Hobby Japan August 2009 Figures News

It is figures galore from the latest issue of the Hobby Japan magazine August issue. Once again, scans have been floating around on the internet soon after the release of the magazine. In this issue, we have figures news from the likes of Alter, Megahouse, Max Factory, Kotobukiya, FREEing, Wave and Good Smile Company. Again, I will only focus on the ones that I find interesting and there’s quite a few this time round. This is going to be a long post.

Starting with the news are 2 new figures from Alter.

It has been quite a long while waiting for new Ikkitousen figures from Alter since their Kanu Unchou and Choun Shiryu figures. Alter has now lined up figures of Ryomou Shimei and Kakouen Myousai. Both are 1/8 scale and scheduled for release in October 2009 for a retail price of 6,800 yen each.

Mou-chan is a no-brainer for Alter and I was expecting Sonsaku to be released, so Kakouen was a surprise choice by Alter. I am no big fan of Ikkitousen, but I will be getting the Ryomou figure as I think she look quite splendid and for once, decently dressed. Getting Kakouen will be dependent on my orders for October, so she looks good enough to warrant a purchase.

Next up comes an update from Hobby Japan from their Hyakka Ryoran collaboration with Alter.

As you can see from the scans, these are very early prototype shots of the next-in-line figures, Hattori Hanzo (left) and Senhime. I guess the most important information is that Hattori Hanzo is slated to be a Hobby Japan magazine exclusive while Senhime will get normal release from Alter. Oh well, not as bad as I feared, I thought Yagyu Jubei is going to be the only one getting normal release. ^^” After them, I do hope the other characters from the series get their figure releases too because the character designs from this series are all absolutely gorgeous.

Let’s now take a look at upcoming Megahouse releases.

From their Brilliant Stage series, Megahouse is releasing a 1/8 scale figure of Kasugano Sora from the eroge Yasuga no Sora. The figure is scheduled for release in November 2009 at a retail price of 6,800 yen. I had previously wanted the Kasugano Sora figure from Taki which in the end turned out hideous looking (as always). This version by Megahouse is definitely of much superior quality and looks good, although I am not sure if I am getting her at this moment since I do not know the character.

Next, Megahouse is releasing a 2P color variant of their Queen’s Blade figure, Mirim.

This Mirim 2P Color ver. is scheduled for release in August 2009 for a retail price of 6,300 yen. But she will be a Hobby Channel exclusive figure and is limited to only 1,000 pieces. Orders on the website will open at noon on July 6th 2009, so those interested have to be fast. I am content with my normal Mirim order … not that I have any chance of getting this. ^^”

Next are some figma updates from Max Factory. I guess it is a rarity these days to see figma updates from me since I stopped collecting them. But this one looks special.

figma Canaan is slated for release by Max Factory come next Winter although there are not much other information. I don’t think many have heard of her unless they play the video game “428″. She is nonetheless, the main heroine from the self-titled anime Canaan that will be airing next month. A figma announced before the anime aired? Quite unheard of.

Besides the figma, works have also already began for a scale figure and Nendoroid figure of Canann. It’s almost as if Good Smile Company and Max Factory are betting on the anime being a huge success. Now, this makes me even more interested to watch the anime. I won’t be interested in the figma, but will be looking out for the scale figure and Nendoroid.

Max Factory also has figma Shamal from Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS lined up.

figma Shamaal is scheduled for release in September 2009 for a retail price of 2,800 yen. She will come with the usual parts, plus a Unision head of Hayate and Reinforce Zwei. These extra parts are probably thrown in to boost the sales of figma Shamaal since she is not a major character.

Next we have a pair of Kotobukiya figures.

Kotobukiya is set to release another figure of Misaka Mikoto, this time in swimsuit version, this December 2009. She will retail for a price of 5,800 yen and likely 1/8 scale although not explicitly mentioned here. Now the bombshell …. she is a Dengeki Daioh magazine mail order exclusive. So fans of the Misaka will have to go through the harder way to get this figure.

Kotobukiya is also releasing their 2nd figure from the anime Kanokon after Minamoto Chizuru. As part of the 4 Leaves figures series, Ezomori Nozomu will get her 1/5 scale release. Her retail price is set at 10,500 yen and if I am not wrong, information on the scan states that she is going to be a Wonder Festival Summer 2009 event exclusive. I really like the Chizuru figure and Nozomu looks equally great. She is going to be a much sought after figure.

Next is FREEing’s latest 1/4 scale figure offering.

Kagami Kuro follows Kokonoe Rin to be the next figure to get the 1/4 figure treatment by FREEing. No release information is available at the moment. I was quite looking forward to FREEing’s Kodomo no Jikan figures but Kuro-chan doesn’t look too great here though. I think the face is actually okay, but she probably looked a little plain in gym uniform. Anyway, I don’t think I will be getting unless I plan to get Rin. Whether I will get all three will pretty much depend on Mimi-chan who will be the last to get the 1/4 release.

Next is a new Konjiki no Yami figure from Cospa.

This 1/6 scale figure of Yami-chan is scheduled for autumn release although no other information is available. Strangely, she will only stand 19.5 cm despite being 1/6 scale. Anyway, I think although information on the scan states Cospa, she is likely to be released by their figure arm, Resinya, since I don’t recall Cospa releasing figures. She looks alright albeit a little too static for me. GSC’s Yami is enough for me. ^^

And last but not least, two new figures from Wave coming up.

Wave is set to release swimsuit figures of Shishidou Akiha and Itsuki Kannagi from Sora wo Kakeru Shoujo. Both are 1/10 scale and scheduled for release in November 2009. Akiba will come with Imo-chan pulling her bikini strings and for a retail price of 3,800 yen. Itsuki will have two versions – as herself which retails for 3,800 yen or as Matsumi Shimoyama which retails for 4,200 yen. Both will come with Ul. Both looks nice, but are too small for my liking.

Alrighty, that rounds up the figures news. Quite a few nice and interesting figures although only the ones by Alter are sure gets for me at the moment.