Year: 2010

Categories
Review Toy

Review: Revoltech Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

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To a TV anime series, the conclusion can either make or break a viewer’s opinion of it. A weak ending may ruin an otherwise entertaining series, and a strong ending can make even the most mediocre series seem memorable in the minds of the viewers. The animation studio GAINAX certainly knew the importance of the conclusion when they were wrapping up their 27-episode series Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann back in 2007. To ensure the realization of a big and flashy ending, they saved their titular mech for the last episode. Measuring on the scale of entire galaxies, Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann (henceforth abbreviated as TTGL) is the unquestionably largest mech ever conceived, and the action in the final episode did not fail to measure up the its immense size.

Kaiyodo’s Revoltech action figure of TTGL probably came as a surprise to many fans due to the exotic nature of TTGL’s design. However, sculptor Katsuhisa Yamaguchi did a good job of translating it from the TV screen to a tangible plastic form. While it’s not without flaws, the Revoltech TTGL manages to balances aesthetics with playability to a very admirable degree. And while as a toy it isn’t quite up there with its predecessor Revoltech Gurren Lagann, fans of the series would definitely find plenty to love here.

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Categories
Figure Review

Review: 1/8 Ogiue Chika (Cosplay Ver.)

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(This week, we have a special treat from our dear friend Molly who has not only allowed us to borrow this figure for review purposes, but also wrote the actual reviews itself! I hope you’ll enjoy this review as much as we did.)

Within the realm of manga, it’s hard to imagine a title more endlessly enjoyable than the ever-classic Genshiken. However, within its diverse cast of characters and strange situations, there stands a single gleaming gem- and she goes by the name of Ogiue Chika. I am certain that I’m not the first to be charmed by Ogiue’s flustered blushing or adorable anger stints, nor is it likely I’ll be the last, considering this highly in-character figure.

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Strangely enough, Genshiken has been graced with a few notable- and highly desirable- cosplay figures within its 9-volume run and anime adaptation, most notably Yamato’s Kasukabe Saki and GSC’s Ohno Kanako, although many may wonder at the latter’s odd choice in pose. For those of you who haven’t read the manga, the design for this particular figure comes from a chapter in which shy and combative yaoi doujin-artist Chika is reluctantly persuaded into a popular in-series manga cosplay by fellow club member and fanatic Ohno. Alter has done this highly-enjoyable episode justice with Kujibiki Unbalance Ogiue.

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Categories
Plamo Review

Review: MG Ball (Ver. Ka)

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At the dead bottom of the gundam grunt totem pole, below the lowly Zaku II and practically harmless GM, there lays the most ill-fated clump of mass-produced metal – the RB-79 Ball. Being just as unintimidating as its own name, the Ball is practically useless on the battlefields of the One Year War (from the original Mobile Suit Gundam). Nicknamed the “Mobile Coffin”, these low-cost civilian crafts modified for battle are famous for their penchant to explode.

Because the Ball is unimpressive in virtually every respect in the anime series, the release of the Master Grade Ball ver. Ka in 2004 must have been an immense surprise to Gunpla fans at the time. “Surely there must be worthier candidates for the MG treatment,” they pr obably thought. However, after the initial shock, I’m sure most fans have come to love the little round underdog for a few reasons: it’s amazingly detailed, it’s deceptively large, it’s attractively priced, and it’s refreshingly different.

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Categories
Review Toy

Review: Revoltech Gurren Lagann

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Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is an anime that needs little introduction. With its energetic style, high production values and numerous homages to older super robot series such as Getter Robo, TTGL is undoubtedly one of the more memorable anime series of the last decade.

Of course, with any success in the popular anime sphere comes merchandising, and TTGL is no exception. A quick browse through any large online retailer would reveal a plethora of character goods and figures related to the series. Among these is the Revoltech TTGL line of action figures. By combining superb sculpts, decent quality control, a high degree of articulation, as well as relative affordability, the line easily managed to capitalize on the success of the GAINAX produced anime. This week, we will look at the forerunner of the line: the Revoltech Gurren Lagann.

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