Temporary madness but a great hair day
As I look back on all that has happened - growing together, me changing you, and you changing me - as I look back on those days I realize how truly stupid I was. The past is gone forever and we may no longer have a future but I just can’t forget you. “Why now”, you ask? Because I’d like to try it again. I know I don’t have any right to say this because of the pain I caused you but I want to have that future with you and I want to show you that I’m not the same man. I was the one who was wrong and I’m sorry. Will you give me another chance, Griffon Enterprises?
Flandre/scarlet hobby
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Rider - Deformate Ver.
Series: Fate/stay night
Company: Griffon Enterprises
Sculptor: Fio
Scale: Non
Release: Feb 2010
Price: 61 USD // 5,500 Yen
The Short:
First up today is a super-deformed Rider figure from Fate/stay night. I’m a sucker for cute things.
The Long:
I tend to like Rider figures even though I wasn’t too much a fan of hers from the show. I find her whole design to be quite appealing, and the colors to be very striking, though I think a lot of that has to do with the long purple hair.
This Rider sculpt takes a lot of the elements of her design I like and plays with them in nice way my making them super deformed. It looks like Griffon did a great job on the coloring and I love the way her hair flows, but the pose is a little boring. Rider looks better with her mask on, but Rider always looks better with her mask on.
I think my love Nendoroid’s is what really is driving my like for Rider. “Super deformed = cute = buy” is now kind of ingrained into me.
Rico’s Verdict:
Bought.
Source.
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Sill Plain - Rance VI ver.
Series: Rance VI: Collapse of Zeth
Company: Kotobukiya
Sculptor: Munetoshi Makio
Scale: 1/8
Release: Feb 2010
Price: 79 USD // 7,140 Yen
Notes: Limited - 4-Leaves Legend Girls
The Short:
Kotobukiya is set to release a fairly extensive remold of their Sill Plain PVC early next year. Maybe she’ll actually be cast-off this time.
The Long:
Now this is an interesting figure. I had been on the hunt for Kotobukiya’s original release but then I read Aka’s review and found out that she wasn’t cast-off. That killed almost all interest I had in Sill (her top looked to bulky but cast-off justified it in my mind) and I quickly turned to other pursuits.
This is one of the few times I get to end the story with “and I’m glad I did” because now I get a much more interesting figure! This new Sill sports a pose pretty much 99.89% similar to the old so I don’t think owners of the old sculpt are going to be jumping for joy over this. That said, there are some fairly major updates to her outfit and hair. I also think that coloring looks to be a touch more warm on new Sill than it was on old Sill.
I know some people won’t agree with me, but I love her hair. Aside from the fact that it’s pink, the giant size and poofy nature make me reminisce about the big hair of the 80’s. Is it a dumb reason to buy a figure? Yes. Will I do it anyway? Yes.
Rico’s Verdict:
Very bought.
Source.
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Flandre Scarlet
Series: Touhou Project
Company: Griffon Enterprises
Sculptor: I-con
Scale: 1/8
Release: Feb 2010
Price: 75 USD // 6,800 Yen
The Short:
From Touhou Project and Griffon Enterprises come this amazing little Flandre PVC.
The Long:
As much as I like Rider above, she wasn’t enough to make me make up with Griffon (in fact I joked with a friend that it was telling the only way Griffon could make a good looking figure was to intentionally get the proportions wrong). No, what really did it was Flandre here.
To really want this figure is a particularly amazing feat for me since I had to not only make up with Griffon Enterprises but I also had to care about Touhou Project. It’s not that I hate Touhou Project, I just know jack about it and I’m not really excited by it. Usually a disconnect like that isn’t a problem for me, but there have been other Touhou figures I’ve talked about wanting in the past but never made a move on.
Flandre is different. The coloring looks fantastic, the detailing rich, her face is damn near perfect, and her hair is light and full of spring; the entire figure is very stylized, right down to the extras of her hat, staff (?), and wings (?). She is striking and cute at the same time.
Oh and Griffon, if I may, stop photoshopping your backgrounds in. It really looks cheesy.
Rico’s Verdict:
Oh so bought.
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I’m kinda extra peeved now at Kotobukiya. They taunt me again and again. Regardless I still love their Horo, Plug Cryostat, Blanc Neige, Suzumiya Haruhi, Zange, Nagi. But that one figure… and now this. Not cool Kotobukiya, not cool. (I almost considered linking to each review of mine for each character named, too much work though)
Super deformed, I’m out.
I’m liking the Touhou figures but I’m not really into the series. I recently finally found out what it actually is, and it’s not what I thought it was. What’s strange to me though is it feels as if there’s no official look to the characters. Just lots and lots of artists interpretations.
Regardless, I’ve got Marisa on pre-order and would like a Reimu figure if one strikes me. And one has, but unfortunately it’s a garage kit so far as I know. I’d settle for a figma if it weren’t an exclusive.
I’m missing something here. Are you peeved because you aren’t happy they are producing a variant on Sill (making the old one feel less special), peeved because you that you like her more than the old one, or peeved that the same problems in old Sill carry over to new Sill?
You’re loss!
I’ve noticed the lack of official look too and I kind of like that. Makes the whole series take on a broad and more inclusive tone - very fan oriented. Kind of how Vocaloid/Miku Hatsune have taken on a whole life of their own through fan works.
I’m peeved because they’re bringing a figure I purchased with one expectation and receiving something else back to the forefront of my mind. I’m peeved because this one has features I expected to be able to see on mine, such s the exposed tummy. I’m peeved that they even thought to mention this character ever again because of what they did. And I’m peeved that they’re using nearly the exact same sculpt instead of coming up with something new that perhaps I could like and purchase. Sorry did that come off as really ranty?
I guess Touhou having no real officialness to the artwork makes sculpting easier as you’d have more freedom. And I’m surprised how Miku’s taken off and I totally want her. Currently Kagamiku and Drossel will have to serve as my Miku replacements.
No, you didn’t come off as ranty at all!
Speaking of Miku, I wonder when Max Factory is going to put NV02 Miku up for pre-order. Most other figures from WonFes have release dates and prices already.
Totally want. The moment she goes up for pre-order I’m ordering her. Regardless of cost.
I miss 80s anime… not because of the big hair though xd
Honestly, I missed out on 80’s anime since I came of age with 90’s anime, so I’m definitely more partial to that era (Slayers forever!).
I did come of age in the 80’s with live action movies, however. So that’s where I was coming from with the “big hair” comment.
Oh god. Touhou. I’ve yet to play any of the games but the character designs are a killer.
I too am interested in Scarlet. Thing is, I’m not sure if I should. I really dig most/all of Griffon’s Touhou figures so I’m afraid that I would end up selling both my kidneys to buy the whole set.
Speaking of touhou figures I really need your help in deciding which one to buy. Which one do you think is better?
http://www.amiami.com/shop/?set=english&vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=FIG-MOE-0917&template=default/product/e_display.html
or
http://www.amiami.com/shop/?set=english&vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=FIG-MOE-1252&template=default/product/e_display.html
LOL. I know how you feel. When I ordered Scarlet I had a similar thought about buying the whole set. I’m going to see how Scarlet turns out first before I decide to go any further or not.
Out of the two of them I’d go with the second one. She’s the more the expressive figure by far and that goes a long way in my book. She also looks a colored a little better. Detailing is about the same in both.
Yes, I think Flandre will be my first one. However, if she does turn out great then there’s an even bigger disappointment that awaits us (well only me if you can get your hands on them). There have already been several Touhou releases by Griffon. Of which there’s three I definitely want (in order of want):
http://www.amiami.com/shop/shop?vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=FIG-MOE-1083&template=e_review.html&set=english (note this one’s is a pre-order and still sold out T.T)
http://www.amiami.com/shop/shop?vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=FIG-MOE-0767&template=e_review.html&set=english
http://www.amiami.com/shop/shop?vgForm=ProductInfo&sku=FIG-MOE-0769&template=e_review.html&set=english
All 3 sold out at amiami, one of only 2 places I know of that are selling the figure. The other Toylet.net are charging a gazillion dollars for one + extra expensive shipping fees to AUS. Do you know any other site that has them in stock?
I was originally attracted towards the first one because I felt it was “more accurate” according to the illustrations I’ve seen and it comes with a light up base! But after a while I started to lean towards the second one because of its more dynamic and expressive nature. The problem is though, neither will fit in with the rest of the Griffon line if I decide to take them up LOL. The style (and probably size) is much too different :S Are you going to buy one of them BTW?
I am thinking about Reimu for the same reasons you are. Youmu is nice but I like Reimu more. The last one seems kinda lack luster by comparison. Doesn’t mean I won’t change my mind about her later! ^^;;
You’re right in that there seems to be a stylistic difference between the earlier Touhou figures and that later ones but knowing Griffon I’m not convinced it isn’t mostly due to photoshop and light trickery.
The only other place I know of that still has some of those earlier ones in stock is ToysLogic, but that doesn’t solve your high shipping cost problems.
I’m apologise for not being clear but that last paragraph of the above comment was written in regards to the two Marisa figures I showed you previously. I was quite sleepy when I posted that. Although now that I read it, it did make sense being applied to Reimu and Youmu.
So my questions are: Will you be getting one of the two (or both) Marisas? And how do you plan to get the others from the (Griffon) set if you like Flandre (because her release date is Feb 2010 and you probably won’t find them in stock by then)?
I’ll make my decision on either Marisa when I’ve seen better pictures from the blogosphere. I understand that means I might miss out on both of them, but that’s a risk I’m willing to take. Niether of them grab me as “must buy”.
The same goes for the earlier Griffon Touhou figures. I did just buy Griffon Reimu from ToysLogic partly because of our discussion on her limited nature these days (and I think she’s cute), but I’m not looking to be a completionist on that line; I’ll buy the ones I like.
Though if, for the sake of argument, Reimu and Flandre end up being mind boggling good and I decide to get the others later, then I’d go for the eBay route. Really there is no other option for long released figures. You might have luck scouring a Google search and sites you’ve used before might still have stock (and there is always the chance of a re-release), but eBay is still listing figures that are more than 4 years old. So I think 6 months to a year old won’t be a problem.
I hate saying eBay because prices can get unfathombly inflated but saved searches and patience, as Guy has pointed out, can net you a great buy.
Yes, ebay prices are very inflated unless you’re lucky.
I see, TBH I’m thinking the same. The others in the line (ie. Alice, yuyuko and patchouli) don’t have anything to offer that makes me want to buy them at all.
Oh nice, please do the Reimu review first then? I’d like to see Griffon’s quality :3
FYI: I did end up buying Yoko. I was on and off about her for the longest time but your pics helped with the raping of my wallet.
I ordered the first. I’m not very trusting of manufacturers I don’t know.
Though Kotobukiya is also iffy at times for me.
I understand what you mean Aka. This will be my first gamble with an unknown company so I can still say “I believe”. But it’s what we have to deal with because of Touhou’s exclusivity right? (Oh god if Alter announces they are making Touhou figures after I get these I’ll be so mad!!!)
I’m not too keen on Scarlet, her face, her pose, it just doesn’t do it for me.
I too, am a fan of Rider’s design but not her character. I also think she’s Slightly Deformed and not Super, y’know? She’s very cute, but her vacant face with her mask off irks me.
As for Sill, “Most improved figure”, because the previous one was pretty horrible, and I called it to be horrible before it was even released. This figure is pretty nice, but I’m not as fond of the hair as you are, but I don’t hate it. It’s interesting, and that’s quite something.
Slightly or Super; either way she’s damn cute.
I agree wholeheartedly about her sans-mask face.
It is amazing how easy it can be to fix something that bad, isn’t it? I mean, Sill has exactly the same pose and face but changing her clothes and hair made a lot of difference. Not saying that now she’s perfect by any means, but she is much better.
Her hair could’ve even remained the same, and it’s no surprise at all, her previous clothes were absolutely horrid.
And it’s not like a figure has much else, especially as they were so bulky as to obfuscate much of her pose, and being non-cast-offable, it rendered her body sculpt irrelevant.