Today marked the opening of the well-established annual figure and model event: Chara Hobby 2008. C3xHobby is held in Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture from August 30th to the 31st and is sponsored in part by Hobby Japan...
C3x distinguishes itself from the fray by offering a wider array of gunpla and models geared toward your average /m/etal-head. Despite the firm mecha presence, the event houses its fair share of bishoujo figures and kits. This harmony has been the repeated theme of C3xHobby, it's mascot the Mine Yoshizaki-designed Hobby-chan personifying the relationship. Though the event features both independent figure circles and industry booths, there's been a great shift in attention to industry releases and news in recent years. Besides the hobby-side of Chara Hobby, it is also a hot bed for anime and game announcements. There's sure to be torrents of information flowing out of the event in the next two days, so keep posted.
Already making news:
The first, a C3xHobby prototype exclusive, never having been seen before the 2008 event, is titled "Mysterious Bounty Hunter Yoko Ritona", sculpted by Iku Kuramoto (Millimeter Modeling), stands at 1/8 scale and is expected to be publicly released sometime in 2009.
The second is of Yomako-sensei, also 1/8 scale, is sculpted by 沼倉としあき氏 of Sinsemilla and is expected to be released March of 2009. Both PVCs' price are yet to be determined.
Also being seen for the first time is the newest addition to Max Factory's Figma posable figure line: Flame-Haze Shana, who's nendoroid version was just recently announced by GoodSmile Company.
The P-2 color version of MegaHouse's Melona PVC, that was just released a few days ago, was previewed alongside a whole collection of MegaHouse's other Excellent Model Core series figures. You can thank Hobby Japan sponsorship.
King of Fighter's queen Mai Shiranui will be the most recent addition to the Queen's Gate gamebooks, a Queen's Blade spin-off series featuring already existant characters.
and much, much more. Expect updates to this post in the future as news is released.
30 August, 2008
27 August, 2008
Figure Title:Excellent Model CAPCOMANIAX SF:Z3 1/8 Scale PVC R. Mika
Character Name: Mika Nanakawa (Rainbow Mika)
Original Character Designer: Holyhomerun
Sculptor: Toushiro (Cobra-Kai)
Source Material:Street Fighter Alpha III/Zero 3 III (Fighting Game)
Scale: 1/8 (22cm)
Base: Color: Transient/Clear Shape:Circular Features: Raised text
Necessary Removable Parts: None
Removable Parts/Accessories: None
Castoffability: None
Materials: PVC, ABS
Packaging: Windowed Box, 2 Plastic Interlocking Molds
Extras/Pack-ins: Illustrated backdrop for in-box display
Release Date: Late July/Early August, 2008
Manufacturing/Production: MegaHouse
Retail Price: 5,775円 ≈ $52.94
Current Availability: HLJ, Play-Asia, Hobby Search, many more
Related PVCs:SF Revolutions Mika (Posable), CAPCOMANIAX Ibuki, CAPCOMANIAX Felicia
Foreword:
Part of figure manufacturer MegaHouse's long-running Excellent Model label, the CAPCOMANIAX series features characters from game developer CAPCOM, known most prominently for their extensive repertoire of solid 2-D fighters. Of course, Mika Nanakawa hails from just such as game; the undisputed king of 2-D fighters: Street Fighter. She made her debut in the third release of Street Fighter Alpha (known as Zero in Japan) and hasn't made any substantial appearances outside of the Alpha series besides minor roles like in SNK Playmore's Card Fighter DS.
Mika, as a character, is rather peculiar. She's Japanese in nationality (yet blonde with blue eyes), is obsessed with Japanese Pro-Wrestling, has the largest breasts of any SF female, and the infamous Zangief is her idol. You might compare her to a more bubbly "in-your-face" version of Sakura, in that she pursues Zangief as Sakura does Ryu. Her wrestling costume is a mix of luchador, ballerina, and volleyball player. As you might expect of someone with all these traits, she's very outspoken and passionate. She's a heavier-tier character; her play style similar to Zangief's, consisting of grabs and full-circle rotations to perform specials. Thus she finds favor with more seasoned players.
Being the first release (along with Ibuki) for the CAPCOMANIAX series, R. Mika has a lot to live up to. Though, if her character accounts for anything, this piece won't be a pushover.
Sculpt:
Before I continue, it must be said that this is not a figure for everyone. If you have an aversion to muscular, toned female figures with relatively proportional anatomy (read: HEALTHY), it would be best if you not indulge in this addition to the Excellent Model series. If such is not the case for you, you'll find much to like in Mika's sculpt.
R. Mika fits perfectly in Toushiro's field of expertise. That being not only fighting game queens, but an emphasis on the athletic peak of the feminine form and (and I use this term loosely, aware of its consequences) more "realistic" design flair. Anatomy is spot-on, most noticeably the inclusion of a few fat deposits being pushed out by her skin tight clothing and her wonderfully developed breasts. Her pose is captive, if slightly uninspired, and flushes out the confidence of her character with a slightly seductive taunt. Mika's body is contorted in such a way that rotating her almost 180° is the most effective way to view her front.
While Mika's dynamite body looks good from low all angles, her face isn't quite on the same level. Different perspectives might provide you with different opinions on just what it is you're seeing. This is especially true in the sculpt's most troubled feature: the ears. This may have been a production error but all the pictures I've seen of the decomasu or related "near perfect" castings seem to have the same problem. That being: they're completely different. One ear is protruding far more and curls in towards the side of her head while the other seems relatively normal; laying flat against her skull. While shouldn't detract you from a prospective purchase, it does make one wonder just who let this one slide by unnoticed.
Production:
Megahouse doesn't greatly disappoint here either. Colors are well defined and, for the most part, in their respective zones with little to no bleeding or transfer. The paint job is respectable: a very attractive metallic blue complemented by slightly blue tinted knee pads and a pearl finish on her frills. A few mold lines are slightly visible on her thighs and one predominately on her buttocks but otherwise assembly and painting went keikaku doori. That is, if the ear wasn't a result of shotty production. For all intents and purposes, we'll give Megahouse the benefit of the doubt and say it wasn't.
At a Glance
☺R. Mika/SF fans will be wholly satisfied, HEALTHY Toushirou sculpt
Final = 4/5
Lucky Star OVA Commerical Streamed
A streaming commercial advertising the new Lucky Star OVA was released yesterday on Lucky Star's Hompage Lucky Channel...
The commercial (which can be found here) featured the voice of Shiraishi Minoru to short animation clips (presumably from the OVA) of Cherry-san, Miyuki Takara's pet dog.
For those who have been living under a rock unfamiliar with the new release, the project was announced in the June 2008 issue of Comptiq, the magazine which first published the original Lucky Star 4koma.
The Lucky Star OVA is scheduled for a release next month on September 26 in R2 format with a retail price of 6,090 円. Despite the upcoming release, little info actually exists about the OVA itself, this commercial being the most recent glimpse into the unknown aside from a few images released of some of the cast dressed in fantasy RPG garb seen below. Though lacking solid content, it does elicit some strong memories of my enjoyment of the TV series that aired last Spring and how much Lucky Star has been cemented in the otaku community since then.
Source:[ANN]
24 August, 2008
Max Factory's 1/8 scale Miki Hoshii PVCs
Moeyo Akibajin Blog posted a sample review of Max Factory's duel release of 1/8 scale Miki Hoshii New Star Version and Awakening Version PVCs due out in September for 7,500円 each...
Admittedly, a tad expensive for a single 1/8 scale PVC, but the roller coaster economy might not be the only reason Max Factory is looking to devour your parent's hard earned money. Both New Star and Awakening feature multiple accessories as pack-in bonuses. Among the fun: New Stars's Cat ears, cat paws and Awakening's giga drill breaker, and silver crown. Both sets of accessories are interchangeable between the two PVCs, making for some very nice customization. Also worthy of note is the custom ABS base resembling an LED dance floor, adding to the idol flair these pieces exuberate.
Though New Star and Awakening are hitting the market relatively soon, it's been a long time coming. Both were previewed by Max Factory at WonFes 2008 Winter and again in March during the Figure Maker's Exhibition Winter 2008 exposition following the event. Since their initial preview, their sculpts remain relatively unchanged but paint and hue seem to have been slightly modified for the final PVC release.
Sculptor Hironori Tokunaga has really outdone himself by providing 2 different, albeit similiar, figures. New Star and Awakening are wholey reminiscent of Tokunaga's style, especially the handling of their mouths and facial structure. If iM@S isn't your cup of tea, his Unity Yuno from the eroge Unity Marriage is scheduled for a release this December from Good Smile Company.
I pre-ordered the New Star version about a month ago and am eagerly awaiting its release to compliment my Haruka and Iori XENOGLOSSIA PVCs. Depending on my financial situation at the time, an Awakening Version might be fine too. Miki Hoshii(s) is available for pre-order now on multiple sites, so if the mood strikes you, act fast.
Souce:[Moeyo]
Mogudan's Under Ground Doujin (18+)
Now that C74 is behind us, the time for the absorption of the mass of doujin products released at this year's event is nigh. And there is no better place to begin than veteran artist Mogudan's Under Ground doujinshi...
Under Ground is an original doujinshi released at Comic Market 74 Summer by NekoPanchiBashiBashi, Mogudan's relatively new doujin-circle of which he seems to be the only prominent member. UG is a respective 50 pages long, with the front and back covers done in full-color. This the first doujinshi from Mogudan in quite a while that isn't part of his Rei series, for which he is almost unanimously known.
A direct download can be found here from Fakku.net.
Nakayohi Mogudan, or Yukinobu Azumi, has been working as a character designer and doujin artist for over a decade, his earliest project going back to Comic Market 51. After releasing Ayanami Dai Ikkai in 2006, he temporarily withdrew from the doujin scene until reappearing full-force with the continuation of his Rei series: Omake Hon Soushuuhen Sono 1 (おまけ本総集編その1) in May of 2008. Even during his absences, he provides the cover illustrations for the monthly doujinshi anthology publication Comic Unreal. Mogudan is also the character designer for the anime series Scrapped Princess and eroge Brave Soul and is extremely fond of those of the feline persuasion. His skill as an illustrator has grown substantially in the last two years, and his progress can easily be seen with each new release. Mogudan's style is highlighted by his trademark exaggerated anatomy, suction cup-like nipples, unique facial characteristics/designs, and a thematic focus on loose-women.
23 August, 2008
Mega Man E-tank Sports Drink Sold Out
In one of the greatest marketing tactics ever employed by the Japanese, a sports drink resembling an E-tank (a reoccurring motif item from the video game franchise Mega Man) was released today by the merchandising branch of CAPCOM in anticipation of their new Mega Man 9 Wiiware title...
The drink was previewed on CAPCOM's blog before its limited street release for 137円 a unit. The "Rock Man E-can" was being sold at various branches of Animate and Kotobukiya stores when it sold out soon after going on display. Retailers are expected to re-stock the limited production drink next Tuesday, the 26th.
The E-tank is an item seen throughout the Mega Man series and can play a pivotal role in helping the player survive the hectic platforming the series is known for. An abundant healing item, E-cans can be collected throughout stages to fill Mega Man's life meter until it reaches excess. In such a case, E-tanks (if you have them in your inventory) are used to collect and store this excess life energy until "the very end" (ideally, a Robot Master).
Source:[Moeyo]
20 August, 2008
Daiki Kougyou's 1/6 scale Akuma-san 2 PVC
A twist of the demonic and all things moe, the second figure of manufacturer Daiki Kyougyou's "Akuma-san"(akuma [悪魔] meaning devil or demon) series of PVCs was just recently released: the accurately titled Akuma-san 2...
She was previewed at World Hobby Festival Ariake 18 in May and opened for pre-orders around that time with a tentative release date in mid-August. At 1/6 scale, Akuma-san 2 ranks in at 26cm and is retailing for 9,240円. Besides her top-tier scale and solid design aspects, Akuma-san 2 is fully castoffable. In principle, her Hadaka apron has the ability to negate the "apron" and focus on the "hadaka", so to speak. Though her lucidly opaque apron doesn't obscure much to begin with.
Akuma-san 2 is sculpted by Yamadaya, the individual responsible for the original Akuma-san figure seen here, also manufactured by Daiki Kyougou as a scale PVC. Amiami has also listed a limited edition version featuring a redesigned color palette with a transparent pink apron, darker pair of wings, and blonde hair seen here. However, it looks as though the limited version is exclusive to AmiAmi.
Money has been tight for me this month, so a purchase of Akuma-san 2 is up in the air. A piece definitely worth mentioning though.
Souce:[Amiami]
Mega Man Released on Virtual Console
The wait is over. After Capcom announcements that Nintendo would release the first outing of the now world-famous Blue Bomber, it has finally happened. The original Mega Man game was released on the Wii's Virtual Console firmware on August 18th.
Not even a day after being available for download, Mega Man was found under the most "Popular" titles for download, finding it's niche among such Nintendo classics as Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda. Expect Mega Man II and III (the former being considered by many as the greatest entry in the series) to be released in the near to distant future. Also something to look out for, Mega Man 9, the newest game in the original Mega Man series, is to be released on Nintendo's WiiWare with 8-bit graphics and classic Mega Man gameplay.
Mega Man I was released on December 17, 1987 in Japan on the NES. Originally intended as a coin-op arcade game, Capcom higher-ups ultimately decided that Mega Man (or Rock Man, as the series is known is Japan) was better suited for Nintendo's home console. The Mega Man series has gained a reputation among seasoned fans and newcomers alike for its progressive electronica BGM and near-insane difficulty. Since it's release in '87, the Mega Man series has accumulated over 40 titles and multiple spin-off series such as X, Battle Network, and most recently Star Force.
17 August, 2008
Riuva Mega Figure Bazaar
The Research Institute for Unicultural Visual Arts blog (appropriately abbreviated as Riuva) is having a figure bazaar and, having already purchased the two figures seen above, I wouldn't be doing my part if I didn't alert others to this excellent resource for buying rare or out of stock scale and trading figures at considerably low prices.
What started off as a sale of 60 figures has now dwindled to 43 in only two days. To check out what's still open for reservation, see Riuva's MS Excel spreadsheet available here. More information and pictures of some of the offered figures are available at Riuva.com linked above.
I'm in the payment process of ordering Alter's 1/6 scale Mizuki Maia from Daphne in Brilliant Blue and Yamato's 1/6 scale Inabaya Bunny Girl Lydia. Maia was released almost 3 years ago and Lydia around 2.5. Expect more information on each and maybe some reviews. The chances of coming across them after such a period of time is slim to none, outside of E-bay (enjoy ur bootlegs), so if you see something of interest: act fast.
Source:[Riuva]
16 August, 2008
Magical Battle Arena
One of the most anticipated doujin-soft titles has officially been released at Comic Market 74, the 3-D Mahou Shoujo fighter Magical Battle Arena...
Magical Battle Arena is 3rd person fighting game in which players can select from a collection of magical girls from such anime series as Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha, Cardcaptor Sakura, and Slayers. Fly-System, a circle who exclusively produces doujin-soft titles, is responsible for the creation of MBA. A demo version of the game was released at Comiket 73 Winter and included a basic "Battle Mode" and only two characters: Nanoha Takamachi and Lina Inverse. The final version boasts a total of 10 characters, 5 modes (including online network play), new voice work, and attacks for each character.
The full version of Magical Battle Arena can be downloaded here from Hongfire.
Source:[TT]
15 August, 2008
Sasami -Magical Girl's Club- Volume 1
My 2-disc set of Sasami -Magical Girl's Club- arrived today. More info and a review of the first half of the season coming up after I watch it.
(;°Д°)/That's it for now...\(°Д°;)
Kannagi Anime PV Streamed
The Kannagi TV Anime Homepage updated today with a whole mass of info and content. The most exciting of which: a streaming PV for the anime airing this October. See the PV and additional info after the jump...
Aside from the PV, the Kannagi Homepage also announced that Volume 1 of Kannagi will be released on November 26 for 6300円.
For more information on the Kannagi series, see my previous post introducing the manga here.
Kannagi is a UHF anime as listed by MoonPhase, as such it will air on multiple JAITS stations including Animax and Chiba TV. As previously mentioned, it is TBA (to be aired) during October, making it a Fall season anime. Animated by A-1 Picture Inc. and directed by Yutaka Yamamoto, the controversial director of the first 4 episodes of the Lucky Star anime (take that however you will).
This will be Yamamoto's second major directorial role after his acknowledgment of the Lucky Star incident on Kannagi's promotional radio program. My opinion on the whole fiasco at the time, and currently, is not that Yamamoto is a bad director nor the first four episodes of Lucky Star shit. What Yamamoto did was take the 4-koma and successfully adapt it into animation. The problem with that being: 4-koma, standalone, are not fit to be animated without a little something "more", something that makes them "anime compatible". Reasons why some regard the first few episodes of Lucky Star to be "dry" or "slow". If you compare the anime's content to it's 4-koma predecessor, they cover the same content in the same format. A successful adaptation of an anime from it's source material is usually a trait associated with a skilled director but for Lucky Star, this was not the case. It's evident Yamamoto did his best but, ultimately, it wasn't quite what people were looking for in the Lucky Star anime. Later episodes exemplified this with their additional "bang" and "zoom" content. Take it as bad or good, all we can hope for is that the Kannagi anime will be everything the manga is and more.
Your opinion on all this?
Source:[ANN]
13 August, 2008
Figure Review: MegaHouse's 1/8 scale Hanako
Figure Title: Tsukasa Bullet 02 Holstein Hanako-san
Character Name: Holstein Hanako-san (ホルスタイン花子さん)
Original Character Designer:Tsukasa Jun
Sculptor: OSIRIS
Source Material: Series of Original Illustrations
Scale: 1/8 (18cm ≈ 5 inch tall)
Base: Color: Metallic Silver Shape:Circular, notches around circumference Features: Holstein pattern, Mid-point spike.
Necessary Removable Parts: None
Removable Parts/Accessories: Hanako's Head
Castoffability: Patterned ABS Bra
Materials: PVC, ABS
Packaging: Windowed Box, 2 Plastic Interlocking Molds
Extras/Pack-ins: Illustrated backdrop for in-box display
Release Date: December 06, 2007
Manufacturing/Production: MegaHouse
Retail Price: 5000円 ≈ $45.96
Current Availability: Toyslogic, Kid Nemo
Related PVCs: MegaHouse's 1/8 Alternate Color Hanako-san
Foreword:
Before we jump into the review, some appropriate background on Tsukasa Jun: Anyone familiar with doujinshi has probably seen something by Tsukasa Bullet (his pen name), whether knowingly or not. A venerable character designer, mangaka, and doujinshi artist, Tsukasa is a member of the doujin-circle Kacchu Musume, a circle who started off specializing in game characters, especially fighting game queens the likes of Mai Shiranui, Chun-Li, and Sakura. Since then, the circle has expanded and each member is versatile in their designs. Kacchu Musume is still fervent, however, and has new releases for Comiket74 on the 16th of this month. But Tsukasa isn't just a circle member. He has a major solo career, having a few published artbooks and character designer roles for such video games as the Taisen Hot Gimmick series and Air Force Delta Strike under his belt. It could be said his style is similar to that of Range Murata in that detail to anatomy (especially correct or life-like proportions) and a unique coloring style that highlights the warmth and sheen of skin are noticeable trademarks. Though Tsukasa often illustrates more mature, not to mention muscular, women than Murata.
His designs have inspired more than an artist's fair share of resin and PVC figures, most notably the Tsukasa Bullet series by Megahouse, of which Hanako-san hails from. I'm not clear exactly where Hanako-san first appeared but she is featured throughout Tsukasa's works, like Kacchu Musume's Kabushikigaisha Rebasashi doujin anthology released at Comike 66. At any rate, the original illustration that this PVC draws from can be seen on the side of the box for easy comparison. Hanako is the anthropomorphization of a Holstein, your typical dairy cow, and is usually pictured with a butterfly. MegaHouse released Hanako Q4 last year so she's still very much in circulation, mainly from US based vendors. Hanako does not attach to her base so it isn't required to display her.
Sculpt:
If you've seen Hanako-san before or even just looked at the picture accompanying this post, it's fairly obvious just how phenomenal a sculpt this really is. OSIRIS has a solid track record, most noticeably MegaHouses' Echidna and upcoming China-san PVCs, both from their Excellent Model Core series. A few things are apparent in these pieces that can also be found in Hanako and all pay respect to OSIRIS' skill as a sculptor. First, he has a way with mouths that puts other figure sculptors to shame. Hanako's open mouth is fully sculpted and extraordinarily detailed. The mouth of a figure is one of the more difficult facets of a sculpt in my opinion. Very rarily will you see an open mouth will sculpted teeth and tongue with the level of precision and beauty that OSIRIS brings to the table. Granted that the original illustration required Hanako's mouth to be open, few could have handled it in such a way. Another praisworthy point: every detail, and I do mean every detail, that can be seen in the original illustration is faithfully portrayed in the sculpt. From the shape and direction of Hanako's hair/ahoge to the small "TB" that is inscribed on the buttons just above her bra, everything is there and in flawless quality. Most striking of all is the beautiful anatomy and muscle definition. From her obliques to her deltoids, Tsukasa's niche for healthy women is captured and very much emphasized. This sculpt is as near to perfection as figures can get.
To top things off, Hanako's bra is cast-off friendly. It's constructed of ABS, a plastic often seen in figures for bendable, transient, or very "plastic-y" clothing, accessories, or base parts. Under her right arm, the two straps for the bra meet and can be unattached from one another. After peeling the bra up off her breasts, her head can easily popped off to completely remove it. Her boobs have the general shape of steamed pork dumplings (the perfect shape for tits IMHO) and some of the best nipples I've seen on a cast-offable figure; they aren't too "perky" or solid circles.
Production:
Many people in my opinion fail to recognize the powerhouse that is...well, MegaHouse. Too often do we hear about how GoodSmile Company or Max Factory are the colloquial "kings of the mountain" in the figure industry. But the releases speak for themselves, and MegaHouse repeatedly ranks high. Doing so, it's fairly obvious that any figure I subject to review that comes from MegaHouse will receive all, if not most, of it's "Production" points. And in saying so, the only negatives in MegaHouse's production of Hanako fail to stand up against the figure as a whole. Those being: a few visible mold lines (especially on the buttocks and thigh), and small gaps in between where her forearm meets the metallic portion of her sleeve. Such scrutiny is the product of close inspection and, if MegaHouse's production is equal across the board, will definitely not take away from your opinion of Hanako.
An excellent painting job as well. Her hair uses color techniques often seen to simulate sheen and reflection of light, using. There is little to no bleeding of paint across boundaries or rough edges and everything is well kept. Hanako's skin has a very natural, lightly pale, tone and some very subtle shading. Still harping on OSIRIS' attention to detail, there is a little blush on Hanako's cheeks, not as much as the illustration but there nonetheless. An addition that gives her face a softer warm feeling.
At a Glance
☺Complete faithfulness to Jun Tsukasa's original illustration with minor variations
Sculpt = 2.5/5
Production = 2.5/5
Final = 5/5
Just buy this already.
09 August, 2008
Kaiji Season 2 Announced
A second season for the TV anime adaptation of Nobuyuki Fukumoto's Kaiji manga was officially announced yesterday by Masao Maruyama, the CCO of powerhouse Japanese animation studio Madhouse, at the Otakon 2008 anime convention in Baltimore, Maryland. When asked about a second season for Kaiji during a Madhouse panel, Masao is quoted with saying:
The first season of Kaiji aired during the Fall '07 season and continued until early 2008 with a full 26 episode season run. Animated by Madhouse and directed by Akagi director Yuzo Sato, S1 covered the first arc of the manga in 4 mini-arcs (Restricted Rock Paper Scissors, Human Derby, E-card, Tissue Kujibiki). Two other manga arcs exist but no word on whether or not these will be the basis of content for season 2.
For those who haven't indulged themselves by watching Kaiji, S1 ended on the very moot note, with the literal combined roar of heaven and hell's occupants' screams, cries and prayers for another season echoing in each and every viewer's skull. Shit is SO epic.
Source: [Japanator]
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