Bleach is one of my favorite anime so this figure didn't stay long at the shelf the moment I saw it. Meet Toshiro Hitsugaya, the shinigami captain of the 10th Division Squad in Soul Society. His cold and serious demeanor is probably his most defining trait, and this figure did not fail to exhibit that.
Packaging and Accessories
Toshiro is packed in the usual windowed box featuring a close-up of himself at the side. On the back side are snapshots of himself in different stances and pictures of Ichigo and Rukia, the other figures in the Bleach Series.
Included in this set are two extra hands: an open hand and a hand to grip his sword. He also comes with his zanpakuto, Hyorinmaru, its scabbard, and a green sash that's used to slung the sheath behind Toshiro's back. The katana is well-detailed and features his four-pointed guard. One noticeable problem is that initially, the scabbard does not fit on the openings of the sash. While forcing it would solve the problem, I still found it inconvenient. It will eventually fit once the openings become looser.
Sculpt, Paint and Figure Details
Toshiro and the other characters in this series are heavier than the usual Play Arts Kai figures. This is probably attributed to their not-so-usual outfit which makes for bulkier build. But that aside, Square Enix pulled it off very well. I've yet to see other action figures in a coat or hakama having a remarkable finish as this.
The outfit, though quite simple, is detailed. I particularly like the creases in his hakama. His flowing captain's coat with the 10th division logo is split at around his mid-section with a joint at the back. This allows vertical movement for his coat and makes those jumping and mid-air poses pretty impressive. Paint on the outfit is good but with minor bleeds at some areas - the most prominent is on the edge of his coat where a little green lining from the inside paint must've seeped out. The joints are also well-hidden in his black outfit, so that's a plus.
Now the head sculpt and paint app is probably where this figure shines best. The hair is well-sculpted and painted with two shades, enhancing the details of his spikes. His eyes are impressive. Toshiro's cold stare is perfectly captured along with his grim, emotionless look.
This is one of the figures that looks really amazing but isn't exactly faultless. Toshiro is not for the faint of heart. Spending five minutes with the figure rewarded me with two detached feet. The main problem with the figure is its build in general. The joints are brittle, especially in the elbows and the knees. His little feet are also connected by weak rocker joints so just moving it will guarantee breaking in no time. Furthermore, trying to pose him without support and making him stand is a difficult task, but not impossible. Balancing him takes a lot of practice and patience. When all else fails, the old Play Arts stand will always come in handy.
Scale and Playability
Toshiro and the Bleach figures are in scale with the other figures in Black Label Collectors Play Arts, i.e. FFXIII and Dissidia FF, and not with the old Play Arts line. And though well-articulated, because of the problems mentioned, his playability is very limited. Making him stand on his own is already a pain as his feet are quite small for a bulky figure. Moving the joints must also be done carefully because the joints of this figure are pretty brittle. Because of these issues, he's more of a "display-than-play" figure. But that didn't stop me from getting him into action!
Summary
This is a recommended figure for any Bleach fan. In my opinion, Play Arts Kai has Toshiro's best sculpt yet over the other toy lines. And although the quality issues seem prevalent, the look of the figure itself compensates for that.
Pros: Fine-looking figure, amazing sculpt and detail, nice accessories included
Cons: Fragile joints, quite hard to pose because of his little feet
Packaging & Accessories: 4/5
Sculpt & Paint: 4/5
Articulation: 3/5
Playability: 2/5
No comments:
Post a Comment