When French Doll’s Ryomou was first announced for PVC conversion last year I was psyched to have the chance to own a classic Cerberus Project kit without going to the trouble of painting it myself. I missed the deadline for the Comic Gum mail order edition though, and was thus even happier to hear that she would be reissued in this alternate “pearl black” color scheme. While I would’ve prefered the original colors, the chance to own a kit like this could not be passed up, so I bit the bullet and put in an order. Was she worth the trouble? You make the call:
Original Design: Shiozaki Yuuji
Sculptor: French Doll (Cerberus Project)
Source: Ikkitousen (manga, anime)
Scale: 1/7 (28 cm tall)
Option Parts: handcuffs
Materials: PVC
Release Date: April 1st, 2008
Production: Goodsmile (Comic Gum/Wani Books, UART)
Price: 7,800 JPY (tax included)
Current Availability: [KNC] [HLJ] [HS] [TL]
Support HD!: [PA] [JLIST]
As mentioned in the intro, this is a kit with some history. Originally sculpted for limited resin release in 2004 (Cerberus Project gallery page), HLJ tells us that she was subsequently reissued in kit form later that year by Kurushima and put up for release via general distribution. Last year Comic Gum announced that the figure would be produced in PVC as part of a mail-order limited campaign they were running, and then Goodsmile announced they would be distributing an unlimited PVC version of the kit in an alternate color (the one depicted in this review). All told, this is the fourth version of the figure to be released under various circumstances in the past four years.
French Doll’s resin Ryomou in 2004
Sculpt
Despite its multiple editions I’ll be the first to say that this sculpt is not the height of French Doll’s craft. It is an incredibly well done rendition of Ryomou in her classic maid outfit, and is certainly a decent piece of work, but she suffers from a bland pose and some issues of proportion (length of the legs to width of the hips, leg length to torso length and overall height), as well as some sculpting issues around the hips and groin that make me come away with the feeling that her muscles aren’t all laid out quite right under the skin.
Criticisms aside this is certainly a significant kit in terms of attention paid to details of the starched frills of her skirt, and a nicely done hair sculpt that is among the most faithful renditions I’ve seen on a Ryomou kit. For fans of French Doll as a sculptor it’s also a nice reminder of the powerhouse he was even four years ago, and the degree to which his craft has evolved and progressed.
Production
I have to wonder to what extent Goodsmile was involved with the production and quality control on this kit, as it’s an uncharacteristically weak offering by their standards (in terms of the paint job, at least). The casting has no glaring flaws – detail work is crisp and there are no offensive seams or mold lines.
The paint job is another matter, however. While I applaud the use of a wide variety of gloss, matte, and chrome finishes to lend the perception of contrasting fabric and flesh, I disagree with the choice to go super-gloss on her stockings in addition to the skirt, gloves, and shoes. Aesthetic considerations aside, much of the trim work is shoddy (the square of her back is especially poor, with gloss finish applied unevenly) and the chrome of her apron is scuffed (primarily across the chest but in other locations as well). Her face has no shading at all, leaving it with a waxy pallor that stands as an unpleasant contrast to the offering in Cerberus’s gallery.
Conclusion
UART / Comic Gum’s (Wani Books) pearl black Ryomou Shimei is something of a disappointment. While I was resigned to the inferiority of the black color scheme I wasn’t prepared for the mediocre workmanship or the impact of the paint finishes that end up clashing more than complimenting one another. If I had it to do over I would have made the extra effort to mail order the limited original blue version instead. Still the kit is not without its merits, and fans of Ryomou will not be ill-served by at least pondering the addition of this to their collections.
Overall Score: 7/10
If you’d like to support HD with your purchase, Ryomou is currently available at Play-Asia, J-List, and YesAsia. YesAsia even still has a legit version of the original kit, if you’re feeling up to the paint job.
I’m waiting for mine, too bad they didn’t keep the quality of the Cerberus Sonsaku PVC. She was a very good surprise speaking of quality, do you have her ?
I didn’t spring for the Sonsaku, assuming you’re referring to this one. I did order Kanu though and am looking forward to her muchly. :3
Yes, it’s this one, she’s a very nice quality piece. And I’m waiting for Kanu too :D
Hmm, interesting review, I pre-ordered Mou-chan (pearl blac) from Play-Asia last year, and I also have the Comic Gum Sonsaku (pearl black) already…What I didn’t pre-order was Kanu, anyway, I hope PA ships Mou-chan soon so I can get to see the figure for my own eyes… ^_^6
I’m waiting for mine also! Hope the place I preordered from gets it in soon
I don’t know if I’ll take her ^^ I’ve already buy Sonsaku & I love her
Just got mine in today, so here’s a second opinion. I first want to say that the face is a little… off. If you are expecting to get the GK’s face, you won’t. It’s not terrible, but the fit and finish is just a little off and there is no denying it. Some of the detail paint work is a bit weak as well, as Shingo mentioned. It is also worth mentioning that I too would have very much preferred the original color scheme, but these are the cards we’re dealt.
Those things said, I am much happier with the figure on a whole than Shingo was. On his grading scale I’d give it at least an 8 or 8.5, and on my scale, much higher (I go with a 1/10 point increment scale, aka 0.1-10, and work down from 10 based on a variety of factors, most of all the ‘feel’ of the kit). I personally love the hyper-glossy stockings as they have great visual impact, and give a sense of transparency that stockings should have and often don’t in figure form. Secondly, the choice to go with a pearl white over a standard gloss or matte, I also find quite pleasing. I also think it’s worth pointing out that the stings on her eyepatch are strings, not paint. That impressed me, as I was not expecting it. Handcuffs look quite good too.
As far as the body proportions/musculature issue goes, I don’t care whatsoever, as long as they look good. Artists get to draw however they like, so I believe that sculptors should be afforded the same artistic license. Are her legs too long? Sure. Is her head too big? Sure. So are her hands. I’m gonna bet there are quite a few Mogudan fans that read HD, and none of them would want his work translated to 3D/figure(s) in a more proportionately accurate fashion. It’s not like a sculpt that has been famous for 4 years (and that I’ve always prayed would make PVC) should really surprise you with how long-legged it is. This all reminds me of the work of US comic artist/painter Alex Ross. His photorealistic style is amazing, but… it always leaves me a little cold, as I can’t help but stop seeing a superhero, and start seeing a guy in a suit. The accuracy is stunning and admirable, but I’d rather see Mike Choi, whose work has a wonderful sense of realism, without going so far as to be ‘too real’. For Japanese artists, I’d sight Shinkiro and Soroyama. Artists with the capacity to do photorealism, but the artistic leaning to ’round the edges off’ to make it ‘better than real’. Everyone’s gonna have there own take on this I realize, but I personally don’t care that French Doll’s Ryomou is too tall, or Toushirou’s Mai shouldn’t really be able to lean like that or whatever, it’s art, not anatomy class.
I want to make clear that no disrespect is intended toward Shingo or anyone else with my comments. I’m just making a bit of a counter-point to the review (though I mean every word of it, it’s not just for counter-point sake) and some of the other prevailing wisdom that I’ve noticed as an avid HD reader.
One last note, the US retail on this figure was one of the best (relative to Yen Price) in quite a while, so I got an excellent deal ($53.35 before quite reasonable shipping). I suppose it’s possible that if my reality was 7800yen + ship, I’d have been slightly less pleased with her. Though I doubt it, I’ve always liked this look/wanted this figure, and if this is the form I can get it in, it beats the hell out of just continuing to forever want it.