Figma Vocaloids

Overview By: Erich Arendall


Two iterations of Hatsune Miku
As an Internet DJ for a MMO-themed station, I get to discover a variety of music I'd not think to otherwise thanks to the power of listener request. J-Pop is as varied a genre as rock is, but one form really took my interest: that of the computer-generated singers, or, as the software is known Vocaloids. Not only does this software allow musicians across the globe to incorporate a digital singer into their music, but the digital singers themselves are given names and personalities. And almost anything with a name and personality will likely eventually see the light of day in toy form. Enter the Figma Vocaloids.

Last January, I wrote a bit about Kaiyodo's Revoltech line. What I had not known at that time was that there were other lines produced with similar scale and articulation. Not to mention, largely anime-centric. The Figma line is produced by Max Factory, who I was acquainted with as a statuette manufacturer. The Figma began nearly two years after the first Revoltech release. A Haruhi Suzumiya figure was bundled with the PS2 game Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi in 2008. More figures for that and other properties followed shortly after, including the Vocaloids and the Vocaloid-themed Black Rock Shooter properties.


Miku sings!
It's almost impossible for me not to make comparisons between the two lines. Max Factory obviously learned from the early Revoltech mistakes and set out to make a strong brand for themselves. Many of the early Revoltech figure properties were even claimed into the Figma line and it's not impossible to find reviews directly comparing and contrasting Revoltech's Rei Ayanami (from Evangelion) with that of Figma's or Fate/Stay Night's Rin Tosaka figures--also available in both lines.

Both lines do have some overlap in properties and those interested in a particular anime may find themselves straddling lines in order to complete their collection. As a fan of the Queen's Blade / Queen's Gate series, I've had my eye on Figma's Marron Macaroon that was bundled with the PSP game, Queen's Gate: Spiral Chaos. The sculpting, scale and joint construction between the two lines are very similar and Figma offers maximum articulation with their ball-like joints at the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankle.


Black Rock Shooter faces
the Dead Master.
Like the Revoltech figures, Figma figures aren't to be played with regularly. At best, they're something in-between a toy, a model and a statuette. While articulation is aplenty, because the joints themselves can be removed, any sort of "play" would often result in the loss or breakage of pieces. They're also somewhat fragile and couldn't stand up to the rigors of actual action-figure play. That said, they're great for displaying and changing poses every month or so. For adults who still haven't actually "grown up", this compromise is perfect.

The figures I've seen in the Figma line all come with accessories that include multiple props, swappable faces and hands and, in some cases, torsos--which offers the characters a "change of clothes" for versatility. While Revoltech may take the lead on overall number of properties and (thanks to the Queen's Gate line) nudity, Figma joints are tighter and less likely to fall apart while posing. Their stands are also stronger and slightly more versatile. They're even strong enough to be able to hold a figure aloft and tight enough that while moving the Black Rock Shooter figure for photography she was easily set back down without any change in pose.


Fly, my pretty!
Each Figma figure that I've purchased came with a transparent bag to keep all their various unused accesories organized per figure. These bags are slightly taller and thinner than a typical ziplock sandwich bag and are made of thick plastic. While they lack the artistic merits of the Revoltech boxes, they allow for all larger accessories to also be stored and sorted by character. This can be important, as there are often many accessories. My figures each came with 8 total pairs of hands, optional faces, accessories and, in Black Rock Shooter's case, a very large gun.

Figma characters stand at about 5 inches in height, and because most are based from anime, manga and video game properties, can interact well with each other being of similar, if not often precise, visual style. That said, the Figma properites are varied and while they're the same size, there can be some aesthetic dissonance if Hatsune Miku is posed to do a duet with Figma's Thriller Michael Jackson figure--regardless if Michael is using his human or Thriller zombie face!


Revy, Dead Master and Jiggen
The Figma line is not easily found state-side. There may be some import shops or accomodating comic stores in your area, but ease of access won't always guarantee the best pricing. As these are imports, I've done most of my shopping through eBay and prices can vary between $30-$60 USD or more (sometimes much, much more). So, if you're looking, it's important to be thourough in you're searches. Also, as always for eBay or smaller web retailers, look for reputable scores and try to find someone you trust. There will almost always be negative feedback from one or two buyers, as Hong Kong shipping can take a long time or be lost, but if you're willing to pay the additional fees for a tracking number or expidited shipping, then all should go well.

It may also be of note that some of the Figma line can be found cheaper (still around $20+) if they were manufactured in China by Goodsmile. These are still quality productions and, while they may have a slightly more "plasticy" look, suffer no loss in accessories, sculpt or joint tightness. My Black Rock Shooter figure was a Goodsmile-manufactured figure and still looks excellent along side Max Factory's direct Dead Master.

Figma lines feature Vocaloids, Evangelion, Fate/Stay Night, Haruhi Suzumiya, Xenosaga, and many other properties including real people and original characters. Personally, I'm starting to eye the Ikki Tousen line to do battle with my Revoltech Queen's Blade figures.

[Back to Collector Times]
[Prev.] [Return to Reviews] [Disclaimer] [Next]

Copyright © 2012 Erich Arendall