Tokyo International Anime Fair 2009

Tokyo International Anime Fair (TAF) 2009 opens today at Tokyo Big Sight. The exhibition is the world’s largest anime exhibition and is currently into its 8th year. It is a 4 days event, with the first two days being business days (open to business associates and media) and the weekends open to the public.

The exhibition is primarily an anime convention, so not a lot of figure companies took part in the exhibition. The major ones that did include the likes of Bandai, Good Smile Company, Max Factory, Wave and Yamato. I will primarily look at the figures exhibited (quite a few new works) plus a quick scan at the Tokyo Anime Awards that will be handed out at the exhibition.

I will start off with the figmas on the display at the event where a few new sculpts were on display. Here is figma Signum who is scheduled for June 2009 release at retail price of 3,000 yen.

 

The sculpt looks impressive for an action figure. Anyway, I have stopped buying figmas quite a while ago and sold off my figma Fate and Nanoha so this won’t be a get for me. I actually thought Max Factory would stop at figma Hayate. Now I wonder how many figmas will Max Factory made from the Nanoha series. GSC has a new line of scale action figures starting off with Subaru. Would figma collectors want to get scale action figures of the same characters? Hmm…

Here is figma Sonsaku Hakufu, scheduled for July 2009 release at retail price of 2,500 yen

 

I think that she looks quite nice, even better than most of the scale figures of Hakufu even. Someone seriously needs to do a decent scale figure of Hakufu, hopefully it’ll be Alter.

Here is figma Golgo 13. No release information available. I don’t know who he is but this figma seems to be really spot-on based on the few illustrations I have seen. At least he is much more appealing than that figma Billy.

 

Here is figma Drossel von Flugel and all the accessories that she will come with. She is scheduled for June 2009 release and will retail for 3,200 yen.

She is really one cool figma, probably the best so far. And the accessories that she comes with is awesome. I am so tempted to get her. But I told myself no more figmas…

Anyway, that’s all for the figmas. Now, a look at the Nendoroids on display at the exhibition, starting with Nendoroid Zange-chan!

 

A first look at one of the alternate faces of Zange-chan – the shy/embarrased look. Kawaii. ^^ We also get to know that Zange-chan is now officially scheduled for July 2009 release for 3,500 yen, so hopefully pre-orders for her will open soon.

Here is a first look at the painted prototype of Nendoroid Drossel von Flugel. Release information not available.

Me feels that the figma version of Drossel looks a more suited rendtion, but this Nendoroid is still cute. Not sure if I will get her eventually but highly likely especially if my wallet allows. ^^”

Here is Nendoroid Asakura Otome, in her first full painted glory. No release information available.

Nendoroid Asakura Otome has been announced for a while. I believe she is going to get limited or bundled release so it is going be a little more difficult to get her for those interested. Me not interested.

A brand new Nendoroid on display in the form of Nendoroid Riannon. No release information available.

She looks wonderful and is so cute! Instant WANT! Another reason to watch the upcoming anime, Tears to Tiara. I so want the Kotobukiya scale figure of Riannon (and Octavia) as well but no extra cash. -_-”

Nendoroid Sebastian Michaelis is still prohibited from phototaking. I wonder why … is he camera shy? ^^”. Anyway, he is scheduled for July 2009 release at 3,500 yen.

Nendoroid Rouygi Shiki is also officially in the works now by Good Smile Company.

To round off the Nendoroid section, here is Nendoroid On-chan by Orchid Seed, also a first look at the painted prototype I think. The figure is scheduled for August 2009 release at 3,000 yen.

For Nendoroid Puchi, Good Smile Company announces a new set, this time from the Vocaloid series. Release information not available.

 

Nendoroid Puchi Miku looks so funny with her leeks. The Kagamine twins looks quite nice. Me not into puchi though and would prefer full scale Nendoroids. The only Nendoroid Puchis I ever wanted are Mikuru frog cosplay, as well as the exclusive Seto San and Edomae Luna puchis.

Good Smile also announces Death Note Nendoroid Puchis although phototaking is prohibited.

On to the scale figures section. No many new works on display, but still a few eye catching ones, none more so than this Yoko ~ Real Image version and is set for autumn 2009 release. She is by Max Factory.

 

So Max Factory finally ventures into the Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann figures franchise and starting off with Yoko is no real surprises here. I guess Max Factory is also well aware of the many Yoko figures available, thus their decision to go with an alternative look Yoko. She looks to be around 1/7 or 1/6 scale.

Here is a first look at the painted prototype of Yukino Sakurai. No release information is available. 

This Yukino Sakurai figure looks good. Beside her is Kanade Sakurai whom we had seen at WonHobby 9.5. I must say Yukino looks better than Kanade. I won’t be getting either though as I really need to be more selective when it comes to figures.

Here is Yamato’s latest figure – Hattori Kiriko from Dai Shogun. The figure is still in her unpainted prototype stage (saved for the face) and scheduled for autumn 2009 release.

 

 

Very promising figure by Yamato. No information on the scale, but she looks to be around 1/6. That’ll probably mean I won’t get her. Such a pity because I think she is going to look great with full color.

Wave Corporation is jumping on the band wagon for Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann figures. Firstly here is an unpainted prototype figure of Yomako Sensei. Release information not available.

 

The figure is 1/10 scale. I only have one thing to say to Wave Corporation – You are too late. ^^”

Here is another 1/10 scale figure from TTGL by Wave, Nia Teppelin ~ Swimsuit version and scheduled for summer 2009 release.

 

The face sculpt could be better. The hair is passable given that it is the most difficult part of Nia to sculpt but the face … * shakes head *. Eye Up, please show your prototype soon.

Banpresto showcase their latest Kuji Club Premium set with a look at a presumably even more exclusive variant of their Macross Frontier figures of Ranka and Sheryl.

  

The white semi-translucent outfit looks quite nice actually, although Sheryl’s face sculpt still looks not so good.

Here’s the figures from the other upcoming Kuji Club Premium set – Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann.

 

These are the A and B prize, Yoko and Lord Genome respectively. I believe this is the first public display of the figures from the set. Yoko looks better than the promo picture where her torso looks strange. Probably it is the angle. Spiral King looks real awesome though.

Part of the Gurren Lagann prize set includes these chibi figures.

 

 

That’s all for the figures section. I will update should there be more info.

For those interested, results of the Tokyo Anime Awards 2009 were out a week before the exhibition itself, although the awards presentation will only be held during the actual event. The awards are divided into Nomination entries (for commerical animation works) and Open entries (for general public submissions). Here are the list of winners for the Nomination entries which we are similar with.

• Animation of the Year: Ponyo On The Cliff by The Sea
• Television Category: Macross Frontier, Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2
• Original Video Category: Detroit Metal City
• Overseas Feature Film Category: Kungfu Panda
• Domestic Feature Film Category: Ponyo On The Cliff by The Sea
• Individual Category (Best Director): Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo On The Cliff by The Sea)
• Individual Category (Best Original Story): Hayao Miyazaki (Ponyo On The Cliff by The Sea)
• Individual Category (Best Screenplay): Ichiro Ohkouchi (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2)
• Individual Category (Best Art Direction): Noboru Yoshida (Ponyo On The Cliff by The Sea)
• Individual Category (Best Character Design): Tetsuya Nishio (The Sky Crawlers)
• Individual Category (Best Voice Actor): Jun Fukuyama (Code Geass: Hangyaku no Lelouch R2)
• Individual Category (Best Music): Yoko Kanno (Macross Frontier)

Full list of all award winners available here.

Full coverage and reports (figures) of the exhibition can be found at the following:

• Hobby Stock – Quick Report | Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann | Good Smile Company & Max Factory | Saint Seiya, Bandai, Yamato I | Yamato II, Beagle
• Akiba Hobby – Quick Report | Figure Report
• Moeyo – Quick Report
• GA Graphic
• GSC Mika-tan – mainly coverage on GSC booth

Sources are from Hobby Stock and Akiba Hobby.