Some bits of figure news coming over the desk from yesterday evening: first is news that Hobby Japan’s online arm Hobby Channel will be offering a 700-piece limited edition run of a black school uniform variant of Alter’s Kanu Unchou PVC from Ikkitousen. She’s set for release in April at specs similar to her regular edition counterpart (1/8 scale, 21.5 cm tall, 7,140 yen) and preorders open at the Hobby Japan online shop on January 7th. See below for more news:

In other news from Hobby Channel, full details regarding the release of the Ru/Li/Lu/Ra manga collection + Izuruha (normal ver.) figure are now online. The figure and four volume manga set are available as a bundle via mail order from Hobby Japan magazine, running for 7,800 yen with a preorder deadline of February 12th and release scheduled for June of next year. The bundle includes four volumes of A5-size Ru/Li/Lu/Ra manga in a special case, and the figure, which like her predecessor is cast from a single piece of PVC, is 1/8 scale (19 cm tall) and is [ERO] castoffable.

Hobby Channel finishes its coverage of HJ-limited figures with the introduction of their Marimite Shimako and Noriko PVCs. As earlier reported Shimako is available exclusively via Hobby Japan magazine and the Hobby Japan Online Shop, while Noriko is available only from convenience store Lawson’s online service Loppi. Why no Marimite figures beyond that abysmal trading figure set have seen general release is an eternal mystery.

Word is in from Griffon that the limited edition dark version of their Plenair-san (shark crushing ver.) PVC is now available for preorder on Griffon’s official site. Of the figure’s 500 unit limited run 200 are available in this preorder allotment, with the other 300 reserved for sale at Wonder Festival 2008 Winter on February 24th.

Goodsmile reports that their Kino PVC from Kino no Tabi was scheduled to ship yesterday, but was recalled at the last minute due to defects discovered in some of the units. Shipping has been postponed indefinitely until the flaws can be completely remedied.

Most of the news from the February ’08 edition of Hobby Japan has already been scooped, but looking through the magazine yesterday evening I found a page that was overlooked with a bunch of news from Movic. Most immediately eye-catching is the first look at Movic’s Musubi (race queen ver.) PVC in color, and I have to say that pepto-bismol pink doesn’t do her any favors. I hope she’ll see an alternate color version, though barring that she should be easy enough to repaint given that the offending pieces are all castoffable. Now that she’s in color we’ll be looking for general preorders to open soon.
Also new in this issue from Movic is a pair of “Mizuiro Splash” figures, apparently original-designed ero swimsuit figures. We’ll be looking out for more info and pictures of these; they’re due out in April and June at 6,090 yen each and 1/7 scale.
wow I like the black uniform Kanu! looks much better than the white uniform version :D
Thanks Shingo. Learnt what Pepto-Bismol pink means today. (We don’t have that in Singapore. We have a Chinese brand called Po Chai Yi for the same purpose. 8))
And I agree. Should have coloured her Santarina Red instead. She definitely looks castoffable. Hope she will be available internationally. Scheduled for Jan 2008 release. Most webshops will be on holiday till 05 Jan 2008. 8)
BTW, I wonder if anyone has heard any news in Japan for recalls because of excessive toxic stuff in the paint used? Thanks.
>>blacklotus
We confirmed Musubi’s castoff status several months ago here at HD, along with the news a couple of weeks ago that her release was moved back to February. Apparently HJ didn’t get the revised date in time to make it to the presses.
I haven’t heard of anything resembling a product recall here. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if it’s happened, and I’ve been keeping an eye out for any such news on the figure front (not that I think many of us have a habit of licking PVCs, but better to be safe than sorry).
Shingo, do you have a FAQ or any other resource that might help someone trying to snag one of those 700 preorder slots?
It’s a shame that the Kino figures got delayed indefinitely. Not that I’m getting one though.
Glad I took the Kino off my preorder list..
Thanks Shingo. I didn’t start visiting your website till Nov 2007, so I haven’t seen the earlier news posts. (still catching up on the reviews postings only). My loss though. 8)
No. We otakus don’t lick our castoffable dollies…;)
Anyway, I usually soak and wash them with warm soapy water after taking them out of the box to remove any residual chemicals on the surface. One cannot take chances with one’s health. Anyway, it doesn’t take more than ten minutes to wash them. 8)
Hey Shingo, Do you where can I preorder the figure of Musubi, I been searching throught Hobby link Japan and hobby search, but neither of them has it listed for preorder
>>Serf
Nowhere other than the official Movic site has Musubi listed yet. I’ll be sure to make a post as soon as she goes up for general preorder.
Hi Shingo, you had stated before that this Movic’s Musubi (race queen ver.) PVC figure is castoffable. Does that mean as usual, just like her previous version & Sekirei Tsukiumi that their top & bottom can be remove?
>>Kent
A look at this Moeyo post should answer your question: both top and bottom are removable. :3
Black Kanu…limited edition: thank the lord it is limited; the black removes all the sexy-ness of the original ;(