Shielder 1/7 Scale Figure by Aniplex – Still One of the Best Figures of Mash

Today, we’ll be reviewing Shielder’s 1/7 scale figure from Aniplex. It’s been several years since the release of this figure of Mash Kyrielight. What has changed since then? For one, we now have plenty of other choices when looking for a Shielder figure. This was the first-ever release of a Shielder figure and it still remains one of the best. Personally, I prefer her scale figure by Stronger but it’s a close fight.

This Shielder figure by Aniplex stands at 32 cm. and that’s including the shield. The figure alone is 26cm. She wouldn’t have any problems fitting in a standard detolf though you might want to measure how much vertical space you have if you are putting her on a bookshelf. Her aftermarket price went up after her initial release. She has since seen one rerelease. And with more Shielder scale figures coming out, her aftermarket price actually went down. If you want a good Shielder figure, this will not disappoint. Even Gudako will be pleased.

The Unboxing

Her box is on the large side so it will cost quite a bit to have her shipped. It has a round window in the front so you can almost see the full figure. The sides and the back show various portraits of the figures. The pixel designs you see in the front of the box were converted to windows on one side of the box. There’s not much you can see from the side window though. I got her pre-owned in excellent condition.

Unboxing reveals the figure has three main parts – the actual figure, the shield and the base. Assembly is pretty easy and straightforward that I don’t feel there is a need to detail it here.

The Base

The base could be better. I don’t like the markings. I know it is the summoning circle in the game but Mash was not exactly summoned. The summoning circle on the base, I think, just messes up the aesthetic of the figure. Sometimes less is more. In this case, I believe a simple base would have been better like the base for Saber Alter Dress Version. The pattern draws all your attention to the base and it looks like a mess. You have here a beautiful figure and an overdesigned base that is an eyesore. You can’t even admire the detail on her boots because all your attention is drawn to the markings on the base. Maybe you don’t agree with me and that’s fine.

The Shield — What Makes Shielder Shielder

Mash wouldn’t be Shielder without her iconic shield. And let me tell you, the shield is massive and it has a heft to it. It is made at a really high level. In the picture below, you can see all the intricate details. There is no doubt that Aniplex has outdone themselves with this figure. Just look at the various shadings on the shield and the finer details. It kind of makes you wish the shield was more visible when displaying the figure.

Aside from the other beautiful patterns on the shield, these little silver adornments also add a nice touch.

The center of the shield that shows these runic letters are really nice. The design is actually carved into the shield which is a mark of the sculptor’s effort. They could have easily gotten away with just painting the letters but this is so much better.

The backside of the shield, the part that is actually visible when displaying this figure, is less impressive. But that’s not really the manufacturer’s fault. It’s what you would expect the backside of a shield to look like. It is exactly how it looks in the game. You can still see the high-level paint job on the backside but none of the intricate details you see on the front.

The Figure

The figure overall is of excellent quality and I have no major complaints. The following photos show the figure from various angles.

From up close, you can see more details on the figure. The details on the armor are nicely done. I would have preferred if the hair was a little more on the pink side. Some artworks and figures show Mash having more pinkish hair and some show her hair being more on the gray side. I guess they went with the grayer hair for this one. The hair color doesn’t really ruin the figure and it’s more of a personal preference.

The face and the eyes look really nice and it shows just a little armpit.

You can however see some rough finishing on the right side of her hair. Quality control on that end could have been better but I’m not making much of a fuss because it wasn’t very visible on the figure. In fact, I only noticed it when viewing the pictures.

Behold “absolute territory” and also, more details on her armor. Here you can also see what I mean about how the base is a giant distraction and ruins the aesthetic of the figure.

Here you can see details on her wrist guard and armguards.

The hair from the back is also not very polished but this is just a minor issue.

A shot of the back shows the details on the backside of the armor and shows just a little bit of buttcheek. The sculpt on her hand is also nicely done.

You can see that the shield from the back also has the same paint shadings. Her hand fits nicely on the shield which got me thinking how those tiny arms can lift and swing around that big of a shield.

The details on the back of the armor are just as good. The purple and black theme looks really good.

Here you see the figure at a higher angle so you can see more of her curves and that shy ahoge that refuses to stand up. The figure is sexy despite not showing a lot of skin. Did I mention the paint on the skin is also perfect? Because it is.

Summary

Overall, this figure of Mash Kyrielight by Aniplex is of good quality but not without a few flaws. I’m giving it a 4.5 out of 5. The release of many other figures of Mash caused the aftermarket price for this one to go down. And that’s a good thing. Collectors have more choices in the aftermarket at an affordable price. Despite being the first-ever scale figure of Shielder, it remains to be one of her best figures.