Fly, Nanaki! Fly!

Nanaki (Red XIII) on a flying pose; as inspired by Touya.



I love this shot XD



The back made Nanaki look more robotic than Cait Sith though. ^^;

2003-2009 Hall of Fame: Thanks to all Supporters!

Paine: My First Play Arts Figure.

This is to thank all that contributed for my Play Arts Collection.


SPONSORS
My parents
My cousin in Japan
...and my now Canada-resident cousin who gave me Winry for a Christmas gift in 2005

MIDDLEMEN
Archie
Dexterngo
Meowpao
Reggie @ Poweranime.com
Ren @ Maxicollector
Touya-Deity

TOYSHOPS / SELLERS

*Not in the order of acquisition and release. Items with no definite release date not listed.

Biohazard 5
no. 1 Chris Redfield -
no. 2 Sheva Alomar -

Crisis Core Final Fantasy VII
no. 1 Zack - Bestoys
no. 2 Aerith - Bestoys
no. 3 Cloud - Bestoys

Dragon Quest VIII
no. 1 Hero - 2Rats
no. 2 Jessica - 2Rats
no. 3 Kukule - 2Rats
no. 4 Yangus - 2Rats
Selected DQ Legend Items Gallery volume 3 - SingerYuna @ Tsuki-Board
DQ Legend Items Gallery volume 4 - Hikari03 @ PTK

Final Fantasy VII
no. 0 Cloud and hardy-DAYTONA - Wasabi Toys
no. 1 Cloud - Greattoys
no. 2 Tifa - Greattoys
no. 3 Aerith - Greattoys
no. 4 Red XIII and Cait Sith - Bestoys
no. 5 Yuffie - Greattoys
no. 6 Vincent - Greattoys
no. 7 Sephiroth - Greattoys

Final Fantasy VII Advent Children
no. 0 Cloud and Fenrir - Bestoys
no. 1 Tifa - Lauren @ Australia
no. 2 Vincent - Toy Kingdom
no. 3 Sephiroth - Bestoys
no. 4 Cloud - Comic Quest
no. 5 Yuffie - Bestoys
no. 6 Reno - Bestoys
no. 7 Kadaj - Bestoys

Final Fantasy VIII
no. 1 Squall - 2Rats
no. 2 Rinoa - Bestoys
no. 3 Selphie - Bestoys

Final Fantasy IX
no. 1 Zidane -
no. 2 Garnet -
no. 3 Vivi -

Final Fantasy X
no. 1 Tidus - Bestoys
no. 2 Yuna - Bestoys
no. 3 Auron - Bestoys

Final Fantasy X-2
no. 1 Yuna - Seabook @ Greattoys.net forum
no. 2 Rikku - Chuyongswat @ PTK
no. 3 Paine - Now defunct toyshop (4/2003. Forgot the name too)

Final Fantasy XII
no. 1 Vaan - Greattoys
no. 2 Ashe - Poweranime
no. 3 Balthier - Greattoys
no. 4 Gabranth - Greattoys

Fullmetal Alchemist (2004)
no. 1 Edward Elric - Bestoys
no. 2 Alphonse Elric - Bestoys
no. 3 Winry Rockbell (x2) - my cousin (2005); Bestoys

Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood (2009)
no. 1 Edward Elric -
no. 2 Alphonse Elric -
no. 3 Roy Mustang -

Kingdom Hearts
no. 1 Sora - Comic Odyssey
no. 2 Riku - Comic Odyssey
no. 3 "Jusan Kikan" King Mickey - Maxicollector
no. 4 Sora Halloween - Maxicollector
no. 5 OWD Cloud - Greattoys
no. 6 OWA Sephiroth - Greattoys

Kingdom Hearts II
no. 1 Sora - Archie
no. 2 Roxas - Archie
no. 3 Kairi - Archie
no. 4 Axel - Bestoys
Valor Form Sora - Poweranime
Final Form Sora - Bestoys
Wisdom Form Sora - Poweranime
Master Form Sora - Poweranime
Limit Form Sora - Square-Enix to Poweranime

Star Ocean IV
no. 1 Edge - Maxicollector
no. 2 Reimi - Maxicollector

Play Arts Arms
Final Fantasy VIII and X - Greattoys.
Final Fantasy XII - Play Asia --> Meowpao
Kingdom Hearts - E-bay --> Touya-Deity
Final Fantasy VII - Bestoys.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

...and perhaps a little HALL OF SHAME for those damn(ed) bootleg/bad condition sellers:

Final Fantasy X-2
no. 1 Yuna - JDM = Bad Condition, did not replaced item as promised.

Kingdom Hearts II
no. 1 Sora - Kaizer Sales = Bootleg.
no. 2 Roxas - Kaizer Sales = Bootleg.
no. 3 Kairi - Kaizer Sales = Bootleg.

The World's Enemy

WARNING!!!

According to one of my friends who travels regularly to Bangkok, Thailand;

There are already BOOTLEGS of Kingdom Hearts vol. 2 Cloud Strife.

It won't be long before it arrives to the Failippines so grab the expensive authentics while you still can!

Anyways ~

After pouring my utter disappointment (and wrath) with Square-Enix's Mecha CRAP bandwagon-hopping;

Here's something...different.

I HATE YOU SQUARE-ENIX!!!

It's a Wanzer!

It's a mecha!!!




ZETSUBO-SHITTA!!!

*bangs head on the wall*

...and to think you canceled the Last Remnant and exchanged it for THIS?!

SHINDE YARU!!! SHINDE YARU ONEGAI!!!

*grabs nooze and hangs self*

The Source.

SDCC 2009 First Point-of-Interest

More Play Arts Action Figures unveiled in the 2009 San Diego Comic Convention

This isn't just your Trojan Horse stereotype!
Square-Enix's Transformers Bandwagon-hopping looks very promising so far.

Odin, transformable to a Mechanical Horse and vice versa.

He's probably included with Sazh Katzroy in volume 2.

I also heard some rumors about Front Mission Play Arts KAI action figures. Hopefully it's the pilots, not the Wanzers. The figures are from the latest third-person-shooter installment of the Front Mission series.

If Wanzers. Disgusting.
I hate Mechs. I wish that line gets cancelled and Last Remnant gets pushed through. <_<


...and a little extra;

Some what-not from the SDCC2009 is this free poster of luscious Shunya Yamashita-rendered Marvel babes.

Careful, Black Widow. You don't want to be in Yuri contact with Rogue because you'll be DEAD.

Revoltech Menas

The sixth figure for the sizzling hot Queen's Blade Revoltech NEO line has been revealed as the Ancient Princess Menas!

and check out the colored Merona! TRANSLUCENT PARTS!!! :D

Clean cast-off too.

Thanks Otakai for the news.

The Sephiroth Solution

EFFING FLIMSY!

Kingdom Hearts vol. 2 Play Arts Sephiroth is known for its SUPER FLIMSY stand that cannot support the weight of the figure so you sadly can't pull through complex and dynamic poses. Hence the stand itself is downright fail, telling you to get a new one.

Standing is the best pose for a display stand like that. :(

It took me about a week to think about a replacement stand. The following stands have crossed my mind BUT they all came with the same problem ~ unable to support weight of Play Arts figures. (and that they're kinda pricey too)

GSC Nendoroid/Figma DiStage (Extension set optional) = $10 (+$10 if the extension set included)

Bandai Tamashii Stage Act 1: Stand Support Type = $10 per pack and Bandai Tamashii Stage Act 2: Action Support Type = $15 per pack

Yamato Metal Stand for Valkyrie = $40...WTF.

Just a while ago, I went to the Otaku Mecca of the Failippines ~ Greenhills Shopping Center (to pay for the Arawn Nendoroid preorder as today is the deadline).

I just passed through the window of one of the toy shops in V-Mall. Lo and behold!

THE SOLUTION IS RIGHT THERE AND IT ONLY COSTS ABOUT FIVE DOLLARS!!!

(269.75 php if you must say it in Pesos)

It's made by a China company called "Color Bear." (ohh god, just when I'm hesitating about Mori Chack's Gloomy Bear huh? :P )



Look at it's packaging. NO ENGRISH. Aint it WEIRD for something really originating from China? :/

Seriously.

Six parts: 3 metal, 3 plastic

The Display Stand (as it's simply called by the epic win China packaging) contains six parts: The round base that looks like a Petri Dish (careful, it may crack!), Two metal caps, two adjustable waist claspers (not really adjustable in terms of clamping in the figure) and the plastic-coated (to prevent rusting perhaos) metal rod that looks like the same metal wire used in showers.

It's kind of tricky to use and if not used properly, any action figure you put may look like it's being tentacle raeped. Lulz but still that doesn't sway the fact that Color Bear Display Stand is real epic win.

and Sephiroth really likes it ~

Whew. Problem solved.
I'll buy more if only there are many stocks available. I need another one for Cloud and Motoko...and soon, Reina. S

...and I got an extra Rei Ayanami figure here. For trade with any of the other figures from the set (Shinji, Hikari, Touji or Asuka). Thanks.

Now open: Jewelry Shop

My Aunt is currently selling high quality but affordable jewelry.
Made of stainless steel and Swarovsky Crystals; they are made to last a lifetime.

We currently ship to the Philippines only.
The items are made to order.

Below are the list of items with high-resolution pictures, descriptions and corresponding prices (all in Philippine Pesos).

A - Rounded Square Bracelet = 700
B1/B2 - Personalized Name with Chain = 250 (your choice of vertical or horizontal orientation)
C - Yellow Agate Bracelet = 700
D - Orange Swarovsky Crystal Bracelet = 700
E - Pink Swarovsky Crystal Bracelet = 700
F - Black Swarovsky Crystal Bracelet = 500
G - White Swarovsky Crystal Bracelet = 500
H - Blue Swarovsky Crystal Bracelet = 700
I - Green Swarovsky Crystal Bracelet = 700
J - Pearl Bracelet = 500
K - Heart Bracelet = 700

Black Swarovsky Crystal Dangling Earrings = 150
Dolphin Necklace with Chain = 250
Personalized Dogtag with Chain = 500
Personalized Ring = 200 each
Small crystal earrings (round or star shape) = 150 each

Thin Bangles - 200 each
Hearts Bracelet - 700
Circle Bracelet - 700
Small crystal earrings (round or star shape) = 150 each

You can e-mail me at arumatthanatos@yahoo.com or post a comment in this blog for inquiries, dibs, questions and etc. You can also text me at 09273637787 for faster replies.

Thank you in advance! :D

What-if Billy Herrington Nendoroid?

I'm not really into Nendoroids but I can't let cute figures of handsome men slip. :P

My hit list ~

Neuro Nougami from Majin Tantei Nougami Neuro: The Mystery-Eating Demon


Nozomu Itoshiki from Sayonara Zetsubo Sensei: Super Negative Teacher


KAITO from Vocaloid: The Ice Cream Luver


Sebastian Michaelis from Kuroshitsuji: Aku made shitsuji-desu kara.


Arawn from Tears to Tiara: The Chick Magnet


Ciel Phantomhive from Kuroshitsuji: Boku wa BRAT-desu.


Now then, hot anime boiz aside.

Some characters like the Haruhi ladies, the four Lucky Star girls, Rin, Saber, Saber Lily, Canaan, Drossel have Figma counterparts.

So, how would an ANIKI Nendoroid sound to you? XDDD

Let Yako and Kyouka speak for my feelings ~ XDDD

Exclusives: The Good and the Bad

When is an exclusive figure "good?"

Good...

or more like, TOLERABLE.

That's when the figure comes included with a video game of the character's debut so that we can know who the character is and to prevent us from thinking like "Who the hell is this girl/boy/ghey/lez?"

The price is not an issue, really, but also the number of opportunities to open for the acquisition of the "elusive item."

Figma: Cute, Queen's Blade Spiral Chaos

When is an exclusive figure bad?

Bad, as in you feel like throwing something out of the window when you fail to obtain the damn thing.

...and that's none other than ~

Mail-order, event exclusive and website exclusives wherein the website doesn't cater to your country like Failippines.

Limit Form Sora: Website and SDCC 2007 exclusive.
WTF really. I was expecting a new Keyblade and Box art but...?!

True Japanophile gimmick. I mean, you effing had to be in Japan just to be able to get the figure which in the end wouldn't turn out to be worth it.

...and to think you threw something out of the window too. :/

The next day, you'll see the darned thing flooding evil bay with either bootlegs or overpriced authentics.

Fullmetal Alchemist Book-in figure BLACK
Will you get three Chibi pins for $10+ in E-bay when it should only cost 600 Yen
and that you're actually expecting a badass Homunculus diorama figure? :/

....and the downright worst which has nothing to do with exclusives, really.

Making figures of games in advance which will turn out to be a console flop in the company's hard-to-please point of judgment.

That and there are a crapload of much more epic older releases which SHOULD have figures:

You know why Dallas is in despair.

We can't blame the quality of the figure (Square-Enix is NOT NECA anyway) but rather the overconfidence of the company making the game...and the figure.

The Last Remnant Play Arts Action Figures
Rush Sykes: Rushed Yikes! = Oblivion. :(

Lastly, some EPIC FAIL merchandise of "fad video games" made by an equally-epic fail company which expects us to pay a couple of dollars for some bullsh-t.

From "Van Damme" to BAN DAMN

Dragon Quest VIII "Play Arts Arms" FAQ

This FAQ pertains to real-life, not the video game.

To be more specific, to the Dragon Quest VIII Play Arts. Square-Enix's Merchandise sector is perhaps best known for their intricate Play Arts Action Figures. They even included a supplementary line called "Play Arts Arms."

But a few years before the boom of Play Arts Action Figures; Square-Enix had released a separate Dragon Quest line called "Legend Items Gallery" (2003-2006, with some 2010 reissue) whose weapons are in-scale with the later-released Dragon Quest VIII Play Arts (2005). Some fans would regard the Legend Items Gallery as the Play Arts Arms for the Dragon Quest VIII Play Arts.

When we say "Play Arts Arms," we are talking about what suitable weapon to use with a particular Play Arts figure. Final Fantasy VIII and X; Kingdom Hearts; the Fomalhaut, Death Penalty and Conformer had described "Play Arts Arms" as "Ultimate/Strongest/Celestial Weapons" for that particular character while the rest of the FFXII and FFVII Play Arts Arms sets have went for the most suitable weapon for the character in terms of color and design.

Now then ~

(Click here to view site with pics of all the Dragon Quest Legend Items Gallery)

ULTIMATE Weapons
These are the strongest weapons, regardless of the game where the weapon appeared in.

Kukule + Templar Knights' Shield + Holy Silver Rapier

no. 1 Hero
~ Metal Babble Sword: Secret Item from volume 4.
~ Met King Shield: Volume 3.
or...
~ Sword and Shield of the Lone metal Slime: Volume 4

no. 2 Jessica
~ Ultimate Whip (Gringham Whip): Volume 2, comes with the Silver Shield

no. 3 Kukule
~ Silver Shield (Mikagami no Tate): Volume 2
~ Holy Silver Rapier: Volume 3, comes with the Templar Knights' Shield

no. 4 Yangus
~ Conqueror's Axe: volume 4
~ Big Boss' Shield: volume 3, comes with the Zanmato

Metal Bobble Sword and Shield of the Lone Metal Slime.
Scabbard of the sword attached to the bag via BluTack.

SUITABLE Weapons (Story-Wise, Color-Wise)

no. 1 Hero
~ Color-wise - Platinum Sword: Volume 4
~ Story-wise - Dragovian Sword (Ryujinou no Ken): Secret Item from volume 3.

no. 2 Jessica
~ Story-wise - Ultimate Whip (Gringham Whip): Volume 2
~ Color-wise - Vivify Staff: Volume 2

no. 3 Kukule
~ Story-wise and Color-wise - Holy Silver Rapier and Templar Knights' Shield: Volume 3
~ Color-wise - Gaia's Sword: Volume 1

no. 4 Yangus
~ Color-wise: Demon Axe and Dragon Shield: Volume 1
or
~ Story-wise: Oaken Club and Pot Lid: Volume 4 (for that Barbarian look! XDDD)

In-game Faithful Weapons
Note: The Secret Armor items cannot be equipped in real life

no. 1 Hero
Default: Soldier Sword
~ Bastard Sword: volume 1
~ Boomerang: volume 1
~ Falcon Blade: volume 1
~ Iron Lance: volume 1
~ Iron Shield: volume 1
~ Demon Spear: volume 2
~ Miracle Sword: volume 2
~ Silver Shield: volume 2
~ Blizzard Blade: volume 3
~ Destruct Shield: volume 3 (ie: Ruinous Shield)
~ Double-Edged Sword: volume 3
~ Ice Shield: volume 3
~ Met King Helm: volume 3
~ Met King Shield: volume 3
~ Met King Spear: volume 3
~ Platinum Sword: volume 3
~ Power Shield: volume 3
~ Dragovian Sword: volume 4
~ Holy Lance: volume 4
~ Metal Babble Sword: volume 4 (ie: Liquid Metal Sword)

no. 2 Jessica
Default: Magic Stick
~ Bastard Sword: volume 1
~ Falcon Blade: volume 1
~ Bug Knife: volume 2 (ie: Poison Moth Knife)
~ Miracle Sword: volume 2
~ Ultimate Whip: volume 2 (ie: Gringham Whip)
~ Double-Edged Sword: volume 3
~ Ice Dirk: volume 3 (ie: Ice Dagger)
~ Met King Helm: volume 3
~ Met King Shield: volume 3
~ Platinum Sword: volume 3
~ Rune Staff: volume 3
~ Metal Babble Sword: volume 4 (ie: Liquid Metal Sword)
~ Mysterious Hat: volume 4 (ie: Magical Hat)
~ Pot Lid: volume 4
~ Staff of Divine Punishment: volume 4 (ie: Staff of Divine Wrath)

no. 3 Kukule
Default: Rapier
~ Falcon Blade: volume 1
~ Silver Shield: volume 2
~ Destruct Shield: volume 3 (ie: Ruinous Shield)
~ Holy Silver Rapier: volume 3
~ Met King Helm: volume 3
~ Met King Shield: volume 3
~ Platinum Sword: volume 3
~ Power Shield: volume 3
~ Rune Staff: volume 3
~ Templar Knights' Shield: volume 3
~ Hell Saber: volume 4
~ Metal Babble Sword: volume 4 (ie: Liquid Metal Sword)
~ Staff of Divine Punishment: volume 4 (ie: Staff of Divine Wrath)

no. 4 Yangus
Default: Iron Axe
~ Iron Shield: volume 1
~ Silver Shield: volume 2
~ Big Boss' Shield: volume 3
~ Destruct Shield: volume 3 (ie: Ruinous Shield)
~ Met King Helm: volume 3
~ Met King Shield: volume 3
~ Power Shield: volume 3
~ Conqueror's Axe: volume 4
~ Oaken Club: volume 4
~ Pot Lid: volume 4

Source:
Armor
Shields
Weapons

LARGER-SCALE PLAY ARTS-SUITABLE Weapons

Tifa + Iron Claw

Zidane (FFIX)
~ Bug Knife from Volume 2 (comes with the Zenithian Shield)
~ Icy Dagger from Volume 3 (comes with the Alchemy Cauldron and Chilly Cheese)

Vivi and Garnet (FFIX)
~ Dragon Staff from Volume 2 (comes with Herb)
~ Vivify Staff from Volume 2 (comes with the Repellent) LOL @ Name... XDD
~ Lune Staff from Volume 3 (comes with the Met King Helm)
~ Heroic Staff from Volume 3 (comes with the Power Wand)
~ Abacus of Justice from Volume 4 (comes with the Oaken Club)
~ Staff of Divine Punishment from Volume 4 (comes with the Iron Claw)
~ Cloud Staff from Volume 4 (come with the Shield of the Lone Metal Slime)

Tifa (FFVII)
~ Flame Claw from Volume 2 (comes with the Expel Shield)
~ Beast Claw from Volume 3 (comes with the Met King Shield)
~ Iron Claw from Volume 4 (comes with the Staff of Divine Punishment)

Supaa Ebil Midjit

Run for your life, it's the ------Supaa Ebil Mid---Say wut? XDDD

"There must be a way to get nii-san back to normal...ah, I know! I'll throw him like a baseball! XD"

*ahem*

~ Super Evil Midget

aka: Edward.....

ELRIC!

XDDDDD

"AAAAAL! Put meeee dooooown! Put me down I saaaaid! *BITES*"

Hagaren Book-in Figure Red and Blue GET!

Thanks to our friend Tenchi at Otakai Figure Society, I was finally able to obtain these 2004-2005 Square-Enix goodies.

The Fullmetal Alchemist Book-in Figure series consists of three parts: RED, BLUE and a mail-order exclusive BLACK version (click here for info about it). With the exception of the BLACK Version; each book-in box set contains a small diorama figure designed by mangaka Hiromu Arakawa herself; booklet with Figure and Merchandise gallery (scanned below); Postcards and Comic pages.

Now for the main course ~

RED version

Packaging pictures

The words in gray in the Side A of the packaging of RED and BLUE say ~

"These elaborate figurines designed by and under the supervision of Hiromu Arakawa, bring to you the world of FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST in perfect 3D. Contained within this minibook is a gamebook, the ending of which is determined by the player's choices; a psychological and illustrative breakdown of the characters; as well as a new and exclusive comic, drawn by Hiromu Arakawa. We hope you enjoy these special goods and make them an essential part of your collection!"

YES, you can learn proper English by buying Square-Enix products. XDDDD

Book cover and proof of purchase


(Front cover seems to be the same design as the Side A of the box)

Edward and Alphonse Elric Figure


RED Merchandise Gallery Scans
(Sorry, won't scan the other parts of the booklet. My blog isn't about manga or anything else ^^;)


AL: Oh, It's really well done!
ED: Incredible!
AL: I wonder if will they release a 1/1 scale figure...
ED: They will know how tall I am, so stop!

(Translation by Kaichi)



(!) Be careful! the Red version has bootlegs. If you are only after the booklet then going after the bootleg won't be so bad. However, if you mainly liked the figure, do find authentics at all cost because the bootleg version of the figure looks like crap.

BLUE version

Packaging Shots

Roy Mustang and Riza Hawkeye (don't forget Black Hayate! :D) Figure


...and the close-up of my favorite FMA bishie ~


Cover and Proof of Purchase


BLUE Merchandise Gallery Scans
(Again, won't scan any of the black and white pages. ^^; )



Jean (the one holding the figure): Won't they sell one set only of Riza and the dog...? <-- wants only Riza and the dog

Breda: Oh, that's good.

Kain (glasses guy): It's good too, if they sell one version only with the dog... <-- wants only the dog

Breda: Only the dog is very simple... <-- implies he wants only Riza

(now you see why Roy is blazing in anger XD)

Translation by Kaichi.



...except maybe for this Notable concept art page of the Play Arts KAI Roy Mustang's alternate parts. :)

Postcards (included with the Blue version)

-----------------

Nope, not interested with the BLACK version; I'm afraid so. It only has chibi pins and not a badass Homunculi diorama figure. :/


~ and here's a little extra haul:

Life, death; nothing to remain! ~~Heath Ledger FTW! XDDD