My top picks for this week are Mai Sakurajima Chinese Dress Version, Shizuru, Yotsuba Nakano Wedding Version, Black Rock Shooter HxxG edition, Murasakai Shikibu, Byleth, Megumi Kato Memorial Version and Mai Shiranui. You can’t go wrong with these figures from the best manufacturers. As usual, stay away from anything from B’Full, Pulchra, Insight and FOTS Japan.
Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai – Sakurajima Mai – 1/7 – Chinese Dress Ver. (Wing)
Mai Sakurajima’s figures always make me go wow. She looks great whatever she wears. My only gripe here is why is there a bar stool here? It does not mesh with the aesthetic of the figure. Also, the plain white base is kinda meh. I trust that Wing will deliver an excellent figure, however. Still, a highly recommended pre-order.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Princess Connect! Re:Dive – Hoshino Shizuru – 1/7 (Kotobukiya)
Hooray for more Priconne figures! And now it’s your onee-san’s turn to get her own figure. She looks great and if that tiny base is all it’s going to be, then finding display space for her is easy if you’ve already got a ton of figures. The price is higher than what we’re normally used to with Kotobukiya but it is still cheaper than anything FuRyu is offering for their PriConne figures. I understand it’s not a fair comparison considering Pecorine’s figures by Furyu has more details compared to this, however, I can confidently say that Kotobukiya will do a better job on this figure than FuRyu will do for Pecorine.
I was a bit worried about the hair being a boring flat color but looking at the other pictures shows good craftsmanship.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Sword Art Online – Yuuki – KDcolle – 1/7 – Summer Wedding Ver. (Kadokawa)
Can’t get over her limbs looking a little too thin but she actually looks better than Asuna’s Summer Wedding Version figure. Also, it seems there was some kerfuffle about her pricing. The initial price was set at ¥19,250 but the actual price was supposed to be ¥25,000. She was already on the expensive side and I was already skeptical at that price point and they bumped her price even higher. I’m not sure if that mistake was just for the GSC store or if other retailers will make the same adjustment.
Kadokawa is an excellent manufacturer though I am not sure I can justify paying ¥25,000 for a simple figure. Also, I take issue with the support for the foot. It breaks the immersion. If you can justify that price, then go for it.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls – Kanzaki Ranko – 1/7 – White Princess of The Banquet Ver. (Alumina)
Alumina does not have a lot on their portfolio of released figures but their quality seems okayish. I see some people praising their figures and also some complaints though no serious issues I believe. The price tag is on the steep end but the details look good.
A white frilly idol costume really suits Ranko. And while there is no shortage of figures of her, this could be the best if it’s done right.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Sotsu – Furude Rika – 1/7 (Good Smile Company, Miyuki)
Miyuki, so far, has been working exclusively on figures of the Higurashi series. They do not have a lot on their portfolio but their first release which is a figure of Ryuugu Rena was not well received. I don’t think the quality is the issue. Rather, the design of the figure is too simple and comes with a hefty price tag.
This figure of Furude Rika actually looks better than their first figure. This one has a lot more details though the price point remains steep.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Piapro Characters – Hatsune Miku – F:Nex – 1/7 – 2022 Chinese New Year Ver. (FuRyu)
There are way too many great figures of Miku out there so there’s really no reason to choose a figure from a company that produces mediocre quality figures like FuRyu. Unless you really love this particular design, you’re better off looking elsewhere.
The pricing is close to that of an eStream figure which is something that I always thought was overpriced. Not a recommended preorder.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Piapro Characters – Hatsune Miku – Prisma Wing – 1/7 (Prime 1 Studio)
Prime 1 Studio is normally a manufacturer of resin character figures, usually of Western franchises. So color me surprised when I started seeing them creating prototypes for PVC bishoujo scale figures. They have a lot lined up. Are Western franchises losing it’s appeal or do they just want a piece of that lucrative anime figure market? I have high hopes that they’d do a good job.
This particular figure of Miku might be a tad underwhelming. It has a simple pose so it will be hard to compete with other figures of the same price point that has more details and a more dynamic pose.
Preorder from CD Japan.
Gotoubun no Hanayome ∬ – Nakano Yotsuba – 1/7 – Wedding Ver. (Amakuni, AmiAmi)
This is the third sister getting a wedding version figure. So far, only Miku’s looks like an actual wedding dress. No prototype has been revealed yet for Itsuki and Ichika so if you’re looking to complete the set of the five sisters, don’t miss the preorders.
This wedding version figure of Yotsuba shows her cheery personality while looking like a fairy.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Kenja no Deshi wo Nanoru Kenja – Mira – F:Nex – 1/7 (FuRyu)
Can you ever have too many frills? Probably not. The source is a light novel and at a glance, the figure looks really good and it has a lot of nice details. But once again, I’m skeptical oF FuRyu. If you don’t mind a figure having a few issues here and there, then go ahead and preorder. I think the alternate faceplate looks better than the default one just because it is a smiling expression.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Princess Connect! Re:Dive – Eustiana von Astraea – F:Nex – 1/7 – ★6 (FuRyu)
FuRyu already released the first figure of Pecorine and now they have opened preorders for her ★6 form. Let’s face it. Being an avid PriConne player, I so badly want a figure of Pecorine but FuRyu just charges way too much for the mediocre quality it produces so I’d rather put my money on a company that will surely deliver a good figure. And that brings me to Phat Company’s Summer Pecorine figure.
And if you want more Princess Connect, Summer Saren is also getting her own figure. Yui is also getting her Ceremonial Dress figure and Shizuru her Summer version.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Tensai Ouji no Akaji Kokka Saisei Jutsu ~Souda, Baikoku Shiyou~ – Ninym Ralei – F:Nex – 1/7 (FuRyu)
It’s from a new anime that just started this season. I’m not yet familiar with this one as I’m still trudging trying to finish the previous season’s lineup. I just keep repeating myself — FuRyu is not the best quality. But if you want it, you go for it. At least they’re not as bad as FOTS Japan and Pulchra. This prototype actually looks good. The paint and the sculpt both look well done. Can’t be certain the final product will be just as good.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Black ★ Rock Shooter – 1/7 – HxxG Edition (Max Factory)
BRS is back with a new scale figure from Max Factory. When I started collecting over 6 years ago, BRS’ Good Smile Company figures were all the rage. Everyone wanted it so the prices spiked. And now, we see a new one by Max Factory which I consider one of the best figure manufacturers. The figure looks so good I just had to include a close-up photo.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Fate/Grand Order – Scáthach – 1/7 – Lancer, Third Ascension (Ques Q)
You’ve probably seen this one before. This is the second rerelease of Lancer Scathach’s third ascension figure. Get it at the preorder price while you can because there’s always a high demand for her figures.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Nekopara – Coconut – 1/7 – Race Queen ver. (Good Smile Company, Nekoyome)
If it’s anime tiddies you want, Coconut’s got you covered. It’s pretty obvious that the figure has nipples sculpted on it though this is not listed as a cast-off. You can however remove the vest to show more skin. You can probably do a force cast-off if you really wanted to but you’d be destroying a totally good figure. Any figure with the Good Smile Company logo is a recommended preorder.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Yahari Ore no Seishun Love Comedy wa Machigatteiru. Kan – Isshiki Iroha – 1/6 (Hobby Stock, Wing)
When I first saw this figure of Iroha, my first thought was this would look great side-by-side with Asuna’s swimsuit version by Phat Company/Kadokawa just because their poses are mirrored. They have the same pose but Asuna is a 1/7 scale (23 cm.) whereas Iroha is a 1/6 scale (24 cm.). I’m not sure if a 1 cm. difference would be very noticeable.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Girls Frontline – DP-12 – 1/6 – Echeveria Lantern (Phat Company)
GFL just keeps dishing out more and more figures. With Phat Company taking over this one, this is sure to be good. Her boobs are overflowing out of that wardrobe malfunction. It’d be great if that lantern had an LED inside and actually lit up. That might be asking too much though.
There are 2 versions of this figure. The alternate version is basically a recolor. Not a fan of the Crimson version as the colors are all over the place. You see touches of red, green, blue and yellow and that’s a tad too much.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Preorder Crimson Version from Solaris Japan. | Preorder Crimson Version from CD Japan.
Yosuga no Sora – Kasugano Sora – 1/7 – Wedding ver. (beBOX)
I love figures that have a tiny base because that means I get more space to display more figures. When you hit a certain number of figures you start to run out of display space and box storage space.
So yeah, this figure has a tiny base which makes it a good buy if you’re lacking real estate on your detolf or bookshelf. Did I mention you can strip her down to her lingerie? beBOX has no releases yet so their quality is a mystery.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Girls Frontline – G36 – 1/7 (Ques Q)
This reminded me of Marisa Kirisame of Touhou Project and I don’t even play any of the Touhou games. The figure is plenty cute. The blushing facial expression is really good. If you love maid outfits then you can’t go wrong with Ques Q.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata fine – Kato Megumi – 1/7 – Memorial Ver. (Alter)
There are already way too many figures of Megumi Kato. I already have five. But if you are a new collector or for whatever reason, you have yet to get one, you can never go wrong with an Alter figure (apart from having to pay too much at times). Thankfully, Alter managed to keep this one under ¥16,000 (which might still be on the expensive end considering the simple pose and design). And because so many figures of Megumi have been released, it’s not too hard to find a fairly-priced one in the after-market.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata fine – Kasumigaoka Utaha – 1/4 – Animation Ver., [AQ] (Good Smile Company)
Just like Megumi, there are already a ton of figures of Utaha that have been released. If you are looking for Utaha in a swimsuit, I think you’re better off getting her 1/7 scale swimsuit version. Frankly, the 1/7 scale just looks much better and is much cheaper. For this 1/4 scale, she looks good. That’s a fact. But it’s just way too simple for something that’s worth over ¥22,000. Not to mention, the shipping would cost heaps more.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Fate/Grand Order – Murasaki Shikibu – 1/7 – Caster (Alter)
Who has bigger tiddies? Minamoto no Raikou or Mursasaki Shikibu? I have to admit I am kind of disappointed with FGO overly sexualizing some of their characters. I didn’t think this was the image that this game was going for. I know fully well that the Fate series started off as a VN with sexual content but FGO isn’t the same. I can understand Azur Lane and Blue Archive. That was their identity from the start.
Nonetheless, the figure looks stunning and the amount of detail is just really good. Even with that expensive price tag, you can tell you’ll be getting your money’s worth. So, if it floats your boat, preorder it.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Arknights – Surtr – 1/7 – Magma Version (Myethos)
Props to Myethos for wanting to deliver an amazing amount of detail at a good price. If this was an eStream figure, that price would double in a heartbeat. A beautiful figure with an incredible base makes this a must-preorder for any fan of Arknights.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Maoujou de Oyasumi – Aurora Suya Rhys Kaymin – Debi Akuma – F:Nex – 1/7 (FuRyu)
The figure looks to be of low quality. Everything is a flat paint finish. There appears to be no shading of any sort. The entire figure, especially the head, looks like prize figure quality. It doesn’t help that I already don’t trust FuRyu doing a good job on anything. The only level of detail worth any praise on this figure is that print on the pillow. Okay, the demon-bear too.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Atelier Ryza 2 ~Ushinawareta Denshou to Himitsu no Yousei~ – Reisalin Stout – 1/6 – White Swimsuit ver. (Spiritale, Wing)
It’s all about the thighs. Ryza is the embodiment of Thighdeology. I for one am always on the lookout for Ryza figures. This one is a real beauty but comes at a premium price. I think Spritale could be becoming a really good manufacturer. All the figures in their lineup appear to be top tier.
The paint on the skin is looking really nice and soft. The paint on the hair also looks good. You can already see the level of detail on the paint of the hair. The sculpt is spot on even with all those curves. The base having her alchemy stuff is a nice touch.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
To LOVEru Darkness – Momioka Risa – B-style – 1/4 – Bunny Ver. (FREEing)
I hope more manufacturers pay more attention to the minor characters like what is happen ing to the To LOVEru franchise. We don’t really need any more figures of Rem and Hatsune Miku. I would willingly pay a lot of money for an actual scale figure of Oikura Sodachi of the Monogatari series or Tomori Nao from Charlotte. I guess it helps that TLR is massively popular so the franchise can afford to do this.
This is a typical B-style figure from FREEing so you can expect the same excellent level of quality from any other 1/4 scale bunny figure.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
To LOVEru Darkness – Nemesis – B-style – 1/4 – Bunny Ver. (FREEing)
FREEing just doing what it does best and that is making 1/4 scale bunny figures. I’m just wondering why the colors are all over the place. Gold stilettos and pink bunny ears don’t seem quite right. They could have just matched the color of her hair or the bunny suit.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
No Game No Life – Stephanie Dola – B-style – 1/4 – Bare Leg Bunny Ver. (FREEing)
Now, this is more like it in terms of colors. They had a color theme and they stuck with it. Stephanie looks good in red no doubt. While she has a few other figures released, I’m thinking this bare-leg bunny version seems like the best-looking one.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
No Game No Life – Jibril – B-style – 1/4 – Bare Leg Bunny Ver. (FREEing)
Again, sticking with the color scheme is nice. This one might be a bit too lewd for my tastes and I’m not really a big fan of the No Game No Life franchise. But if this is right up your alley, you can’t go wrong as long as you’re happy with your purchase.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Higurashi no Naku Koro ni Gou – Ryuuguu Rena – B-style – 1/4 – Bunny Ver. (FREEing)
Even for someone who is not familiar with the Higurashi series (like me), it doesn’t take much to see that it gets dark. Getting Katsura Kotonoha vibes on her. It’s a little weird that the fishnet is cut off by regular stockings and then you’ve got the long boots.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
The King of Fighters ’98 -Dream Match Never Ends- – Shiranui Mai – Bishoujo Statue – 1/7 (Kotobukiya)
Mai Shiranui has a lot of figures to her name and it’s really hard to find one that does her justice (aside from those wallet-breaking resin statues). I think the best scale figure of her boils down to a contest between this and Amakuni’s Mai Shiranui which is already very pricey.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Original Character – Marinoa Truless – 1/7 (Wing)
Sexy waitress in see-through clothing and skates — who would’ve thought that would be a thing? The idea was conceived by Tomari, the illustrator. Wing is a great manufacturer so if this figure resonates with you, preorder by all means.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Gochuumon wa Usagi Desu ka? Bloom – Anko – Hoto Kokoa – 1/7 – Halloween Fantasy, Regular/Limited Edition (PLUM)
Important: You can’t have both faceplates unless you buy both versions. The winking faceplate is not a limited edition bonus. It is the default faceplate of the limited edition figure.
Now that that’s out of the way, this figure is looking very cute regardless of which version you choose. And Plum is a decent manufacturer.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Kidou Sentai Iron Saga – Slokai – 1/7 – Clerical Dress Version (PR_Production)
It’s from an unknown Chinese company. Preordering this is a real gamble especially since it is very pricey. If you really want a Slokai figure, you’re better off pre-ordering Good Smile Company’s Slokai figure.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Original Character – Komikawa Aoi – 1/6 (Orchid Seed)
This is another character designed by Mataro and it looks really great. Orchid Seed really did a good job on this prototype. Just look at the colors of the image below in her lingerie. And yes, this is a cast-off. You can display her with the shirt, without the shirt and in the nude. Only the top is cast-off though.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
A-Z: – [C] – 1/7 (Good Smile Company, Myethos)
I’m not even familiar with the source material but since this is being done by Good Smile Company and Myethos, you can be guaranteed the quality will be great. The figure, even the base is very detailed.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Scarlet Nexus – Kasane Randall – ARTFX J – 1/8 (Kotobukiya)
I’ve been wanting to play this game for a while but I’m not so sure about preordering the figure just yet. I usually only get figures if I like the character so not knowing much about the character means I can’t yet decide. If you are looking to get her though, go ahead. Kotobukiya is an excellent company. The only downside here is that she’s only a 1/8 scale.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu – Byleth – 1/7 (Intelligent Systems)
So many people hyping this and that just goes to show how popular the Fire Emblem series is. Sucks for those that don’t have a Nintendo device. Don’t miss this preorder if you want to pay the horrendous after-market prices. It looks like a simple figure at a glance but if you look at it closely, you can start to appreciate the little details. For starters, the base is not just a plain base. The details on the sword, clothing and leggings all look great. The face looks pretty and those blue cold eyes feel like they’re staring into your soul.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Hitori no Shita: The Outcast – Bao Bao Feng – Lianjian Ver. (Yoousi)
The source is a Chinese anime and it has a fairly decent rating on MyAnimeList. I haven’t seen it though. The manufacturer is also unknown.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Hitori no Shita: The Outcast – Bao Bao Feng – Panda Ver. (QINGCANG)
Same character from another unknown manufacturer.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Original Character – City no. 109 Alice – 1/6 (Vibrastar)
Vibrastar only has one figure released in their portfolio. From what few comments I can gather, it appears they do produce excellent quality. As with all other figures in their lineup, this is a cast-off. I don’t know if it’s just me but her proportions seem off. Her upper body seems to be too big for her lower body. She looks like a teen with the lower body of a middle-schooler.
This is based on original artwork by As109.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Original Character – Maid Nyanko (Union Creative International Ltd)
This one is based on the original illustration by Kohmashiro. I love that Union Creative gives opportunities to turn artist artworks into PVC figures but their quality leaves much to be desired. It’s usually like getting a prize figure for the price of a scale figure.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Original Character – Kurokami Maid (Eighteen)
This one is an original character by Haori Io who seems to like drawing with black and white colors. Here is the link to the original illustration. There are plenty of artworks I love from the Pixiv portfolio. Eighteen at least seems to be a decent manufacturer. It’s really hard to tell with the hentai figures like this one because not too many people comment on the figure’s quality.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Awahara Shiori – 1/7 Stewardess ver. (Otherwere)
The figure looks good. Let’s get that straight. However, I still cannot find any information from the company that’s making this. How can a company that does anime figures not be anywhere on the internet?
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Sennen Sensou Aigis – Oukyuu Jijo Bukan Sarah – 1/6 – Dai Ni Kakusei ver. (Kaitendoh)
Have no idea who she is but she almost looks like a Saber-face. Apparently, the game where it is from has recently just shut down. This figure is already very expensive as it is and the game shutting down might cause the price to go up in the aftermarket. That would all depend on the demand. Kaitendoh however is a mediocre manufacturer so whether or not they do a good job here will affect the price.
I can’t really say right now if this is a good preorder or not but I am not gambling that amount of money on a Kaitendoh figure for a character I have no attachment with.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan
Original Character – Julia – 1/7 (Amakuni, AmiAmi)
This is based on original artwork by Uodenim. Do note that only the top is cast off. It comes with 3 torso parts – fully clothed, with the bra and in the nude. Also, it is quite pricey ar around ¥25,000. Is it worth it? You are your own judge.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan.
Original Character – Keigun Musume Scarlet (Union Creative International Ltd)
This one is an original character by Akasa Ai and is actually a rerelease timed with the opening of preorders for Cattleya below. Mandatory warning: Union Creative produces crappy quality.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan
Original Character – Keigun Musume Cattleya (Union Creative International Ltd)
I don’t think it looks as good as Scarlet (above). I hate when figures have their faces covered by something. Part of the reason I buy figures is to see the pretty faces so covering faces is a real dealbreaker for me. Also, Union Creative = crap. Order at your own risk.
Preorder from Solaris Japan. | Preorder from CD Japan
Houshi Iin no Oshigoto – Tawawa Michiru – Tuberosa+ – 1/5 (Orchid Seed)
She looks like an innocent succubus but this is actually a full cast-off. She is an original character by Inoue Kiyoshirou. Price is on the steep end even considering it is a 1/5 scale. Orchid Seed does deliver good quality so that’s good news at least.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Original Character – Koakuma Rias-chan – 1/6 (Bishop’s Rondo)
This is a cast-off and a rerelease of the original character by Ayuma Sayu. There’s not much of a consensus on whether Bishop’s Rondo does good quality or not.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Original Character – Zettai! Fuukiinnchou Kamihigano Sei – 1/7 (Mouse Unit)
This is a cast-off figure with a blue and white sailor uniform. The Kuro Gal version of this figure comes with blonde hair and a pink and white sailor uniform. Mouse Unit was apparently started off as a circle that makes garage kits.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
Preorder the KuroGal version from Solaris Japan.
Onee-san to Ase Mamire – Tomari Yuko – 1/6 (A+)
A+ is perhaps the only company that opens preorders and releases in just after a few months. You can get her as early as March barring manufacturing delays. The character is based on the works of Brother Pierrot.
Preorder from Solaris Japan.
I started the NekoFigs blog in January 2021, 5 years after I’ve started collecting anime figures. It all started with one humble prize figure of Saber Lily which was bought on a whim. Now, I face the big problem of how to deal with over 200 empty boxes.
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