A roundup of the figure stuff that happened while I was off in Butlerland over the past week. Includes a new entry in Kotobukiya’s To Heart 2 maid series, preorders for Max Factory’s Kemeko and MM, new items from Musashiya and Taki Corporation, a first color look at [ERO] Goodsmile’s Chu Chu Astram, and more!
Preorder News
- Preorders are now open for Kotobukiya’s Tonami Yuma (maid ver.) PVC from To Heart 2. She’s due out at 1/8 scale (20 cm tall) with a sculpt from newcomer Kiyohara Hideaki, and is scheduled for release in May of this year at 6,090 yen. An alternate pink version is available in limited release from the Kotobukiya online shop.
- The Nendoroid Plus Kemeko and 1/8 scale MM figure that we’ve been following for the past few months from Max Factory and Kemeko Deluxe are now available for preorder. The sculpt for both is credited to Itou Reiichi and Max Factory and both are due out in May, with Kemeko coming in at 4,000 yen (10 cm tall) and MM arriving at 6,800 yen (17.5 cm tall). Purchasing both allows them to be displayed in a docking configuration (as we discovered earlier, Kemeko is the mobile combat suit that MM rides in).
- Musashiya has preorders open for two new 1/5 scale cold cast figures: [ERO] Chou’un Shiryuu from Ikkitousen and Hoshino Ruri (16 year old #4, maid gothic lolita ver.) from Martian Successor Nadesico. Both are due out in March with sculpts from Karumagi Ushio, with Chou’un clocking in at 23,100 yen and 33 cm tall and Ruri at 20,790 yen and 32 cm tall.
- Taki Corporation has a preorder up for a new [ERO] Kanu Unchou (china dress ver.) PVC from Ikkitousen. It’s due out in March at 1/7 scale with a sculpt from someone too embarrassed to lend his or her name to the credit; 9,240 gets you a change to a rather bulky-looking school swimsuit and an extra set of hands. At the risk of death by punnery, perhaps they should change the company name to Tacky Corporation… Not sure if this one is a full castoff this time around, but I’m equally unsure if anyone cares. -_-;;
- Happinet opened a preorder for their Priecia PVC from Prism Ark. She’s due out at 1/8 scale (22 cm tall) with a sculpt from Kibayashi Norio, and is set to retail in April at 8,190 yen (ouch). From the seams on her shirt and skirt, her original eroge source, and the unusually high price, I’m guessing the figure will be castoffable to at least some degree.
Misc. News
- First scooped at Wonder Festival last summer and then again in at November’s Dengeki Hobby Festival, Akiba Blog hosted a guest column from Goodsmile on Sunday featuring the first color shots of their [ERO] Chu Chu Astram from Unisonshift eroge Chu Chu Idol to make it online. Given the smart design, clear part gimmick and castoff options this is an item I think a lot of us will be anticipating as more news becomes available! Sculpt from Kaiya Hajime (Acetone).
- In action figure news, the official site for Max Factory’s Figma line has been updated with the news that their Lelouche figure from Code Geass will be unsealed on January 17th (and presumably available for preorder shortly thereafter). It’s interesting to note that the figure is being released in conjunction with Banpresto, which means that it’s consistent with other Geass figure projects in that Bandai is somehow involved (Banpresto is Bandai’s toy/game arm, Megahouse is their figure arm, and B-Club is a Bandai affiliate as well).
- In other Figma news two new Nagato Yuki Figma commercials are online at the official site, viewable back to back in the video above. They reuse footage from the previous commercials, but are worth watching for the wacky voiceovers from (presumably) Ono Daisuke and Sugita Tomokazu.
- Finally, garage kit dealer Vispo has updated his “making of” page for Gurren Lagann’s Yoko (21 year old ver.) a third and final time. I’m guessing we won’t see a color version until next month’s Wonder Festival or shortly before, but here’s hoping for a PVC release in addition to the resin.
That’s a rap for this past week in figure news; stay tuned for the resumption of our regular figure news and review update schedule!
Ohhhh the Chu Chu Astram looks nice. I’m on the fence about the previous Melissa Selfia but will probably get her along with the Kemeko. They look really nice. 2007 was a great year for figs, but 2008 looks like it could top it.!
Thanx Shingo.
>>Work_Ethic
I kind of hope that ‘08 doesn’t top last year in the figure department, for the sake of my wallet… ;__; I’m pretty psyched for the Astram, she’s the one definite buy of this batch for me.
Dang Nabbit!! It’s either a good Kanu or a cast off Kanu. I still haven’t figured which one I’m gonna get between Alter and TAKI.
Also, Heres hoping 08 will release some more great Queens Blade other that wwhats already been announce and released.
I don’t know, I kinda like that Kanu. Might have to give Taki a try once more pics show up.
Chu Chu Astram = Must Buy. All the way.
Vispo’s Yoko has a lot of potential.
Would like to see PVCs of those 2 Musashiya Resins.
Took me like 90 seconds to realize the Taki Kanu was actually supposed to be Kanu the first time I saw it the other day. That’s pretty bad.
Oy, I swore to myself to limit my figure consumption this year, and to get no more Ikkitousen figures….. but sonofabitch, that Kanu…. I don’t know, but I really like it for some reason. sigh >< Plus that Yoko looks really nice, too. Ah well, I didn’t need money this year either…
I’m still waiting for the Figma Subaru Nakajima… or did I get it totally wrong and it’s not Figma but something else??
I’m fully still able to remain tight on cash this year - none of these screams BUY ME!..
First things first: WELCOME BACK SHINGO; I really missed your figure info/reviews. 8)
Astram’s a definite buy for me as I have a BIG thing for female vampires/succubi. 8D
The only question is should I get one or a pair? Guess it depends on the pricing.
As for Taki’s Kanu, she looks fully castoffable. However, one resolution for the new year is to get only figures with proper sculptor’s credits. The only exception I make is for Gigapulse(full ero) and Banpresto/Sega’s(cheap) stuff.
Having said that, I believe this Taki Kanu will be sold out rather quickly too. So for those that need a fully castoffable Kanu (regardless of quality), reserve it early.
As for Priecia, she can compete with Shall for ‘Who has the most outrageous anime (blonde) hair?’ 8) Guess I will see how castoffable she is first before reserving/buying one. At 8K yen for a 1/8 figure, I think this is a PVC record. 8(
That Kanu isn’t bad, per se. Just unfinished in terms of sculpt. you could see that it could have been great with perhaps more time and effort but we got that instead.
Add one more to Astram’s fan club.
I just hope they don’t release her too soon,my bank count is also making S.O.S. signals.
>>Banner
I’m guessing more Queen’s Blade from Megahouse / Alpha Omega is inevitable, I just hope they keep up with the schedule they’ve been putting them out at over the past couple of years. No slacking, you hear me Megahouse? >:O
>>Y, nebbyn, gundamjehutykai
Damn it guys, I was trying to resist the Kanu but you’re wearing down my willpower… I may end up succumbing to the castoff lure despite her shortcomings. ;__;
>>the_pseudokings
It would be great if Musashiya put out PVCs of their cold cast lineup, if they went for about half the price of the cold casts I’d be much more tempted. I have a Ryomo of theirs from a couple of years ago, but since then I haven’t been able to justify ponying up the cash…
>>uinreli
I think you’re correct that Subaru will be coming to the Figma lineup (as well as some of the other Nanoha characters), but I don’t believe she’s been officially announced online anywhere yet.
>>Deibi Manabu
Good luck maintaining fiscal restraint in the new year, I fear it’s a lost cause for many of us… ;_;
>>blacklotus
Thanks! I’m not quite so convinced that Taki’s second Kanu will fly off the shelves, but I guess we’ll see.
>>Baldulf
Yours and mine both. I’m guessing she’ll be headed for a May release, June at the latest… we’ll be keeping a sharp eye out for any further news.
Am waiting for Chu Chu Astram as well. Wonder when they will release http://www.moeside.net/weblog/wp-content/uploads/2007/f55e1812e879_14097/214_thumb.jpg (Can’t remember the original source. Probably got it from moeyo)
Chu chu, want! :3