A figure we’ve been anticipating here at HD for almost a year, Yamato’s Dynamite Keikaku Kanu Unchou has finally arrived. Pairing the peerless sculpting skill of Cobra-Kai’s Toushirou with Shiozaki Yuuji’s erotic designs from an evocative scene of the Ikkitousen manga, will the first installment in Yamato’s new and ambitious Dynamite lineup provide production quality to match the design talent assembled? Read on for the thunderous conclusion to what feels at this point like an epic quest through time and space…

Original Design: Shiozaki Yuuji
Sculptor: Toushirou (Cobra-Kai) (Amiami search)
Source: Ikkitousen (manga, anime)
Scale: 1/5 (17 cm tall)
Materials: PVC, ABS, die-cast metal, etc.
Release Date: December 20th, 2007
Production: Yamato (see also 1, 2)
Price: 13,440 JPY (tax included)
Current Availability: [KNC] [HLJ] [HS] [TL] [AAA]
Support HD!: [PA] <-- *best price!!* [JLIST] [YA]

Character Description

Kanu Unchou is one of the main heroines of Ikkitousen, and consistently ranks as most popular in character polls conducted by Comic Gum (the manga magazine in which Ikkitousen is serialized). She is the current embodiment of Guan Yu within the Ikkitousen / Romance of the Three Kingdoms mythology.

The scene depicted here takes place at the beginning of Ikkitousen vol. 12, in which Kanu has been captured by Chouryou and he is tormenting her with his staff; this is the extra part included with the first lot limited version of the figure.

Sculpt

Fidelity

Sculptor Toushirou of Cobra-Kai has a distinctive style that indelibly marks any character he chooses to recreate, and this Kanu is no different. The result is a fusion of her original, more simple and innocently sexy Shiozaki Yuuji design with Toushirou’s mature, heavy-lidded, sultry allure. In my opinion this interpretation stands on its own merits as an incredibly evocative work of art and a true reflection of the spirit of the manga scene from which it’s derived, if not the most literal interpretation possible.

Craftsmanship

There are no significant faults with the sculpt of this kit. From head to toe Toushirou’s Kanu exudes the sort of pheromones only found in figures crafted at an appropriate scale by one of the masters of the trade, and while Toushirou could possibly be accused of recycling poses it’s obvious that he’s drawing inspiration more from the original manga than from his previous work. The spread “M” stance and raised arms are incredibly inviting, the proportions are exquisite, the curves of her thighs, stomach and breasts are positively divine. I could pick nits regarding some minor aspects of the sculpt but it’s not worth it – suffice to say that Toushirou knows what he’s doing, and he does it marvelously well.

Production

Cast

The biggest questions left over after the many previews we’ve seen of the kit from the past several months all revolved around Yamato’s execution. I’m happy to report that they’d done extremely well by this kit, taking Kanu a notch or two above what we’ve seen from them previously.

The casting job here is generally quite good, with minimal seams and mold lines; most detail work is sharp and crisp, though I’d say the bangs are the most problematic element in this regard due to their “softness” or bluntness around the edges. By contrast, the precision work on the manacles and the torn hem of her shirt is quite well done. There’s a bit of a seam around her panties, and they’re filled in at the base of her back where there should probably be a gap, but these are relatively minor issues, as is the slightly awkward composition of her hair when viewed from the back.

Paint

Yamato takes an interesting tack with the paint job here, opting for an unconventional semi-gloss finish to her skin that I think works incredibly well. It’s certainly a step up from the uniform pallor on Daiki’s Koyori, and the ample use of a ruddy shading tone sharply enhances her physicality in a way I find quite convincing. There may be some who find the overall effect too “pink” or “fleshy”, but I think it works quite well. Shading present over the majority of the kit is a plus, along with a wide variety of finishes (from metallic to matte), and the detail work elicits no complaints. I find the way they put ribbons of light across her hair to be a bit distracting, but not a negative.

Conclusion

Yamato’s Dynamite Keikaku Kanu Unchou is truly a kit of epic proportions, and a fitting launch to what will hopefully be a new standard in large scale ero projects from the maker. Toushirou’s formidable sculpting talent meets a memorable scene from the Ikkitousen manga and the result is one of the most erotic kits of the year, an offering I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend to anyone with an interest in such things. :3

Overall Score: 10/10

+ erotic original manga concept
+ phenomenal Toushirou sculpt
+ unorthodox and highly effective paint job
+ solid supporting production value
+ kit lines and balance flow incredibly well

– kit is too big to properly fit in my light booth >:O
– Kanu deserves more time and attention than I can give her right now…

If you’re interested in supporting HD with your purchase, she’s currently still available at Play Asia – cheaper than any other source! This is a great chance to get the best deal around and support the site in the process, if you haven’t picked her up yet and feel so inclined.