Our Shuraki figure review series continues in this third installment featuring French-themed villainess Char Rhousemann. The Shuraki frenzy that consumed figure fans through much of 2007 had cooled somewhat by the time she came out in January of this year, but with Needa recently released and Rize coming at the end of the month it’s high time to get back into the thick of things. Check out our Mishiro Akatsuki and Riu Meifeng reviews first (if you haven’t already, or need a refresher on what the Shuraki series is), and then continue the saga with our look at the contents of Char’s multimedia package:
Original Design: Itou Ben (伊藤ベン)
Sculptor: Akeji (緋路) (ASCI L.E.D)
Source: Shuraki (multimedia figure series)
Scale: 1/8 (22 cm tall)
Option Parts: rapier, damage version dress, blouse
Materials: PVC
Extras: Illustration Book, Drama CD (73 minutes)
Release Date: January 10th, 2008
Production: Goodsmile, Red Entertainment
Price: 6,800 JPY (tax included)
Current Availability: [HS] [HLJ] [TL]
Related: Shuraki vol. 1 Mishiro, Shuraki vol. 2 Meifeng, Shuraki vol. 4 Needa, Shuraki vol. 5 Rize

Character Description
Translated from her official Shuraki page:
“A French Shuraki. 17 years old, 158 cm tall. Hails from the Limousin region of France, a daughter of the distinguished Rhousemann family. The Rhousemann family is an ancient noble lineage of dukes, and it is unknown in what epoch the Shuraki blood was introduced into the lineage.
Char was born as the daughter and heir to that lineage. In this position, never subject to a single inconvenience in her environment, she was raised with a pampered upbringing. Perhaps due to this she is selfish and prideful, and unable to show consideration for others. She shows an outward dislike for socializing in groups, but is actually quite lonely and timid.
When she reached the age of six, she was wrapped up in an incident that became a major turning point for her. From that point on it was as if her fate as a Shuraki radiated out from her, as she embarked undeviatingly on a path smeared with blood.
It’s this person who appeared in front of Akatsuki and the others, blocking their path. In combat she fights with a rapier thrust forward, using fencing-style stabbing attacks. She blocks enemy attacks with her gauntlet and executes lightning counterattacks as well.”
Drama CD Description
Shuraki Drama CD Vol. 3: Paradise Ville d’Frau
Starring: Tamura Yukari as Char RhousemannTranslated from her official CD page:
“Mahiro, a boy wrapped up in the Shuraki incident, headed toward the Kouryuu shrine in search of his childhood friend Akatsuki. As he approached, the Shuraki Char appeared before him. Mahiro persisted in following her. As they walked through a fiercely blowing storm in the mountains near the shrine, they get pulled through a rift in space-time into another world.
There Mahiro meets a young girl – in fact, the childhood version of the cruel Char. In this paradise a calm, gentle, and bittersweet time is passed.”
Package Contents
Char’s release continues the precedent set by her peers, containing a similar A5-size 24 page staple-bound “secret file” with original art depicting scenes from the accompanying drama CD, which is once again professionally performed by a cast of Japan’s A-list voice acting talent. I haven’t listened to much of the CD yet, but from what I’ve heard Tamura Yukari pulls out all the stops with a smashing performance as the haughty but emotionally vulnerable Char. As with past Shuraki releases the sticker price of 6,800 yen truly undervalues the content of this set.
Sculpt
Character designer Itou Ben and sculptor Akeji make a surprisingly good pairing in the production of what I think a compelling case can be made is the strongest Shuraki figure yet. The angularity and impressionistic distortion of features that characterizes some of Itou’s design work is tempered by the rounder features that typify Akeji’s sculptural interpretation, resulting in a balanced compromise that retains the best of both.
Just about any way you cut it this is an impressive sculpt. The fine detail work is spot on, and while the pose itself is rather rigid the flowing lines of the dress and the extreme spiral of the hair give her a dynamic flow that is truly astounding. The rigidity itself makes sense in the context of the character, both in terms of her personality, fighting style, and the construction of the costume – it’s hard to imagine how else her legs could be positioned while wearing those heeled boots.
Production
Simply put, Goodsmile at their finest. The casting is crisp and accurate on the details without visible mold lines; seams are only visible when required as part of the castoff, and the castoff itself is produced with superb precision that looks equally impressive in any of the three provided states. Markings that appear on the kit when fully cast off are entirely the fault of my clumsiness.
The paint job is also fantastic. Barring a few minor trim issues the detail work is consistently high fidelity, and the choice of colors is superbly fiery – one gets the impression of the character as a whirlwind of flame, as if she’s practically in motion while standing still. The usage of a full compliment of shading and paint textures from gloss to matte to metallic chrome brings the figure alive in a way matched by very few others in the industry.
Conclusion
Goodsmile / Red Entertainment’s Shuraki Trinity Box vol. 3 Char Rhousemann is a delight to behold via multiple senses. The accompanying drama CD is top notch, but the primary concern of this review is the figure, and Goodsmile has done essentially everything right – the few minor paint issues don’t detract in the slightest from a sculpt that is near epic in terms of design and mass production helmed by a team that knows exactly what they’re doing. Combined with the added mini-artbook and CD this is an item that’s easily a few thousand yen undervalued, and a cinch to recommend in the highest possible terms.
Overall Score: 10/10
Char is currently unavailable at most online locations, and a reissue has yet to be announced. One is expected shortly however, so we’ll bring the news as soon as she’s scheduled for re-release. In the interim, the other figures in the Shuraki series can be found below:
Awesome review as always Shingo. She looks awesome. I really really hope she is reissued soon because I missed ordering her the first time around and I assumed I was safe because they quickly reissued Mishiro and Meifeng but since it’s taking them awhile to reissue Char so I’m a bit worried they might not. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
the best char in shuraki series
I ‘sort of’ have a preorder on her through an unreliable comic shop in town, since AAA Anime limited her to 3 per customer or something like that so most US based online shops haven’t even tried to offer her yet, or pre-soldout in 5 minutes. I really, really hope I manage to get this one, she is stunning. I have and love the first two (though my copy of Vol. 1 is from the second production run) and have preorders that should be solid on Vol. 4 & Vol. 5. Lots of super-hyped things tend to be either all hype or a letdown in some other sense, but as near as I can tell the only thing about the Shiraki series that isn’t amazing is the availability.
Great review and pics, I agree that Char is the best of the 3 first ones with great sculpt and colors.
Nida is on her way, I can’t wait to get her too !
Great figure and package. Very solid colouring works and the gold trimmings looks real. As always. I like your photos Shingo.
I didn’t get her or any of the earlier ones as I’m only interested in the Shunya one – Needa.
I love girls with huge guns/swords. 8) If they ever change the weapons to those Shunya proportioned ones, I might consider getting the earlier figures too.
Outstanding review as usual Shingo. Actually, this is the first review of a figure in which i bought. lol
Sadly I missed out on the preorders at play-asia and at hlj but to my luck I was able to snatch one up at hlj on the day it was released. It just so happens where i was browsering through their item list that night and to my surprise, they had her “In Stock”. By the next morning, she was “Discontinued” so I’m sure I wasn’t the only one browsering who didn’t take advantage of her availability.
I’m still interested in Rize even though i canceled her early due to the fact i have a lot of other figures preordered in the next coming months which mostly are figmas.
Oh shit, this reminds me that I still have it at the bottom of the box it was shipped in. Probably won’t even take it out, seeing that Needa’s on the way.
I really hope GSC would re-release it, because this is the only one that I missed and Rize, I’m still hoping the stock would be as much as Nida in HLJ, because I still haven’t got the preorder yet…
I love my Char figurine.
The one thing I don’t like about it is the castoff procedure. Let me explain:
After I take her out of the box, I had to take her apart to remove the plastic films. The parts fit snugly but they can be taken apart with ease, which I really appreciate.
The problem arose when I tried to put her back together, specifically when I tried to fit her dress back. In the process of doing so, her back and shoulders were scratched by the edge of the dress, causing black streaks on her skin. I see Shingo also had some problem in this area at picture 106 & 119 above.
My scratch marks were more (perhaps due to my inexperience. The more I tried to fit her back carefully, the more scratch marks I got. Oh joy) and this preclude me from displaying her in her underwear. Would anyone have any advice on the best way to remove these scratchings?
Great review as always Shingo
Got mine in Akiba for 4700. Says its used but it sure looks as good as new to me.
Also picked up Needa today from Yodobashi.
Well, I too have Mishiro, but haven’t ever got a chance to get the others. The second and third are always sold out for me, no matter the re-issues. I hope they a thrid run of them so I get them. If the one here re-issues, you can bet that I’ll miss out AGAIN! T_T Oh well, I need to live, and not having these will keep me alive, at least for a little while..
>>Eva
I just use acrylic paint thinner to remove any paint rubbings. I agree that it’s a problem with the cast-off but I think it’s a better solution than what they did with Mishiro Akatsuki.
I have Mishiro and Char (char being my first since I got one of the first batch) and am waiting on Meifeng and Rize. I don’t like Nida so I skipped.
Wished other figure maufacturers can take a leaf out of Good Smile Company and do their cast-offs just as well. Here you get the feeling that their cast-off are like real clothes, rather than some add-on attachments.
Looking forward to getting my pre-ordered Nida figurine.
Awesome review. I recently purchased Char from one of my trusted sellers on e-bay and I can’t wait for her to get here. The Shuraki figures are great looking and very well made (what else would one expect from GSC), and I can’t wait until they release the others. ^^
I agreed. I like your figures reviews alot and which is the MAIn reason why i got hooked up with the shuraki and decided to get all of them.
Now i only owe 2nd batch of AKatsuki, 1st batch of Char currently waiting for the rest 3 to arrive so i can get them all at once.
It’s my pride to owe one of the best figures from GSC. ><
But sadly i don’t understand a word of Japanese which rendered those CDs in hibernation. I only heard each and everyone of them one and could vaguely guess whose talking. Other than that….heh….
SO if SHingo you had the time could you…erm…do some simple summary about what’s going on?
>>FeiSoar
Thanks for the input. I’m going to try to take a listen to the CDs and put together a summary of the story when I get the chance; it might be a little while but I’ll try to get to it as soon as possible.