Animal Crossing Figure?

Yes.  I can't resist a video game figure, especially when one is being sold on the cheap.  I like hunting around for sale figures, and an ebay auction caught my eye again. 2.00 for an animal crossing trading box.

I actually never played animal crossing (only a little at a friends house) and the game play didn't interest me.  I do however enjoy the little animal designs. So I put in a minimum bid and forgot it existed. Suddenly I won and my little guy made it here fast. So what exactly did I bid on?

So a much larger box than I expected came in (it's still trading figure size).  Also, it seems I have a part of a whole small world, rather than a single character.  I have to admit, the back that shows the completed glode is really cute.  It goes with the game motif/concept, so kudos! now what is inside:

Suddenly kit! and an adorable wolf girl. So I do have to build my little part of the world...interesting.  As a concept I like this a lot, but in practice I'm wary of how well this will work. I do like the tiny stand they include so you can display JUST the character, but considering the whole set, that would feel like a waste. So time to build:

So here are the individual parts coming together.  At least I could use the tiny stand to get some easy shots.  As far as parts go, they fit pretty well.  As far as the stickers.....they do not.  They also have that terrible problem of peeling up after being placed.  They also don't line up well, which made placing them difficult in the first place. This might be from parts being so small, but I've still seen better sticker for figures, specifically from Bandai on my gundam I did a few posts before. The real joy has to be in assembling the corner of the world, so here's how it came out.

So here is the completed piece.  Altogether it's not bad at all.  A fun little put together that suffers from being a small part of a whole concept.  From the front and top views it's a sweet little scene.  The ability to make it your own with the extra stickers was smart on the part of the designers. 

The real problem is the side view.  It shows off the seams of the build, and has the awkward leeeeaaan that a rounded base tends to give. I'm still not fond of the stickers peeling either.  I'm ok with the connections to the other globe parts because they don't scream "we are lock in joints" but they will always be there if you don't complete the globe.  So link is back for size comparison, and this completed corner is approx. 2 inches tall.

I like my little wolf and have decided she can live on a shelf by my art supplies. Specifically because I can only view her from the front that way. Her face is well painted and the parts are adorable, so it's a shame it has problems.  I would not get another one of these kits, even at the wonderful price (thanks again to a great seller).  I'm content with her, and have no ambitions to complete a globe. 

I'd rather complete a more difficult kit in the future, so again nerd away~

Vash the Stampede Figure

I'm not alone in my love for Vash the Stampede from the hit manga/anime series Trigun.  It's been getting buzz yet again (ten years after) due to the movie release (badlands) and recent revoltech unveiling of a crisp new Vash figure late last year.  I haven't seen the film yet, but will pick it up soon (maybe do a little review?) Still, Vash holds a special place among my fandoms.  

While hunting for prices on the revoltech version I found a sale on a very different version I had not seen before.  It was actually quite stunning in photos and really brought out the gritty/darker side of the character.  So after dropping 14 bucks and waiting a quick shipping week I received McFarlane's Vash the Stampede from the famed 3d Animation Series 1 line.  Now then, was it worth the rather cheap buy?

I'm actually very familiar with McFarlane Toys action figures.  (next part is rambling from my childhood, so skip it if you want just figure pics)


>>>>  I have fond memories of a tiny comic book shop I would visit after school.  It was this odd hole in the wall joint just a couple streets down from my middle school.  While small, it was packed with nerd paradise from floor to ceiling.  It was populated by grown men who frequented Magic the Gathering Card tournaments and would kindly trade pokemon cards with me.  A nice batch of dudes who hated sunlight and seemed to never leave the back card table.  They knew me as the pokemon girl who bought Shoujo Manga and Animerica magazine issues.


Anyway, above the counter they kept figurines, most of them from the McFarlane toy line.  Generally I just associated the line with SPAWN, movie figures, and other random assortments of characters. (Recently they seem to be the HALO toy line more that anything else)  The shop only had Akira figures from the Japanese animation series line, and I never looked into it again.  I barely had money for a booster pack of pokemon cards let alone any of the figurines the shop had in stock.  Now I truly wish I had a local shop like that around. <<<<

The Package is a clam shell with a surprising assortment of parts. Nicely packed, simple, and shows the rest of the line on the back for potential buyers.  Please note that this line is from the year 2000, so getting one in box was really nice for me. I loved ripping into it, even though part of me felt like I should keep it "in box" for that mint condition label collectors put on things.  Well, Screw it, I want my figure.

Right off the bat, I dig this base.  It comes with the dirt mound, the shot up back waal, and the damaged cactus (poster optional).  It sets the mood right away, bringing me right back to the dusty sands of the show.  The way the dips and rises in the dirt are molded makes it easy to take out the other parts and have it still function as a base.  So you don't have to include the wall or the cactus.  Honestly it serves as a good base for any figure. In my mind only shows how nice the design works. Totally love the little bullet shells and half buried skull. Shall we see how other characters fare in the Trigun world?

Like I said, it works surprisingly well.... especially when you can hide the pegs. Oh and hey, a couple of these figures still need photo shoots, but they just like crashing the party so much. Onto the main guy:

I really love the sculpt on this figure.  The way the coat falls around him, the bends of the fabirc, and the way the buttons sink into the leather is wonderful.  The surprising part is how soft the pvc is on the coat.  It has a bend and flexibility that actually reminds me of leather.  It also helps when setting up the figure and having it drape over the wall. The rest of the figure is a harder pvc that makes the sculpted straps and bindings on his legs stand out really well.

The face is what makes or breaks this figure for people.  It's the more mature face of Vash the Stampede, rather than the silly happy Vash from most of the time.  The hair is a more normal shade of blond rather than solid yellow.  The glasses are actually molded and have transparent yellow plastic for the lens' which is a nice touch.  These are all the things that make me like the figure, but turn people off from it. Other nice points are the sculpt/paint of his trusty silver firearm and the little neko that was included.


A few things that did turn me off but they are minor: Vash is VERY hard to fit onto his pegs on the base. I thought I broke the pegs with the force necessary to get him to fit.  Honestly I can't tell if this is from waiting in packaging for so long or if the holes were don't not drilled correctly on Vash's shoes. (he can stand without the base so if I couldn't fit him, he would be fine on his own)

The paint is wonderful in tone and shading, but some of the shades are misaligned. Other portions are a little faded or not filled in (on the hair,a few buttons and some studs).  Not bad though, and I do have to say it is made up for with the sculpt and the tone being so spot on.

 The chain was a strange but welcome design choice. People often wrap it up around Vash in various ways, and can make him feel more custom.  He also has parts that articulate back and forth. (arms, neck and legs move in one direction only) It works well and hides all the joints nicely, and for a figure that I thought would be static, it only gives him more points.  He also has joints in his gun hand, which was awesome to discover. He has the alternate gun arm without his wraps, but it is so difficult to put in, I was worried it would break, so I've left it off. (you can see it in the package pictures up top)

I love this figure.  Basically, it was a worthy addition to my collection.  It came with unexpected surprises, and a lot of attitude that works well with Vash the Stampede.  By the way, my order said he was 6 inches tall, but on the stand he is a whopping 8 inches. So he is a great size.  I plan to pickup Revoltech's Vash in the future, but should I miss my chance, I'm very happy with this version.

If seeing This Vash figure has interested anyone in McFarlane Toy figures, I suggest going over to spawn.com to check out their catalog. (it's extensive) You can also participate in their polls, since that's how they come out with new products.

Vash is easy to find on toy sites, amazon.com or ebay.  He'll run between 12 to 40 dollars depending on price/shipping. Getting this one for under 25 was amazing, and totally recommended. And now Layton is going to steal that adorable Neko.

Plex D.P.C.F. Three Musketeers Roronoa Zoro

No catchy title tonight, just a big figure.  Plex is muscling up next to the P.O.P line when it comes to the One Piece figures.  Both are wonderful, and both are expensive.  I came across someone selling second hand the figure of the one Zoro I really wanted when it was announced.  So here is Plex D.P.C.F. Three Musketeers Roronoa Zoro 1/7 scale (a little over 9 inches tall!):

Zoro has many figures (all looking good) but the Musketeer line has him in the leather jacket/badass pose I find myself loving more and more. I must have a thing for tough guys with good hearts. (Who else is waiting for that Persona 4 Kanji figure to release?) Ok, the light is harsh in this shot so here are details:

The face and hair sculpt are excellent.  It really looks like the Zoro we know from One Piece (artstyle and attitude.)  You can see scuffs on the rifle. I know that comes from the previous owner and the post office smashing the box he was shipped in.  Paint scuffs like this are easy to fix, so I'm not bothered.  I read in many reviews Zoro figures that come new from Plex have excellent paint, so it's not an issue.

Firearm details: Some slight paint misses, but also easy to fix.  The molding on the guns are wonderful. It's nice that the rifle has a scope and the pistol in hand is actually cocked.  The guns were shipped off figure, and fitting them into their respective slots was difficult, but rewarding.

These are shots of the clothing details: like the jackets, zippers, belts, pants and shoes. I love the work on all the metallic features; they stand out nicely against the black. Buttons are well covered, and the loop for the third pistol even unhooks to allow the gun to slide out.

Base shot (he slid into his pegs nicely). Oh and I should mention, the dust collects like crazy on this guy. You do need the base though, he does topple over without it.  It's basic but I do love the hexagon shape/lettering on it.

Final thoughts? A worthy buy.  Plex does an amazing job, and I hear the others they have completed are also top notch.  Sadly Zoro is the only one who interests me, so I probably won't be picking up the other musketeers in this set.  Perhaps a P.O.P will catch my eye in the future so I can compare, but not right now. I'm going to save my money for the next punk in black that catches my eye.

Nostalgia for the New Year

Happy New Year and well wishes for everyone!  For tonight I'm posting something not figurine for once.  (Don't worry I have many more figure related posts in the future)  A gift from my family, I finally got my hands on something dear to my childhood. 

I'm sure everyone who enjoys anime as an adult can recall their first anime.  Mine was the rather random/campy/parody-ish action comedy of Samurai Pizza Cats.  I can't explain it honestly.  As a child it had bright colors, silly faces, robots, fights, pizza, princesses, a fake Tokyo and explosions.  How could it not be good?  Even as a adult I go back and re-watch episodes from time to time.  The added perk being the rather 'adult' innuendo/political humor it had that I missed as a child.  So when I actually got hand painted cels and background from the show, I was deeply touched.

Speedy and Guido were my favorite cats... er Samurai Pizza Cats.  They had great relationship that went from loving to loathing and back again.  They had each others backs in battle and otherwise competed for the attention of the female citizens of the 'doomed to be attacked' Neo Tokyo.  This set is a background, and 2 cels (one signed off on).  Obviously kept in excellent condition which I intend to continue. It may seem meaningless to some people, but the feeling of holding something from your childhood is just wonderful.

Here is a shot of the background, which is skillfully rendered.  The holes in the sheet are for the placement for photography during the actual animation process.  It's a pleasure to see the order number (of when a backround is used in a show) and all of the background intact.  It's like holding a little piece of history.

Here is a little bit of detail to show off the hand painted quality and to show how easily a background like this works with a little bit of zoom. Sadly I only barely recall the episodes, and through the years my brain misplaced where this location exists in the context of the show. (I recall it being a airport runway/hanger tarmac for some reason.)

Here is the cel of Speedy Cerviche alone. Front and Back.  The holes in the top were for setting the cels over the backgrounds. By the by, painting cels is a laborious task. (I've painted a few before.)

Guido Anchovy gets a turn next.  Front and Back.  Guido is the top cel in this set so it has the signature(or possibly a note) in the corner.  Usually these were either signoffs on completion by the artist after cels were used or after cels were sold/released.  They actually don't retain more value because of it, but that doesn't matter since it's endearing to have with the set.

An odd item most would say, but one of the gems of my collection. As for display, I actually leave them in an air tight box in my closet (out of sunlight or any potential spills/folds). I only handle them when I want to enjoy them or photograph them (as in this case). I hope this was a little different and interesting for an entry, and more will come in the new year.