Toy Review: BB Gundam Kan U

 

There is not much awesomeness or hidden mitsuruji about BB Gundam Kan-u so I'll just make this review short and sweet. BB Gundam Kan-u is one chibi bearded figure. He carries his own halberd of doom called the O-karyuugetsutTou. Hard to pronounce eh?

The instruction sheet is in English and some in Japanese symbols which makes this Brave Battle Warriors Series figure easy to assemble. For beginners, I reckon that you can finish the assembly in 45 mins and for experts, about 15-30 mins depending if you are reading the instructions or not. Just like the rest of my BB Gundam reviews, the instruction sheet includes a comic strip at least to tell you more about our chibi bearded fella.

Friday the 13th Contest winner!

Congratulations to Inuloveyui. More giveaways to come after 150 subs on my Youtube Channel.

Toy Review: SIC Kiwami Tamashii Auto Vajin

 

I was saving Auto Vajin for a review until I can get the rest of the SIC Kiwami Faiz riders together. Now that I have them in possession, its time. Auto Vajin is Faiz's trusty side kick and the only one he can count on without hesitation. Kaixa and Delta do not count, they are such A@#@$ and unreliable at most times.

When you take this figure out of the box, it is already in bike mode. All you have to do is place the handle bars, feet rests and the kick stand. The wheels do function pretty well, the handle bars are sturdy. Because this is SIC, there are hints of battle damaged parts and paint apps. Some may like it and others might not. Still Auto Vajin is shinny in silver. 

More Gokaisilver pics and his mecha!!!

 

GokaiSilver's human name is Gai. Gai just saved a girl from a car accident and later in his dreams meets other 6th rangers - Abarekiller, DragonRanger and TimeFire. The three sentai warriors connived that Gai is worthy to become the 6th ranger and hand down the keys and the GokaiCellular. This all takes place probably in episode 16 or 17 when the keys are taken from Basco - a frenemy and a fellow captain pirate of Marvelous.With this, we will see GokaiSilver's mecha, the Gorjyujin and his Gold mode (which I still think looks creepy). GokaiSilver's mecha will be introduced in three modes:

Timeranger's power = Gozyuujin's Drill Spaceship mode
Zyuuranger's power = Gozyuujin's T-rex mode
Abaranger's power = Gozyuujin's robot mode

Toy Review: SIC Kiwami Tamashii Faiz Axel

It's time to open your eyes for the next Faiz. Next Faiz I'm talking about is Axel form. Sounds familiar to today's Accel,well that's how it is nowadays in the Kamen Rider world - repeat, rebrand, repackage.

It may come to a surprise today that the whole SIC Kiwami Tamashii Faiz forms are a bit pricey due to its popularity on this specific toy line. I can't blame them because of the pleasing aesthetics that surround Faiz. Axel joins this foray of good looking SIC KTs.

Bandai wins legal battle against Hongli

Japan-toy manufacturing company Bandai recently won a legal suit Chinese toy maker Hongli for trademark infringement on toys that are clearly resembled Mobile Suit Gundam and BB Senshi Sangokuden plastic model designs. 

Bandai filed this legal suit last November, 2009 and led Hongli to issue a public apology through an ad. The China court ordered Hongli to pay damages amounting to 10 million yen or USD130,000. 

Detective Conan Manga Goes Live TV

Green light is on to go live TV series for  Gosho Aoyama's Detective Conan manga. It will debut on July 7 at 11:58 p.m. on YTV, NTV, and affiliated networks. If you forgot who Detective Conan is, he is a young but excellent detective who accidentally drank a fluid turning him to a child again. The twist for the live action series will be set before his child body transformation. 

There were specials before for this manga hit but this will be its first live action series.  The new series will retain the same staff and cast as the third live-action special, including Junpei Mizobata (Hana-Kimi, 81diver, Shibatora, High School Debut) in the title role and Shiori Kutsuna (Mei-chan no Shitsuji, Beck, Gota Keshi: Jidan Kōshōnin Shirai Torajirō) as the heroine Ran.

Source: ANN

Toy Review: SOTA Street Fighter Birdie

Before NECA introduced the Street Fighter 4 collection, Street Fighter action figures were run from the manufacturer Sota. Most of the figures were released in 2006 and were pretty decent and some are just plain worthless. Birdie unfortunately belongs to the latter.

For those of you who don't know, Birdie actually made his debut on the first Street Fighter game in 1987 and he was surprisingly Caucasian. According to sources, the first Birdie was the mock-up for today's Zangief.

Singapore brings back Toy Carnival 2011

If you happen to be in Singapore this May, try visiting this event for great showcase of action figures. 

27 - 29 May 2011 | 11am - 9pm

Suntec Hall 401 | FREE ADMISSION

Toy Review: SIC Kiwami Tamashii Agito Ground Form

 

Ready to go, count zero, Kamen Rider AGITO!!! I had enough of the SIC Kiwami Tamashii Blade series so I am moving over to simpler things like Kamen Rider Agito. Kamen Rider Agito is what I mentioned-simple.

The box design is somewhat a tone down version of the SIC Kiwami Tamashii boxes we've seen in the past few years. Which made me think in a bit. Bandai started with Hibiki with a design that is both small and flashy. Then, the succeeding box designs were elegant and makes Kamen Rider fans wanting KTs more. Now its like they are going back to square one. The best thing I liked about this is that they ditched the twisties that hold the figure in its casing and instead, made the plastic case similar to SHFs. This makes it more convenient for users to play and place the figure back in for a clean storage. Yipee Bandai heard me.

Post Friday the 13th Contest (100 Subs Celebration)

The contest is simple, name which Kamen Rider series had 13 riders in total excluding movie riders. If you know the answer, post your answer on my Youtube video that tells about this contest. You have to be a subscriber to my Youtube Channel in order to join in to win an OCC Kamen Rider Birth. All shipping expenses paid. Deadline of submission is on May 28, 2011 Join now!

Toy Review: Combo Change Series (OCC) Birth

I accidentally picked up OCC Birth just as I accidentally picked up OCC Latorata. I skipped a lot of OCCs just because I'm collecting SHFs and picking up SICs, OCCs and SHFs all together would really eat up my space. Enough about my dilemma, lets get it on with Birth.

Impressively, he is actually poseable and has some unexpected hinges and pivot points that makes Birth likable. The only difference between this OCC and the expected coming of its SHF counterpart is that there are no neck joints, ball-jointed shoulders and torso/waist articulation.

Toy Review: SH Figuarts Kamen Rider OOO Latorata Combo

la, la, la, LATORATA!!! Surprising that I reviewed Sagohzo first before this third Kamen Rider OOO's SHF offering from Bandai. Latorata, Latoratar, to each his own on how you spell it, there is no right or wrong answer. By combining Lion, Tora and Cheetah medal, Eiji becomes the epitome of kingly-ness, speed and light. SHF Latorata as we hope we don't see still has the same QC problems we saw in Gatakiriba and Tatoba. Well let's see

Some of the reviews out there describe the hip joints and other pivot points are loose. Unfortunately mine continues to have one. Especially on the head which this deformity if most accounted for. But I do love the sculpt on the head as it is more refined that my OCC Latorata I reviewed several months ago. Its blue compound eyes do help highlight the head. Same material. What is noticeable is same problem I have with Dosm's figure. At the side of the mane is a small burnt-like mark that is etched across.

Toy Review: SH Figuarts New Den-O Strike Form (Trilogy Ver.)

I'm crying with joy as I finally have in my possession the SH Figuarts Kamen Rider New Den-O Strike form - looks better feels better than its original Bandai x Yahoo exclusive release. Am I concluding my review early? Wait there's more!

The first release is very rare and you'll curse hard how much it costs nowadays especially on eBay! RIDICULOUS. Now we overturn you frown into a smile as Bandai is kind enough to bring us a rerelease of Strike Form with additional knick knacks. As they say great things comes to those who wait.

Toy Review: BB Gundam Sazabi

Sazabi is one of the most famous character/mecha in the Gundam story and he is made alive yet again in the Battle Brave Warriors Gundam Series. Sazabi is a very simple yet regal in white. He comes with a sword and fan when combined - it forms into his Gayoku no Taiken. This is a massive weapon when flailing is capable of mass destruction with the Houyokuzan slash.

Included in the kits are new-style poly-caps for that flexible joint articulation. Stickers are also provided to give highlights on this figure and you will be using them all. Although kit aficionados would highlight this even more with Gundam markers, for me stickers alone are enough.

Former Toei President Passes

JAPAN, TOKYO, May 9,2011 – On May 9, 2011 5:55 PM Tokyo time, Toei Movie Studio is in grief as it’s former president and honorary chairman, Shigeru Okada recently passed away because of pneumonia complications.  At 87, he left behind his wife Akiko and his son – current Toei president Yusuke Okada.

Okada was born in Hiroshima Prefecture, and he graduated from the well-known Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo) in 1947. After graudation, he joined the studio  Toei Eiga -  now named Toei.

More Scans: SHF Ryuki - August 2011 release

Sharing you the latest scans of SH Figuarts Ryuki. The figure will include a Ryuki Tamashii stand, 5 cards, a separate card holder, Dragvisor, Dragedder, two arms guards, a swords and 5 interchangeable hands. Release Date: Aug 2011, Price: 3800 Yen. Now it didn't mention if the other parts of the dragon are included in the package, although we have a photo of it in the background.

Save the date: Tamashii Festival 2011

 

Exhibition opens on July 16 and 17, 2011!

- Special collectors' items will be given out during "Tamashii Nations'" summer festival!
- "Hero and Robot, Summer Formation!" - The new products for summer will be on display in Akihabara!
- This summer, the collector's life will be at a climax!

Event Name: TAMASHII FESTIVAL 2011

Event Location: Bellesalle, Akihabara
Event Date: 16th July (Sat) and 17th July (Sun), 2011

Admission Fees: Free

*Changes will be made according to circumstances.
Any changes made will be announced on Tamashii Web.

Source: Tamashii

SHF Gokai Red Campaign Limited?

You read it here that it is confirmed that the Gokaigers will be the next super sentai team to be featured in the SH Figuarts toy line starting with Gokaired. Also pre-orders are now up in the favorite online toy stores that showcased Gokaired's gun, sword and a beautifully crafted steering wheel.

But hold your horses..erm I mean anchors your ships, it is confirmed that not all stores will be part of the campaign offering that will include the steering wheel so be careful where you buy your first Gokaired. According the Tamashii JP website:

Toy Review: SH Figuarts Kamen Rider OOO Sagozo Combo

 

SAI, GORILLA, ZO!!!! sagozo..(drum beat) SAGOZO!!!. Akira Kushida never sounded this great. At first, I laughed on how the combo sounded but it slowly donned to me with such magnificence.

Even for the character's SHF version. The SH Figuarts Kamen Rider OOO Sagozo (Sagohzo)is the fourth installment for the series. Combined by three black/grey core medals Sai (Rhino) Gorilla and Zo (elephant) there is never a combination with this kind of synergism while the parts are clear and distinctive from each other.

Toy Review: SIC Kiwami Tamashii Wild Chalice

Ok, so I take it back. Not all Blade figures in the S.I.C. Kiwami Tamashii line is that bad, in every bad bunch of apples there is always an exemption. A good example is Wild Chalice. Wait he was released before the other Blade figures followed, so what happened?

If you happened to miss the SIC version of Wild Chalice (because he was an exclusive), this is another chance to get the same look and feel with the Kiwami Tamashii line. He is actually better looking as the powered version of Chalice in the Blade series.

Toy Review: SIC Kiwami Tamashii Garren

 

Ok, in the video review I said that this SIC Kiwami Tamashii Garren is the worst SIC KT yet, I may be harsh when I say this but it is, in my opinion, the hard truth. He is unlike the rest of the SIC KT that was released as it brings only a few set of accessories, three hands and a gun rouzer with a replaceable fan out cards.

It is not the accessory count that upsets this cheapskate toy reviewer but how this was molded. At most he looks like a toy that came out of serial box or a toy of the mid-90s. Most notable disappointment is the holding hand for the fan-out card. Its index finger and the thumb are conjoined and it seems like it was melted together. I thought it was a QC problem only for my figure but when I asked around recently many suffered the same fate.

Toy Review: BB Gundam Sonken

Bandai's BB Gundam figures take on the Romance Of The Three Kingdoms are mostly surprisingly handsome as each character has its own gimmick in such smaller packages. Aside from the fact that these kits are easier to assemble (well not for me LOL), some of its snap-fit parts are actually hidden accessories and when combined it becomes set of armament or the character's partner.

Just like the rest of the BB Gundam toys, BB Gundam Sonken also has a heel stamp with his character on it but it doesn't include the stamp dye. Sonken Gundam is inclusive of his Gaoh sword. The sword does flip in and out, but I like it in to not spoil the space I only have in my small room. Sonken has a palette of foil stickers and all of these will be used in the toy. The stickers may suffice average builders but aficionados may paint some of its parts. Honestly, I can't recommend which places should one can add more color as the figure as a whole is already colorful and neatly done. Articulation wise he is very poseable and fun to mess around with.