A World Through Lenses » Figure

The Toys Story Collection – Part 2

phoenix — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 06:44:23 +0000

Continues from The Toy Story Collection – Part 1, this is part 2 of my Toy Story Collection post. In Part 1 I covered my recent acquisition of Thinkway Toys’ Toy Story Collection’s Woody and Buzz Lightyear. These two are the characters from the first movie Toy Story. Now in Toy Story 2 two new characters are introduce as part of the “Woody’s Roundup” gang – Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl and Woody’s Horse Bullseye.

Let me start with Jessie. Just like Woody and Buzz, Jessie carries a price tag of $60 CAD at my local Toys R Us. I’d like to reiterate that the price tag is definitely more justifiable as a “collectable toy” than a simple child’s play thing. There are other Jessie dolls that does similar things that are priced at $30 CAD or below. The whole selling point of Toy Story Collection is that this is supposed to be a premium quality exact replica of the toys in the films.

Let’s hope that Jessie will bring me some joy where Woody and Buzz have failed…

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The Toy Story Collection – Part 1

phoenix — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 22:05:38 +0000

In my previous post ‘Tribute To Steve Jobs‘, I’ve mentioned that I really love Pixar Studio’s animated movies. And I’s also posted that I think Toy Story (1995) and Toy Story 2 (1999) are two of the best animated films that Pixar has ever made. So one would expected me to own some Toy Story collectable toys. But, in reality, it is not the case. The main reason, as I look back, is because Disney kept on putting out toys that looks like they are some bootleg figures from hell. For example below to the left is an authentic Disney’s Talking Sheriff Woody doll. While to the right is a screen shot of what Woody looks like in Toy Story 2. Now as you can see the resemblance is remote at the best. Disney’s toys look like something coming out of a horrible Halloween costume party.

Well no wonder while I was a fan of Toy Story and Toy Story 2, I’ve never purchased any Toy Story merchandise. But all that was about to change…

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Saber ~Triumphant Excalibur~

phoenix — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:50:07 +0000

Believe it or not, as much as I am a Saber fan, I actually only own a single Saber figure in her standard armour – Clayz 1/6 Saber. The Clayz figure is a really old figure released back in 2005 and not particular the best Saber sculpture that was done. With a movie version of Fate/stay night anime announced, Good Smile Company soon announced a new 1/7 scaled Saber PVC in her armour. And that is Saber ~Triumphant Excalibur~. The figure is supposed to be released in July 2010, but it was delayed month after month. Finally it is is scheduled to be released on September 2010. Fate/stay night Unlimited Blade Works was released on Blu-ray and DVD on September 30, 2010. And soon after, there comes my new Fate/stay night Saber figure.

Saber ~Triumphant Excalibur~ 1/7 PVC by Good Smile Comopany (セイバー～約束された勝利の剣(エクスカリバー)～). Original sculptor Tokunaga Hironori(徳永弘範). Released on September 2010 with an MSRP of ¥9,800.

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MegaHouse G.E.M. Gintama Hijikata Toushirou

phoenix — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 04:02:59 +0000

I don’t own many male figures, and I don’t own any other Gintama (銀魂) figure. But after seeing the pre-order picture for this Hijikata Toushirou PVC from the Gintama series, I placed an order for him. Maybe it’s his cool looks, or maybe it’s the extravagant mayonnaise display (see details below). Either way the Shinsenguimi number two now joins the rare group in my figure collection. MegaHouse isn’t exactly known to make really great figures. For the Gintama series, they have previously released Sakata Gintoki in April of 2010. The Gintoki figure really did not impress me. I thought they have really done a poor job on the series’ main character. But this Hijikata figure seems to be much better than Gintoki especially in terms of the face sculpture and the paint. Another figure in the same series Sougo Okita is slated to be released in October 2010.

G.E.M. Series Gintama Hijikata Toushirou 1/8 PVC by MegaHouse (銀魂土方十四郎).Original Sculptor Moriwaki Naoto　(森脇直人). Released on June 2010 with an MSRP of ¥6,600.

Still in the box, front and back.

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Figure/doll photography 121 – How to produce white background

phoenix — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 07:31:03 +0000

This is another one of my figure/doll photography 121 post. A few months ago, I’ve posted an article on how to produce a true black background without the use of any black background material and/or image editing software. I wrote about the black background because I find most people does not know how light works its magic in a photography sense. The people I talk to tends to instinctively come to the conclusion that if a photo’s background is black, then there must be something black behind it. If you have read my article, then you would see that a true black background actually resulted from a lack of light coming towards to your camera. Today I want to look at the opposite side of the gray scale — how to produce a white background?

Well again a lot of people instinctively think that a white background is the result of placing some kind of white material behind the subject. Below is a photo that I took in front of a white fabric backdrop. However, when compared to the white frame that borders the picture, you can clearly see that the actual background is not 100% white. In fact if you load it into an image editing software, you will see that the background is somewhere between 96% – 92% on the gray scale. On the gray scale there’s only one white point which is at the very end of the gray scale. Anything that’s not 100% on the gray scale, or 255, 255, 255 in RGB value is not pure white. And 255, 255, 255 RGB value is what the background must be if we were to call it a true white background. Anything less is just a different shades of gray.

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Permalink | Tags: Hakurei Reimu, Hijikata Toushirou, Tohsaka Rin | Categories: Dollfie, Figure, Nendoroid, Photography, Toys, Tutorial | One comment

Volks Hatsune Miku Encore Package

phoenix — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 01:04:11 +0000

I have posted back in 2009 that I purchased a pre-painted resin figure of Volks’ Hatsune Miku from e2046. This particular Hatsune Miku resin kit was original released by Volks Japan in Wonder Festival 2008 at an price of ¥14,490. It was later released by Volks Japan as a 1/6 PVC figure in August 2008 with an MSRP of ¥7,140. Now e2046 sells recast resin garage kit as well as pre-painted recast resign figures. And in case you are wondering, yes they simply made copies of the original kit and sell these copies. Now I do try to avoid these recast figures, but because garage kits in Japan are very expensive and very limited in production quantity, it is not always possible to get my hand on the original. And because garage kits are typically produced in such tiny small quantities and that they do not have any lost of market outside Japan, I do from time to time buy recast garage kits from places like e2046. However, if possible, I do still want to get my hand on the original.

Around end of 2009 and beginning of 2010, Volks Japan did another re-issued version of this figure as an “Encore Package” during Comiket 77 (December 29-31, 2009) and New Kit Exhibition 2010 (January 1-11 2010). And so my quest to get the original started.

Hatsune Miku Encore Package 1/6 PVC by Volks (初音ミクアンコールパッケージ). Original Sculptor Milchstraße (ミルヒ・シュトラーセ). Released on May 2010 with an MSRP of ¥7,560.

Here’s what the box looks like, front and back.

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Permalink | Tags: Hatsune Miku, Vocaloid | Categories: Figure, Toys | One comment

Alter Saber Alter Maid

phoenix — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 02:12:56 +0000

I’ve purchased Alter’s Saber Maid PVC a little over two years ago. A little over one year ago, I’ve purchased a Dollfie Dream Saber and the Dollfie Dream Saber Maid costume. Give the fact that I own a number of PVCs, nendoroids, as well as a Dollfie Dream Saber, and that I also own Saber Maid in both PVC and as a dollfie dream costume, you can conclude that I’m definitely a fan of Saber maid. And when I see that Alter will be releasing a PVC of Saber Alter in maid costume, I just had to have it.

Saber Alter Maid 1/6 PVC by Alter (アルターセイバーオルタ　メイド Ver.). Original sculptor 倉本育馬. Released on May 2010 with an MSRP of ¥8,000. (Yes it is from the same sculptor and same manufacture as the original Saber Maid PVC but now a little cheaper.)

The box shots front and back. The box is very nice, black box with only silhouette of Saber showing through the matte black color. So fitting for Saber alter.

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Alter Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 1st Nanoha Takamachi

phoenix — Tue, 25 May 2010 18:10:15 +0000

So here’s a figure that has be sitting in the box for a while waiting for me to find the time to take photo of her. Ever since I purchased Alter’s Fate Testarossa and Yagami Hayate figure. I always wanted a Nanoha figure to go with the two. And of course it must be a Nanoha figure of a equivalent size so that it can be displayed beside Fate and Hayate properly. And of course Alter delivered in the form of this Alter Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 1st Nanoha Takamachi Stand By Ready.

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha The Movie 1st Takamachi Nanoha -Stand By Ready- 1/7 PVC by Alter (｢魔法少女リリカルなのは The Moview 1st｣高町なのは -Stand By Ready-). Original sculptor 爪塚ヒロユキ. Released on March 2010 with an MSRP of ¥9,800. Notice this is the same sculptor that sculpted Alter’s Fate Testarossa and Yagami Hayate.

Here’s the box shot.

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Bandai Chogokin Fireball Drossel

phoenix — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:49:49 +0000

Drossel von Flügel is the main character in the Toei and Disney Channel’s Fireball anime shorts. There’s already a Figma Drossel, a Nendoroid Drossel, and the Fireball Winter Package DVD that comes with a special ski version of Drossel. Even though I like Drossel’s design I never got the original figma release because it seems to be very flimsy. Despite I love nendoroid, the nendorid Drossel is actually one of those that I really don’t like. Nearly all of the nendoroids release so far are cuter than their normal counter part. Such cannot be said for drossel. The only thing I liked about the nendoroid Drossel is the fact that it’s got the LED lights in her eyes. Now this, Bandai Chogokin Drossel, is probably the best drossel released. Combining everything. The joints are metal and feels solid, has just about all the accessories and parts that was seen in the anime. And best of all, her eyes lit up just like the nendoroid.

Bandai Chogokin Fireball Drossel (バンダイ超合金ファイアボールドロッセル). Released on February, 2010 with MSRP of ¥7,980.

Here’s the box. Front and Back.

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Figure/doll photography 121 – Blurry photos – How to tame the focus

phoenix — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 10:01:29 +0000

This is another figure/doll photography 121 post. I’ve heard from many people as well as seen from many forum posters that they can’t seem to get sharp images for their figure/doll. Some of these people simply didn’t know to use the macro focus mode on their point and shoot camera. However, a lot of them are new users of D-SLRs or have switched from point and shoot digital camera to D-SLRs. In this post, I’d like to explore some of the difference between a point and shoot digital camera and a D-SLR that may cause new and unfamiliar user to get blurry photos. I will also explore a few things on the D-SLR and are specific to D-SLR that may cause blurry photos. I will be using nendoroid, standard PVC figure, as well as doll as my subject. As usual all photos in the post have higher resolution images linked so click on the thumbnail to see better details.

Be aware, this post is image heavy and may take a bit longer to load.

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Permalink | Tags: Kanu Unchou, Saber | Categories: Dollfie, Figure, Nendoroid, Photography, Toys, Tutorial | 2 comments

Figure/doll photography 121 – How to produce black background

phoenix — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:00:21 +0000

I’m going to call this a figure/doll photography 121. It’s not a 101 because even though what’s presented here is what I know of, it may or may not be correct. It’s not a 123 since I’m not really providing a step by step instruction. So some where between 101 and 123, I hope this becomes helpful to someone. And through that, the knowledge is transferred from one to another, and hence the name 121.

Black background, there are a lot of myths about it. There are talks about how to use black seamless paper, black cloth, or even black velvet behind the subject to create it. Then there are talks about using post production editing tools such as Photoshop to achieve it. However, neither of these approaches produces what I would call a true black background. Black background material is always visible due to light reflection, even black velvet shows up under some lighting conditions. And then there are many cases where the use of background material is just not practical or not possible. Photoshop on the other hand, will product a true black background, but typical masking technique to mask out your suject will produce an unnatural edge around it, this is on top of the amount of work needed to mask the fine details. In this post, I will try to walk through my technique in creating what I would call a true black background, just like what I have done below for Dollfie Dream Kanu Unchou. I’ve used this technique for many years now, mostly for floral photography but used sparsely for figure photography as well. however it can easily be applied to much bigger subjects such as dolls, real people and even other bigger subjects that you might want to photograph. And it’s all done straight out of camera with no background material and no Photoshop work.

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Permalink | Tags: Geranium, Kanu Unchou, Katsuragi Misato | Categories: Dollfie, Figure, Photography, Toys, Tutorial | 11 comments

Saber Lily ~Distant Avalon~

phoenix — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:50:13 +0000

Yes I love Saber from the Fate/stay night series. So far I have owned Saber PVC figure, Saber Maid PVC figure, Saber Lion Nendoroid, and Saber Dollfie Dream. I’ve made a ton of Saber posts with Saber in there especially with Saber dollfie in all kind of outfits. So it’s natural when Good Smile Company announced Saber Lily from the Fate/unlimited codes series, I had my pre-order placed early and got my Saber Lily nice a early. Now I had her in my display cabinet for some times now, finally got a chance to take photos of this beauty.

Saber Lily ~Distant Avalon~ 1/7 PVC by Good Smile Company. (セイバー・リリィ～全て遠き理想郷(アヴァロン)～). Original sculptor Kawahara Takayuki (河原隆幸). Released on September 2009 with an MSRP of ¥9,800.

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Suzumiya Haruhi Extravaganza Version PVC Figure

phoenix — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:48:38 +0000

I sure do have a lot of Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu (涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱) figures. Here’s yet another set. This one is the Extravaganza Version or better in Japanese as the 涼宮ハルヒの激奏Ver.

Suzumiya Haruhi Extravaganza Ver. 1/8 PVC by Max Factory (マックスファクトリー涼宮ハルヒ激奏Ver.). Original sculptor Kuroda Masanori (黒田真徳). Released on April 2009 with an MSRP of ¥7,800.

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Permalink | Tags: Asahina Mikuru, Nagato Yuki, Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuuutsu, Suzumiya Haurhi | Categories: Figure, Toys | 2 comments

Hatsune Miku Pre-painted Resin Figure

phoenix — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 16:40:55 +0000

Hastune Miku (初音ミク) is the first volume of popular Vocaloid2 character vocal series. It was original released by Volks Japan in Wonder Festival 2008 as a resin kit. The garage kit was sold at an MSRP of ¥14,490. It was later released by Volks Japan as a 1/6 PVC figure in August 2008 with an MSRP of ¥7,140. Volks Japan is currently planning on a re-issued version of this figure as an “Encore Version” that will be put on order during Comiket 77 (December 29-31, 2009) and New Kit Exhibition 2010 (January 1-11 2010). The shipping date of this new “Encore Version” will be spring of 2010. More information of this re-issue on this Volks Japan web page (Japanese). I was not able to get a hold of the original Hatsune Miku garage kit. So I acquired a pre-painted recast version from e2046.

Hastune Miku 1/6 painted resin. Original Sculptor Milchstraße (ミルヒ・シュトラーセ).

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Reinforce Zwei

phoenix — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:52:30 +0000

This is Reinforce Zwei (リインフォースII) from Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS (魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS) series.

Mahou Shoujo Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS Reinforce Zwei PVC by Alter (アルター魔法少女リリカルなのはStrikerS シグナム). Original sculptor 爪塚ヒロユキ. Released on May 2008 with an MSRP of ¥6,090. This is the re-issued version which was released on March 2009.

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