Porcelaine Priss

Murakami Makes his mark at the Gagosian

2011-07-15T02:02:00.000-07:00

To find out why EVERY otaku in the UK should be making their way down to the Gagosian Gallery in London by the 5th of August this year, head on over to my report on this remarkable exhibition by seminal pop art superstar Takashi Murakami at Otaku News.

Murakami's lastest collaborations bring together the talents of bishojo designers TONY (Shining Tears), KEI (Voclaoid), Oyari Ashito (LittleWitch) and Matsuyama Seiji (Eiken). It is a unique collection that celebrates the talent and beauty that has blossoms in the contemporary commercial art realm.

All artworks © Takashi Murakami/KaiKai Kiki Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved
Photography by Muir Vilder/Courtesy of the Gagosian Gallery

Ms. Fan Stand by sculptor Momiji

2011-02-17T09:14:00.000-08:00

Following hot on the heels of one of the most exciting occasions for figure collectors and creators alike, attendees at February’s Wonder Festival sent slew of sensational images across the internet. Coverage from the otaku community is loaded with the luscious delights from inside the show. Through these visual reports we get a view of future stars from both the mass production industry and straight from original sources - the creators themselves. It is the venue for illustrious exhibits that introduce the most desirable pieces soon to be available from major manufacturers. These typically get the most attention from collectors outside of Japan who are looking to see what forthcoming wonders will be popping up for preorder, however, many gems of the show, are often the beauties we may never come to know.
Thanks to an encounter at last year’s MCM London Expo in October, I have recently been given unique insight into the world of figure sculpting by exceptional rising artist Momiji. Building all his works from scratch, Momiji’s works is unlike anything I have seen before in all my years of figure collecting. He presents a remarkably fresh fusion of figure and functionality. His creations are uniquely attractive and present mature and deftly executed design. Momiji’s aesthetics combine the kind of lithe elegance and finesse of one of Alter’s renditions of characters crafted by Saitou Fumiki with a conceptual quality that gives them a sharp edge of chic.

At the London MCM Expo, Momiji presented “Ms. Glasses Holder” a lady who literally puts the fetish for girls with glasses on a pedestal. The central figure is a secretarial stunner who helpfully serves as a sultry receptacle to store a pair of spectacles. A split in the back of her pencil skirt is open an invitation for the eye to enjoy the curves of her slender form.
Following along on the theme of the skirt with a split seam, Momiji’s latest creation first unveiled at Wonderfest, is the exquisite “Ms. Fan Stand”. This China girl is leggy beauty who exudes coquettish charm with the composition of fan and cheongsam.

Momiji was kind enough to share some shots of her with me and to return the favour, I shall share them here!

She wears a long glossy red gown of silk that shifts and plays over every curve giving life and motion to her fabulous form. The amber sash she clasps in her hand dances about her body as she summons it to follow her stride.
Despite the air of elegance there is something so wonderfully wicked about Ms. Fan Stand. Her eyes with their bright accents of red shine sweetly at you. The curl of a smile is barely visible above the crescent of her fan, something that makes her almost demure. However, there is a punch line to this modest façade as behind the fan the mischievous minx is poking out her tongue!
Curves echo throughout the composition of both figure and holder. She stands upon a dainty plinth flanked by the pretty fan that unfurls in an arch that creates the foundation of the stand.
The ornamental quality of the piece exhibits an exquisite asymmetry evocative of a Zen garden at twilight. I imagine the scent sweet jasmine and the sultry glow of lanterns as I gaze at this girl. Momiji is relatively new to the figure scene and has been actively sculpting for little more than two years. This is not only a remarkable achievement and testament to his craftsmanship but an inspiring thought when one wonders what he will envision and compose next. What does the future hold in store for Mojimi’s series of conceptual creations? I for one cannot wait for the next piece to be revealed...

Momiji's blog can be seen here.

Hyper Japan - Event Report

2010-11-01T10:28:00.000-07:00

Gadzooks, it's been a long time since I last made a post here at Priss blog - BUT the report for my recent adventures at Hyper Japan in London is now up on Otaku News. Hyper Japan was a unique experience and a great occasion for Japanese culturephiles and figure fans alike with guests such as Goodsmile Company and Hobby Japan. I am looking forward to the return of this convention in 2011 and if you'd like find out why follow me (^_~)

Cat's Crumble - Rhubarb & Apple Crumble Recipe

2010-06-21T07:20:00.000-07:00

Before I return to my typical topic of reviewing figures, I’m going to post about one of my other passions – cooking.
Sunday 19th July in the UK was Father’s Day and for me, that means one very important duty I must fulfil as a daughter – making crumble. Now, given the choice, “what would you like, apple or rhubarb crumble?” it was to be apple AND rhubarb... something for which I didn’t have a recipe of in my repertoire. Thus follows my own spin on the classic sweet treat adapted from a dozen adventures with Delia Smith dishes.
Crumble is the quintessential traditional British comfort cooking. It takes and makes the best of seasonal fruits, splicing and dicing them together in a spiced, sweet and sharp ensemble all buried under beautiful layers of buttery crumble topping.
When it cooks, the spices sing out amidst the rich aroma of the baked topping and the fragrance of the fruits within, bubbling away in the sultry depths of the hot oven.
For my Dad it’s irresistible. For me, it’s all about the fruit. I like it not too sweet and liberal with the crumble, the buttered crumb with scattered traces of Demerara sugar subsiding into the tender spiced fruit with just a teeny splosh of custard. Again, the conditions of crumble, according to my Father state that there is only one custard – Bird's.

In summer, crumble marries well with a nice vanilla ice cream (Haagen Dazs or Green & Black’s make excellenf choices).

Rhubarb and Apple Crumble

Serves 6

Ingredients

Filling:
♥ 600g rhubarb
♥ 500g Braeburn apples
♥ 75-110g of golden caster sugar (adjust to taste)
♥ 1 heaped teaspoon of freshly grated root ginger
♥ 1 level teaspoon of ground cinnamon
♥ A dash of brandy
Crumble topping:
♥ 110g of ground almonds
♥ 75g chilled butter, cut into small dice
♥ 175g self-raising flour
♥ 2 level teaspoons of ground cinnamon
♥ 1 level teaspoon of ground ginger
♥ 110g Demerara sugar
To serve:
Your choice of custard or favourite vanilla icecream
♥ Pre-heat the oven to 200°C (gas mark 6, 400°F)
♥Ovenproof baking dish measuring 7½ x 11 inches (19 x 28 cm) and 1¾ inches (4.5 cm) deep, or a round ovenproof baking dish with a diameter of 9½ inches (24 cm) and 1¾ inches (4.5 cm) deep.

How to make:

Filling:
1) Wash and chop the rhubarb into 2.5cm pieces and place in the oven dish
2) Peel and core the apples, slice thickly add them to the rhubarb
3) Sprinkle over the sugar and spices, the fresh ginger and toss the ingredients together
4) Finally, add a dash of brandy to the fruit
Topping:
5) Sift the flour and spices into the bowl of a food processor
6) Add the sugar and cubes of butter and stir before turning on the power
7) Pulse the mixture until it resembles crumbs
8) Spread the crumble mix over the surface of the fruit filling creating an even covering
9) Press the topping down on top of the fruit with the palm of your hands to make a firm and crisp crumble
10) Finally, lightly run a fork over the surface of the crumble to add an extra level of crispy goodness as it bakes
11) Put the crumble into the pre-heated oven on the centre shelf for 35-40mins until the fruit is cooked through, piping hot and bubby (if the top begins to scorch you can pop a sheet of foil over the surface to protect it).
12) Take it out of the oven, letting it rest while you dash to either whip up a batch of Bird’s custard or decant a dollop of suitable alternative to appeal to your own personal preference of crumble combinations.

Pia♥Carrot's Kinoshita Rumi presents the pudding! Maid with love!
めしあがってみんな! Coming soon! Neko Mimi Maids review

Cosplay coverage - Queen's Blade Airi at Aya 2009

2010-05-17T06:33:00.000-07:00

ただ今皆!
Here is a shot of me in a complete cosplay project: Airi, the infamous spectral maid from the Queen’s Blade series. The picture, captured by photographer Peter Dench, summons many happy memories of both constructing and wearing costume. Airi has been a very popular choice, well received by devotees of the QB series and maid maniacs alike (as my preferences too fall into these categories it was a project that I was most enthusiastic about).

The picture appeared in a feature that ran on the 9th of May in the Sunday Telegraph and seems fuel enough to fire up a return to activity here at PorcelainePriss.
The newpaper supplement presented a small spotlight on UK cosplay culture. Many months after the press infiltrated the UK convention Ayacon (the 19th anime festival hosted at Warwick Arts Centre in August 2009) the public eye was offered a free pass and a little perspective into this creative subculture.

Peter Dench has a fantastic portfolio on his site and has a really unique eye when it comes to portraiture. Browsing his image sets gave me a great deal of pleasure and I am very to have become one of his subjects! He was great at catching a pose and his curiosity and enthusiasm made meeting him a thoroughly engaging experience.

In my life online, happy news is that I have finally bought my tripod to assist me in marvellous macro photography for figure posts… and since the collection seldom ceases to expand in great and gratuitous ways I feel more inclined to share the beautiful things from my collection with the world once more.
I’ve given the layout a little makeover and the illustration at the top, for those who are curious, is a little self portrait of the girl behind the moe. Tea and cats are two elements of my life independent of otaku culture that centre my being and invoke inner harmony. With a cat on my lap and a cup of sencha or first flush Darjeeling I am truly at peace (^_^)
I am also starting to populate Twitter with some of my many thoughts. Keep an eye out if you want to see what I’m reading, watching, cooking, eating and generally lusting after in my daily life.

Next event I will be attending is the MCM London Expo, where I will taking my latest costume, Konjiki no Yami from the fanservice extravaganza To Love Ru out for her second public soiree. At the moment I am contemplating the potential for boldly becoming Black ★ Rock Shooter in a future costume – whether I will find the bikini/hotpants combo to cold to bear, remains to be seen! Watch this space (^_~)

Cookies & Cosplay

2008-09-30T05:29:00.000-07:00

I had a fastidious weekend, as tends to be my habitual way of ploughing through a storm. The best cure for a dark spell, I always say is to bake! Conjuring up some chocolate cookies and giving some love to my Airi cosplay filled a Saturday with sweetness and light, some of which I thought I’d share here.
The cosplay is still in it's various pieces but the elements are coming together to form my dearest dream of playing a maid so there've been many hours of hand sewing, gathering lace and appliqué to make a monumentally moe ensemble! I can’t wait to be all finished so I may flounce about with feather dusters and scythes!
The cookies, in the shape of batfish (specially made for my family, diving enthusiasts) were a Martha Stewart creation ~ cocoa shortbread with white chocolate stripes, something I found on recipe recon this week. How do you make a bishonen like Lelouch more delicious? Have him pose with dessert!!! (Lulu quite literally became sweeter post shoot. After sitting on the plate, ended up with a white chocolate frosting on his butt…)

Yoko Sniper Version (Wave)

2008-09-05T07:34:00.000-07:00

Porcelaine Priss makes a tardy return to reviews with a gorgeous Gainax gal from Wave/Dreamtech. Adored by collectors and cosplayers alike, Rittona Yoko has been the shiny red apple of the hobby sculptor’s eye since Tenga Toppa Gurren Lagann broke through heaven & into our hearts last year. Seeing exceptional immortalisations of this busty babe from the legendary Vispo & Polgonia, I burned to possess my own lovely Yoko-tan.What hit me harder than a blast with a positron rifle during Yoko’s debut in the first episode was just how daringly divergent her design is.
The balance of a buxom body, minimal attire and an audacious arsenal of weaponry is perhaps nothing revolutionary in anime character design but Yoko brings the booty to its highest summit.
Lavishly endowed with more flesh on show and in tow than convention commands, Yoko is a flame-licked Venus that has become the otaku’s goddess of plenty. A fearless fighter and a hot-headed honey, Yoko has an irresistibly sweet heart and an innocence that belies the bawdy bikini style she favours. When the Wave Web store posted preorders for this tasty little limited piece, I had set the sweetie square in my sights for sniping! I like Wave, their works have the integrity of expressing a character’s charm and great consistency. I have always loved them for a continued connection to a pair of my enduring fangirl followings ~ Gainax and Yoshizaki Mine.
Yoko’s portrayal in this sculpt by Shima Masaru is uncommonly kawaii. The crouching pose makes her prettily puchi, her bright and shiny eyes illuminate the little face snuggled into her muffler. This genki gunner straps herself into tight for more combat ready capers.
Her rifle comes equipped with its own adjustable ribbon strap in cherry blossom pink. Like any good fashionista this sister, Yoko has her colours coordinated adding a little feminine touch to the heavy duty shooter strapped to her chest. The purin plump body in the silky pink stockings is all strawberries and cream and totally delicious.
The sculpting shines in the sinuous curves of flame red hair that whip around her inviting the eye to trace a line down her spine to the sweet little peak of her derriere.Finishing and moulding seams are little rough around the edges, nether amounting to material illusionary excellence nor intolerably shabbiness (this is in part, due to her scale that disguises more of those finicky issues). The one major design defect is the presence of a nasty seam that spans the underside of her iconic cleavage. While this is conveniently concealed by the pink strap of the sniper rifle it somewhat mars one of her most prominent points of appeal.

All in all, Yoko is cute where it really counts and if you can seek her out, she’s a sweet little hit for Lagann lovers everywhere!

Good Smiles All Round!

2008-09-04T06:45:00.000-07:00

In celebration of the launch of the Good Smile Company site in English, I am taking a brief break from regular figure reviews!

The notorious Mr Choo, the man that pioneered the happy hobby haunt for many a global otaku in his famous figure news portal dannychoo.com has just announced the launch of the great Good Smile Company site ~ in English!
It has all the flair and fun of his customary commentary of his and promises news and views of all the hot off the presses honeys that’ll no doubt be delighting devoted figure fans everywhere!
Great work Danny! It’s inspiring me to be a better Web Mistress!

My house has been in disrepair, my figures under dustsheets and my camera relegated to the back of a cupboard and a hazardous pile of unboxed beauties have been accumulating in this time of woe….
But no longer! I am enthused about making the best of this blog as learn the ropes of web works, you’ll be seeing the fruits of my studies cropping up all over the place. I hope that I’ll be able to chat to more of my visitors too by actually keeping better track of your comments ^_^;;

So Porcelaine Priss is currently under continual construction ^_^! I thank you for your patience! がんばれます!

I've acquired many exciting things recently too that I'm hoping to share here soon!

And yes, I am *all* over Penguin Musume… 萌え!!!

Pastel Ink Popup Vignette

2008-08-29T06:57:00.000-07:00

Language is an exquisite element of human existence. Words sew the seeds of meaning, sprouting into lush forests of communication and expression. These lands of linguistics are vast, their limits reach as far as your knowledge, understanding and imagination.

Students of a foreign language, however, must become the intrepid explorers of a new realm. Grappling with comprehension is like journeying into the wilderness, a place that can only be survived by plotting new maps of meaning. This is achieved only though dedicated study.
Alone, this can be an unrelenting struggle, yet for the Methodology of English, there is a guardian angel to light the path of the confused and weary student. Enter Pastel Ink! Popping into life with the peppy protestation

“I’m always gonna be by your side. Please don’t worry… I’ll show you how to do it!”

Equipped with her whirlypop wand and 1000 of the most commonly used words and phases, her genki charm wraps a ribbon of courage around the melancholy of study!
Courage: We need courage to pay all the money for goods without thinking about where your next dinner will come from. But such barbarous courage is a part of real courage

-Moetan, Lesson 6, “Spare the rod and spoil the child”

In the infamous study guide, POP paints the trials of academic adversity with a pretty pastel tint! Expressing English via exemplary enthusiasms of Akiba-kei, you too can learn English the otaku way. In the explosive fusion of art and imagination, character culture conjures a candied connection between the signifier and the signified!
This sweet sensei happily helps her devoted students at every turn, baring all the quintessential magical marks of the mahou shojo. Moetan is a chaotic concoction of cultural commentary whirled into the whimsical aesthetics of the loli moe!
Good Smile Company’s Pastel Ink Pop Up Vignette is the model answer to the Moetan pop quiz. Springing out of the dynamic diorama, Ink is the image of an explosive imagination! She gleams with the brightest enthusiasm to inspire the intellect and to rouse a studious spirit in us all!

Spiritual: He feels spiritual comfort in the embrace of a life-sized pillow.

-Moetan, Lesson 5, “Better have it than hear of it”
This is a wonderfully extravagant piece that showcases the very best in Good Smile’s creative capabilities. The expressive quality and combination of intricate elements conjures up an ambitious picture popup panorama in 3D.
Pastel Ink prances from a pedestal of an open textbook, her magic popping forth from a jumble of plump pastel motifs, wrapped in up in miniature warped world. The dizzying composition is distinctly dreamlike with the heady pleasures of a Lewis Carrol adventure. It glows with beguiling charm of nostalgia with a dusting of sugarplum lolicon. Its presence is like that of the ultimate gashapon diorama, the jumbo scale accentuates the illusionary elements and the carnivalesque cuteness that is so indicative of Ink-chan.
The sculpt itself is delightful, the finishing and rendering is rich and lovingly applied to perfectly portray the iconic style of the infamous illustrator POP. The misty shapes of the wraparound landscape encapsulate the cuteness of the Moetan world, in an irresistible arrangement that brings cheer to any collection.
Ink’s wrinkled oversized garments accentuate her dinky dojikko proportions. The frills and folds are the sweet frostings that envelop her muffin cup form to create a costume that is a totally audacious erotic accolade of magical girl moe. Good smile have inked the stitching in the white swimsuit with exceptional care and precision.

This miniature marvel is utterly irresistible, both larger than life and incomparably cute. The only frustration of this figure is attaching excruciatingly fiddly arrangements of ribbon fixings that are a compositional must… if you are prepared NEVER TO TOUCH THEM AGAIN!
For my taste, this is one of Good Smiles finest works in finishing, a pieces that really is the last word of excellence in tribute to the Moetan etango phenomenon.

Kanu Unchou (Alter)

2008-07-24T03:35:00.000-07:00

With the wisdom of crocodiles and the destiny of dragons, Kanu Unchou’s formidible power spirals out in this incredible work from Alter.
The piece is alive with a predatory power, her beauty has a dark ferocity like that of a panther, Kanu is a wild creature of grace wrapped in robust musculature.
Within the heart of the whirlwind composition is the taught body of a warrior. Her form is draped in the girlish pleats and ties of a high school uniform that ripples away from the curves as if caught in aura of her spirit.
Ikki Tousen girls, by their very design, were made to be undressed. Their clothes are superfluous, temporary obstacles in the way of fanservice that have but one destiny; to be torn to shreds in the heat of battle. The flimsy garments vaguely resemble high girlish attire but they are completely incongruous with their mature battle ready bodies. In reality, the clothes are disposable decorations to be ripped off with relish, the Ikki Tousen girls just come gift wrapped.
Sculptor Mirano’s crafting presents Kanu’s character with perfect execution. The combination of the robust form and the skimpy sailor ensemble expresses all the potency of her power dressed up in the trashy mores of uniform fetish. It is the perfect image of a pulp heroine icon.
The whole composition moves with a dancer’s rhythm. The silky whips of hair that sinuously swirl into elegant spirals create a choreography of pure energy. The undulations of curves and raven tresses are bisected by a length of steel. A proud and unyielding guardian Kanu arches her body against the pole of weapon she wields with a steady and sultry gaze.
Kanu Unchou is a popular sculptural subject in PVC portraiture but Alter’s latest version is perhaps the most faithful and formidable to date. For me this is a work that retains her nobility whilst achieving the necessary juxtaposition of pop culture trash aesthetics.

The Guan Dao, her signature weapon, is exquisitely finished in shades of graphite and silver. The extensive pole rests elegantly in Kanu’s fingers as if it were as light as air. A dragon headed blade shimmers in the skillful emulation of a deadly crescent of steel.
For all the transcendent qualities of the character sculpt, the highest points rest upon the full firmness of the muscular thighs as they meet the curve of her buttocks. The view is too good to be confined to a castoff and is exposed by the fluttering veil of her pleated skirt. Ensnared in a pair of tiny white panties, the peachy flesh is gorgeously curved and delicately shaded. This is possibly one of the finest posteriors in PVC.

Yamada Ayumi Creators' Labo #007

2008-07-17T02:56:00.000-07:00

Iron Maiden Ayu, the hot headed heartbreak heroine of Hachimitsu to Kurova sits in sweet serenity in a piece from Yamoto’s Creators’ Labo.
Ayumi is a mighty marvel of the arts and by virtue of her latent crafting genius, she holds legendary status among the pottery department alumni. The fragile elegance of her works and the delicacy of a porcelain feminine façade, however, belie a ferocious spirit. Cross Yamada and you are in for a world of pain.

The tragedy of Ayu’s character spurs from fatal flaw in the composition of her emotions. The unrequited affections she harbours for her laconic love interest Mayama shatters the hopes of her youth on the jagged points of a love triangle.
This is the world of Hachimitsu to Kurova, a whimsical portrait that paints in pastel hues the most painfully profound elements that move and make the human heart.

As a sweet ocean siren, Ayu is quite irresistible in this unique treasure. She is a refreshing dip into a sea of change for my figure collection.
The fairytale motif is cupcake cute whilst evoking memories of misfortune as told in Hans Christian Anderson’s most famous misadventures of a mermaid. The melancholy maiden blushes like the pale pink heart of an empty conch shell abandoned on the shore.
As for quality, the figure falls foul of Yamato’s production shortcomings. The sweetness of the pastel palette is soured by a messy painted finish that mars the promise of the smooth preorder promos. The piece is still charming and her petit stature helps to conceal the more problematic elements of her facial sculpt.

The kitsch cuteness of this nostalgic figure would be better served cast in china with a glassy glaze like collectable trinkets of my childhood, though the product of Yamato’s efforts still suffice to tempt me to their treasure chest.

Luffy, Sanji & Robin Portraits of Pirates Mild

2008-07-09T06:02:00.000-07:00

Mega House sets sail into the sea of memories with their new line from the One Piece Portraits of Pirates. The first of 3 Mild vignettes feature the childhood incarnations of the indomitable Luffy, little love cook Sanji and scholarly Robin. Each partially poseable poppet comes equipped with accessories and an alternate expression.
The narrative course plotted in One Piece storms full speed ahead towards the uncharted horizons of the sublime. In the dizzying whirlpool world of wonders, it is the startling individuality and vivacity of the characters that hauls the reader aboard the madcap voyage.
Ooda’s colourful crew is crafted with unfathomable ingenuity and sensitivity, rising from the depths of the past to reveal what lies beneath the surface identities of the Going Merry shipmates. The buried treasures of their memories are unearthed in harrowing and often humorous back stories in that bring to light the precious elements of that compose the core ethos of each character.
The Mild Portraits capture the nostalgic flavour of each character’s unique historical interlude. These tiny treats possessed, to my surprise, a charm unsoured by what could have been sickly brattish facades. The kids are wonderful little souvenirs of childhood, like trinkets from different ports to mark the moments of a journey.
The larger than life persona of gutsy Gumdrop Captain Monkey D. Luffy is encapsulated in this tiny piece that expresses his appetite for adventure (and for a feast). Ready to embark upon epic journeys and meals with relish, he raises knife and fork in a celebration of an insatiable hunger for life.
Little Sanji, kusogaki, stands proud in his cook’s uniform equipped with a shining blade. Before cutting through the legions of ladies in his lascivious later life, Sanji is ready to carve up a cordon bleu carnival in the kitchen.
Young Robin holds close to her studies, clasping a large tome in her arms to symbolise her love of knowledge. A stayed and uncommonly mature girl, she has the budding of hints of elegance that later blossom into the stunning beauty of her womanhood.
Steering a quite a different course from the chibi figure fare with these perfect pocket sized pirates, Mega House have excelled in their customary crafting create a unique collection, which by the time of this posting sets sail for new horizons with Zorro, Nami and her sister, Nojiko!

Miyafuji Miina

2008-07-03T07:53:00.000-07:00

Miyafuji Miina, is beach beautiful in a classic Onegai Twins summer sweet by Good Smile, sculpted by Tanaka Touji.
Miina’s pose captures the heart of the season with nostalgic allure. She embodies all the mischief of adolescence, provocatively poking out her tongue as she tugs at the soaked shirt that clings to her skin. The wet translucence of the cloth reveals the pale peachy curves beneath as the yellow bikini top dangles from her raised hand. This playful portrait of her personality is marked with a boldness that skirts the edges of adult desire.
Bright as sunflowers and as sumptuous as the rosy flesh of sliced watermelon, Miina sexily sizzles in the high heat of summer sunshine.

This is one of my all time favourite pieces, the basic elements are simple but perfectly aligned. Tanaka’s anatomical work is stunning and he seems to have taken particular care on the musculature of her bare legs. His work celebrates the fresh beauty of Miina’s youth and adds real substance to the solidity and charm of the composition. For this, the erotic overtones are all the more enchanting, enticing the eye towards the partial exposure of her breasts.
Despite the 2005 vintage, the production work is accomplished to perfection. The effects of the finishing are not hampered a lack of sophistication whatsoever and boast a rich tonal palette that combines flawlessly with the sculpt with optimum results.
Miina’s sweetness has refreshing flavour like a spoonful of iced berry sherbet. The taste is reminiscent of the irresistible bitter sweet tang of first love encounters under the endlessly blue summer sky that is mirrored in her eyes.

Kuonji Shinra

2008-06-24T03:29:00.000-07:00

The noble art of seduction is skilfully enacted by the first lady of erogaming spinoffs, Kounji Shinra, as she slips into something a little more comfortable for our personal pleasure. Her debut in PVC is as a 1/8 scale figure, fashioned by the Good Smile Company to ensnare the hearts of her admirers.

Here follows the account of my own dances in figure mania, the movements choreographed to a softly rising serenade. It is not a tale of love at first site but of the rising tempo in my beating heart, of Shinra-sama’s image flirting brazenly on the outskirts of my mind.

At the preorder stage, figures appear like debutantes, their manufacturers escorting them to pose for promotion to cordially invite the attentions of eligible suitors.

Enter the mysterious figure of Kuonji Shinra, a form that cast a subtle but indeterminable mood in the cut of a majestic pose. The lady, whilst stirring and comely was lacking the essential rhythm to draw me devotedly to her side. My hand was stayed, her invitations denied.

The arrival of the televised anime series riding on the coattails of the gaming franchise served as the Shira’s haphazard entourage, opening the doors to a glimpse of her origins. What lay before me was intense erotica restricted to harem hijinks. I viewed the pretence of an elegant life with distaste, unmoved even by the most deadly of my moe mores MAIDS.
It was not until I retired from the animated throng of giddying capers that I happened across my lady’s bed chamber. The lure of Shinra’s siren song was cast the moment I encountered her noble image in repose, lying dishevelled across her bed sheets with arms outstretched to ready to receive me. This dreamlike encounter was no mere illusion but yet another of hobby culture’s sweetest secrets ~ of printed bed linen emblazoned with the images of bishōjo goddesses. After this forbidden twilight interlude, the original restriction of my snobbery readily became a fine network to bind me to my desires, like a lattice of silk rope concealed beneath the haughty vestments of good taste.
When I found that Good Smile were to be marrying their production to an alliance with the legendary masters of figure finishing excellence Alter, I was sold the graces of good breeding.
Good Smile’s Shinra may not be called exquisite and yet I find myself held rapt by the rubies of her eyes that burn with the power to possess and command. The bejewelled costume is a conductor’s robe, the one she wears when moving the heart of the orchestra. Her hands play along the gilded edges of her gown to simulate the movement of a sweeping courtesy.

Ultimately what compromises the quality of the figure is attributable to the restrictions of Shinra’s character. Without the inspirational flair that is sculptor’s initiative to take she remains aloof, her reception too reserved to welcome our complete enchantment. The fault may indeed lie within in the limits of her original design, something that to my aesthetic temperament calls for more luxury and elegance. The satiny darkness of the pantyhose she favours would seriously benefit from a nice pair of stilettos to elongate her smoky stems.

My personal affections for the figure are celebrated in the forbidden recesses of my imagination and on the glossy lustre of nylon luxury linen.

Suzumiya Akane (Samba Version)

2008-04-04T07:55:00.000-07:00

Tribal queen, Suzumiya Akane shakes a regal plume of tail feathers in this surreal tropical treat from Chara-ani.
The bizarre costume and uncommonly gaudy incarnation of the Kimi ga Nozomu Eien heroine takes flight from the Akane Maniacs hallucinatory dream sequence like a bird of paradise.
Her glistening body shines as bright as Aztec gold, dripping with bronze tan and adorned with strings of shiny pearls that she wears draped about her loins. The crowning glories of her immodesty are the twin gold pasties that cap her nipples like a pair of amulets.
This parody party piece is intoxicatingly festive as a tequila sunrise on an empty stomach.
Amusingly, close scrutiny reveals that the shiny lustre of her dark skin is in fact a fake tan that ends at her wrists and throat. The audacity of Akane’s next to nothing ensemble gives her an allure that is both sultry and silly. The girlie show she performs embodies the playful spirit of burlesque.

Holstein Hanako-san

2008-04-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

The full fat dream of Holstein Hanako is a creamy blend of the erotic and the whimsical. From the Tsukasa Bullet series by Mega House this piece makes a delicious addition to the Priss Spring Catalogue.
Retro curls form a bluebell bonnet of hazelnut hair, atop which she wears a twin horned band.
She’s as rich and indulgent as Devonshire cream tea with her buttery plump curves, clotted creamy dappled garments and a playfully curly tail.
Her wide and glassy eyes are held rapt by the tiny wings on the cabbage white butterfly that rests upon her outstretched finger. Lost in this moment for eternity, somehow this bovine beauty commands abundant charm gormless countenance.
Like the black and white piebald of her breed, Hanako is composed of contrasts, of mechanical metals with simple country pleasures, of fragility with full flesh, of innocence with indecency.
This was a real indulgence for me as I had already professed my love for the Daiki Kogyou dairy queen Aizawa Sanako and another curly cow girl seemed excessive in the extreme. I stayed my hand until she was reviewed at Heisei Democracy and was able to see Mega House’s customary work on this enchanting lady. Boasting flawless production I succumbed to the fact that she is just inescapably cute ^_^

Kousaka Tamaki Swimwear version

2008-04-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

Kousaka Tamaki curls herself into an enchanting pose in a unique and eye-catching 1/6 swimsuit sculpt from Wave.
The sprawling composition of her body flows in swirling currents of pale skin and ruby red. The fine tendrils of her luxurious hair extend like a tropical anemone nestled within a coral reef. Concealing a mischievous grin behind a hand modestly inclined to her lips, she watches through narrowed eyes as a coquettish flush of colour reddens her cheeks.
This is a lovely and extremely unusual piece that truly realises the potential of the lying pose. The underside of the model is finished in exquisite detail, expressing the serpentine stands of her hair and the pressure of her body that flattens her soft flesh.
The finishing is accomplished wonderfully and the eye follows every line of the elegant body from the extension of her long legs to the beautiful undulations of her curves. Her body is smooth and white as virgin sands and she basks in a pose that is quite intensely feline, emphasised by the peaks of crimson hair that trail adown from her crown.
A key point that will determine the success of any swimsuit piece (as far as I am concerned) is the expression of the body in relation to the bikini that contains it. Tamaki’s ensemble is crafted exquisitely, adorning the lines of the soft body as it plunges into the folds of black material. Your eyes are given the illusion of separation between flesh and cloth that imbues the piece with a kind of vital eroticism, which is the imaginary possibility of peeling away her garments.
In the endless stream of To Heart 2 figures this is the one that has really turned the tide and caught my eye, making a refreshing change to the classic swimsuit pose.

Tachibana Rei

2008-03-31T08:02:00.000-07:00

Behind a pair or spectacles, the keen eyes of Tachibana Rei oversee the progress of my fastidious hours of language studies in a classic piece from Alter.
With mental maturity to match her curvaceous body, Rei is resourceful, an astute business woman, a master chef of Chinese cuisine and the harbinger of moral guidance to the precocious 10 year old teacher, Becky. In short, she is a formidable force of constancy, the one stable pillar of in the madcap land of Pani Poni Dash! In the kaleidoscope of unrelenting madness she resides in the dark shadow of sanity that bisects dizzying psychotropic world. Pani Poni is more alarming, perhaps, than even Studio Shaft’s later descent into madness with Sayonara Zetsubou Sensei– as anarchy reigns supreme in something that scarcely resembles narrative let alone what it pertains to be - a high school romp. It delights in habit of the eclectic cultural poaching and features a great deal of arbitrary erotic styling of its characters. Rei is perhaps the most sexualised of all the girls, owing perhaps to her fabulous form! In this sultry sculpt recreated from the anime opening sequence, the ice queen burns as bright as a tigress. Her cold predatory persona exudes a feline elegance in the sinuous dips and curves of a body that belies adolescence. Irresistible megane moe combines with a school girl that not only goes against the grain, she laconically makes it her scratching post.

Potemayo

2008-03-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Presenting my debut in the wonderland of 1/1 scale figures is CM’s Potemayo! LIFE SIZE (pictured with my homebaked Easter Simnel cake)!
The series, much like its star, is the surreal comedy that germinates from the most peculiar and unlikely of places, that touches upon those aspects of life that other shows dare not touch (perhaps for fear of contamination)! The bizarre scenario is remarkable for the fact that amidst the fluffy magical cuteness, it flaunts the unfettered truth of the both the sweet and the sickenly sour sides of life >_<;; In the portrayal of Pote-chan, it pulls no punches about the unpalatable reality of cute creatures, that they have the alarming power to destroy their charm in an instant. Potemayo is peppered with these instants and incidents that make this slice of life satire more alarming than finding new life in your fridge. Potemayo is greedy, noisy, territorial and not completely house trained. The antagonistic relationship she has with the tiny chick that nests on her head is more parasitic than companionable. In fact, the foul creature has habits that enrage and abhor even the irksome Pote-chan. CM’s Potemayo brings to life the irrepressible cuteness that shines through the squalid in a piece that is as… um tasteful… as the gaudiest of cherub adornments from the Renaissance. She is my squishy little dish of angel delight, which, to my surprise, I have managed to stomach without incurring an intense bellyache!

Asugawa Tsukino (Pantasia Uniform Version)

2008-03-20T09:59:00.000-07:00

Goooooooood Friday!
As I have a penchant for things both gourmet and gorgeous, I decided that world’s most delicate chocolate egg could only rightfully be paired with the sultry queen of culinary excellence, Asugawa Tsukino. The lustrous L’ Oeuf Dentelle, crafted by the fine confectioners Laduree is a milk chocolate lattice – a fabulous work of filigree wrapped in a cute pink ribbon. The egg itself is a tiny chest of treasures encasing a whimsical assortment of candied secrets within its pretty little heart.
The lace egg, however, for all its sweet allure is no match for the sumptuous temptation of Tsukino in all her elegant glory. This is every inch a legendary piece from Alter (distributed by Happinet). Based on one of the many saucy vignettes to grace the volumes of Yakitate Japan, this is the ultimate sexy Tsukino.
It is a charming image of the impudent baker who might dare to lick those delicate fingers she inclines towards the tip of her tongue. It is a fan service pièce de résistance that celebrates all the fine beauty and natural eroticism that her design exudes. This departure from the mild mannered girl offers an irresistible image that is so wickedly taboo and devilishly indulgent.
The lingering trace of her refined breeding manifests itself in the shape of those fingers that echo the elegance of a noble lady holding a fan. Exquisite Easter!

Sawatari Izumi

2008-03-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

Oh my maid! This delight in black and white seems to purr “Okaerinasaimase Go-shujin-sama!”... Yeah right, this is, after all Sawatari Izumi who would rather suffer innumerable traumas before pronouncing subservience to her lecherous master. So it seems somewhat inappropriate orchestrate a scene that creates warm welcome from the ever reluctant high school maid in her mortifyingly immodest attire. Alas poor Izumi, is the innate power of her full bodied allure that designates her as the eternal ground zero of chaos.
In He is My Master, the ridiculous saga of maid harem hijinks, Izumi is the subject of countless indiscretions at the merciless hands of her employer, her admirers and even (perhaps worst of all) her monstrously manipulative little sister Mitsuki. If this wasn’t bad enough, the icing on the cake of this veritable slice of strife is the Sawatari sisters’ pet alligator, Pochi, a lecherous beast who is a far cry from being cold blooded.
In Polygonia’s sculpt Izumi strikes a pose that allows the hapless heroine a precious moment to make a dignified display of the costume’s finer points. Standing tall, she extends the elegant legs in the silken shadows of black stockings. The curves of her body are whipped into creamy frills that deliciously dress the sumptuous servant. The tips of her gloved fingers play at the edge of an unsnapped garter. The flight of the airborne strap invokes a sense of unbalance, a reminder that wherever Izumi’s beauty shines, havoc is seldom far behind. The captured stillness of her form is a contrasting oasis of tranquillity reflected in the aquamarine hue of her eyes.
Enter Brain’s production of Sawatari Izumi is by far my favourite He is My Master model. She transcends the horror of her fate for all of a wonderful moment in which the costume she wears is, for once quite becoming. Faithful to the perverted potentials (which tend to become a certainty for Izumi) her skirt can be removed to flaunt the fine lingerie that her fans are always clamouring for.
The only criticism to make of the this heavenly maid is that her skin tone is quite alarmingly pink. This something that becomes all the more apparent when she is aligned with other members of her pvc kin, causing a slight disruption in the harmony of one’s harem. But it is a minor, trifling matter and as a piece alone she is a proud monument to the insurmountablity of maid moe.

Tsukimiya Ayu

2008-03-12T08:59:00.000-07:00

Kanon is the winter tale of memories as fragile as delicate slithers of ice, of dreams escaping into the chill like a misty shuddering of warm breath. It is the hazy reminiscence of a forgotten past, of lost childhood and of old magic swept along on the bitter icy wind.
The young heroine Tsukimiya Ayu is brought perfectly to life in this melancholy sculpt by Max Factory, a piece that dances in the light of a cold winter morning as enchantingly as the first flakes of falling snow. It’s little wonder that this figure disappeared off the market as promptly as it did after her release in winter 2007 ^_^.
The subtlety of Ayu’s innocent charm recalls every moment of her part in bittersweet tale. Her hands, nestled snugly within a pair of mittens, are clasped to her breast as she waits expectantly for an old friend to return to her. When the angelic wings are unfurled, she commands an ethereal elegance that makes Ayu’s entire being shine with intense beauty. Marked by fragility and tragedy the wings bring new life to Ayu with enchanting luminescence.
I was lucky with these shots, it was a frosty morning and seemed absolutely perfect for framing Ayu amongst the snowdrops and on the pedestal of the frozen birdbath. She’s a lucky figure all together, one that happened to come back into stock miraculously after being discontinued. The anime series itself was one that took a while to get into. Fearing a sappy saga that would be unbearably saccharine I watched with reservation … and then found myself helplessly caught up in the momentum and mystery, sniffling into a pillow as the story took me to places I hadn’t expected it to.Max Factory’s Ayu is for me the definitive image of Kanon, evoking a swirling play of emotions.

Nendoroid Al Azif

2008-03-10T10:22:00.000-07:00

The sugary swirling of snowy white icing, the sunny yellow of jelly lemon slices with a rainbow sprinkling of candy flowers and nonpareils. What could possibly make a cupcake sweeter? Only the addition of a secret special ingredient ^_~ Al Azif, the lavender-haired lolita from Good Smile’s nendoroid series makes an adorable appearance on the merry cake tier.
The Nitro+ series Demonbane presents the delicate Al Azif as the personification of the Lovecraft’s legendary tome the Necromomicon. In her creamy white gown with its blood red fastenings of ribbon Al Azif is a dream in goth lolita. Contrary to the pretence of girlish fragility, she is formidable and fierce. The nendoroid styling seals this potent fury in a candied coating making Al Azif a sour sherbet lemon to suck at your peril.Al Azif’s ornate outfit and tresses are reduced from their wedding cake grandeur to cupcakey cuteness in their nendoroid form. She is accompanied by her nekomimi headset and the yellow gumdrop Cyclops mascot. Under her frilly skirts, Al Azif’s panties are the sweet colour of matcha parfait. Pure cream of condensed kawaii!

FREEing Nagato Yuki

2008-02-22T06:28:00.000-08:00

The next of the FREEing bunny girl sculpts is the celestial ice maiden Nagato Yuki
The sobering yin to Haruhi’s raging yang, Yuki’s aura of calm is beautiful yet as cold as an expanse of ice. The glassy pools of her hazel eyes and the peach blossom hue of her smooth skin offer the only warmth in this elegant composition.
Much like her presence in the SOS clubroom, Yuki’s costume is curiously mismatched to her being. Her svelte body rests modestly within the gaudy attire and quite unlike her companions is the PVC that exceeds her form. The bodice casts its slick glimmer over Yuki like a snowdrift, flowing across the body in subtle dips and curves across her ribcage and chest.
What she does not possess in prominent curvature she makes up for in stature. This loftly piece stands 42cm tall above her peers. Once more FREEing have created the perfect realisation of a character from this iconic series. I have an intense fondness for the evanescent Yuki and conversely, the scale and costume do not negate the attributes of her stayed persona, in fact it celebrates its every subtlety to perfection.

Nendoroid Nao

2008-02-22T03:54:00.000-08:00

The magic of Nendoroids is that if once encountered, you are always enchanted. Their charming proportions crop up in my collection with decorative and happy freshness. They are like tiny buds of the first plucky blossoms to emerge in the cusp of spring. Good Smile’s sweet chibi vignettes are tiny posies, arranged to become of highest calibre of cuteness.
Little Nao of the game Mabonogi was another irresistible incognito impulse buy… However, I am able to placate my ignorance with fact that she beings sweet harmony to my bookshelf ^_^
The sorceress’s hair is of the pale hue of heather honey, her eyes like the dusky summer sky. Nao’s tiny costume flows from her body in a miniaturised form of the elegant translucent gown she wears in the game. With the beauty of the Milky Way and midnight, the nendoroid commands surprising elegance in this petite incarnation. Amongst her complimentary caboodle, Nao possesses a staff and an adorable owl familiar (ovo)!!! So cute! I had to pop him on her little head! Kya!

Mirei-san

2008-02-06T06:21:00.000-08:00

What is the often the only thing to bring beauty to the sterile expanse of the office? The answer is Office Ladies! (=ω=)
Combining the erotic with exquisite business couture, is the sumptuous Mirei-san from the Art of Shunya Yamashita series. She is easily the greatest piece Kotobukiya have produced. The office chair becomes the lady’s throne as her beauty commands the gaze to the elegance of her form. Her coquettish expression is heightened by the contemplative gesture she makes as she inclines a silver pen towards her lips. She is a beckoning modern beauty, her pose extending the view of the holdup stockings that grace her beautiful legs. The resonant jouissance that dances across the figure is heightened by addition of a single shoe that is merely to be balanced on the tip of her dainty outstretched toe. This is uncommonly good work from Kotobukiya who certainly have excelled in the Yamashita series, creating piece after memorable piece, Mirei-san hailing as the Boss to rule them all (^_~) I love this woman.

Namae Nai Onna

2008-02-06T05:32:00.000-08:00

The intriguing moniker of the gorgeous gunslinger Namae Nai Onna (Woman with no Name) invites us to 360 degrees of dynamic craftsmanship from the ever impeccable Alter.
Many of the most astounding pieces presented for the figure maniac’s delight and amusement have sprung from realms of gaming design paragons, Nitro+. With the illustrious Lamento, Tougainu no Chi, Demonbane and Jingai Makyo to their credit, their characters have become icons of the modelling world in their own right (such as conspicuous beauties such as the flame-haired Ignis). Ignited by this potent pool of inspiration, Alter have sparked an explosive floorshow, presenting the wild women of Zoku Satsuriku no Jango in a dynamite duet of models, debuting with this burnished blonde beauty.
The nameless one is an ornate whirlwind of a woman. She leaps into the oblivion of battle with a devil may care expression curling her lips. Loaded with a double entrée of detailed firearms, this lady is a killer of the highest calibre. Alter have taken exceptional initiative with the presentation of this piece, gilding the art of the original illustration with fine detail and stunning composition. Sculpted in 3D, her deadly dance becomes a carnival of wonders, with dazzling sights from every angle. But then, this model does have its kooks. The gravity defying pose is elevated by the most curious of stepping stones (a head with a huge pink elongated tongue) and features a superfluous bonus of soft cleavage under her costume. There is one hell of a lot of personality in this piece and these extras, though hazarding towards overkill do nothing to diminish her abundant charm and lustre. 0-Nothing is studded with delectable motifs, a blasphemously placed white cross spans the sole of her boot, an ominous herald adorns her hat in the form of a skull & crossbones. Her overcoat flails behind her in wing-like tatters, the curvaceous body is confined to a tight ensemble lusciously rendered with hearts and swirls. Truly a formidable femme fatale, a veritable angel of death.

Amami Haruka

2008-02-01T07:25:00.000-08:00

IdolmAster's Amami Haruka expresses the irrepressible charm of the girl with a big heart whose power is akin to that of the idiot savant. She is in truth a formidable soul, in possession of innate skill and core strength disarmingly veiled by a ditzy exterior. As bubbly as a sodapop, Haruka is the ripest little peach on the beach in her pale pink bikini.
The triumph of Good Smile figures is not in flawless production; rather it is in their conveyance of individuality. It is this that ties the character their essential aspects and gives them vitality, setting Good Smile’s artistry far apart from other makers such as Kotobukiya.
Beach Haruka is a glorious vision of blossoming youth! Her 1/8 body is both small and delicate yet sweetly curved in all the right places. The pose is incredibly cute, peppy and energetic, she is poised on one dainty little sandal as she kicks off her shorts and makes for the waves. The sculpt is uncomplicated but the simple composition exudes happiness and perfectly captures her cheerful spirit. A piece that never fails to make me happy like rays of summer sunshine. Haruka’s high point (for there are always some to note on GSC gals) is her exquisitely crafted waist. The small of her back dips, forming a subtly protruding arch on the surface of her belly. The clinging cloth of the bikini briefs ripples into creases following the form of her body as if they were tugged on in an exited hurry to get ready for the beach.
(For a full illustrious view of Haruka check out the accomplished work on the HappySoda rundown).

Rin Tousaka Noble Maid

2008-02-01T03:26:00.000-08:00

Rin Tousaka of the Fate/Stay fame maintains a noble air that belies the modest Victorian attire that she sports with grace. Her cheeks glow with the energy of a fastidious housemaid as she sweeps her skirts around her in a glorious movement, the billowing fabric captures the motion of her elegance.
This modest 1/8 piece from Good Smile Company brings to life the Fantasy Noble Maid costume with splendour. Despite her tiny size, the dynamic arcs of her flowing apron and gown express the brimming force of Rin’s personality. The noble maid costume celebrates her lady’s pride that she carries off with ease. It is the motion and vitality expressed by the modeller that makes this figure such an eye catching success. Rin is utterly charming, enrobed in regal red that counteracts the customary appearance of a servant’s servile reticence. The prissy fastenings and high lace up boots all indicate Rin’s personal restraint, which becomes a wonderful contrast to Saber’s French maid attire. The fresh white of her headdress and apron are lavishly crafted with frills and fastened with bows to create a fiery carnival of maid moe!

Kotona Elegance (bikini version)

2008-01-31T08:43:00.001-08:00

In the grip of winter, my lovely orchid, Kotona Elegance from Zoids Genesis brings the freshness of ocean waves in undulating in the summer heat. The tranquillity of blue skies and white sands are captured in her composition as she poses in her beach wear.
Max Factory’s vision of Rainbow Jerk’s pilot may be a far cry from the snap fix kits that permeate my happy memories of Zoids but the lack of motorised parts do not make her any less appealing.
In the glossy white ensemble Kotona is a hot contender for any swimsuit contest. Her aqua hair falls luxuriously down her shoulders while her body which arcs around the rubber ring float that she holds behind her back. The blue float doubles as a porthole to frame the view of her bikinied behind. She is the essence of summer! The customary suspender boots complete with their delicate pink seams coordinate with the lines on her bikini top that teasingly trace the form of her bust underneath. It’s the little details here, the play of material against flesh, of rubber and curves that makes Kotona a treat. The only issue to flag is that her face, though charming, is a little too generously full, making it a little hard to display her at a flattering angle. Nevertheless, she is a piece who never fails to make me smile, as refreshing as a bottle of ramune, Kotona makes me yearn for bonnes vacances.

Louise (Little Devil Version)

2008-01-31T06:43:00.000-08:00

The appeal, arguably of tsundere characters is to be found in their hidden aspects. These thorny beauties are atypically aloof, terse and are invariably a force to be reckoned with. Yet the indomitable power of the tsudere girl is merely a façade, their charm is revealed when you cast off their gaudy armour to expose their vulnerability beneath.
I wouldn’t say I’m a sucker for tsundere but for the little noblesse Louise Françoise le Blanc de la Vallière I have an addiction. And so to Kotobukiya’s latest incarnation of the haughty little sorceress from Zero no Tsukaima. The sculpt has Louise in her negligee seated primly on a stool and with a riding crop in hand and commanding glare one would do well to obey her to the letter.
With my wariness of Kotobukiya’s hit and miss work, it was not until the Moeyo postings emerged of the kit on display in Akihabara that I fell prey to the tsundere charm. What the publicity shots had not revealed were the fabulous facets of the kit that makes it a memorable piece. First that the little nightdress is castoff, second that Louise’s demands relate to an action feature, to a pair of cloth stockings that can be slid on and off the dainty feet she inclines disdainfully towards you. How could I resist, my liege?
Admittedly, were it not for these things, I would not have run merrily to be my mistresses lapdog, for it is not by any means a piece of earth shattering brilliance. No, it has Kotobukiya’s regular artistic underachievement and lacks the integral essence of craft that makes for a stunning piece. Be that as it may, for a Louise fan and that I most certainly am, she is wonderful trinket and is all the more adorable when she is gift wrapped with a white ribbon around her middle.

Yzak Joule

2008-01-31T04:26:00.000-08:00

Yzak Joule casts a distinct air of arrogance tempered with the elegance that only a plantinum bishonen can possess.
I regret that I cannot speak of his character for I know little of it but he strikes me in such a way to recall one of the old loves of my past, of volatile warmongering scarred beauties like Dilandau of Escaflowne. This is why, despite my diligent attempts and subsequent failures to get into Gundam Seed, Yzak’s image has remained in my conscious desire to claim his beauty as my own. I have a weakness for scarred boys, their marred beauty hints at fracture and conflict within their character which makes them irresistibly intriguing to me… – but I digress for this figure is Yzak unscarred, oh well, can’t have everything.
A part of the impeccable Real Action Heroes & Heroines series from Mega House, Yzak is depicted in his white ZAFT uniform that coordinates with his icy complexion and countenance. His pose is regal, the cloth of his military attire, trimmed with black flows out like the petals of an Arum Lilly. This is a classic piece that became part of my winter collection last year after many months of admiring from afar.

Clare of Claymore

2008-01-21T07:39:00.000-08:00

The Claymore is a sinuous, almost serpentine entity – a cold blooded creature annexed from humanity by all-consuming purpose. Her achromic complexion and silver eyes and exude a bloodless chill, Clare is a lacquered parody of life one that has been altered and fashioned to a sharp and deadly point. Her beauty is at once both terrible and enigmatic to behold.
I regret to say that my enthusiasm for the Claymore series does not reflect my adoration of the lead protagonist. To quote myself, the manga simply strikes me as “a poor man’s Berserk”. It would seem that there is only room for one demon slaying gorefest in my heart and the dullness of Claymore just can’t cut it like the Kuroi Kenshi can.
Again, the figure world bestows upon me solace and glorious recompense for this tragedy by granting me a Clare of my very own. Mega House’s Clare meets every inch of my lusty expectations for the ice vixen. Her elongated body stands in cool readiness, the blade resting in her hand glints and beyond the wandering gaze her eyes are keen. The silent energy of her being is coiled like a viper, alluding to the indomitable force that lies within.
The ivory form is gilded with mercurial armour that runs along the curves of her hips in molten prongs. The vestiges of human fragility are alloyed with metal, which imbues Clare with magnificent fortitude. A cloak flows from the twin carapaces of her shoulder guards, it moves with the elements, from the direction that so holds her attention.
A nice bit of history she is indeed, completely sexy and cadaverous in one fabulously shiny sculpt that adds all the rightful substance to the character that the series could not support. Impeccable production and dazzling contrasts in rendering makes for one of the most captivating pieces in my harem.

Saber Maid (Alter)

2008-01-18T05:00:00.000-08:00

Having not yet breached the depths of the inky pool that is Saber’s character, I have made myself content with basking in the shining brilliance of her image in figures. Saber is a warrior who encompasses both loyalty and honour, a servant who is strengthened by unwavering pride and dignity. It’s not an unnatural leap, therefore, that Fate/Stay fanservice has drawn on the theme of servitude and has redressed the female characters as maids.
Each girl has her been given her own individual style, set to enhance the finer points of her feminine charm. Saber, in contrast to her ample battle costume, is dressed in the fluttering flimsy ensemble associated with that of French maids. This irrefutably erotic uniform appears incongruous with her stoic battle façade and yet it works to expose the essence of Saber’s fragile beauty. Her fair hair and fine features are given an all new gleam which glitters from within the petite costume.
Alter really know how to spoil their fans. With the sculpting excellence of the impeccable Millimeter Modelling, Saber shines supreme in this 1/6 scale maid model set to give any goshujin-sama the warmest of welcomes.
The Flamboyant frills of this intricately produced piece are finished to perfection on every level (right down to the lingerie, which makes me clamour for a trip to Agent Provocateur). She stands tall, resting her outstretched arms upon the mightiest tool of her trade, a long handled floor mop.
The high points of the sculpt (of which there are many) are illuminated by the inspired choice of pearlescent paintwork that gives both her body and clothing an exquisite lustre. The sparing use of gloss work exists to draw the light to her eyes, her delicate polished fingertips and to the glistening curves of her beautiful mouth.
The erotica is high class quite befitting the lady herself, preserving every inch of her integrity in an ensemble that in its excellence thus suits her honour. Saber is described as the most powerful of servants and this release from Alter is a tour de force of maid couture, one that realises every potential of her character to adopt the image without incredulity.
For the full exposé on this beauty, I highly recommend a viewing of the stunning shots at both HappySoda & Foo-bar-baz.

Chichinoe+ Young HIP Cover Girl Dec 2000

2008-01-15T04:30:00.000-08:00

As any experienced hobbyist knows, purchasing figures can be a gamble. For devotees of a particular series, character or niche, the model market is replete with booby traps for the fool who preorders by publicity image. I am indeed, just one of these daredevil darlings who plays her stocks first by reputation of manufacturers and then by the individual sculptors. And so brings me to the most rewarding risky purchase of 2007.
Incognito cover girl Chichinoe had something going for her and a modeller who has to his credit some divine erotic pieces such as Kanu Uncho Goth Lolita. I dithered back and forth until Heisei Democracy revealed the tactile extras of this buxom lady. Not only was she to be equipped with cast off options, but with the legendary power of “squishy boobs”. This convinced me that she was worth ordering, for with that kind of gimmick she’d be a sell-out sensation irrespective the final result. Luckily for me, she delivered on far more levels than I could have anticipated.
Sure, the boobies are great, the cast off and replacement job is neat (providing you keep her partially clad) but it was not so much her erotic dynamism that I found so appealing (and believe me she has it in spades). Chichinoe’s quality is in style baby! I loved those lace hold-ups from the first time I saw the preview shots, they were the essential element that gave her such fabulous fetish appeal and counter balanced the curvaceous body perfectly. The girl has nice style! She’s a great mix of glamour and casual, with her hitched up vest and sweetest detailing in her tiny chain earrings and metal bangles. These aspects make the pliable experience the figure all the more pleasing and complete. And yes, she has a pair of badass booties to top it all off. Luscious and a gamble well worth risking. Bravo Orchid Seed!

Ryoufu Housen Gothic Lolita

2008-01-15T04:03:00.000-08:00

The final stage from Orchid Seed’s series of Goth Loli Ikkitousen heroines is Ryoufu Housen. After purchasing both Kanu and Ryoumou (the latter having been extricated from the horde due to her leaning issues) I couldn’t resist the beckoning call of another work from Orchid Seed’s most accomplished modeller.
This kitschy cookie, sits atop a little cushioned seat, her minty green locks hoisted into beautiful bunches adorned with bows and rosebuds. Ryoufu reclines provocatively with one knee raised, the frills of her underskirt flow over her milk-white knee high stockings affording a view of the most prudent panchira for the Goth Loli couture, a pair of puffy white bloomers. In a snap, this luscious beauty transforms to a topless state, revealing the elegant lines of her back, neck and torso.
Sadly this ambitious 3 piece castoff, is tragically shoddy, the seams interrupt the harmony of the piece and the eroticism of her naked body. This is indeed rather a shame as she has the most adorable breasts under the bodice (the cast off conversion was clearly made the priority here when she went into mass production as it is the only part that works to perfection).
This, alas, is not a sophisticated master work from Orchid Seed, rather, Ryuofu’s construction has the uncomfortable air of a rush job and this undermines the elegance of the piece. There are scuffs, traces of paint, smudges and a gratuitous seam at her waist and where the bloomers attach that mar the splendour of the sculpt and castoff.
Her pose and coy little face are her saving graces, preserving the charm that drew me initially to preorder her. Her costume is adorable, full gothic Lolita extravagance in all its billowing bloom. I adore Orchid Seed’s signature shading style which saturates Ryoufu’s skin giving a warm ripe glow to her butter rich complexion. The finish is characterised by smooth yet tantalisingly pink transitions across her flesh, delineating the meeting of cloth and skin adding budding beauty of all her ero points.
A frustrating piece for where it falls short but as a fully clothed figure Ryoufu’s beauty reins supreme, diminishing any creeping regret that might have tarnished her arrival.

Aegis

2008-01-14T04:25:00.000-08:00

There are times when a particular piece is announced, gets discussed in the figure feeds in piquing interest here and then it vanishes without warning. On occasion, the most stunning models disappear from the market this way, their evanescent brilliance leaving behind a blinding trace like after burn on the retinas.
After being covered by the impeccable Foo-bar-baz, Alter’s Aegis from the game series Persona 3 was destined for this fate. By the time I remembered her amidst my gargantuan backlog of invoices, she was history. A lesson to all that if something piques your interest, get the preorders in pronto.
By the power of United Publications, Aegis was recently acquired is impeccable beyond a level I could not have hoped for.
The Android body, sculpted by Fumiko Saito, is feather light, despite the appearance of a heavy industrial composition. At the junction of her limbs bare metal joints are exposed, which gives the body a steampunk quality as though it functions off pistons and pneumatics. With a colour palette as bleached as bone, she fixes a target in her sights with a purposeful stare. Aegis right arm is held before her, the gun ending in the tips of her outstretched fingers as she prepares to fire. A blood red flash of colour emblazons her chest and arm in a militaristic sash and fluttering bow.
Aegis is a vital piece in every sense of the word. She commands such abundant dynamism and life despite the cold combative form she inhabits. The details and casting are exceptional, even for Alter and the balance and attachment of figure to base is unbelievable and has unflawed structural integrity.
Utterly breathtaking and completely beautiful this is the purest image of automaton love.

FREEing Suzumiya Haruhi

2008-01-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

And so to the centre work of the FREEing lineup, the pièce de résistance, the lady Suzumiya Haruhi herself.
Conspicuous in her eccentricity, her volatility and hyperactive spirit has made her the international idol of otaku everywhere.
Multi-talented and ferociously ambitious, the tenacious heroine has penchant for the extraordinary and devotes herself to the pursuit of ethereal beings in constant struggle against the mundane.
The potency of personality is embodied to perfection in the FREEing sculpt. Unbridled confidence and sex appeal, the tour de force that is larger than life Haruhi makes maximum impact in 1/4. As iconic as the sensational SOS heroine herself this is the definitive image of HaruhISM.
I could endlessly serenade this beauty and exalt each heavenly aspect of her form and composition but as every shot of this model ever taken seems to speak for itself I shall, for once, refrain from doing so.

FREEing Kyon no Imouto

2008-01-11T03:59:00.000-08:00

I make little secret or excuse for my habitual Lolicon leanings, as a female figure maniac my intentions couldn’t possibly be untoward right?... Right? In any event, I have no qualms about acquisitioning beauty wherever it appears. Be it woman, man, girl, boy or bling, I am ever a slave to the beautiful things.
The little girl known by no other name than Kyon no Imouto (little sister of the show’s hapless male protagonist) appears as cherry coloured candy pink baby bunny girl. Her depiction in the Megami illustration can no doubt be cited as the reason for her inclusion in the collection due to the fact that the sugar sweet pose in her tiny pompom ensemble is JUST TO CUTE. The illustrators and FREEing naturally had the sense and good taste not to dress the 11yearold in fishnet stockings (she is not Kokonoe after all) and her petite form is most becoming at 1/4. Propriety be damned, she is utterly charming and flawlessly finished, the quintessence of adorable and a joy to behold.
Her pose, whilst similar to the illustration makes a daring diversion as Kyon no Imouto stretches her tiny hand out with exuberance, revealing more of her tiny body in the miniature costume. The piece is pure Loli-moe material, uncompromisingly gorgeous from every angle and as delicate as the finest bone china. Highly recommended for the intrepid and advocates imouto-moe!

FREEing Asahina Mikuru

2008-01-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

Constantly stripped and coerced into performance, the unwilling cosplay idol Asahina Mikuru always harbours an air of anxiety, which is compounded by Haruhi’s ravenous dedication to the random provision of fanservice.
And so to my first acquisition in the FREEing line, the bashful red bunny herself. To be frank, Mikuru looks damn uncomfortable, like she has just toppled over backwards and landed on her behind. Her face is a portrait of worry, her pose almost ungainly with her legs splayed out in front of her. It is by the ingenuity of Haruhi’s styling choices that Mikuru’s natural talent shines out. As a bunny girl Mikuru’s curvy body is poured into the tiny garment, her form melting into a slick red bodice with *real* fishnet stockings.
This is where the scale of these models works so well in their favour as the detailing, materials and production values give the set such an air of indulgence and excellence. The moulding is cast in such a way as to give the illusion of a pliable PVC garment, the paint finished to glossy lustre that stands apart from the smooth china finish of her skin. The natural reflections that dance across the bodice reverberate across the composition of the piece, bringing out the twinkling sparkle painted into her startled eyes.
With the 1/4 sculpt FREEing takes the method of PVC production a whole new level, one that operates on a whole new plane of compositional aesthetics and balance. In smaller sculpts, fine detail, delicacy and finishing tend to be paramount to their overall success and appeal, yet at 1/4 the modeller must convey the beauty of the character using . The FREEing girls are surprisingly weighty, their size leaves little option for flowing tendrils of hair or long, fragile fingers and yet, the Bunnies possess surprising delicacy. Working with anime character designs coupled with a simple one piece outfit, FREEing’s Haruhi works are a triumph, which celebrate both the appeal of the characters and the erotic couture of the bunny girl.
They are on the controversial outskirts of miniatures, approaching a proximity to life size dolls with the addition of cloth apparel and articulated heads. This may be too close for comfort for some but it is, I assure you, very much their loss.

Introduction to FREEing Haruhi Series

2008-01-10T05:33:00.000-08:00

It takes a whirlwind success of a series to engender such frantic figure manufacture as to have the peripheral characters incarnated in 1/4 PVC.
Suzumiya Haruhi, is just such a show and to the credit of its unrelenting merchandising machine, the seeds it has sown have been cultivated into some of the finest blooms to ever to grace the PVC figure market.
Blossoming onto the scene in 2007, newcomers FREEing made an illustrious debut with their take on the Haruhi cast in a series of highly sought after 1/4 sculpts. Based on a heavenly harem illustration featured in eye candy mag Megami, the Haruhi girls have been masterfully crafted in fine detail at an ambitious scale. 1/4 sculpts are rare and often grotesque, poorly detailed, creepy or imposing. The FREEing series are none of these things. They are, simply put, signature pieces, icons of the epoch, of Haruhi-sama’s glorious rein atop the otaku popularity throne and of what may become to be regarded as the golden age of figure mania.
And so began my quest to acquire these fabulous femmes. As I write this entry I have 1 in the air and 3 in the lair, with but one that I have yet to make mine, I shall not rest until the quintette is complete. As sure as moe burns within my soul!

Shii Arisugawa

2008-01-08T08:01:00.000-08:00

2008 was rung in whilst in the company of the beautiful 1/7 Shii Arisugawa from Kotobukiya’s Art of Shunya Yamashita series. Shii presents a double entrée of my own personal penchants, both megane and shimapan (glasses and stripy undies). In fact, Shii is a veritable pick&mix assortment of fetishes. As a plaited pigtailed school girl in stockings with a removable pleated skirt, this sword wielding wonder is a one stop sugar shop to serve a diverse palette.
Curiously, I held back on this figure for a long time. Why, when the entire ensemble of Shii is a powerful parade of moe motifs? It may have been my complacency towards Kotobukiya’s middle of the road production standards, or that her vapid expression falls short of Yamashita’s original sweetie. Nevertheless, to tilt her about in her packaging, affording a better view at her greater structural attributes, Shii’s virtues won out.
After experiencing the giddy joy of placing a pair of steel-rimmed spectacles on a model once before, I can confirm that this addition is what makes this piece. After all, for the megane enthusiast, beauty is not in the eye of the beholder but rather, on the eyes of the beheld beauty.
Where the sculpt triumphs is in the interpretation of Shii’s curvaceous design, which is supported by a delicious bone structure. This is not a figure that needs her token garments. Her hips are subtle play of full curves of flesh that hint at the underlying bones, snapped into the teeniest shimapan. Get rid of that skirt! Guild not the lily! All at once, this image girl makes me recall both School Days's Sekai and Mao-neechan of Kimikiss… KYAAA!
To a new year of Figure Mania KANPAI!

Jo - Bakuretsu Tenshi

2007-11-29T04:52:00.000-08:00

The fusion of Wild West and post apocalyptic bishojo badass, is Jo from Gonzo’s Bakuretsu Tenshi. Alter’s pose is Dynamic and sassy, a divine composition of intersections that accentuate the carved lines of her taught musculature against the straps and chaps of her combat garb. The blue inking of tattoo that casts icy shards onto the warmth of her tan as her extended firearms form a shield across her robust form. The coat that flaps wildly about her shoulders is fully removable but it gives the whole pose a kind of Clint Eastwood cool that recalls the iconic dynamism of a spaghetti western.
The gunslinger is masterfully immortalised in this flawless sculpt, which is the perfect realisation of the Ugetsu Hakua design. A bullet proof pose and cast that appeases both my penchant for chaps and valiant heroines in one fell swoop.

Kazami Mizuho (Max Factory)

2007-11-23T05:21:00.000-08:00

A milestone in the fledgling years of my figure mania, in the opening chapters of the quest for divine curvature, the temptation of eggshell fragility, the original crème de la crème of Kazami Mizuho is Max Factory’s completed resin production from way back in November 2003.
She was my first desire, my first lesson with Sensei has never since been sweeter. This is the definitive piece, Mizuho in private away from the classroom, tantalisingly dishevelled like a milk truffle half unwrapped as she indulges in Pochy. MOE!
The piece is frighteningly delicate, so lusciously finished and cast in a material that gives her skin a lustrous sheen that illuminates her beauty to perfection. Mizuho reclines luxuriantly on a plump cushion, which atop the polished wooden base becomes a throne to seat this work of excellence. Her well-manicured fingers rest on miniature carton of her habitual confectionary delight. I’ve not seen a resin piece so wondrous since, it has placed the standard high and upon such a lofty pedestal that I can scarcely contemplate the possibility of dethroning my Queen of figures. Nay, she is in a class of her own from the tips of her toes, to that exquisite peak of her pink antenna Sensei is simply SU-TE-KI♥. Oshiete kudasai Sensei! \(*Д*)/

Ignis (Alter)

2007-11-08T05:27:00.000-08:00

Oh, Ignis Divine! Heroine of the game Chaos Gate Jingai Makyo soars to celestial status as the undisputed darling of the PVC market. She has strutted her stuff for the all the major production players and has thus become the icon of the repeat habit for figure maniacs everywhere.
This version is my 4th indulgence in the fiery Madame Butterfly. Alter’s Ignis against her burning bright sisters from Kaiyodo, Orchid Seed and Max Factory casts a cooler, ashen hue. Yet her amethyst eyes shine with a ferocious spirit and the energy of her stance emanates an intense heat like embers within a pyre.
The sculpt is dynamic at every turn, a unique pose that glows with movement and energy, expressed in the rippling lines of her dress and by the muscles of her taught thighs. The prongs of hair, the katana blade and the arched winglets on the back of her dress carve Ignis like a sharpened rune. Her elegance is re-envisioned with beautiful defiance signalling the power of the inferno within. Alter excel once more with this incredible piece, proving that with Ignis, it is impossible to have too much of a good thing.

Azusagawa Tsukino Bikini Version

2007-11-06T07:24:00.000-08:00

Elegant lines and smooth pale, buttery skin are the rich gourmet delights of Azusagawa Tsukino Alter have once more turned their hands of the sun to craft this beach beauty fresh from Yakitate Japan!
Given the context of her character, Tsukino’s beauty is evocative of the delicate yet highly delicious taste of wagashi. Her flavours, both sharp and sweet are like the summery citrus of yuzu, rounded by the plump bite of smooth white beans. With the heat of summer and the flavours of autumn, here she basks in the rich glow of the twilight moon, emerging from the box of seasonal moon buns from the Minamoto Kitchoan.
Sadly, Alter’s 2nd Yakitate collaboration with Happinet lacks the flawless finish of their independent works. For all the sumptuous richness of Tsukino’s body, the adornment of the frilled bikini suffers from inelegant painting that mars the delicate form of the cast. Nevertheless, this sultry little hotcake is a petite treat in her kneeling pose that still whets my appetite. The full bloom of Tsukino’s curvaceous body makes her the perfect moonchild to celebrate the bounty of autumn.

Fauna Megachu! (Alter)

2007-11-05T07:02:00.000-08:00

Fauna no genki ni naru no! Alter’s beautiful sculpt of the eroge goddess from Megachu is one of those perfect pick-me-up pieces that makes figure mania so enlivening. Her peachy-sweet cheer is a sparkling elixir, full-bodied and luscious, fortified with fine detailing. Fauna is motion captured moe, poised mid-prance exposing her polka dot panties. This shiny little 1/8 scale sugar is another jewel in Alter’s crown of excellence, perfectly formed and enchantingly composed with feathered winglets in her flowing pink hair. Aaah, haru no kaze no youni ~_~…

Misa-Misa Nendoroid

2007-11-05T03:17:00.000-08:00

She’s up to something nasty! Idol Misa Amane, Yagami Light’s little love slave appears in full Goth Loli glory in Good Smile’s Nendoroid line.
Death Note's Misa-Misa is a perfect mini mix of the kawaii and the macabre. A sweet porcelain dolly mixture that is the candied essence of the Goth Loli style. As a nendoroid she is an irresistible bite-sized morsel, right down to the stockings and suspenders! Like her full-sized counterpart, her cuteness is laced with something that alludes to darkness, concealing a deadly secret like a poisoned berry. Just because she’s cute, doesn’t mean she’s not out to get you!

Oni Musume IV

2007-11-01T06:54:00.000-07:00

The award for Best Bome acquisition 2007 goes to… Oni Musume IV! My personal favourite in the recent extensive Kaiyodo chronicles is this mysteriously unsung beauty.
Personally, I find that Bome’s best work is not his customary urbane standing poses but on the seated or prancing figures such as Halloween-chan,and Isoroku Yamamoto. After breaking out of the conventional mould Bome’s ability to illuminate the iconic dynamism of the original design shines brightly. The sculpts become playful and are infused with a lustrous energy that celebrate the soaring spirit of otaku!
Oni-Musume’s kitschy old school style with her tiger skin bikini and armour plated toes invokes a lovely Lum-chan flavoured nostalgia. Her hair rises like an inferno, her body curled onto the palm of an ornamental oni hand rising and melting out of a crystalline pool. The enchanting composition conceals a ferocious spiked mace behind her cradled form, making her demonic dance all the more mischievous.

Melissa Seraphy

2007-10-30T14:41:00.000-07:00

Trick or Treat! Princess of the Pumpkins Melissa Selaphy from Wagamama Capriccio the perfect festive centrepiece for All Hallows Eve.
Sweeter than a candy apple, she is wonderfully whimsical with her curly tresses and mischievous grin. Her costume is simply fabulous, with gloves, wings and a plastic shell like a childhood keepsake it’s as if she has stepped out of a fairy tale in a pair of black stilettos. Her base is a shiny magic circle that attaches discreetly to the back of the plump amber ball gown, which like magic, unfastens, reducing her to her minute pink panties for maximum moe topped with a tiny gold crown. Good Smile’s little nymph is a figure maniac’s must have - grade A gorgeousness. Happy Halloween Minna!
Here follows a cautionary tale – do NOT put this girl close to an edge – these photos were taken after she had taken a tumble prior to her little fix up. Her bulbous form makes her all too susceptible to gravity!!!

A-10 Sahaqiel XX

2007-10-30T14:24:00.000-07:00

Perhaps the cutest addition to Wave’s XX-Chromosome series is the Mineism of the cosmic 10th angel Sahaqiel. Here Sahaqiel’s colossal form has been magically reduced to a pretty petite dressed in pyjamas! The trailing extremities of her cosy costume and turned in toes give her the appearance of a posing kigurumi gal. Wave’s work is small but perfectly formed in this ingenious fusion of space invader and street fashion. Sahaqiel is from head to toe and eye to every eye utterly adorable.

Escalayer

2007-10-29T06:53:00.000-07:00

She is, at first glance, a colourful piece, a blushing beauty with a flashy outfit, kicky boots and a sweet placid little face. On closer inspection she is a decadent carnival of costume that only the eroge can inspire in a sculptor.
Alter’s production work here is absolutely second to none. The erotic detailing is astounding, the paintwork on her boots, gloves and bustier are slick and lavish, a perfect shiny emulation of patent material that offsets the pleating and puckering of her pink skirt and bodice to perfection. She is a stunner from every angle, from profile to upskirt, a pure 360º beauty. From the back her hair is a crimson fan, decorated with fluttering golden sashes that create the impression of Escalayer’s spinning movement as she strikes a pose.
It’s this exceptional attention to detail that makes Escalayer stand out. She presents a departure from the conventions of character shorthand to the tantalising realms of realism that let the eye and imagination roam all over her. Her body is told so well through the casting and finishing on the clothes that encroach upon her fleshy curves. She even gets my vote for the best pair of breasts I have encountered on a fully clothed figure (which is mind boggling when you consider just how many that must be).

Novia

2007-10-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

Oh Novia! From Fewture models comes the seductive queen of the majong tiles from Taisen Hot Gimmick 3: Digital Surfing. My Yoshizaki Mine habit resurfaces with this sumptuous release that possesses all the luscious trademarks of his iconic style.
Novia accentuates her abundant curves as a velvety cascade of ashen hair flows over her raised arms. Long gloves, pompom thigh-highs and a pair of crepey pink panties are the only clothes to speak of, inviting you to play with her and press all those shiny buttons.
My only issues (if any) are with the somewhat rickety construction of the decorative attachments that complete her “attire” and the sad truth that no, despite all my desires to the contrary, she does not light up. Nevertheless, Novia is a unique piece, adopting a provocative pose with her dynamite body she’s a hot gimmick indeed.

L Nendoroid

2007-10-26T05:43:00.001-07:00

Always hot on the heels of Yagami Light is super sleuth L, Kira’s arch nemesis. With a taste for the finer things such as sweet confections and teas, L is a curiosity alive with an array of eccentric idiosyncrasies.
The Nendoroids return with this perfect miniature, in the grips of some petulant contemplation L adopts the iconic pose in his favourite nesting spot.
KA-WA-IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!! The only thing the set IS missing is a miniature tea cup and an array of delicate pastries… and man servant Watari…
L’s mannerisms and irrefutable cuteness is amplified by the petite bulbous form of the Nendoroid incarnation. It is all that I can do to resist sticking a dessert fork into that delicious little face (>_<);; Ittakismasu!

Yagami Light & Ryuk Nendoroids

2007-10-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

“Ne Raito…” Megalomaniacal poster boy Yagami Light and shinigami Ryuk of Death Note make their debut in Goodsmile’s Nendoroid series.
The poseable pieces come with an array of accessories and expressions to create a scene tailored to suit your deathly desires, whatever they may be.
Preferring my Light on the dark side, I adopted this disinterested expression (that reminded me intensely of Moriyama Sunao of Potemayo ^_^) equipping him with the tools Kira’s deadly divinity. I like my boys to be calculating, ruthless, intellectual and evil and Light with his delusions of grandeur is the dynamite mix that makes for one atomic sexpot. I just want to EAT HIM!
…Ryuk is a work of genius. The elevated support base creates an impression of ominous silent hovering. His goggle-faced expression is simply perfect, the hinged jaw offering the only variation necessary to emulate his emotional range.
The SD forms create a divine comedy of the characters, a chorus of the apathetic angels of death.

Pinky Street Rei & Asuka

2007-10-25T04:39:00.000-07:00

Cutie cosplay figures, these tempting little bonbons feature the sweetest Eva makeover. As always with Evangelion merchandise, there are irrepressible elements in the combination of the incongruously cute and the bizarre producing products that are kawaii and kitchy in the extreme. In place of the regular range of everyday accessories commonly sported by Pinkys are little shito Lilith and Gaghiel, skewered like candied apples on custom cutlery - a minuture prog knife and the Lance of Longinus. Pinkys are a superb variation on chibi couture, featuring a distinctive restyling of character shorthand with their heavy feet and shiny bubble headed faces. In these incarnations, Asuka is wide mouthed and mischievous whilst Rei appears typically docile and vacant. These Gainax goodies, which were produced to celebrate Eva’s 10th anniversary, make a tasty place of any fan’s crowded shelf space ^_^

Hinata Natsumi & Giroro Gochou

2007-10-24T07:32:00.000-07:00

This post is a dedicated to a melancholy moe ~ to an exquisite duet of unrequited love from Keroro Gunsou! For all the innumerable joy that comprises the series, it possesses one key facet that I find utterly irresistible DOOMED ROMANCE! Yes! It is the endless longing of a war torn soldier for his barbarous goddess that ignites the fires in my heart. Of the hardened Giroro Gochou for the volatile Hinata Natusmi, that impossible, implausible and hopelessly ludicrous alignment of romantic potentials… Kya!!!
Here Mega House’s Hinata Natsumi is equipped with a flight pack – a gadget from Kururu’s lab. She ascends angelically, a tranquil pose that accentuates the freshness of her adolescent beauty. Her pigtails and skirt flutter delicately, caught in the motion of the air as she hovers above the ground. It is a divine composition, presenting a rare but delightful aspect of the fiery Natsumi.
Here I have paired the piece with Kaiyodo’s Giroro Gochou who is iconically arranged with heavy artillery to defend his warriors’s pride (and the object of his forbidden desires). Giroro is one of my all time favourite characters, so wonderfully proud whilst irresistibly flawed his face is embellished with the motif of the conflicted warrior. He's grade A bishonen material, all for the minor point that he's a pint sized amphibian. Not as if that impedes the fact that I harbour a massive crush on him... Yappari, Giroro ga suki

Amamiya Manabi

2007-10-16T07:47:00.000-07:00

Pure distilled essence of genki, perfectly plump and peppy is Good Smile’s rendition of the heroine from Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight!
The story centres on the irrepressibly energetic Amamiya Manabi as she aims to reinvigorate the community sprit in the hearts of the disillusioned students at Seioh Private High School. Hiro’s sculpt is the definitive tribute to this gentle slice of life show that parades perseverance against the adversity of ambivalence.
For me, the highest point of figure mania is a successfully captured sprit, in which the sculptor creates a perfect conduit that communicates the individuality and vivacity of the original character in 3D. For all the abundance of beauty that prevails in the figure industry this remains a rare achievement. The joy of this figure is that it is totally emblematic of the values instilled in Manabi Straight.
The production quality is extremely high in this complex eye-catching piece, which incorporates Manabi’s aero scooter rising out the waves to create the ultimate in dynamic poses. Moe! Panchira prevails in this upbeat treat! Massugu GO!

Kazami Mizuho Swimsuit

2007-10-16T04:17:00.000-07:00

Reclining in the curve of a chair like a glassy pudding cup, hair curled elegantly like spun sugar and strawberry sauce, Kazami Mizuho is the flavour of summer as she basks in her lime green bikini. Her beckoning gaze and the sumptuous lines of her body cascade into an irresistible cocktail of peachy skin and sun blushed beauty.
By the grace of Good Smile, 2007 saw the days of summer stretch on endlessly with the sweetness of Sensei.
Truth be told, I have some reservations about the piece, which are mostly due to the fact that the facial sculpt necessitates particular angle to stop her looking utterly gormless ^_^;;
Her body, however, is flawlessly finished with the bikini encroaching deliciously upon the soft flesh. The composition is also quite charming, her jewellery accentuates the delicacy of her pose while the chair is both stylish and subtle echoing the dessert theme. A perfectly balanced 1/7 scale summer sundae, Mizuho is a harmony of tropical decadence.

C3 x Hobby-chan & Hobby Devil

2007-10-09T07:12:00.000-07:00

C3 x Hobby idols of darkness & light Hobby Devil & Hobby-chan present a fan culture face off in a pair of releases from Sol International. This double entrée of delights is hardcore fanfare for the Yoshizaki Mine fanatic. Mine-sensei’s girls are the official mascots of the C3 x Hobby festival – a formidable fusion of mecha and moe.
These models, no doubt owing to the sensibilities of their designer, are hefty for their 1/7 scale and were comparatively expensive, presumably due to their super niche appeal. They certainly lack the smoothness and sophistication of a Good Smile or Alter production but all the same, there’s something so irresistibly otaku-kitsch about them! Sweet as a strawberry parfait Hobby-chan is replete with frills and combat amour whilst the winged Hobby-Devil packs heavy artillery from the dark side. This dynamic duo were truly made to be together! Ambitious contrasting sculpts that climatically combine in the glorious harmony of their poses and interchangeable regalia.

Louise

2007-10-05T07:18:00.000-07:00

What is it about Zero no Tsukaima? I can’t decide myself, it’s not particularly outstanding but is, nevertheless somehow uniquely charming and quite irresistible to me (a bit like Pocky). It’s compulsively moreish and the packaging of the magical school genre is very appealing. Quite as pretty as a packet of ichigo decorer Pocky is little Louise, the haughty heroine of the novel turned anime series that I have some obscure devotion to. She seems to be an otaku favourite, endlessly conflicted and swift with a whip, her tempestuous character is devoted to honour and diminished by her emotions.
Alter’s Louise is a petit treat, based on a cover illustration from one of the novels. Her cloak and hair flow out behind her in luscious waves of rippled pink and black as she perches on a miniature stepladder. Maintaining her lofty poise, she raises a knee upon which she elegantly rests her hands, becoming the very picture of her noble breeding, were it not for the fact that now her painties are on show.
Alter made a perfect choice for the source of this model but for me there’s something just that bit lacking in the final result. Perhaps this is a consequence of the hybrid design of that seems to have comprised the piece of Louise in the illustration with the veneer of her anime incarnation. Somewhere something vital has been lost, a shame but doubtlessly, my lusts to master Louise help somewhat to quell this gripe.

OS Idol Win-chan Ver2.0

2007-10-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

Pojito! Purun~purun in peachy pink, the perfect companion to perk up your persocom, Mine-sensei returns with the second rendition of the OS Idol Win-chan!
She points a dainty finger, crawling like a kitten across the best ever base, a reflective CD decorated with her little face! Kya! Kaiyodo! Arigatou!
Enoki Tomohide brings the plumpness of Mine’s design to perfect fruition, from the intricacy of her gravity defying curls, to the dreamy balance of ripe fleshy curves poured lusciously into a scanty ensemble.

Kanalia Yuu

2007-10-04T04:33:00.000-07:00

Frequent illicit encounters with the unknown character are the quintessence of the figure maniac’s moe. After all, how many have succumbed to the wonderful Ignis without the first grain of knowledge about her source of origin?
And here begins another tale of mysterious romance with devilishly delicious Kanalia Yuu from Kikou Majutsushi Enchanter. At 1/6 this is a sizeable piece but unlike many figures made at this scale, she is delicately composed and quite astoundingly inventive in her construction. She is caught in motion, looking over her shoulder, her attention caught elsewhere as magical books tumble out of her briefcase, her little wings raising her up off the ground.
This is, without a doubt, one of the most blatantly serviced up panchira poses ever! Sculptor Hashimoto Takahiro puts Yuu’s bounteous curves to excellent use, arching her body audaciously to orchestrate the optimum effects of both the pendulous and the perky. Then there’s the charming magical colour change as her hair melts luxuriously from blue into delicate violet. Spellbound, I again became the figure floozy. Do I lament my foolish heart? No, not for a second ^_~

Ikari Shinji & Kaworu Nagisa

2007-10-02T03:30:00.000-07:00

The delicate sakura tint of springtime tragedy, of boys - ephemeral beings with ethereal beauty. This is super boys’ RABU RABU!!! Kyuuuuuu~n ~_~…..
Pardoning my moe moment, Kotobukiya in a wonderful deviation from the regular Rei and Asuka foray, made a surprise return with this pair of figures depicting Evangelion’s Ikari Shinji and Nagisa Kaworu.
I was excited in the desolate wasteland that is the male figure market by this release from Kaiyodo quite in spite of ardent lusts for dynamic pieces. I can’t help it, the arrangement, as sombre and frigid as it may be strikes into that very core that awakens the BL beast sealed within me.
The piece is frustrating but rings true to essence of their relationship to the brief period of calm that exists between them as they maintain a reciprocally inquisitive connection that binds them to each other. I cannot fault the faithful representation that the sculpt of each face offers and as even the great Yoshiyuki Sadamoto, at times has issues with Kaworu’s character design, I appreciate this even more.
Yes! I admit it! My soul screams MOTTO MOTTO!!! It pleads to some indistinct deity for divine mercy – answer my plea to flood the market with male figures to match their sister bounty! If only for variety in my harem, make the legendary image before you into a decadent arrangement! Render my Lelouch! Sculpt me a Soubi! Carve me an Takuto Izumi!....Yappari muri da… orz

Pachira

2007-10-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

It seemed appropriate at the time, as I reached the climax of the notorious series School Days to make this gothic arrangement of blood red roses with Pachira in its honour.
Heisei Democracy did it again, reviewing a beauty that had already piqued my interest, unveiling her secrets making her another sell out sensation.
As luck and United Publications would have her, this lithe vampiric beauty from the game series Renkin 3-Kyu Magical? Poka-n entered my collection, combining what would seem to be impossibly incongruous aspects into one stunning piece. She encompasses merciless cuteness with extreme grace, appearing shy while she extends her body like a lure. This piece is a symphony of Max Factory’s advanced techniques, stunning presentation and one marvellously hot gimmick. A refreshing change from my usual decadent curvy delights, she’s up for re-release again in the spring.

Hinata Aki

2007-10-01T05:57:00.000-07:00

Mama love! Celebrate autumn’s bounty with the unseasonably dressed (but appropriately named) Hinata Aki of Keroro Gunsou. Aki in her ripe and buxom glory, in a bathing costume emblazoned with the pika-pika face of Kero-chan encircled by delicate fleshy blooms of orchids.
I yearned for this solid, plump beauty since her release way back in 2005 from Mega House and was delighted when she arrived this summer. It was this model that triggered my interest in Keroro Gunsou and sealed me to my destiny to become a Yoshizaki Mine maniac!
She is everything a Dynamite Mama should be! Strong, firm and full of joy! I adore her, the apparent simplicity of pose cannot diminish how is rich with detail she is, possessing some intangible warmth that makes her wonderfully sexy and so Hinata Aki.

Nendoroid Suzumiya Haruhi & Nagato Yuki

2007-10-01T04:06:00.000-07:00

Nendoroid-orama! Good Smile Company, one of my top 3 model manufacturers came up with an ingenious line of figures called nendoroids. Similar to the Kaiyodo Keroro Gunsou shotai series of posable characters with interchangeable props and parts, these models are high class chibis for the model connoisseur with the finest finishing on the market.
First up are the Suzumiya Haruhi figures, with miss melancholy herself and the ever evanescent Nagato Yuki.
Naturally, they are fiddly and difficult to pose but considering how top heavy chibi models are by default, Good Smile reins triumphant with these masterful and charming creations! Haruhi’s character brims with a volatile potency so I posed her up accordingly to add a bit of steadfast genki moe to my days. Yuki, so sweetly antisocial is like me, to be found most commonly on the outskirts, nose in a book amongst the veritable carnival, which is my figure wonderland. Chibi deluxe BANZAI \(^o^)/

Himekuri Moda Bianca

2007-09-27T06:39:00.001-07:00

More from the Yoshizaki Mine collection with the delightfully frothy, frilly, chantilly baby Himekuri image girl Moda Bianca. One of three colour variants and my personal favourite, the white cloth version is cute and creamy and just that little bit more loli-licious in the paler attire. Kaiyodo have done a fabulous job and I tend to enjoy pieces that are complete without a base, Himekuri being a fine example. In her seated position her skirt folds into luxurious pool, which she raises in a coquettish manner belying the innocence of her expression. But then, so does the costume itself, with collars and garters topped off with lacy neko mini and with what would appear to be puffed rubber stocking tops, sleeves and brassiere she is nothing short of a fetishistic fondant fancy.

Ogiue Chika

2007-09-27T02:46:00.000-07:00

Genshiken has an incredible power, striking home like a bolt of lightening into the behavioural habits and hearts of otaku everywhere.
(Personally, I see myself in the present, somewhere between the hardcore lonewolf Maradame and the harderned compulsive fashionista Saki).
This 1/8 scale rendition of the objectionable Ogiue Chika from Alter is, to me utterly gorgeous. I saw the preorders with interest but then read the review on Heisei Democracy, which made me rush out and secure one for myself for it is simply remarkable.
This is not only a model that offers variability in the costume parts but is so adaptable that it is almost two models in one. In the fully clothed version, Ogiue is swaddled in an oversized Kujikibi Unbalance cosplay uniform. While she looks perfectly styled to the role, her scowl and dourer demeanour makes plain her distaste of the performance.
It is, however, the other form of this model that I adore, the Ogiue as she is pictured here in here high school swimming costume. Her arms raised across her belly, fingertips touching in expectance of the ordeal ahead producing a defensive yet deeply defiant pose. The finishing is an example of Alter’s second to none work and comes equipped with the divine addition of a pair of steel spectacle frames to perch on her nose. Moe!!!!!Wonders do I seek as a figure maniac and this is one of the greatest works I have encountered in all my experience. Undoubtedly this unconventional but unquestionably beautiful girl is set to be a firm favourite for years to come.

Kokonoe Rin

2007-09-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

Lo…Lolicon! >_<;; It’s true! My sukebe rein extends across the otaku kingdom with my latest guilty pleasure Kokonoe Rin from the infamous Kodomo no Jikan. So what did I love about the Kodomo no Jikan OVA? Quite apart from the abundant cuteness and high production quality, the suggestive implications that I am so keenly aware of in shows (Manabi Straight & Ichigo Marshmallow to name a few) are not finely laced into each scene but are as brazen as its heroine Kokonoe Rin. It is, I suppose, this boldness that not only delivers lolicon service in a manner that implies self-awaress but that is, indeed, self-proclaiming. I found this intensely refreshing and moe. For some, it might be a serious appetite killer, who knows, perhaps some voyeurs find acknowledgement from their quarry rather unpalatable? So back to the Max Factory rendition, I bought Kokonoe some months ago, before the OVA was released and was irrevocably charmed by the piece as soon as I picked her up in her box. Ultimate in her pigtailed prowess, she’s alive with details, a plaster on her knee, the smiley on her satchel, the frilly socks aaaaah ~_~;; Kawaii!!! The gimmick of this model you ask? Oh I would not say that it’s the hidden kuma panties beneath her shorts, for that would not be adequate for the lolita queen. No this is something that emerges only from dangerous scrutiny. If you align your sight directly with the path of Kokonoe’s own gaze, not only do you see how much her t-shirt reveals but at the same instant yourself looking. Catching this girl’s eye makes for a wicked double exposure. Such irresistible, forbidden cuteness! Kya!!! All wrapped up in wrong! Truly, the this is a crowning piece befitting the Queen of Lolitas!

Meer Campbell

2007-09-21T11:18:00.000-07:00

Today's entry is more saccharine in it's sentimentality than Valentine chocolate and is dedicated to Mega House's dear Meer Campbell of Gundam Seed (vintage 2005). A pretty pink tonic for a bad day, she prances gaily in the midst of performing some aria on the edge of my desk, where she has been for the past week.
She was kind of a rescue piece and is actually missing a big chunk of her outfit and has the scars to show it snaking across one of her hips.

Her missing garment, it's true, adds dynamic flair to the model when present a skirt that delightfully defies the laws of physics and detracts from the somewhat conspicuos join under her ample solid bust. Then again, in absence it calls all the more attention to the fine curvature of her form and exposes a hint of stomach tone beneath the skintight finery.

She was of course, unboxed and second hand when I found her but bythe virtue of her exerberant pose and lovely pins, I couldn't resist taking her home with me. With the ornate freshness of an orchid in bloom, she is a figure I am really happy to own, incomplete, or whatever.

Sometimes imperfection makes something more of itself than you ever could have expected. It reminds me to boot that I really should get to know the lady and the show better.

Rin Toukusa Swimsuit 1/6 (Alter)

2007-09-18T07:41:00.000-07:00

Rin Toukusa, as crafted by Alter makes for the beach with a confident stride and the elegant reserve of a 50s starlet. She totally has a dynamite bikini body and her long legs are contrasted by the smooth fullness of her curved belly, which is for me, the high point of this striking 1/6 scale piece.

It never once occurred to me to branch into the Fate/stay model market, having not once given the series any more than a cursory glance but that was before I received Rin as a rather extravagant gift. The Fate/Stay girls are privy to an extensive wardrobe, appearing in battle costumes, beachwear and oh yes, maid outfits… I am now, naturally, a hapless convert.

Taking her place as my dressing table centrepiece for the past few months, red hot Rin makes every day summer (which is a damn good thing considering the nature of the British weather).

Sanji - Portraits of Pirates

2007-09-18T05:30:00.000-07:00

Love cook! My very first high grade baby and the one who started it all – from the Mega House Portraits of Pirates – Sanji of One Piece.

This gourmet cad, the beautiful curly browed buccaneer serves himself as an irresistible platter of cool arrogance and flirtatious fire with the flair of excellence in both fighting and cooking. Ah ah! MOEEEE!!!

I do so admire a fine pair of stems and Sanji is all the more delectable in this pose that accentuates his leg length. I love this model, it has, despite progressions in the model production world not waned in my heart and he flourishes marvellously amongst the full blooms of chrysanthemums.
Mega House have keenly applied a golden rule of culinary success to this production; that often, to do justice to the finest ingredients they are best utilised and served with simplicity. Buon Appetito!

Kazami Mizuho Space Suit (Custom painted)

2007-09-18T03:46:00.000-07:00

Wide eyed in her shiny space suit, Yamato’s Kazami Mizuho-Sensei the displays undulating curves of her nice body in a delightfully inquisitive pose.
From the press releases, reviews and photos I was charmed into placing an order for this fabled resin beauty. As an Onegai model fanatic, I figured what could possibly go wrong? Unfortunately, the answer in this case was A LOT.
The casting was ugly, unsatisfactorily heavy and unrefined but worst of all, Mizuho’s fine form had be tarnished with the most inelegant, slapdash paint job (on an expensive model) that I had ever had the misfortune to see and the insult to acquire. The transfers were positioned incorrectly on her eyes and had been applied to bare unpainted resin. Needless to say this was a big disappointment and thus she was relegated to a shelf out of site until the day she met with an accident in which she suffered a broken leg and ankle.
Not to be beaten, the incident impelled me to right at least some of the wrongs, for she was no longer a piece with any potential for resale and if we were going to live together, she needed a serious makeover.
I have no record of her old look but here she has the completely new eyes – a design in which I aimed to combine the look of the original Yamato press photos with character illustrations for the anime. For me the eyes can make or break the beauty of figure, having particular significance as a key visual drawing point. Indeed, an integral aspect of Mizuho’s character design is expressed via those glossy violet orbs; it’s what makes her so moe behind the spectacles.
The alterations I rendered are by no means perfect but it has managed to open a connection to this model that had previously been closed to me. Now she speaks more of that irresistible charm and innocence, her eyes no longer jar but draw me into the sweet innocence of her alien naivety.
Sensei is now very special to me and I can appreciate her for every slick line as she crawls across my bookshelves and bed sheets.

Angol Mois

2007-09-17T07:39:00.000-07:00

From the second invasion of Mega House Keroro Gunsou figures descend the Mystic Heroines featuring the unearthly delights of the harbinger of doom Angol Mois. Mois-dono is presented in all her groundbreaking glory, complete with earth destroying staff and puffy panties.
Precarious but perfectly rounded, Mois-dono’s costume is impressively and skilfully rendered in 3D, right down to the hoop that links from her cloak and encircles her chest. It’s with releases like this that Mega House demonstrate the sophistication of their work.
Her look is coordinated with the blooms of the uchuu no bara (space roses) making the most extravagant dressing table centrepiece for the most discerning pekoponian girl.
(Okay, so they are apparently ornamental cabbages – at least - that’s what the florist said…)

Bome Collection Bunny Girl

2007-09-17T04:49:00.000-07:00

Kaiyodo’s Bome Collection Vol. 7 – the incognito Bunny Girl (chaperoning this weekend’s baking extravaganza the Ultimate Carrot Cake)!
I got into Bome way back when I was following the first flight of Takashi Murakami’s otaku pop art project - the Superflat movement. Bome’s contribution was a Miss KO2 so named as her presence - a 7ft scale maid - packed one hell of a punch.
And then, thick and fast the Bome collection was on the shelves, hugely popular with random and variable releases clunking out like some giant gashapon machine.
I enjoy the old school aspect of his work, the intense otaku glaze that guilds his projects. I do not regard him to be a great sculptor as such, for me it is a combination of cultural interest as opposed to pure design lust that energises my figure mania. He can be very hit and miss but is capable from time to time of realising some utterly charming stuff.
I have a fondness for bunnies, as a great many otaku do I believe. Historically their iconic presence has permeated the great works of Gainax and returned in full glory in Suzumiya Haruhi. Bome’s Bunny Girl (circa October 2005) is nicely composed and makes a sweet embellishment to any otaku estate (or culinary delight, if that is your preference).

The cake, btw, was pretty damn good, if pushing the borders of syruped moistness too much for my taste. The combination of toasted pecan nuts and carrot cake spell gourmet goodness... but I don't think I'd be hired at the Antique Bakery ;_; ... Ara, what was this blog about again???

Myourenji Sae

2007-09-14T08:30:00.000-07:00

Maids! Moeeee ~_~ --- <3 !!! The combination of stockings and the averted gaze of her flushed face on the brink of spilt milk tears made her simply irresistible to me. Sae, produced by Tora no Ana as part of the Fine Scenery collection, is adorably wrong, finished with frilly panties and pool of shiny milk at her feet.
As lovely as she is, the bonus option of brassiere removal is not to be advised in this case. I don’t care how cold she is, if you are going to defy gravity, you should damn well do better than this! She’s delicately constructed and pretty fragile but a charming member of the maid collection.

Dororo Heichou

2007-09-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

Nin! Dororo Heichou de gozaru! As a Yoshizaki Mine fan it's only natural that I love Keroro Gunsou and dear forgotten Dororo is a character with whom I truly empathise (^_^);; Yes, I even have a trauma switch!

Here he adopts pose that communicates his skilful, balanced side (in the vague hope that it might inspire some of that in me). He’s currently stationed next to my external drive (lovingly named Wammy’s House).

Fiddly to assembly but the option parts and articulation make these charming models from Kaiyodo only as limited as your imagination \(^o^)/

Asahina Mikuru Bunny 1/6

2007-09-14T05:44:00.000-07:00

Released at the end of 2006 Mikuru was the first of a series of 1/6 scale Suzumiya Haruhi no Yutsuu figures from Atelier-Sai, I bought this girl fresh from finishing the show while the embers of her longsuffering moe still glowed. I just had to get myself a bit of bunny.
This figure delivers what it should - a combination of shyness and irrepressible sexiness.
I don’t often buy pieces at this scale, for simple reasons of availability and the potential for fine detail but she’s pretty charming nonetheless.
Her support and base are somewhat inelegant but the robust body wrapped in shiny red helps to lovingly conceal this fact.
Though she may be nothing outstanding in the Haruhi saturated figure market, she’s certainly a kawaii classic worth keeping.

Dragon Shiryu

2007-09-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

Ah, Pegasus Fantasy! Mega House, the bastions of bishonen model production returned in June with the shining glory of Dragon Shiryu from 80s anime Saint Seiya!

While again, there is only so much that tends to be done with male character poses, there is a lot of subtlety in the sculpt. His taught stance implies a warrior’s vigour while his eyes coolly exude an aloof confidence (and are rendered according to the vintage era of his design). It is the particular strength of Mega House to communicate iconic aspects of the characters they sculpt, which is why, even a stayed pose can display some intangible energy.

The model might not present the delightful pinnacle of Saint Seiya shiny, however, beauty beats Bandai’s die cast boys (as cool as they may be) and Shiryu is resplendent in armour of blue topaz that aligns marvellously against the matt black archs of his body.

Rei & Asuka Grimrock Mix Edition

2007-09-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

2004 saw the release another popular Wonderfest spin on the Eva duo, PVCed by Kaiyodo. These yummy curiosities have pure kook appeal in their swimsuit style plugsuits, Rei is depicted as a cold-eyed kitty with embryo Adam chained in tow, encircling her ankle. Asuka is suitably cast as a monkey (which doubles as reference to the series and recalling her childhood plush toy). Her violent, arrogant nature is finished in this design with a miniature Lilith, skewered on the progressive knife that she holds at her side.
These figures have the design genius that makes me so fond of Grimrock (and makes me wish for a pair of my own Evangelion thigh-highs!)

Sera-chan

2007-09-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Here she is, the girl who started the unrelenting Shunya Yamashita figure frenzy, Sera-chan from Kotobukiya.
I considered, whilst eyeing the latest offerings available from Yamashita, that Sera might become obsolete in my collection - that her pastel charms would fast fade with additions such as the insurmountably sexy OL Mirei-san. When I came to take pictures of her, however, I recalled my fondness for this piece.
Sera-chan’s solid form is coquettishly sculpted, the sinuously sloping body belying her schoolgirl attire and her lips are accented in gloss as she casts her eyes elsewhere (making her somewhat more erotic than the peachy cuteness of original illustration, that personally I prefer).
The failing of this model is the horridness of the base she’s attached to. I understand that needs must to support a bust but it is an ever so icky floorboard arrangement in the most repulsive hue. This I can more or less forgive as she reclines on my sheepskin rug.

Kazami Mizuho (Enter Brain)

2007-09-11T07:49:00.000-07:00

Behold the extravagant and rather expensive delights in by far my most needed fix in figure mania – Kazami Mizuho of Onegai Teacher. I never used to be especially keen on the series itself (though time has warmed me to it) but I can never EVER resist of incarnations her curves finely rendered in 3D. She has been the source of bidder’s rage on late night eBay sessions, massive import duties on parcels, some rather unfortunate purchases but do I love her still ever so? Oh my yes. Will I forever be a slave to collecting Sensei? Oh but of course.
This was my first, one of my few babes in polystone, a piece by Miyagawa Takeshi released via the eccentrically named Enter Brain. Mizuho is a delight snacking on “Pochy” in her negligee. My version seems to be an alternate colouration featuring of lavender nightdress and panties that may be a less effective than the standard peach and black combo but I adore her nevertheless.
The high points are the detailing on the nightdress, finished with delicate bows and painted to enticingly hint at the skin beneath the gown. Her expression combines charmingly with the addition of the Pochy sticks and packet that can be added to her pose, giving a picture of a woman who really enjoys her candy ^_^

Nanbu Chitose

2007-09-11T05:56:00.000-07:00

Nanbu Chitose produced by Max Factory 2006 emerges from Amaenaideyo as one of my first forays into the model trends of the future! Action feature chic for models in this day and age are all about the clothes and I am not talking about fine couture (for a change), rather the custom capacity for the delivery of fan service. Recreate a thousand and one bathhouse exposes if you dare (as I do) as Chitose has a number of dishevelled looks in her optional parts and is accompanied by a variety of wired sutra beads that you can entwine lovingly around her buxom body.
Her face is a bit overwhelmingly kawaii but the fine rendering of her nice body made her impossible to resist when encountered in the “flesh”. Still haven’t managed to care enough to watch the anime but she sure does look nice in my jewellery box don’t you think? (Though she comes equipped a little circle of floorboards to kneel upon for those not in possession of such lacquered delights).

Wonder Fest Rei & Asuka

2007-09-11T05:29:00.000-07:00

Next up is an offering from Kaiyodo of Evangelion from the Yoshizaki Mine machine. The release was specially designed for the 2006 Wonder Festival in Japan (they turn up every now and again on eBay which was how, to my joy, I discovered them).

Far smaller than the average figure, these miniatures possess the saccharine sweetness of the finest petit fours, uncharacteristically genki with bouncy plumpness more akin to the characters of Gakuen Utopia Manabi Straight than Eva.

Despite their size they are beautifully detailed and finished offering cheery respite from Anno’s drama of angst. Rei has the cutest little boobies, forming like sweet miniture manjus on her purun pose while Asuka’s hair curves charmingly up to a pair of buttons that replace her contact clips.

Abarai Renji & Kurosaki Ichigo

2007-09-11T03:36:00.000-07:00

This dynamic duo from Tite Kubo’s Bleach are part of the Excellent Model series produced by Mega House.
Mega House is one of those rare companies that care to produce high grade male PVC figures. It seems to be the curse of the boy figure to forever be depicted in stoic, unimaginative poses, which has been a source of great pain for a purveyor of fine bishonen such as I (eased only by my adoration of girl figures).
Ichigo (pictured on the right), I encountered once in a comic book store in London 2005 and was so struck with the solidity and beauteous arrogance conveyed by his countenance that I ended up furiously bidding online for him until he was mine. The refinement of the Mega House’s production capability can be traced through the improvements made to later releases but it does not detract from that this is one of the greatest male figures to have hit the pvc market.
Ichigo, however, is without a shadow of a doubt, bested by follow up release Renji, who has the benefit of a more complex design to play with. It’s not just the interplay of the angular intersections of torso and limb, the razor sharp lines of tattoos, blade and hair but that comprise the excellence of this figure but it is in the subtle aspects that I am enchanted. The lines of his hakama that are creped to express a subtle movement in the atmosphere that has altered the line of his clothing.
These models were released at the height of Bleach’s anime rein (before all the ghastly filler) and were fiendish to get hold of originally. The fighters stand tall on bases of ruby and amber serving as the sharp slice that bisects a largely feminine domain.

Minawa

2007-09-11T02:21:00.000-07:00

This is a classic piece featuring the meek Minawa-chan of the Gainax series Mahoromatic Motto Utsukushii Mono. I have a weakness for maids and the sweetness and vulnerability of her character is perfectly accentuated in this sculpt by her pose and bare feet.
Released in 2004, the model is produced by Yamato, not a company I buy from generally but Minawa really has a lasting appeal. The casting and paintwork is simple but excellent (yes, with visible panties on her underside) and true to design, her hair features a nice suble airbrushed gradient. I happen to be very fond of the Mahoro maid uniforms and though the colour works better as a counterpart to her Onee-chan, Minawa sits by my monitor as a perfect companion to a pot of morning tea.

A-02 Lilith XX

2007-09-09T02:19:00.000-07:00

I make my debut with little Lilith, originally released in March 2006 by Wave. She's part of the XX-Chromosome Evangelion Angel series designed by Yoshizaki Mine of the Capcom/Keroro Gunsou fame. Mine-sensei's work has irresistble allure and I find the purun-purun roundness of his designs lend themselves perfectly to 3D. This figure series has that tasty indulgent quality, much like a good doujinshi, of stretching an original concept to kawaii highs, that say -what the hell, this is heaven!

The XX-series is moe enhanced Eva, served on an embryonic amber platter topped with a good dollop of creamy curve enhancemancement. Delicious!