First scooped by HD at Wonder Festival this summer, Yamato‘s Creator’s Labo #015 Rei Ayanami PVC figure went up for preorder this evening at Amiami and should be up shortly elsewhere as well. This rather liberal interpretation of Evangelion‘s Ayanami design was penned by Yamashita Shunya and rendered in resin by Yoshizawa Mitsumasa (original kit here), with Yamato’s PVC version scheduled to street this December at 26 cm tall (1/6 scale?) and 7,140 yen retail. Rei purists may shy away, but given the countless other appealing aspects of this kit I’m guessing it’ll be quite a popular item. (no more)
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Finally they’re putting the pre-order up for her. She’s probably my favorite Shunya design, but I’m a bit disappointed they altered her from the original design (having her without the bandages and all), but I say she’s still definitely worth getting.
I love the original kit, but this PVC version is a bit weak in certain areas. Where are the curly bandages around her body? The bandages really make the original kit shines. Also, I like how Yoshizawa Mitsumasa painted the original kit, but the colors of this PVC version looks somewhat pale to me. Well, hopefully Yamato will put back the bandages in the final production, then I will consider buying it.
Hmm, viewing the review pics from amiami, this version doesn’t seem to include the “magnetic” gimmick of the resin kit…How disappointing…
I agree that the original kit looks considerably better than Yamato’s samples. I wonder what gives with that… it’s a shame. I still put in my preorder, though. Shunya / Mitsumasa Rei in PVC is too delicious to pass up. :3
>>L.C
The resin kit contains no “magnetic” gimmick; that’s a hallmark of bootleg kits from certain Hong Kong-based online shops.
I’m happy that Yamato is producing this if only because it gives us the opportunity to support the artists who created it and help them live to create more great stuff for us. ^^;;
How is the quality in the Creator’s Labo series?
I’m quite interested in this one and the next Tandem Twin figure.
ive been a rei fanboy for about 10 years. ive even got a resin rei from wonderfest ’97, my first such item. that said, i like this one. its hard to appreciate it as rei (it really does deviate too far) but its such a nice sculpt on its own regardless.
>>Baldulf
Looking over the Creator’s Labo lineup I realized just now that I don’t have a single one of them in my collection. In general terms I’d place Yamato quality somewhere between Goodsmile and Yujin (I realize that’s a huge range, but it’s hard to be much more specific).
I was quite happy with the work they did on the first Tandem Twin release, and the most recent Yamato figure we reviewed here got good marks, if that’s any help.
>>hageshiku
Agreed, this is about as Rei as Mogudan’s version is, but I still like it a lot.
i actually think mogudan’s rei is pretty spot on, except of course for the ridiculous (and growing with each release) chest area he gives her.
The problem with Yamato is his random quality.
I have two of the ninja-cats from Tandem Twin.The first one is the most impressive pvc I’ve seen so far (almost no diference with the original model),the other one….it’s not so good (not good at all in fact)
Well,I really hope they do a decent job with this Rei.
@Shingo: Thanks for the clarification, I think I know the HK based bootlegger shop you’re talking about… ^_^;;
Just inquired about this figure with my regular distributor, I think I’ll give it a shot, hope Yamato won’t disappoint, I’m also getting Non-Non and Arisa as well…But wow, Yamato sure has nice “timing”, Rei has the same release date (Dec 2007) as Project Dynamite Kanu…Ouch! ^_^;;
Yeah, they’re making things tough for figure collectors this winter. I thought December was looking pretty safe but it seems that’s not the case. ;_;
I hope all of these Shunya-designed Yamato kits turn out as well as they’re advertised, I ordered Arisa too so I guess she’ll be the first test of that for me. Will be watching Non-Non’s release closely…
I think that this is an excellent move by Yamato, and one that I am more than pleased with. This is probably the best Rei figure I have ever seen, even if it does deviate from the norm. I actually think that this gives it that extra must-own flair! ^^
As for Creator’s Labo, this line seems to be the better of the Yamato line-ups. I own the Mine bluE #10 original, the Meg (Bakuretsu Tenshi) and Meg Pink figures from this line, and I have to say that their quality is close to GSC’s or Alter’s even.
Some may argue that the MB#10 is far from perfect (especially after Danny Choo’s review), but it’s a great figure, regardless of it’s few faults. But I must say that the Meg and Meg Pink are the cream of the crop – they’re just excellent! ^_^
Here’s hoping these newest ones are as good (or better)!