterious voice and rushes to the pyramid. It is soon revealed that Akira is a descendant of the ancient people of Mu who must help Reideen save the Earth.

In typical anime style, Akira is aided by Mari Sakurano, who happens to be the daughter of a prominent scientist, and his friends from the soccer club. Reideen was able to transform into a robotic eagle.

Even now, reading that still seems like a great concept for a show. :)

Here is the original opening song:

UFO Catcher prizes and why you should care

2008-12-14T14:17:00.004-04:00

UFO Catcher prize goods are one of my favorite ways of getting cool anime and video game related items without going bankrupt. ;) In my opinion the best ones are generally made by either Banpresto, Sega or Taito. Relatively inexpensive and usually of a surprisingly high quality they are always worth a look.

Many of the initial product announcements are sometimes just shown as concept art. Like the Vocaloid figurines by Sega shown below:

Figures like this will normally retail for approximately $20.00 which considering the size is a great deal. Most online retailers will carry figures like this so if you ever feel like purchasing something new try a prize good - they might just surprise you. :)