Welcome to a very interesting week of PVC pre-orders! For the most part, our big-deal manufacturers are nowhere to be seen except for an (overpriced) Nendoroid Petit. What we do have is a metric ton of re-releases, a giant bunny girl, one insanely overpriced figure, and one of the strangest releases I have ever seen. So hit the jump and check out the wackiest week of 2012…. so far!
AlphaMax
Fate T. Harlaown | 1/6 | ¥7,400 | February
Leah: This is the only figure from this roundup that I REALLY love. She’s so sweet and I adore the bikini!
Stephen: AlphaMax really knocked it out of the park with this Fate and she’s definitely the winner this week.
Bandai
Erica Hartmann | AGP | ¥4,200 | December
Leah: Oh look, twice the price of a figma with what looks like a poor paint job. No thanks, Bandai.
Stephen: It’s weird that this came out so terrible when the D-Arts figures are relatively competent for the same price point.
CM’s Corp
Queen Himika | Non-scale | ¥5,800 | December
Leah: LOLWHUT. What is this? I don’t even…
Stephen: Why does she have the angry sun from Super Mario Bros. 2 on her head? I’m so confused.
Leah: I thought the sun was happy, now I’m more confused…
FREEing
Hayate Yagami | 1/4 | ¥16,953 | January
Leah: God, I am getting tired of 1/4 scale bunny girls. I got the Ikkitousen duo and I have Ikaros/Astraea/Nymph on order, I do NOT need 3 more. And the sculpt isn’t even as nice as their other 1/4 scale figs…. this just feels like a cheap money grab to me.
Stephen: FREEing really needs to free themselves of these 1/4th scale figure projects as it’s just getting a bit ridiculous now especially when the quality on this Hayate here is just sad compared to the Ikkitousen line and Freezing figures, which are miles ahead of this.
Good Smile Company
Racing Miku 2012 | Nendoroid Petit | ¥2,000 | January
Leah: She’s cute, but damn expensive for ONE petit. I guess at least she’s not exclusive…
Stephen: Oh, it’s that time of year again where Racing Miku gets shoved down our throats? I guess I’m ok with it since her new design is nice, but do we really need this EVERY year?
Griffon
Sonsaku Hafuku | 1/7 | ¥7,600 | November | Re-release | NSFW
Ryofu Housen | 1/7 | ¥6,500 | November | Re-release
School Swimsuit Tamaki | 1/7 | ¥7,600 | November | Re-release
School Swimsuit Sasara | 1/7 | ¥6,400 | November | Re-release
Casual Clothing Tamaki | 1/7 | ¥7,600 | January | Re-release
Sonken | 1/7 | 1/7 | ¥7,600 | January | Re-release
Leah: Jesus christ Griffon, think that’s enough re-releases? AND they had several last week. I only really find the swimsuit Tamaki appealing since I don’t have her (I already own the causal one). The matching Sasara is just meh, I do like Sonsaku’s base but the rest is blah, and even my love for Ryofu can’t make me get a figure with boobs that ugly. And Sonken… so much potential wasted by garish paint.
Stephen: Griffon: the company that lives on re-releases. Also, why in the hell are Tamaki and Sasara in swimsuits with maid outfits on top? This makes no sense.
Kaitendoh
Mikan Tachibana | 1/8 | ¥8,800 | December
Mikado | 1/8 | ¥8,500 | January
Leah: Kaitendoh, why are you suddenly a good company! Mikado doesn’t appeal to me as much as their Retia (though it is by the same sculptor) but I LOVE Mikan. She is adorable! However, I’m trying not to get too excited since I am unsure of Kaitendoh’s recent quality. We do have Retia coming soon, so hopefully she lives up to expectations!
Stephen: Mikan is amazing and I need that in my life. The end.
Lechery
Hitchhiker Mimi Long Beach & Sunset Beach Ver. | 1/6 | ¥12,000 | December
Long Beach: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Sunset Beach: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Leah: I know this is supposed to be American or something but hitchhikers just make me think of uhh serial killers. Also, her sculpt is terrible. Lechery is like the company where Kaitendoh stuck all their crappy sculptors.
Stephen: Lechery, I don’t think anyone is going to be lecherous for this figure. It’s just bad and you should feel bad about it.
Phat! Company
Bayonetta | 1/7 | ¥13,800 | March
Leah: For that price you’d think at least her face wouldn’t be stupid looking. Seriously, what the hell, almost 14k? GSC is rubbing off on their umbrella companies. I don’t even like the sculpt here: her head is too small (granted, this is an issue with the character design), and while the detail on her outfit is really nice the bizarro proportions ruin it for me. That and she’ll be the biggest freaking space hog.
Stephen: All flash and no substance. Yeah, it’s a big pose and yes it’s fairly detailed, but that doesn’t change the fact that the pose is fucktarded in the first place. I just don’t get this figure and I’m glad this giant won’t be putting a giant hole in my wallet.
Well, that’s it for our wonkiest week yet of 2012! What all did you pick up and what weirded you out the most? Let us know in the comments below!
I actually have to disagree with you guys on Bayonetta! I think her face looks great, and the pose is cool without being… over-sexed, like the kit version that was floating around ages ago. She’s definitely going to be a space hog, but… if I find myself with the money in March, she may be making it into my collection. Her price is a little high but I paid close to that much for Black Rock Shooter and while she’s dramatic, she’s not really eye-catching at all, in comparison to Bayonetta who I KNOW would stand out no matter where I put her. So… yeah, I’m digging her!
I’ve unfortunately had zero interest in any figures for weeks now, so it’s nice to see someone sparking my interest again.
pretty much the same here
Raising a leg all the way up in the air to show off your crotch is pretty sexed up to me XD Honestly, I know it’s part of her character and all that and I understand why people like this figure. However, I’ve disliked Bayonetta for a while now and no figures are really changing my opinion (though I do think Yamato’s has a better sculpt). The price is what really gets me. I mean, it’s more than Dizzy who I kind of use as a baseline for expensive figure purchases. Actually, she costs more than my exclusive Astraea so yeaaah definitely a pass.
See, I could see the sexed up thing if it didn’t look like she was also raising her leg to kick something. It’s sexy, but it isn’t really overt or come-hither. She looks like she’s fighting rather than posing.
The price thing I can see, but it’s obviously going to be a pretty big figure with a dynamic pose and base, so I can kind of let it slide little.
My issue with Byonetta is that she skirts too far into ridiculousness without being playful about it. I mean, yeah, it’s a “fighting pose” but it’s obviously done so you get the best view of her body. Bayonetta is often held up as a strong female character, which you can certainly be while being sexualized but the fandom has really put me off. I mean, let’s be honest, she’s no more of a realistic fighter than any of the Strike Witches girls who are pantsless. I think it’s just a personal issue for me, since well I’m fine with the SW girls and a whole lot of other ridiculous fighters. Bayonetta just rubs me the wrong way for some reason.
Mikan, the Hello Kitty To Isshou figure, looks awesome even if it reminds one of Ghibli’s Kiki. However, I am reading bad vibes re. Kaitendoh. Together w/ the steep price, I am content w/ the one HK To Isshou prize figure by Eikoh (different character) I got stateside. The sculpt and quality was outstanding and the price was right. ❤ Hope they make a version of this as well.
There’s a lot of details and things to like about HK girl on a hoover but Kaitendoh couldn’t perch her on a clear stand?
>>and you should feel bad about it.
Haha, I don’t and you can’t make me. I think it’s a cute figure, just with the cast-off pushing up some flaws. Cast-off options make the clothes look rubbish and her being candy resin makes her too expensive for me but yeah, it’s a pretty thing.
I think 5 years ago she would have been a cute figure. Nowadays… for 12k, I expect a LOT more. Their sculpts are so simple and the shading is nonexistent!