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"Mole's Adventure" to air again after 55 years on July 21

The problem with having a favorite character is that it’s hard not to build an army of them on your toy shelves.  Just when I thought I’d bought my last movie War Machine figure, Bandai hooks me with a new SH Figuarts version that I just couldn’t ignore.

Japanes figures are definitely more expensive, but my saving grace was that I had little to no connection to most of the properties.  Those good old days seem to be ending though.  Great articulated Godzilla characters, Sailor Moon, and Power Rangers have already taken up the majority of my pre-orders.  Now my superhero love isn’t even safe with the upcoming Avengers Figmas and SH Figuarts kicking it off with their new Iron Man movie figures.  My wallet is doomed.

Sculpt wise War Machine is pretty much what you’d expect.  There’s not a lot of leeway when trying to be accurate to the specific movie design, but you can definitely see the sculpt has its own personality when compared to his Marvel Legends sized counterpart.  The Figuarts version is oddly not bulkier than the Hasbro, even though he’s much squarer.

The biggest difference between the two figures is the articulation and how it was integrated into the design.  Where the Hasbro version is limited by his sculpt, Bandai found ways around those issues.  One of the biggest examples of this is the lower torso.  The Hasbro figure’s abs and crotch are a single piece, where as the Figuarts’ abs are three double ball joints covered by layered armor pieces.  This allows him to bend forward, back, and side to side further and more naturally.

Paint wise the Figuarts has a bit more detail as well.  The majority of the body is made up of a dark metal gray with tiny sparkles to give it a metallic feel.  Most of the paint apps and tampos have been done in silver with that same metallic effect.  My favorite area is his eyes which are on a separate piece that sits behind his faceplate.  They’ve been painted yellow and outlined in red for a glowing effect.

Like I mentioned, he has the standard amazing articulation of most Figuarts, and we see the return of metal feet to allow for better posing.  His head, neck and wrists are ball joints.  His abs are three double ball joints, and his shoulders are double ball joints as well.  The hips are also ball joints that are attached with hinges.  His elbows and knees are double hinges, while the ankles and toe joints are single hinges.

War Machine’s shoulder weapons are also articulated.  The missile launchers are on hinges, and the Gatling gun is on two swivel hinges.
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Jun Watanabe's mystery manga about young man searching for truth about father

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• Bandai to Make Toys for Warner Godzilla Film's 'Spectacular Creatures'
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• Nintendo's 1st Free-to-Play Is Steel Diver, Not Mario or Pokémon
• Square Enix Files Rise of Mana, Slimeshot Trademarks

A "LEGO Movie"? For Reals? AWESOME!!!!


(Poster image via fmoviemag)

With my introductory post about Japanese artist and character designer Redjuice coming to Singapore as anInvioted Guest for STGCC, here's a closer look at his art done for anime "GUILTY CROWN" - featuring a distinct design aesthetic an visual treatment, at times subtle and explosive at the same time, all held together with a certain "grace", IMHO. I like what I am seeing here!




(Pages from Complete Art Book for "Guilty Crown" by Redjuice)


(Images via the Redjuice Facebook fansite)WHAT: "Guilty Crown (ギルティクラウン Giruti Kuraun?) is a 2011 Japanese anime television series produced by Production I.G which aired on Fuji TV's noitaminA program block from October 2011. The story revolves around Shu Ouma, a high school boy who inadvertently obtains an ability called "The Power of the Kings" that enables him to draw out items called "Voids" from other people. He is then thrown into the conflict between a resistance group called Funeral Parlor which aims to restore Japan's independence from a quasi-governmental organization known as the GHQ. In the process, Shu has to deal with the burden his ability puts on his shoulders and the horrific mystery of his past. The series incorporates elements of numerous genres, mostly drawing from science fantasy." (Wiki)
Trailers for "Guilty Crown" (no English subtitles)

Anime Opening:

We've seen the Black and Bronze colorway in an earlier post, today we get to witness the WHITE Edition of Godmachine's "PREY FOR ME" statuette, currently on pre-order from Disturbia, shipping the first week of July."Standing at 8 inches tall, 'Prey For Me' is available in 3 colourways; Black (£45), Bronze (£85) and D.I.Y White (£55), with a total edition of just 200 pieces. The Black variant is limited to 100 pieces, and Bronze and White limited to just 50 of each. The bust is a hand cast, and hand painted polystone statuette (the bronze variant has been electroplated), and comes boxed in bespoke packaging."

One more month till San Diego Comic Con, and since our earlier glimpse at "Mr. Pumfrey and His Astounding Mechanised Perambulator" from Doktor A, producers Munky King reveals an image showcasing the (partial) side shot of the figure (in it's wax phase) showcasing the "Mechanised Perambulator", with which the Mechtorian operator rides in/on - seen in the below image with it's black-n-gold colors. Further product images to be updated when I have them.

I've posted images earlier for MINICEL from Rotobox (hell, I have been following their developments closely!), now here's the official product details for their launch at San Diego Comic Con!

Standing 4 inches tall, and available "blind boxed", Minicel is limited to 500 pcs total - with a single blind box containing either Minicel or Minifah - both of which are "Super-Deformed" baby versions of their earlier Celsius and Fahranheit characters! Besides being loaded out with accessories, the figures themselves possess articulated at head and arms.

Available for US$15 per pull via KusoVinyl's SDCC Booth #5642 - Minicel comes with 3 guns (1 handgun, 1 sniper, and 1 rifle), and Minifah comes with 2 future katana. Also watch out for chase colorways of both figures, which we have not seen thus far!

Every army needs a chief!

Scott Tolleson will be releasing his Sideshow Dunny 2013 Artist Proofs this Friday at 10 AM via www.stolleart.com/store. Priced at US$75 per set, these AP’s will come with an exclusive custom “Argyle Chief” necklace. The set also comes with a signed print and an “Official Argyle Warrior” button.

Here's a look at a new fowl-inspired "QuicklyQ Mini Qee from Toy2R, with Raymond Choy mentioning: "coming soon for Taipei Toy Festival and Toy2R Web Store."

The figure was first released at an earlier "Qee x Hong Kong Pacific Lions club", inclusive of exclusive logo printed on the figure's chest (see images below). Will we see a new logo printed for the TTF-version? I certainly hope it is not a black TTF-logo tho, and something more luxe? But then again… Nevertheless am liking the yellow "rubber ducky" colors seen thus far on the main figure :)

Dark Horse has officially revealed details (and at least one photo) of their upcoming White Walker Statue from HBO's series Game Of Thrones. With a release date of December 18th 2013, you might need to wait a little while to get your hands on the undead. The White Walker is a hand-painted, numbered limited edition collectible. Each bust is packaged in full-color collector box and will retail around $124.99.

Here's a look at the NOFUTURE figure from Kenth Toy Works, with this colorway being an exclusive to Toy Art Gallery! Limited to only 15 resin pieces, this Black/Gold version is my fav seen thus far, with the color palette choices popping, as well giving it a swell glam-rocker with the black+gold, accentuated with a luxe funk-club vibe with the pink, methinks! Will update with further product and availability info, when I have them.

Episode 20 of Dokidoki! Precure continues this week with vast developments in the main story and quest of the Pretty Cure. This vast and seemingly quick story progress brings up a few points about the show so far both bother and excite me, detract and highly engage me.

Let’s talk:

You know, I kinda saw this coming back in episode 04, but Alice is doing that thing that I feared she would: she—along with the stalwart and mustachioed Sebastian—is becoming the ‘Cure all for any major problem faced by the Precures (and yes, that pun was intended).

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Latest POWER RANGERS Series Comes to DVD and Digital Download Source: Lionsgate, Bender/Helper Impact press release Official Site: powerrangers.com Special Thanks to Geovani Rocha The number one boys live-action series returns for its 20th anniversary season with an all-new series, POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE currently airing on Nickelodeon. POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE: ULTIMATE TEAM POWER - Volume 1 includes the first four episodes of POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE and is arriving on DVD and Digital Download September 3rd from Lionsgate Home Entertainment. New Rangers, Zords, enemies and battles make this anniversary season the most exciting yet! Featuring five new Power Rangers protecting our earth from the evil Warstar aliens to prevent a massive invasion, POWER RANGERS MEGAFORCE: ULTIMATE TEAM POWER - Volume 1 includes the "Power Rangers Morph Through 20 Years" featurette and will be available for the suggested retail price of $14.98. For centuries, the earth has been protected by a supernatural guardian named Gosei and his robotic aide, Tensou. When the evil Warstar aliens plan a massive invasion of Earth, Gosei calls upon five teenagers with talent and attitude to form the ultimate team...the Power Rangers Megaforce! Using their newfound special abilities, mega-weapons, high-tech Zords and giant Megazords to battle this new alien threat, the Power Rangers Megaforce prove that "Earth's defenders never surrender!" Go Go Megaforce! Continued...

Munpei Takagi stars in story by Warriors of Tao & R-16's Shinya Kuwahara