It's more likely than you think. In what amounts to an all-out assault against PVC, there has been a recent slew of announcements regarding figure releases of a quality usually reserved for small-scale con production...

Apparently, word of the current global recession has yet to reach certain inconspicuous figure manufacturers, despite other more conservative-minded companies making fiscal decisions considerate of their overhead. In the past few weeks, the figure community has been bombarded with declarations of completed polystone and cold cast bishoujo figure releases from domestic vendors the likes of AlphaMax and Amie Grand, who usually deal in the mass-market production of resin kits. The spending habits of otaku have often been known to be operate separately from and in opposition to the economic climate, yet with price tags upwards of $160 USD,one wonders whether both they and the figure companies bearing that weight will be able to brave this recessionary winter. Nevertheless, for those with supple pockets (or enough credit cards) this trend promises high quality figures attainable without that troublesome garage-kit know-how.

For those wondering what exactly makes polystone and cold cast figures a step above standard PVC releases, the answer centers around the materials used in the production process:

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) is as cheap as it is abundant and, for that reason, is the go-to material in casting figures intended for large quantity production (thousands of units). The characteristics of PVC make it rather light and malleable, or bendable, which is both a blessing and a curse for bishoujo figures as it allows them to adjust to temperature settings but at the same time endorses the potential to warp them (as in leaning). The quality of PVC figures is highly reliant on manufacturing conditions and quality checks.

On the other hand, Cold Cast and Polystone figures utilize a Polyurethane (PU) resin base which, by simple economics, can be 3 or 4 times more expensive than PVC, depending on market conditions. The term "cold cast" derives from the decreased temperature of the materials elicited from the curing process and rolls off the tongue easier than 'polyurethane. "Polystone" figures are actually 'reinforced' cold casts in that before the mold has cured, stone powder is added to the resin base for aesthetic purposes. Besides being more expensive, the properties of polyurethane-based figures are almost the exact opposite of PVC: they're rather heavy, strong but potentially brittle, and don't adapt to temperature fluctuations as easily.

So with that out of the way, here's a preview of what's being offered:

Amie-Grand:

Amanda Werner, 1/6 scale Polystone, 15,540 円, Feb. 2010
Coinciding with Yamato's release of another Amanda PVC, Amie-Grand's polystone figure depicts Amanda as fans of Gonzo's Blassreiter remember her: incredibly sexy.



Chouhi Ekitoku, 1/6 scale Polystone, 15,540 円, Feb. 2010
Yet another Ikki Tousen figure depicting the series' less touted Chouhi paying tribute to the long heralded Japanese custom of dipping bananas in chocolate, only to have their deliciousness misconstrued by suggestive (but equally delicious) anime cliches.


AlphaMax:

Spica, 1/6 scale Cold Cast, 16,800 円, March 2010
A diorama piece featuring Spica, the tsundere heroine of Nitro+'s mahou shoujo eroge Sumaga, which received an update earlier this year with "Sumaga Special", opening the door for more figure adaptations.


Birdy, 1/6 scale Cold Cast, 15,800円, March 2010
If you're looking to define 'dynamic' in reference to figures, this would be a good example. An EXTREMELY detailed base compliments an energetic sculpt of Yuuki Masami's classic intergalactic policewoman.


Guin (of Guin Saga), Non-Scale Cold Cast, 34,800円, Jan. 2010
AlphaMax's Guin is a departure from a lot of things: the ordinary, standard retail price, and my comfort zone. From Guin Saga, the longest running novel series and its recent anime adaptation, Tiger Mask-I mean- King, er, Guin, undoubtedly appeals to those who like their figures with testosterone.

Kaitendoh

Joe, 1/6 scale Polystone, 14,700 円, Late Dec. 2009
In celebration of Ashita no Joe's 40th anniversary, Kaitendoh is releasing this completed Joe polystone diorama first exhibited at the last Wonder Festival. One of the most beloved series in manga history, Ashita no Joe set the precedent for anime and manga like Hajime no Ippo, in addition to introducing classic anime elements such as the "cross-counter" and tragic death scene.


Seras Victoria, 1/7 scale Polystone, 17,640 円, Feb 2010
From Kouta Hirano's manga, this sculpt of Seras is a little rough around the edges, but that's exactly its appeal. Seras will be available in two color variants, her standard yellow police suit and the red seen here. Definitely a bold release and a must buy for Hellsing fans.


M.M and Kemeko, 1/6 scale Polystone, No Price, No Release
Apparently, Kaitendoh has been trying to release this polystone of Kemeko DX's M.M. for quite some time now (at least a few months). She's still listed on their homepage, but pricing and release date info have yet to be established.


Daiki Kougyo:

Mizuho Kazami, 1/4 scale Polystone, 18,000 円, April 2010
The heroine of the Onegai Teacher! series, Mizuho has an energy that cannot be stopped. This seductive polystone figure will be her 5th, yes, 5th figure released in 2009, almost 8 years since the anime first aired. Another swimsuit edition is mixed with a more licentious Mizuho than fans might be accustomed to, resembling Mizuho's deviant mother, Hatsuho.



Tomoe (Re-paint Ver.), 1/15 scale Polystone, 3500 円, Mar. 2010
An original figure created exclusively for Hobby Search in celebration of their 10th anniversary, Tomoe is large in just about every department but scale: coming in at only 1/15 makes her the most affordable polystone release within... well, the foreseeable future. As an original limited edition figure sculpted by veteran Hiroshi Sato, she's sure to move.