While I might say that I like Ikkitousen as a solid cheesecake franchise, I would not be overstating my affection for Kanu Unchou as more akin to love - not quite obsession, but more than enough aesthetic appreciation of her general hotness to go around. Therefore it was with considerable glee that I preordered this item, confident that her appearance on a Goodsmile page would assure at least a basic standard of quality, and figuring that the eminently reasonable price point was a bargain regardless. In the end, how Kanulicious is this Kanu? Very.
Original Design: Shiozaki Yuuji
Sculptor: Uchijima Yasuhiro
Source: Ikkitousen (manga, anime)
Scale: 1/7 (24 cm tall with weapon equipped)
Materials: PVC
Release Date: August 23, 2007
Production: UART / Wani Books
Price: 5,000 JPY (tax included)
Current Availability: [KNC] [HLJ] [HS] [TL] [AAA]
Support HD!: [PA]
While I’m terminally addicted to Kanu’s midriff-baring school uniform, as a fan I find a lot to like in this alternate interpretation of her character. I’m of the opinion that gosurori fashion makes just about any character look good, and combined with the Ikkitousen milieu it lends the girls a bit of refinement they might otherwise lack (perish the thought!). It was certainly effective in the case of Orchid Seed’s amaloli Ryomou, and I’d say it’s nearly as well done here (if only they’d made a few more bits castoffable…).
The restrained yet energetic sculpt paired with an austere, subtly-highlighted paint job presents a unified front of solid professionalism that practically dictates that the customer be satisfied. The look on Kanu’s face says it too, as if she had supervised the production herself and is looking at you sternly in a DON’T QUESTION MY AUTHORITY kind of way. That’s the sort of figure this is - not a work of genius, but a work of professional craftsmen who know exactly what they’re doing, and how to show it.
Overall Score: 8/10
+ solid detail work on the trim, buttons and buttonholes
+ effective use of gloss and matte paints to distinguish clothing materials
+ stiff PVC blend used for hair to retain dynamic position
+ effective use of skin shading
o somewhat bland pose
o lack of upper half castoffability
- if you said anything bad about this kit Kanu would cut you a new one
Those seeking a copy of the kit can find her cheapest at HLJ, where she is currently still in stock. We’ve got another Kanu review coming in the relatively near future as well, as Taki Corporation’s offering should be coming out this month. Stay tuned!
Are you going to review Megahouse’s Tomoe? Mines shipped so its a bit late for second thoughts but I’d like to hear your opinion nonetheless. Anyway keep up the good work on the reviews.
i wanted this one. but i was hoping that they would come out with a black version since i like that one better.
i like the pose for this. and kanu is hot! i have one figure of her’s where she’s pulling her pantsu.
Nice pix of a nice figure :D…Just followed up the Taki link and starting get scared: I ordered that one but don’t think it will have the quality of this one…Let us all pray ;)
Yeah, pretty satisfied with this one myself. But I was wondering if the black version looked better, if costing more.
Price is reasonable as well - oversupply let me have mine for 3500.
>>hiero_yo
I plan to review Megahouse’s Tomoe, but my copy hasn’t even shipped yet (what the heck, Amiami >:O). At this rate you might have yours in hand before I get mine.
>>fake
Black would be nice, but I think this version works quite well as-is. Of the Kanu figures out there at present some of them have some pretty wonky sculpts, but I’m looking forward to the next few releases…
>>Nirodha
I think the biggest draw of the Taki figure is its full castoff potential and not so much the elements of the actual production quality… I’m bracing myself for the glossy skin and lack of shading and hoping to be surprised.
>>DJenerate
I’m pretty sure a black version hasn’t been produced, outside resin paint jobs (can’t be sure of this though). I got my copy for ~4,000 through Amiami, but given the overstock I’m guessing she may go even lower in the next month or so.
I personally was extremely pleased that this one of Kanu was so tame in the fanshot/ecchi scene. Kanu gets the short end of the stick in straightforward figures that I tend to just skip all figures of her. Sure, she’s got the body to be flaunted, but not every figure thank you! ^^
So, I still plan on getting all the Wani Books versions of these characters, as these are just what I want these characters from Ikki Tousen to look. Thanks for the review either way, Shingo - I hope you do more general-public figure reviews soon! ^_^
Shingo, is it possible to have a hi-resolution version of the first picture? It is great material for a wallpaper (for when I am not at work at least ^^;;)
>>Deibi Manabu
In my opinion every figure should be castoff capable, that way you get the best of both worlds… :3 There are a few more all ages figure reviews coming up soon though, so I hope you’ll stop by again for them. Thanks for your comments as always!
>>VManOfMana
The header picture is the same as this one, though if you’d like even higher-res I can probably put one up when I get home today.
>> Shingo
I think the black version was an event limited item, but I’m not sure. I had a chance to get it some time ago for about 5-6000 but passed it up.
>> Shingo
Correction to my previous post - seems like the black version was a mail-order limited item for Comic Gum.
I chose not to get it because although the black dress looks kinda cool, the detail on the dress stands out much more readily on the white version.
>>DJnerate
Ahh, blasted Comic Gum and their mail order limited items… I wanted the Ryomou and Kanu from the second set they were running recently but couldn’t quite stomach the price (7,200 yen each, if I recall correctly). Here’s hoping they do a standard issue release as well.
Edit: Look at that! A black version is available for order right now from the Comic Gum website. Well I’ll be…
>> Shingo
Erm, okay, so it seems that there are 3 versions. The one on the Comic Gum website has golden frills and light purple hair. The one I mentioned earlier had white frills on black dress, with original purple hair colour.
The web-limited figure does show the frills much better, but I’ll have to stick with the deep purple hair.
>>VManOfMana
Your high resolution Kanu, sir. :3
>>DJnerate
Now I’m curious as to what the other black version looks like. I don’t suppose you have any visuals handy?
Well, I didn’t take any pictures when I saw it in person, but I found an auction on Yahoo:
http://page8.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/h53949479
The only issue I had with this figure was that her sword did not seem to stay in her hands very securely. I really like the way it captured her face, though. Not many Kanu figures do.