2023 Bishoujo Figures Pre-Orders Part 3 – Elaina, Mahiru, To LOVEru Bunnies, Uzaki-mama, Shana, Hisako and More

Majo no Tabitabi – Elaina – 1/7 – ~Early Summer Sky~ (Good Smile Company)

While there are many figures of Elaina in the aftermarket, I’d have to say this is in the running to be her best figure.

If you are looking for alternatives, FuRyu’s Elaina is not a good option even considering this was released before FuRyu went crazy with their prices. There is a glaring issue here. Many of those who preordered her were greeted with a broken broom out of the box. This doesn’t seem like an isolated case as it happened to a lot of people. And since this is FuRyu, the quality isn’t great.

Spiritale’s figure of Elaina could also be a good one but it doesn’t even have a prototype yet. On that note, this GSC figure is still the top contender for the best figure of Elaina

Should you preorder this? If you need a figure of Elaina, this is the best option.

Azur Lane – Chapayev – B-style – 1/4 – White Cavalier’s Respite (FREEing, Union Creative International Ltd)

This turned out way better than I expected it to be. She just looks so pretty I wish they’d do a 1/7 scale for 1/7 scale collectors like me. FREEing’s 1/4 scales are just too large and too pricey for many people.

The figure doesn’t have all the accessories present in the skin this figure is based on, but this is nonetheless an excellent-looking figure. The price might be a tad exorbitant. To be fair, all 1/4 scale figures are.

On a related note, they should make the faux fur base big enough to fit her in her entirety. Promotional photos currently show her in a tiny round faux base. Faux fur is cheap. Actually, if you don’t already use faux fur on your display shelf, I recommend adding some.

Should you preorder this? You know you want her.

Otonari no Tenshi-sama ni Itsunomanika Dame Ningen ni Sareteita Ken – Shiina Mahiru – F:Nex – 1/7 (FuRyu)

Considering the popularity of this series, I’m sure a lot of folks are already gushing about their new waifu getting a new figure. And in some weird twist, FuRyu actually opened preorders at a decent price.

Is this FuRyu’s redemption arc? I know I’ve always been giving FuRyu a lot of flak on my preorder roundups, but they did good on this one. I give credit where credit is due. They know the series is popular and that they can cash in more if they offer a fair price.

Overall, the figure looks well-made, The pose, the paint and overall design looks nice. Her thighs are also made of actual cloth. However, I’m not counting on FuRyu to deliver a perfect product. Expect some minor production imperfections like paint splotches, glue stains, etc. You might see this comment as an exaggeration, however, this is only based and my own and the experience of many other collectors when ordering figures from the F:Nex line.

So, if you’re like me who is worried about the quality of this FuRyu release, you have to know that there are alternatives. She has some prize figures coming out. But what you should be really looking forward to are her upcoming scale figures. This one from Spiritale should be a top contender from the currently announced figures. And then there’s also this one from eStream which does not yet have a prototype.

If you’re on a budget and want something cute, getting her Nendoroid is always a good option.

Should you preorder this? All up to you. Would I preorder this? I’ve been thinking about it but I guess I’ll just wait for her Spiritale figure. But that’s just me. You do you.

Star Trek – Bishoujo Statue – Vulcan Science Officer – 1/7 (Kotobukiya)

Dad collectors are screaming right now with this bishoujo Mr. Spock. Though Star Trek was a little ahead of my time, I do have to say that this figure looks really nice with a fair price to boot. It’s a simple figure with just a big enough base that doesn’t take up a lot of space. The Kotobukiya’s bishoujo statue line being based on Shunya Yamashita’s artwork puts it in a league of its own.

Should you preorder this? If you’re a Star Trek fan, definitely.

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu – Ram – Rem – F:Nex – 1/7 (FuRyu)

Seriously FuRyu! Just go eff yourself. No one is amused that you are creating a Rem and Ram figure with yuri and incest themes, especially not at that price.

Should you preorder this? Nope.

Nekopara – Chocola – 1/7 – Lovely Sweets Time (PLUM)

Should you preorder this? If you regretted not preordering the initial release, this is a nice option to get.

Nekopara – Vanilla – 1/7 – Lovely Sweets Time (PLUM)

Should you preorder this? If you missed the original preorder of the other variant, here’s your chance to get them before the price explodes in the aftermarket.

League of Legends – Gwen – 1/6 (Infinity Studio)

I’ve played League of Legends since Season 1. Understandably, I’m excited for any League figure that gets announced. This statue of Gwen looks really nice and I really want to add it to the collection. The price however is painful on the wallet at over ¥70,000. To top it off, this figure is made from polystone which means this could be easily damaged in transit if the box is mishandled. Lately, I’ve been seeing a lot of mangled packages being posted on Reddit so ordering a polystone figure can be scary.

I’m not very familiar with Infinity Studio as a manufacturer so I looked into them and their quality overall seems good. As for the pricing, I found her cheapest at Hobby Link Japan. Preordering her on Amazon JP might also be a good choice considering you can see shipping fees upfront. No surprises when the release date comes around.

Should you preorder this? As long as you can afford it without breaking the bank, go ahead.

To LOVEru Darkness – Sairenji Haruna – B-style – 1/4 – Bare Leg Bunny Ver. (FREEing)

Is this bare-leg version better than the original? It all depends on your preferences. However, you’d be hard-pressed to find the original release for anything near the preorder price. If you care at all for your wallet’s well-being, you might as well get this bare-leg one. This is a good deal if you’re into collecting TLR girls in 1/4 scale. The preorder price on this is very affordable for a 1/4 scale. In fact, it’s cheaper than many 1/7 scales we’ve been seeing over the past year.

Should you preorder this? Yes, especially at this low price point.

To LOVEru Darkness – Kurosaki Mea – B-style – 1/4 – Bare Leg Bunny Ver. (FREEing)

Hooray again for cheap 1/4 scales! Mea is being a tease as always. If you’re an avid bunny collector you already know what to expect. If you’re a new collector, you have to know that most other bunny figures in 1/4 scale are priced almost double than this.

Should you preorder this? Yes.

SSSS.Gridman – Takarada Rikka – 1/7 (Alphamax)

I think I prefer this Alphamax figure over the Aquamarine one that I have. I’m not complaining and I am already content with what I have. If you don’t have a figure of Rikka yet, then this is a good option to get. Alpahamax is one of the best figure manufacturers and this is pretty cheap.

If you’re looking for the Akane Shinjou figure from Alphamax, there is no announced rerelease yet. However, given that Rikka gets one, Akane’s shouldn’t be too far off the calendar. You can also just hunt for Akane in the aftermarket.

Should you preorder this? If you are looking for a good figure of Rikka for a steal, this is it. This is a recommended preorder.

Senran Kagura: Shinovi Master – Tokyo Youma Hen – Yumi – KDcolle – 1/7 – Wedding Lingerie Ver. (Good Smile Company, Kadokawa)

This is a rerelease and I have to say this is one of the better-looking figures of Yumi. She’s got plenty of figures released already but the quality of most of her figures leaves a lot to be desired. So if you are a Senran Kagura fan and want a figure of Yumi, this is a good choice. The price also seems fair. Actually, good on Kadokawa for dialing down on their pricing lately.

Should you preorder this? Yes. This is a good preorder if you want a Yumi figure.

Shokugeki no Souma – Arato Hisako – B-style – 1/4 – Bare Leg Bunny Ver. (FREEing)

Pretty much all bunny figures by FREEing go up in price when they hit the aftermarket. This one is no exception. I think, for this figure, the original bunny with the fishnet stockings looks better but it’s going to cost an arm and a leg. Seeing as bunny figures don’t normally get rereleases, this bare-leg version is your only choice if you want to avoid the high prices. This isn’t a bad choice though. Some collectors actually prefer the bare-leg bunny figures.

Honestly, I think the best asset on this figure has got to be Hisako’s embarrassed expression so whether you get fishnets or not shouldn’t be a big deal. At least, that’s my opinion.

Should you preorder this? Yes.

Choujigen Game Neptune The Animation ~Nep no Natsuyasumi~ – Neptune – 1/7 – Summer Vacation Ver. (Alice Glint, Broccoli)

Normally, I’m no fan of Brocolli since most of their figures look like subpar quality. This one however seems good enough, at least from the looks of the prototype. It’s cute and has a unique base. The details look good. The paint looks okay. This might end up becoming a great figure.

Should you preorder this? There aren’t really a lot of good choices for a Neptune so this might be worth a shot. In contrast, there are plenty of good figures of Purple Heart.

Kobayashi-san chi no Maid Dragon – Tohru – 1/6 (Kaitendoh)

Honestly, not a fan of the massive badonkas. In general, I am not a fan of this kind of unbalanced proportions. As far as I know, Tohru isn’t that big unless there’s some sorcery going on here. This is already Ilulu level of big. On a related note, Kaitendoh isn’t known for being the best quality so this might not be the smartest preorder especially when you start to consider the price.

Should you preorder this? Do you like the figure’s aesthetic? If you answered yes, then go ahead. I found her the cheapest at CD Japan.

Card Captor Sakura: Clear Card-hen – Kinomoto Sakura – Shibuya Scramble Figure – 1/7 – Battle Costume Water Ver. (eStream)

I think this is a nice change from all other Sakura figures which mostly have a pink theme. Notably, preorders from the eStream store on Amazon will get an exclusive faceplate with honestly looks much better.

eStream’s figures recently have been a bit underwhelming compared to their initial releases which had a ton more bells and whistles. Their first figures looked good but they also had the major flaw of being too fragile. Combine that with eStream’s poor packaging and they often arrived broken. eStream has learned from its mistakes and improved its packaging and also toned down on the complex details. However, their price continued to increase which is obviously not a good thing.

Should you preorder this? Cardcaptor Sakura has a cult following so pretty much all its figures go up in price. So if you are even the least bit interested in this figure, it’s better to preorder her.

Original – B-style – Aoi – 1/4 (FREEing)

This is based on illustrations by Ikomochi who already has several figures in his portfolio. This pairs with this other bunny figure from FREEing. As of this writing, you can still preorder them both.

This is pretty much as standard as FREEing B-Style figures go. The only thing this has going for it is that it is a cast-off.

Should you preorder this? All up to you. It’s pretty much a standard bunny figure with cast-off features.

Girls Frontline – ZB-26 – 1/7 – Nook of Ephemeral Dreams Ver. (Wonderful Works)

I played Girls Frontline for about two days only. It didn’t quite click for me and that’s also partly because I was also playing Azur Lane and Arknights at the same time. In hindsight, it was only the right choice to limit the number of gacha games that I play for the sake of my wallet. My wallet could not handle the gacha spending, not to mention, the onslaught of pretty figures from all these gacha games. Azur Lane alone already got my wallet crying.

This figure is a recommended preorder. The price is fair and it is done by Wonderful Works which is a really good manufacturer. There are plenty of details on the figure. Overall, it looks to be top-tier quality. You can also clearly see that she’s been sculpted with nipples. If you’ve got the money to burn, you can probably do a force cast-off.

Notably, she has two other figures in the works. One is from eStream and the other one of from Wings Inc. I think the latter looks better.

Should you preorder this? Highly recommend preordering this.

Recommended: Preorder from Amazon JP

Preorder from Hobby Link Japan

Preorder from CD Japan

Preorder from Solaris Japan

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu – Rem – F:Nex – 1/7 – Country Dress ver. (FuRyu)

Little Red Riding Rem but her hair is still blue. This is actually one of the better-looking Rem figures lately and I love the traditional Polish attire. Still, I find it difficult to wholeheartedly recommend anything made by FuRyu due mainly to their ridiculous pricing model. Even this figure fits that bill.

Also, Ram gets snubbed again.

Should you preorder this? The figure looks good so I’m not going to put the “Do Not Preorder” sign. If you do decide to preorder, I would tell you to manage your expectations as FuRyu is not known for creating the best quality figures.

Recommended: Preorder from Amazon JP

Preorder from Hobby Link Japan

Preorder from CD Japan

Preorder from Solaris Japan

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu – Emilia – S-Fire – 1/7 (SEGA)

I’m going to talk a bit about these next three figures from Sega. Sega, in the past, has been known to create prize figures for crane games. It is, after all, in the arcade business. However, Sega recently entered the realm of scale figures. These are not SEGA’s first announced scale figures, however. They had a few from My Hero Academia which this blog did not cover since we do not write about shounen figures. This move by SEGA reminds me of FuRyu. FuRyu also ventured into scale figure territory after dabbling in prize figures. Needless to say, it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for FuRyu as the quality they produce leaves much to be desired while also treading on price gouging. This has earned them the ire of many collectors. Will Sega follow the footprints of FuRyu? Probably.

Moving on to these figures from Sega starting with Emilia. I think these figures are not up to scale figure standard. The concept is unique in that the adult characters are carrying chibi versions of themselves. However, this really still looks like a scale figure. The paint looks flat. It will probably have a plain white or plain black base. I can’t really say anything about the sculpt s the promo pics for the figure are of low quality. With that said, I am not closing my doors to a future where good Sega scale figures are a thing. Everyone is a beginner at some point. For Sega though, I honestly expected more. Who knows? Maybe they will improve on this prototype and actually deliver a good product come release date.

Should you preorder this? I would not recommend preordering this but I’d recommend keeping an eye out for the quality of this one. Theere are a ton of better Emilia figures out there.

Recommended: Preorder from Amazon JP

Preorder from Hobby Link Japan

Preorder from CD Japan

Preorder from Solaris Japan

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu – Rem – S-Fire – 1/7 (SEGA)

My honest take — Rem looks so much better than Emilia above simply because you can see a better paint job. The image quality on the promo pics is still bad though so you can’t really make much else. Neat concept but the product’s quality is still suspect.

Should you preorder this? That’s a tough question considering Emilia above gets failed marks. Rem looks okay but I’m not entirely sure she’ll be a great figure. At this price though, you should be able to find a better Rem figure in the aftermarket.

Recommended: Preorder from Amazon JP

Preorder from Hobby Link Japan

Preorder from CD Japan

Preorder from Solaris Japan

Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu – Ram – S-Fire – 1/7 (SEGA)

Same bad promo pic quality. Same shading done on the Rem figure. Neat concept but nothing noteworthy.

Should you preorder this? Same recommendation above. Better to get a different Ram figure in the aftermarket.

Recommended: Preorder from Amazon JP

Preorder from Hobby Link Japan

Preorder from CD Japan

Preorder from Solaris Japan

Ijiranaide, Nagatoro-san 2nd Attack – Nagatoro Hayase – 1/7 (Bell Fine)

This is already the third variation of this figure and frankly, it isn’t any better than any of the first releases. There are just so many figures releasing that your wallet can’t likely keep up so there’s no point in mulling over something that is obviously subpar quality. Granted this is cheap but this only goes to show that Bell Fine doesn’t care much for quality.

Should you preorder this? Nope.

Recommended: Preorder from Amazon JP

Preorder from Hobby Link Japan

Preorder from CD Japan

Preorder from Solaris Japan

Uma Musume: Pretty Derby – Mihono Bourbon – 1/7 – The Chestnut Cyborg (Good Smile Company)

From some sources I’ve seen, Uma Musume appears to be losing steam and is now recording lower revenues. I think the game is still mightily profitable though. A friend of mine says the player base has not declined. If you play the game, you know more than I do.

As for this figure, I think it has not generated a lot of hype. Honestly, the price isn’t that bad. You can expect that it will be of great quality too considering this is being made by Good Smile Company.

Should you preorder this? Preorder her if you want. A drop in her aftermarket price is not likely as she is a best seller on Amazon JP.

Girls Frontline – PA-15 – 1/7 – Phantom Thief of Champagne Ver. (APEX)

From the art, it appears like the top of her dress is supposed to have a sheer cloth that covers most of her skin. But APEX just decided to ditch that and go full-on fanservice. I think it’s a win-win. Less work for them and the fans are happier. I’m no GFL player so this figure doesn’t really resonate with me. But if you are, you’ll be glad to know that APEX always delivers excellent quality. This also comes at a fair price.

Should you preorder this? APEX is god-tier quality so just get her if you like her.

Original – Elf Mura – Merum – 1/6 (Vertex)

Unlike other figures in this line, this one isn’t a cast-off. You can still remove some clothing so this is still pretty risque. Also, this is cheaper than the other figures in the same line. If you’ve already committed to this line and want to create your own Elf Village, then you should not miss this preorder.

Should you preorder this? If you’ve committed to this line, then you already know the answer.

Original – Pink Twintail Bunny-chan – 1/4 (Otherwhere)

Honestly, tracking all these Chinese companies has been difficult but that might change soon as MFC has started allowing entries from non-Japanese companies to be added to the database. Essentially, I’m still not sure if Otherwere creates good quality.

This figure is based on a character by Sakiyamama, one of my favorite artists on Pixiv. This is not your standard FREEing bunny so forego any expectations. No fishnet stockings. I’m not sure if she’s wearing skin-tone stockings or if that’s just skin. The face of the figure looks really good and I like the detail of the hair.

Should you preorder this? The price is on the steep end so preorder only if you are not breaking the bank.

Original – Bibi – 1/6 – Chill Bunny ver. (Solarain Toys)

Her proportions are crazy unrealistic but I think it looks nice. If you want to talk about negative body image as a social issue, this is not the place for that.

The transparent skirt is a nice touch but the adjoined boobs worry me (see the second image below). That one is a dealbreaker which is a shame because this looks like a really good figure. This was the same issue with the Illustrious figure by Brilliant Journey. There is still hope that the manufacturer will address this issue though.

Should you preorder this? The adjoined boobs are a real issue so unless you’re okay with that, I would suggest preordering a different figure.

THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls – Akagi Miria – 1/7 – Orikou Maid-san (PLUM)

It’s the same story for all these new idol figures that come out. They will become cheaper in the aftermarket. I think figure manufacturers are starting to catch on which is why this is priced as cheap as it is. Or it could be because this is a rerelease so they don’t want to bring up the price that much. I’m not even sure why this is getting a rerelease as the initial release wasn’t really that popular.

Should you preorder this? Maybe just wait for it in the aftermarket. Or just get her on preorder. She’s cheap anyway.

THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls – Tachibana Arisu – 1/7 – Hajimete no Hyoujou (PLUM)

Why are iMas figures from Plum getting rereleases? Idol figures usually go to the bargain bin.

Should you preorder this? Just get her pre-owned for a huge discount. If you prefer to get her in Brand New condition, then the preorder links are below.

THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls – Sakurai Momoka – 1/7 – Summer Mademoiselle (PLUM)

And here’s another iMas rerelease from Plum. Is there something going on in the iDOLM@ster universe that warrants all these releases?

Should you preorder this? You can actually just buy her pre-owned for roughly the same price.

iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls – Yusa Kozue – 1/7 – Sweet Fairy (PLUM)

Here’s one more. She’s a bit pricier in the aftermarket but you can get here right away instead of waiting a few months for the rerelease. I think Plum is just trying to clear their warehouses with these new iDOLM@ster preorders.

Should you preorder this? Buy her preowned or preorder. It’s up to you. The preorder wait is not too long anyway since she releases in July.

THE iDOLM@STER Cinderella Girls – Shirayuki Chiyo – Dream Tech – 1/7 (Wave)

There’s so much iDOLM@STER in this roundup. This one however is a new release, unlike the ones from Plum above.

To quote one comment on her MFC page:

I love this. The uniform isn’t super sexualized and there’s a few fantasy elements that helps keep it fresh.

Her tomboyish good looks is charming. Her blank stare and small smile helps sell the “professional” aura that she radiates. She’s armed to clean, ready to get the job done, and no grabass.

from user: Valestein3

Should you preorder this? She looks good but the price seems a little much for a simple pose. If you think she’s worth the price, then go for it. Wave always does good quality.

Bombergirl – Aqua – 1/7 – Vampire Negligee Ver. (Amakuni, AmiAmi)

Not too fond of the aesthetics of this figure but she seems quite popular. I didn’t expect her preorder numbers will be as high as it is as of this writing. The price is also a major turn-off.

Should you preorder this? I don’t really like her but if you do, then just go ahead and preorder if you can afford her. This is an exclusive release that you can only get from Amiami and a few other stores.

Original – Mask Shoujo Yuna – 1/7 (MaxCute)

This is only the third preorder from MaxCute and all their figures are set for a release in the last quarter of the year. Their first two figures are risque — no cast-off. But this one, an original character by Biya, is pretty tame. The quality looks decent though the paint looks flat. At least this time, they didn’t paint the eyebrows over her hair. The price is also fair.

Should you preorder this? Since the price seems fair, I wouldn’t have any negative opinions about preordering this. In general, however, I don’t like pretty figures covering their faces. I just said the same thing about the Ryuu Lion figure above.

Original – Dojikko Maid Lily – 1/6 (Vibrastar)

I looked up Vibrastar’s figures and I did not find any complaints about their quality. I think it’s safe to say that their quality is up to standard.

I don’t really buy cast-off figures like this one but I’m thinking this is easily one of my favorite cast-offs. Normally, I don’t normally like figures with a sad expression but this is cute despite the sad expression. It’s almost like the figure is telling a story. She’s a clumsy maid that dropped a plate and she’s holding back the tears feeling sorry for the blunder but she’s so cute you have no choice but to dote on her.

Unfortunately, I can’t show the R-1 8 stuff on this blog so check the preorder links below for the goodies.

Should you preorder this? This would be a good preorder even without the cast-off parts. And with the cast-off parts, the price just becomes a steal. So yes, I would recommend preordering her.

Original – Bunny-chan Nono – 1/6 (XCX Studio)

This is a cast-off and an original character by Suzuame Yatsumi. I’m not really sure how much of a cast-off this is. It seems like you can only partly pull down her top. Another bit of detail worth noting is that she doesn’t actually have any shoes on so it’s just fishnet stocking over bare feet.

Also, this is XCX Studio’s first scale figure. They did make an Ultraman statue a while back but there are no reviews on it. This means we have no idea what level of quality this company will produce. This is important considering this figure comes at a steep price point.

Should you preorder this? XCX Studio is an unknown company so it might be best to wait how this figure turns out and then just grab her in the aftermarket.