This week seemed to be the week of Atlus figures. Max Factory put up their gorgeous Catherine figure, and Wave announced a surprise re-release of their energetic Rise! While this may not seem like a lot after the week of Miku, Atlus games are painfully under-represented in the figure world so this was a real boon for collectors.
This was actually a pretty exciting week for pre-orders, even without the Atlus stuff: we got the coveted figma Mami finally up for order, MegaHouse put up a ton of releases that sold out everywhere in 5 minutes, and we got a hunk of sexy man-plastic courtesy of Altair. There were also an unusual amount of re-releases, so hit the jump and let’s get started!
AlphaMax
Erio Touwa | 1/7 | ¥6,800 | February
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: Erio is adorable, and also for a relatively open month. And you have to take into account that AlphaMax delays everything for 2 to 6 months… that makes her very tempting!
Stephen: Erio is incredibly cute and I love the sparkles in her hair. I’ll see what else is coming out before adding her to my order though.
Alter
Orihara Izaya | 1/8 | ¥6,800 | January
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: I usually don’t like male figures, and Alter’s Altair line has really bored me so far with men standing around doing nothing, but Izaya is different. Definitely thinking of picking this one up!
Stephen: Durarara is a show that has intrigued me, but I’ve never watched. As such, I don’t really have any reason to buy this figure as it doesn’t really do anything for me otherwise, but it’s at least much more lively than Altair’s other offerings so far, which is nice and makes me rethink not getting him.
AmiAmi Zero
Hattori Hanzo | 1/8 | ¥6,200 | February
Leah: We have ordered pretty much every Hyakka Ryouran figure so far, and I think Hattori will be making an appearance… no matter how NSFW she is!
Stephen: I don’t really know what’s going on here, but Hattori is pretty darned adorable.
CM’s Corp
Astarotte Yvgar | 1/8 | ¥7,800 | December | Regular & Limited
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Limited: AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: Astarotte is adorable, but the combination of high price, a bad release month, and CM’s mediocre production makes her a no-go. She should be at least 2 thousand yen cheaper in my mind, and preferably for a month after January. Then I’d pick her up for sure!
Stephen: Astarotte is such an adorable character and I’d love to own a figure of her, but between all of the overpriced releases from companies and exclusive nature of the better releases on top of that, I think I’ll be passing for quite some time.
Daiki Kougyou
Sasara Kusugawa | 1/6 | ¥13,800 | January
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: Daiki made up for their horrible releases last month with this gorgeous Dragon Chronicles Sasara. She’s a bit pricey, but there is no way I am missing out on this beauty!
Stephen: I love the Dragon Chronicles designs so much and Sasara here is just so lovely. Daiki did a great job here and she really looks like she’s worth the higher price.
e Jeuness
Kurumi | 1/8 | ¥10,300 | March | Exclusive
Leah: 6 months ago I probably would have ordered her, but the terrible exchange rate and how ridiculously crowded next year’s pre-orders already look, Kurumi is an easy pass.
Stephen: Something about her just looks unfinished. That and her expensive price point make her an easy pass.
FREEing
Satellizer el Bridget | 1/8 | ¥9,800 | December
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: Bridget is pricey, but I’ve been lusting after this figure since last Wonder Festival so I have to own her! I honestly think her bust is a tad distracting, but from her displaying angle it won’t be noticeable at all.
Stephen: DAT SWORD THINGY. That is all.
Gift
Miku, Kaito & Luka Plushes | Nendoroid Plus Plush | ¥3,500 | November | Re-Release
Miku: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Kaito: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Luka: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Leah: I already have Miku, so these are all passes. Pre-orders are getting tighter and tighter, and Stephen and I are trying to get down, so these are another set of things we probably would have ordered 6 months ago. Now? Well, we have enough plushes, and saving $100 feels better than getting these guys would!
Stephen: Considering that these are perpetually in stock, I couldn’t care less about these going up for order. It’s a great opportunity for those who are looking for any for retail though.
Good Smile Company
Cheerful Japan Makise & Mayuri | Nendoroid | ¥6,000 | January
Leah: I think I already said this before, but HNNNNG. Some people don’t like the pastel cheerleader uniforms, but I adore this set.
Stephen: This set is just straight up adorable and I love everything about it. It comes with some amazing outfits and some amazing faces and that’s pretty much everything you want in a Nendoroid set!
Griffon
Komachi Onozaku | 1/8 | ¥7,400 | December | Re-Release
Leah: I really wish this re-release had been any month but December-I’ve always loved Komachi’s design and missed the original figure, but I just can’t squeeze anything else into that month!
Stephen: She’s one of Griffon’s better Touhou girls, but it seems like they always do their worthwhile re-releases at the worst possible times.
Kaitendoh
Little Red Riding Hood Red & Pink Versions | 1/6 | ¥9,800| December
Red: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Pink: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Leah: I love the idea of a Fairy Tale series, at it reminds me of POP’s short run with Alter. But I don’t like the price point, candy resin, or the release date… if these were significantly cheaper I would get one, but Kaitendoh’s products (outside of a few fantastic Tamakis) are just not worth this much money.
Stephen: These look really nice, but for half of the price they’re going for. The concept is great as is the execution (I love that little wolf in the basket), but in candy resin and at that price, it’s a resounding no.
Kotobukiya
Nanoha Takamachi | 1/8 | ¥5,800 | January
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: Ah, Nanoha! I love all of Kotobukiya’s cute, casual Nanoha figures so this is a must-get.
Stephen: Adorable is an understatement. I love this casual Nanoha so much and can’t wait to add it to my collection.
Max Factory
Catherine | 1/7 | ¥7,429 | January
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Mami Tomoe | Figma | ¥3,200 | January
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Saber Bride | Figma | ¥9,980 | Spring 2012 | Limited & Exclusive
Leah: Sadly for my wallet, all 3 of Max Factory’s releases this week are must-gets. Catherine is gorgeous, Mami is, well, Mami, and I simply can’t resist a new Saber design!
Stephen: I love Catherine’s unique sculpt, Saber’s new design looks promising, and Mami is my favorite Puella Magi, so all of these are finding their way into my collection come next year.
MegaHouse
Merry Nightmare | 1/8 | ¥6,800 | January
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Pretty Cure Line | 1/8 | ¥5,700~¥6,800 | December | Re-Releases
Moonlight: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Sunshine: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Marine: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Blossom: AmiAmi | Hobby Search
Leah: Merry looks great to me, though some have complained about her face, so we found a way to squeeze her into a busy month. But the Precure girls? Sadly, we passed. I’d love to have all of them, but 4 figures for December by a company that almost never delays? Yeah, no thanks!
Stephen: Merry is just so adorable that there’s no way I could’ve passed on her. The Pretty Cure girls on the other hand are something I’ve had my eye on (mainly so that I could get the badass villains as well), but a December release? No thanks.
*Note: MegaHouse also put up several POPs, but they are long gone and only available for a steep premium at US shops so they are not included here.
Orchid Seed
Choco*ochi Soniko Set | 3″ | ¥4,800 | February
Leah: I have been looking forward to these for a long time, it’s so great to see them finally finished! Also, I can’t believe they managed to get a booty like that on a chibi trading figure.
Stephen: Soniko! I love Soniko so much and I’m so excited for this new chibi line. The first three here look great and were an insta-order for me.
Plum
Astraea | 1/6 | ¥9,500 | December
Leah: I want Astraea so bad that I might just work her into my December order. I love the design of the girls from this show, and Astraea looks great–plus she’s huge!
Stephen: She’s just such a unique figure that I just may have to order her. Here’s to holding out for a price drop.
Square-Enix
Lightning | Play-Arts Kai | ¥5,200 | December
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: Usually I don’t like Play-Arts, but I’ve made an exception for this gorgeous new Lightning. Hopefully we can find a way to pick her up after release!
Stephen: Lightning here is just so badass and I really think Square-Enix pulled off hiding the joints very well.
ques Q
Sakuya Izayoi | 1/8 | ¥7,600 | December
Patchouli Knowledge | 1/8 | ¥6,400 | January | Re-Release
Leah: I was quite excited for ques Q’s Sakuya after our great experience with their Taiga, but Sakuya turned out very plain.
Stephen: Patchouli is just so adorable that I want to add her into my collection, but she’s yet another release being added to an already over-stuffed month and just isn’t high enough priority to warrant ordering.
Wave
Mayuri Shiina | 1/10 | ¥3,800/¥4,400 | March | Exclusive and Non-Exclusive
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Exclusive: Tokyo Hunter | Big In Japan
Rise Kujikawa | 1/8 | ¥6,800 | February | Re-release
AmiAmi | Hobby Search | HLJ
Leah: I love Mayuri, so we’ll probably be picking this up after we see what March is like. But Rise? I think it took us about 15 seconds to order this figure, I’ve lusted after her for so long! Almost picked one up for $90 a while back, and now I am really glad that I waited!
Stephen: I’m so glad that Rise is finally being re-released as we’ve been looking for her for so long. I also really like Mayuri’s playful pose and I’m still debating on whether or not to go for that Metal Oopa exclusive or not.
So this week was totally packed with releases, and there were a lot of gems put up for order! While I wish more of them were for February/March, I can just imagine what our December order is going to be like to get in the mail. So many boxes!
Ordered figma Mami and somehow managed to get by with just her. Cure Marine was tempting as I wanted someone to go with my Cure Moonlight, but as you said, December is a horrible month. Speaking of December, iDOLM@STER vol 3 was also ordered though.
Stephen, I think Hattori Hanzo’s boobs are attacking her, that’s what’s going on here. But I love that guy figure. He’s as pretty as the girls. I think I’ll just ask for Xmas presents on your site. Which is pretty fantastic, biased as I am. But I’m a damn serious critic, and you guys are rockin’ this.
Catherine, Rise and Izaya all made it into my orders this week. I’m passing on Lightning for now. Despite how huge a fan I am of XIII, XIII-2 doesn’t really ping me as much. If I like the game, finding PlayArts after release is usually pretty easy (as long as they aren’t from VII, I’ve found) and for a good price, so I’ll pick her up then. (I’m not a fan of the hair sculpt they use for Lightning… Or her face. All of the other characters ended up looking fantastic, except her.)
My January order is going to make me cry.
all I have from this week is Izaya and the modoka related stuff. think I came out safe. Decided to pass on Catherine due to really not liking her and already having an order that I’ll probably have to cancel some things from for that month.