The top 5 figures for 2009 are of course purely based on my personal opinion. The only criteria is that it has to come out during the year 2009 so those which has been announced in 2009 but only released in 2010 will not be considered.

Ok, let’s start!

5. Native’s Kotone Banana Girl

This figure originated from a Tony Taka artwork which was then taken up by Native on a limited run. Fairly hard to get and only if you are willing to ship it from Japan. Very good details and a coquettish yet sensual face at the same time. Comes with the banana, desk and fully castoff-able clothes. Potentially a very very interesting photoshoot subject.

For more pictures of this figure, please take a look here.


4. Alter’s Yoko Littner

Definitely one of my favourite PVC purchase for 2009, the Alter’s version of Yoko Littner comes with a detailed, sculpted base with Yoko bearing pistols as well as a wind-swept jacket. A more mature themed Yoko but very very well-made nonetheless. Can’t find any obvious flaws and her resolute expression on her face coupled with the pose of her with her rifle make this a MUST-GET for any TTGL fans. For my short review, please click here.

Gallery of Yoko Littner.


3. Goodsmile’s Haruhi + Mikuru + Yuki Extravaganza Version Set

This is technically 3 figures but the entire collection is a set so I’m including it as a single figure. The set features a very dynamic trio with Haruhi on her electric guitar screaming passion, Yuki with her usual calmness on her guitar and the air-headed Mikuru with her tamborines. Besides the nicely made instruments, the details on them (note the creases on the jackets and the stocking linings on Haruhi) make this set very very hard to find after it was released. Prices started shooting up and I really regretted not pre-ordering it. Interestingly, many people commented that Mikuru looks like a potential leaner but it turned out to be a false alarm which was a hugh relief.

Gallery of Haruhi, Yuki & Mikuru.


2. GoodSmile’s Saber Lily ~Distant Avalon~

No surprises here. This was one that many Saber fans were waiting for the entire year and turned many non-Saber fans into one. The dynamic pose, the fierce expression, the subtle tonal shadings and the elegant base. What more can you ask for? Best Saber figure in years, and probably ever.

More of the Saber Lily ~Distant Avalon~ figure at the gallery over at AkibaHobby


1. GoodSmile’s BLACK ROCK SHOOTER

Hands up if anyone, ANYONE, finds this a surprise. This made it into year 2009 barely by the skin of the teeth, launching on the 23th of December and only available in stores around the 28th of December onwards due to the Christmas break.

With all the rave reviews going about the internet, I guess it would be extremely sycophantic and redundant to even review the entire figure for the 9000th time. Just look at the cannon, the scar on the belly, the flame eye and of course, the marvelous detailed base and marvel at how far PVC figures have progressed ever since they started being produced. Paired with a careful touch of the paintbrush, this figure will no doubt be a classic in the PVC world.

When it was first shown unpainted, people have already started remarking about how fantastic it would be and how detailed it was. And when the pre-order was open, everyone in the know just started rubbing their hands in anticipation. After months of delay, this was finally released as the year was winding down. And I bet not a single one of them was disappointed by the end result or the waiting time after holding this in their hands.

Awesome gallery of Black Rock Shooter over here at Happysoda. I have been following his site for the longest time as he continues to amaze me with his stuff.


And there you go, my top 5 bishoujo figures for the year 2009! GoodSmile is certainly well on its way to world domination by the looks of things!

Pictures courtesy of Goodsmile.info, akibahobby.net, polyvinylcrush.com & happysoda.com

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3. Yoko Littner 1/8 PVC

Good Smile has announce the pre-ordering of Index from To Aru Majutsu no Index. Quite a nice figure but a plain base and nothing fantastic in the design/sculpting. I guess the production issues with all their new fancy bases must be giving them a ton of headache.

A must-get for all Index’s fans but otherwise, I can safely assume you will give it a miss. Pre-orders will start 17th November, tomorrow. You can expect to get it at the usual places, including HobbyLink Japan and HobbySearch.

Index
Release Date: Mar 2010
Scale: 1/8th scale – approximately 190mm in height
Price: 7,800 Yen

 

Pictures via goodsmile.info

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More pictures of Alphard figure out! All of them look stunning and I can only guess when will they be ready for the market, given all the recent troubles Good Smile has with deadlines etc.

The sculpt looks really good and this is just a 1st print, meaning the final sculpt and finish will probably be slightly different/better. The slight bit of problem I see in the hair area will probably be fixed by then. The base is top-notch like most of their current figure releases pre-orders. I wonder how much effort it takes to produce them in the factories.

Overall, another affirmation of my decision to go ahead with the pre-order of the Alphard PVC figure and I know it will pair up sweetly with Canaan’s PVC figure. Just look at their combined bases!

 

For more of those stunning pictures, visit AkibaHobby here!

Pictures via akibahobby.net

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I think most of the people who know about the Saber Lily ~Distant Avalon~ PVC by Goodsmile will have known that it was just released just a few days ago. While I did not order one, I felt it was a wonderful piece of work with fantastic craftsmanship to boot. Regrettably, some bootleggers have already come up with an imitation PVC of this figure. Here’s a quick guide to show you the differences, courtesy of Goodsmile.

Those bootleggers are pretty good themselves, making an imitation of such a well-crafted figure and releasing it just as Goodsmile released the original, probably to confuse those who are not well-versed in spotting fakes. Not that I blame those who fell for the fakes as some of them are quite well done and even passable for the real thing at times. Goodsmile Company predictably, reacted very fast and came out with the update on their webpage to condemn them and showcase the differences as soon as they learn about the issue.

RED / Left is genuine while BLUE / Right is fake

The genuine version comes with the Good Smile Company sticker as well as another sticker.

The printing on the fake is pretty awful as you can see for yourself. The color is also slightly off as if it was photocopied, which it probably is. ^^

There is an holographic sticker on the back for the genuine box.

For the actual figure itself apart from the box, there are 3 tell-tale signs.

Firstly, the base. Pretty obvious once you compare both of them. One comes with Fate / Unlimited Codes and the other without. The shade of the gray is different as well.

The connector that joins the left hand to the scabbard is also of a different color. The authentic one is clear while the imitation is black.

Lastly, the angle of the head and the ahoge is totally off for the fake. It does however, look alot like Yami from To Love-Ru from this angle. It could just be me though but maybe fans of Yami-chan could do well to take note. ^^

Personally as a collector, I feel there is no point getting a fake. It just decreases the perception of the original figures which you already have just by having a fake in the midst. If you can’t afford the original, maybe save up and hope to get it another day rather than spend your money on a fake which you know will never replace the real stuff.

Also, I feel its good to support the company which release such excellent figures by purchasing their items. But by purchasing bootlegs, you are just feeding the bootleggers who obviously do not pay any copyrights etc to the respective copyright holders. On a larger scale, this will just decrease the motivation of the companies to release such well-crafted figures since they know that people will just end up buying the bootleg copy instead and this will be terrible for the entire market.

On a brighter note, if you want to take a look at the original Saber Lily, head over to AkiraHobby here where there is a fantastic gallery and review of the figure. Terrific work by Goodsmile Company here, can’t wait for Black Rock Shooter

Pictures via Goodsmile.info & akibahobby.net

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Alphard nendoroid is out for pre-order. Goodsmile is apparently not letting up its hunt for our wallets…

To add to the multitudes of figures released or will be released by Goodsmile in the coming months, Alphard from Type-Moon’s Canaan join the ranks of the nendoroids.

Alphard comes with a grinning face, a calm face and an angry face, presumably when she’s fighting with Canaan. She has a revolver as well, similar to the Canaan nendoroid.

I say she does look great when paired up with the Canaan nendoroid in a battle scene. A must get if you already ordered the Canaan nendoroid. Otherwise, it boils down to whether you like the character design or not. Canaan is a pretty good, action-packed anime but its essentially Type-Moon to the core. Some people will like it while others can’t even sit through 15 minutes of it.

Preorders are open at Hobbysearch here and at HLJ here.

Nendoroid Alphard
Release Date: Jan 2010
Scale: Not to scale – approximately 100mm in height
Price: 3,500 Yen

 

Pictures via Goodsmile.info & Hobbysearch

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I finally found this figure of Shiki made by GoodSmile Company. It was sold out pretty fast when it was released late last year. I guess even GSC themselves didn’t realize what a hit they had on their hands.

The highlight of this figure got to be the kimono worn by Shiki. While not being made of fabric, it looked very realistic under some lighting. The details on the kimono look fantastic as well.

The base is plain and unadorned. I think the overall theme of this figure is just simple and dignified class with a hint of flair. The base fits right in as it doesn’t take away anything from the figure but adds on to it in an unstated manner.

The katana have some delicate etchings on it, especially on the hilt guard. Its rather fragile though so I’ll advise people to handle it with care. Overall, a very nice piece for display.

Pictures of the Shiki figure:

 

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Goodsmile has announced this entire series of nendoroid petite featuring characters from the Vocaloid family.

The entire series will feature not only the popular Hatsune Miku, but also Kaito, Meiko, Megurine Luka, Kagamine Rin and Len.

Included as well are the lesser known fan-made Vocaloids, Neru Akita, Meiko Sakine, Haku Yowane and Saihate Miku. There is also 1 secret character who I think might either be Black Rock Shooter or World-is-Mine Miku.

I got this feeling the entire set will be heavily pre-ordered and any set which manage to hit the retail stores will be sold within 72 hours. That’s how popular the nendoroid petite line is. Aided by the popularity of the Vocaloids, especially those that do not have many existing merchandise, sales gonna hit through the roof for this.

Nendoroid Petite: Vocaloid #01
Release Date: Nov 2009
Price: 500 Yen each

 

Pictures via Goodsmile.info & akibahobby.net

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Goodsmile has announced the release of the Black Rock Shooter anime on their website! It is due to be out on 30th September 2009.

Some screenshots:

 

This short animation will only be out on either DVD + CD for 1,260 Yen or BD (Blu-Ray) + CD for 1,890 Yen. Reservations will be made available starting in the next few days at a few online websites, Amazon.jp being one for starters.

Many other websites have also claimed that this short animation project is more like an OVA to an even bigger project if it proves successful. No idea whether if this is true or not.


Some background/trivia regarding Black Rock Shooter:

* Created by self-declared freeter Huke and made famous by the PV he did of the character. This led to a few artbooks and recording deals, such as the rather popular Supercell album.

* Black Rock Shooter (that’s the character name!) is often marketed as the vocaloid Hatsune Miku twin or clone depending on how you look at it. Most people view it as her being Hatsune Miku darker alter-ego.

* In Huke’s PV, she is shown using a katana (Blade Blade) as well as a big-assed gun called the Rock Cannon to fight off yet another evil character. Cue the kongfu moves and acrobatic kicks.

* In actual fact, Black Rock Shooter was created even before artwork of Hatsune Miku was out. This is not a widely known fact but its true that she was conceptualised even before Miku. However, Miku cornered the twin pig-tails heroine market before Black Rock Shooter was even released. It didn’t help that both characters look remarkably alike.

* She has a long scar on her tummy as well as a blue flamed left eye (don’t ask why ^^)

* Goodsmile has already announced a Black Rock Shooter PVC back in March this year. That’s how popular the character is. Most places had their allocated pre-orders snapped out pretty fast and I booked mine after much deliberation. The paintwork, sculpting and the excellent modelled base was just too tempting not to get. It is slated to be released in October 2009.

Black Rock Shooter – Theme

Animation screenshots via dannychoo.com

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The base on the 1/8 PVC is fantastic and it sure looks like more and more figures are moving into a sculpted base instead of a generic plastic circle one as in the past. A step in the right direction as it makes an absolute statement piece on your shelf or display case.

The dynamic modeling of the PVC makes it stand out, with Canaan diving one direction and her cloak going the other as if she was jumping out from the side. Her pose with her hands fixed firmly on her handgun shows her displaying ultimate concentration as she sets her sight on her target in front.

Canaan 1/8 PVC
Release Date: Jan 2010

 

Canaan Nendoroid
Release Date: Dec 2009

 

Pictures via Goodsmile.info

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The legions of Mio’s fanboys can whip themselves into a greater frenzy already. (Evil) GoodSmile Company has released pictures and open pre-orders on the Mio nendoroid. The rest of the gang including Azusa will be rolling in soon I think, just slow enough to keep the coffers full. Keep your wallets closed and hold them tightly! Resist the poison!!

Price-wise, it will start at the usual nendoroid price of 3500 yen so its not an exclusive. But judging from the character’s popularity, there might not be enough to go around since I think some people will get about 10 of her.

I will be getting her and the whole gang of course. How can I resist? But I’m more of a Mugi / Yui supporter so hopefully I wouldn’t have to wait too long. More pictures below.

 

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Took the very cute Louise Nendoroid out for some photos. Don’t be fooled by her though, she can be very very fierce when she wants to.

I got her just today and took some pictures. She’s very cute, no doubt about that. The entire ‘pinkness’ of her gets a little overwhelming at times though. All in all, a very adorable nendoroid which captures the tsundere/moe nature of Louise. She comes with a crying face, a angry face and a confused face. Accessories include a whip, a book and 2 sticks/canes.

 

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Went to Mickelz_Hobby at Lucky Chinatown today around noon to collect my orders. A Megahouse Claymore No.47 Clare, a bust collection of claymore figures including Clare’s, Teresa’s, Miria’s and Deneve’s along with Priscilla’s and their respective silver unpainted version and lastly, a Seto San Figma.

I bought the lot at an incredibly great price so it was very worth it, especially given the excellent details and rarity of the Megahouse Claymore and the overall brilliance of the Claymore bust figures. On the flip side, my figure collection shelf is almost at its limits even after using those acrylic steps system. Will do a proper review when time permits.

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Just collected this from Black Technology in the evening. Nice improvement from the previous nendoroid in terms of the stand as well as the number of accessories. The stand is now consisting of 2 separate parts for the left/right side so they can grip at separate heights. The paintwork is awesome as usual. The accessories are well made as well. Really happy that I pre-ordered this.

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I took my weekly pilgrimage to China Square Central today afternoon but didn’t find anything remotely interesting at all. Quite disappointing. Went to Mickel’D clearance sale at Lucky Chinatown but it was abysmally boring with very few stuff on sale. And to think that there was a long snaking queue to get in and I waited about 40 minutes just to step inside.

Preordered a Hatsune Miku Figma from him though as I couldn’t resist it anymore. Besides, it was a great price but only arriving in May(!!!)

Then, it was off to Cityhall to collect my online purchase of these 2 PVC figurines. I got them at a good price and was quite happy to be able to find them, especially the Saber/Zero as I was on the verge of ordering it from HobbyLink Japan when I saw it for sale online.

It was a rainy day & was stranded at cityhall for an hour or so. But still, it made the night very cooling.

Pictures from Goodsmile.com

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Argh!! Must get! Very nice figma out there and I’m a sucker for all things from Goodsmile. I already have the nendoroid version on preorder and it looks like GSC is not giving up its hunt for my wallet.

In case you are still not convinced, here’s another picture for you. How can you resist?!?

Kagami is getting pissed now!

Have a great day!

Pictures via Goodsmile.com 

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