Figure Review: [Beat] Ikki Tousen 1/6 Choun Shiryu manga cover vol. 14 (blue ver.) PVC

I must admit that I’ve never watched or read the Ikki Tousen (Battle Vixens) manga/anime, but I sure as heck do own quite a few figures. I have a real affinity for figures of girls with water-like flowing hair. That being said, the following figure is no exception.

Product Name

Ikki Tousen (Battle Vixens) Choun Shiryu manga vol.14 cover art ver. BLUE

Manufacturer

BEAT

Release date

Late February 2010

Sculptor

Eiji Nakayama

Scale

1/6 (28.5cm approx.)

Price

$150

This is definitely a pretty figure and would make a great and impressive display piece to any figure collection. However, while photographing it, I couldn’t help but feel that it wasn’t exactly the most photogenic. Sure, it looks great, but depending on the angle.

Her kimono is beautifully done and the color coordination for the blue version of this figure as opposed to the original red version adds to its striking presence.

Choun’s slightly shimmering silver hair accents the blue tone of her wear quite yummily if you ask me.

For the voyeurs out there, check out her chest area which shows a pretty blatant detail that some may find delectable. However, I can’t help but feel that it was modeled waaaaa~y too big! I’m not one for huge areola, but to each his/her own as they say.

One huge disappointing detail for me was actually her crotch area. She’s not wearing any panties…which I’m not complaining about but that area looks like it came straight from the designers of Barbie back in the 80s….. For a figure of this caliber and price, I deem this lack of detailing a pretty big no-no in my book.

Choun is definitely a pretty girl and the curling hair that frames her face adds to her youthful yet mature look. She’s elegant yet inviting… Just because she’s showing a lot of skin in regards to her chest and crotch area, better be ready to dodge that huge katana if you try to get too fresh with her.

Finally, is she worth that pretty hefty $150 price tag? Honestly speaking, no. I had huge expectations for this figure because the images of it look exquisite, yet when I finally took her out of her packaging, I was sorely disappointed. That’s not saying that she’s not worth having. It’s just that I think she’s only worth half her MSRP.

Purchase @ HobbyFan ($159.99) Toyslogic ($163.99) KidNemo ($159.99) AmiAmi (11850 yen)

Pussycats

Black Rock Shooter:

Revoltech Queen’s Blade Alleyn and Nanael (Mix & Match):

Where in the world am I?

America. My journeys in Japan are now over. I plan on remaining on American soil for a long while. Apparently, the world does not revolve around me and events played out as they did to ensure that I would be present in the Bay Area to handle something urgent that suddenly arose.

Now, I get to start looking for a job….FUN!

In the meantime, I’ve been honoring the recent bankruptcy of the Abercrombie & FItch affiliate, Ruehl 925, by listening to random tracks that used to play in their now empty stores. The following song and singer elude me though. I can tell that this singer has an accent…but I’m not sure from where…. If anyone has any information, please pass it along this way:

Belated season’s greetings

I’m a little late, but it doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy the two snowmen I had to make for work:

I’m building an army

Om November 24, 2009, Good Smile Company released their highly anticipated Nendoroid Puchi Vocaloid series #1 trading figures. These little things sold like hotcakes at only 500yen/figure. Of course, since you don’t know what you’re getting until you open the box, you’re either forced to buy multitudes of these or pay 3x the original price for the one figure you may be missing.

These figures are very well-crafted though in comparison to the Puchi Idolm@ster figures that were released earlier this year. Let me warn you that they are irresistibly adorable!

Macross Frontier models selection and prices

The following are the selection of transformable Macross Frontier models that the Volks shop in Shizuoka 109 carry.

The big scale models range from 16800yen to 18900yen.

The smaller scale models differentiated by the window packaging are priced from 5040yen to 6500yen.

Macross Frontier: The Movie: The False Diva

Earlier tonight, I watched the Macross Frontier movie that debuted all throughout Japan today (November 21st). I bought my ticket earlier in the week for 1300yen, which was surprisingly a lot cheaper than I thought it would be.

My ticket was special though because it didn’t have a specific time or date that I had to abide by. Apparently, I could attend any of the showings with it, but of course, I wanted to go on the first day. I mean, it’s not like I had anything better to do, right?

Macross Frontier has quickly become one of my all-time favorite anime series to watch. I’m so moe for Sheryl Nome and the whole love triangle embedded into the series. I’m rooting for Sheryl x Alto, but I’m sure that won’t happen cuz the animation studio wouldn’t want to alienate any of the fans in taking sides.

I’m definitely planning to pick up the series on Blu-ray when they release an inevitable boxset. Animate often has the show running in their DVD/Blu-ray section and the visuals are so darn crisp. It’s nothing compared to the lousy quality I’m watching on my iPod Touch.

There are actually two Macross Frontier movies that are scheduled for release, The False Diva being the first. I’m not sure when the second movie is coming out, but it’s already been confirmed by the studio and will be a retelling of the original 25 episode series…I think? Who knows. Anyway, The False Diva title refers to Sheryl Nome’s character, hence why she’s plastered everywhere as the key image. I’m not complaining though, because the artwork of her is simply gorgeous.

I was really surprised to see a fairly long line outside the theater when I showed up for the 6:40pm show….!

The movie runs for a whopping 2 hours and was all right. It basically cuts and pastes critical parts of the anime spliced together with all new scenes that mainly focus on Alto’s relationship with Sheryl and Ranka. There are only two major fight scenes and they happen at the beginning and the end of the movie. They’re pretty thrilling though. Maybe’s it’s my lack of Japanese skills, but the story seemed to have a lot of holes. They tweaked several roles of the characters and Michel fans will be happy after watching this movie. Just remember, this movie focuses on Alto, Sheryl, and Ranka. Expect no more than that. I’m not complaining though….but this movie definitely doesn’t solve the love triangle. The music is riveting and wonderful. Since I’m a big nerd, I’d pick this movie up instantly once it gets released to home video.

Almost everyone except for Ranka gets a steamy shower scene….literally steamy because the water is so hot…not that steamy. Sheryl is nude bathing in a tub, but no nipplage. Alto is showering in the SMS shower room, but no goodies (you pervert). Grace is showering and you get a good view of her full rack several times in the course of one minute.

Several times during the movie, this guy/girlĀ  (I couldn’t tell because it was dark and he/she had long hair but was fat…) kept walking to the back of the theater and stood there pacing back and forth. I assume it’s because he/she needed to stretch her legs, but I think I’ve been hanging out too often in the tenderloins of San Francisco because I kept looking back to make sure he/she wasn’t going to suddenly pull a knife out and start stabbing people randomly….and I say knife because it’s illegal to own a gun in Japan.

I recorded the audio from the entire movie, but since I recorded on “good” quality instead of “better quality”, it sounds like a real-live play and you could tell how far I was sitting from the stage :p If you’re interested, please enjoy it by all means. At least you’ll get a sneak peak at Sheryl Nome’s new CD before it hits stores on November 25th :D

icon for podpress  Macross Frontier: The Movie: The False Diva: Download

Kyoto Kitty Episode #5: The Rant (November 14, 2009)

As opposed to my previous podcast, this episode is a full-on angry rant. Thanks to my private student for fueling my fervor. I’m beginning to consider whether getting fired for violence against a student would be worth it:

“One of these days, Alice. Bang! Zoom! Straight to the Moon!”

Show Notes:

  • Contemplation about how foreigners can live in Japan
  • Japanese high school students are worth jack-squat
  • Inhibition of Japanese children
  • Japanese people are very afraid of change
  • Women who put on honey sweet voices irk me

Since it was payday last week, I decided to treat myself by paying my electric and water bill…..and, some other stuff. I’m creating quite a collection of Copic markers, but it’s all right, since it encourages me to express myself artistically. Haven’t been writing in my journal lately, but at least I’m releasing some of my emotions in one way or another.

Oh, well, anyway! I splurged and bought myself a Baby, The Stars Shine Bright mini-packback bear and I will hang him on my normal-sized backpack. I think I shall name him Duncan. He looks like a bunny, but you can remove his hood to reveal some very tiny bear ears. I bought Duncan a [girl]friend, and she’s a teddy bear that I named Missy. I also bought myself a new watch from Appetime’s Kokage line.

 
icon for podpress  Episode 5: The Rant: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

My first complete piece of creative work in a long, long while

I decided to jump start my artistic side by buying a slew of Copic markers and some waterbrush pens. The water brush pens are really awesome because no matter what you do, it always comes out feeling like a Chinese watercolor painting. It’s so awesome. I’m going to try to use some of my Grandpa’s old sketched for inspiration since Chinese watercolor painting was his forte.

Here’s a somewhat step-by-step take on my first completed piece of Copic marker work:

I’d still consider myself a beginner by all means because shading still gives me major problems….why can’t my brain wrap itself around the whole concept of a single lightsource?!! >_<

Post-Halloween Fun

My pumpkin started growing a colony of dark green fuzz, so instead, please feast your eyes on these masks I made!