We take a look today at the most sought-after PVC kit from late April ’07, Max Factory’s POLO System Pachira from Magipoka. Does she live up to the hype produced by the the blinking outline of empty space where she stood for a few moments on store shelves? I would answer this with a resounding “yes”, and add that this kit is undoubtedly one of the most potent weapons for conversion to the pettankophile cause that has come out of Japan in a long while. Read on for why:

Original Design: Hirata Katsuzou
Sculptor: Tokunaga Hironori
Source: Renkin 3-kyuu Magical? Poka~n (anime)
Scale: 1/7 (24 cm tall)
Materials: PVC
Release Date: April 25th, 2007
Production: Max Factory
Price: 5,500 JPY (tax included)
Current Availability: Hobby Link Japan (discontinued)

Pachira is the Hirano Aya-voiced tsundere vampire heroine of spring 2006 moe gag comedy anime Magipoka. Of the show’s four main characters Liru was my personal favorite (hint hint, Max Factory), but when this kit went on sale last week I realized I’d made a terrible mistake in not preordering her. As mentioned earlier it turns out that she’s the most recent foray in Max’s “POLO System” line, which began last fall with their Nanbu Chitose kit from Amaenaideyo!, and is shorthand for “you can take her clothes off”. A fine attribute for any kit and especially rare in those based on characters from mainstream anime.

The Good

• One of the most difficult elements of a cast-off sculpt is producing a kit that looks good both clothed and not so, and Tokunaga Hironori has managed to strike a beautiful, snug-fitting balance with this kit that maintains her slender form with the dress on and doesn’t make her too skinny when it’s removed. The cast-off procedure is not difficult, and the inside of the dress is painted a neutral white for the minimum of scuffs and abrasions in subsequent removals.

• The pose and the lines of the sculpt in general are superb. The arch of the back, thrust of the chest, raised arms and slightly spread stance combine to create a very pleasing effect indeed, stunning when viewed from almost any angle.

• Fidelity to the original character design is another high point of the kit, and fans of Hirata Katsuzou such as myself can rest assured that his erokawaii Pachira is rendered faithfully here, both in form and spirit.

• The paint job on the skin is fully up to Max Factory standard, and makes the kit come alive in a way that many other makers can’t quite match.

The Adequate

• The paint job on the trim of her costume, boots and lingerie is a bit sloppy; a pitfall nearly impossible to avoid for any maker, but a slight detracting point nonetheless.

The Ugly

• My lack of a dark background to shoot against that would make her transparent coffin cover back plate look as good as it does in the official shots.

• The time it took to trim this review from its initial 280 photos to the 96 that made the final cut…

Overall Score: 9/10

This is without a doubt one of the finest figures I’ve had the pleasure of reviewing in the past year or so. It takes a lot of risks in the pose, composition and paint job that Max Factory’s high production quality is more than a match for, resulting in a stunning view from nearly every angle. Truly a kit that fans of minimalist chest aesthetics can point at and say “I told you so”, and one that would make a welcome addition to just about any PVC collection (even if it costs twenty dollars above retail to obtain via Yahoo Auctions… *cough*).