KAI = Kool Articulation Improvement?

Okay, it's still a few months before the release of the debut Play Arts -KAI- figures, the Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood ones in October.

But before we plunge into that "new era of PA's" and conclude (really?! XD) the chapter of those generic Play Arts joints, let's have a little look on how the classic PA joints fare with other joint systems:

Motoko = a definite 1/7 scale figure
Ashe = loosely-described as 1/7 scale.

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Arm joints~

Classical Play Arts have a cut in their armpit levels and a hinge joint on the elbows.

Yamato VMF on the other hand have the cut right above the elbow hinge joint.

There is not much of a difference on that part.

However, the knee joint shows the big difference:

Classical Play Arts have a single hinge joint in their kneecaps and a cut in their pelvic level.

Kneecap's range of movement:

Yamato VMF on the other hand have double hinge joints in their kneecaps (which looks like a cross at the back) and the very cut right above the hinge just like in the arms.



Kneecap's range of movement:

First fold of the hinge...quite a typical articulation.
...and then in the second fold, just imagine playing soccer like a pro! XD

The said double hinged kneecap joints are featured in the "improved" Play Arts -KAI- line.


So what big difference does it do?

Well, let's just put it straight through a genuflecting pose.

If you are to genuflect like a proud man whose about to be knighted, you have one of your knees pressed in the ground like it's facing the third quadrant of the cartesian plane and the other leg facing the second quadrant...

Aaargh Math terms! If that sounded complicated, then just look at the pics below XDDD

Classical Play Arts would not be able to fully-manifest it whether they have a skirt (intrusive piece of clothing) or not. Their backs looked arched.

while Genoflecting is fully possible with double-hinged kneecaps and soft crotch joints like the Yamato VMFs.

Aww, I guess it's time for Ashe to say good-bye. :/

Now then...

Let's imagine the Final Fantasy XIII, Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood and Resident Evil 5 Play Arts being able to do these poses with their Double Hinge Joint and softer pelvic (v-crotch) joints:

...and my favorite ~

GUNKATA!!! :D



Ohhh yeah, now that's what we call REAL improvement! XD