Started as a mere face of a synthesized program Vocaloid2, 16 years old Hatsune Miku’s grew up as a world phenomenon of “featured cyber-pop-star”. Powered by her cute and high pitched voice which may not be achieved by humans, she is truly blessed. Looking again, Hatsune Miku is actually not a popstar, in fact she isn’t even an human at all. She’s a production of Yamaha to be a face of their program named Vocaloid. Yamaha is known for the synthesized specialty. A Yamaha Synthesizer was earlier often used for midi files. … Though I won’t bother you with the Yamaha, check the wikipedia page for it.

Nowadays we find Vocaloid and especially Hatsune Miku all over the world (blogs). I read the criticism at riuva to blog anything popular, but Miku can’t be ignored. She’s just too cute and her voice is something unearth. There is no way you can ignore her voice and it’s quite unbelievable she gained popularity in just a few months after her broadcast in Tokyo (see the youtube review). She crossed the path as popstar and anime all together having both the popularity of anime and music fans. Breaking the boundaries Miku introduces a new world to a lot of newbies. The world of synthesized music, high pitched and fully digital. Now enough introduction and start roling the figure review.

Sculpture: Yoshi (Trepang)
Scale: 1/8 (18cm)
Publisher: Good Smile
Price: €55, $77, ¥5000
Official sites: official, hobby-search (store), archonia (store)
Other blogs: howagirlfigures, koiaichaku, ramathaine, rephin, exelica-meteor
Music clips: Anger, The world is Mine, the world’s famous diva (review, 13 minutes long, but great)

More information about Vocaloid and Hatsune Miku are all on the net. Use wikipedia or google it up whenever you feel like to be more informed. This blog will now continue reviewing the Good Smile version of Hatsune Miku.

Miku’s probably most catching parts would be her two extreme long ponytails, starting from her head (obviously) and dropping far below her knees. The paint job of the her hair is a fine gradient spray along the top and bottom from her hair to the inner part next to her body. As the hair is extremely essential I have toke a second look. I must say, Good Smile did an excellent job, it’s flawless!

Miku is all about music and the gadgets on her skirt and sleeves aren’t forgotten. The small details are sharp and elegantly ’sticked’ on her dress which I had assumed, if they were, would be less of quality. However I got it all wrong and even those tiny details are wonderful.

Alike the most skirts of figurines they can be removed by pulling out her body from the waist. Vocaloid’s tiny butt looks again surprising cute and the small green ribbon on the front makes it all complete. I love the small underwear she has, somehow I also think it’s something she would were, regardless if it’s just a 3d model. But ok, no troubles, we’re not going to discuss whether she actually would wear black panties as it fits with her overall costume . Urm, oh I almost did… So let’s go on with the ‘clothed’ shots of Miku.

Look at that. A nice dynamic stance from top to bottom. I like the way she enforces the sound of her head phone by pushing her left hand on to the ear. That way she seems to really enjoy the music, which is Miku (Vocaloid) all about. You can say, as mascot she’s a total success, but we know, she’s much more than a mascot! Go Miku!

I actually have no criticism, I have no idea how to make this figure more attractive as it looks perfect to me. I’m not a total Miku fan, but I love to see her clips, hear her voice and own her figures. Though I’m not looking for them searching blogs and reviews. It may, or may not come.

At last the Miku clock widget below. I just bumped on it and I thought it was kinda funny. I like to share the fun with you so here it goes.

On the other side, I think they* seriously need to check Nanoha’s face over again.

*They are GoodSmile and CMS which both lacks the girlisch face of Nanoha and the staring, sad eyes of Fate. Well, ok, if you were on the beach you shouldn’t look sad, but I mean, the faces are kinda dull. I can’t remember Nanoha having such a bust too.

If I do see them in the local stores, I actually may buy them. Let’s see what abunai offers at september. Abunai is a dutch anime convention I will attend to at September. It isn’t as expensive as the AnimeCon was in May, but shouldn’t be any smaller at all.

GoodSmile Fate Testarossa Swimsuit
GoodSmile Nanoha Takamachi’s Raging Heart

At first I like to mention I did not put all figures of  “Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha” series in this overview. It was way too much and I had to split things up in parts. This overview is part 1. If any can provide me with more information, please do.
At second I won’t order the figures on date, name or whatever. I might do it if I get time :/.

I hope you like the little overview of Nanoha Figures.

Takamachi Nanoha -  Beach Version, Good Smile

Vita – Normal and Unison mode version, Alter

Publisher: Alter
Sculpted: Tanaka Touji
Height: ~190 mm high (7.5 inch)
Scale: 1/7
Price: €55 (US $72)
Accessories: Graf Eisen Dril mode, Graf Eisen (normal), Giant Hammer Graf Eisen

This figure shows Vita and her weapon graf eisen in action.  In her flight she takes out her weapon and summons Graf Eisen giga form. Graf Eisen turns into a giant oversized hammer (for a very small girl).

Vita takes the hammer into both hands and forms a spinning tornado along herself once she sweeps the giant into the air. The massive weight of the hammer carries and supports Vita’s balance in her deadly and fierce ‘tornado’ attack.

Nakajima Subaru Alter

Scale: 1/7
Height: 220 mm
Release: 22 July 2009
Sculptor: Mumei
Price: €60 (US $79)

Unlike a real mage Subaru uses Belka Magics. Together with with some modified roller blades and huge gloves she runs the highways confronting foes face on face. Her weapon is called Mach Caliber. Together they are determined to help and support people in need.

It all started when she was an helpless little girl who was saved by a lovely mage, Nanoha Takamachi. From that moment she wished to be strong and looked forward to meet this kind person again and become a life saver as well. In StrikerS, the third season of the Nanoha series we find her struggling for these goals.

* Kidnemo misspelled Subaru, they wrote ‘Suburu’, but it is in fact Subaru. Don’t mail me again to ‘correct’ the name. Thanks.

Alter Lanster Teane

Lanster Teane, Alter

Scale: 1/7
Height: 160 mm
Price: €59 ($70, ¥6800)
Release: 30th January, 2009
Sculptor: ???

Teane Lanster is a sharpshooter who wields her guns named Cross Mirage to overcome her brothers dead. Her parents passed away when she was little and all she had was her brother. Her brother was a great shooter, but got lost in a mission. Cold hearted he was never honored and Teane obviously could not accept that fact. Now walking the footprints of her own brother she finds her own path crossing aside. Together with her partner Subaru she will become the next generation StrikerS!

Good Smile, Hayate Yagami

Yagami Hayate Knight Armor, Max Factory

Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s and
Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
Scale: ??? … 1/8
Height: 135mm
Price: €20 ($27.99)

Yagami Hayate makes her tribute in the series from the second season. Alike Nanoha Takamachi she starts as an innoncent girl. Even ‘worse’ she has an handicap and lives on her own until four knigths emerges from the book of darkness who serves her. Instead she uses the knight to become the ultimate ruler of the planet, she prefers them to have a family.

It’s a pity the book of darkness cannot suppressed that easily … You find that story in the second series of Nanoha. Nekomagic has quite a lot of pictures.

Alter Yagami Hayate

Yagami Hayate , Alter

Scale: 1/6
Height: 290mm
Price: €154 ($199) / aim for €130 ($170)
Release: ?? November 2009
Sculptor: Tsumezuka Hiroyuki

Alter version of Hayate is huge and an outstanding piece of expertise. Several bloggers had to restrict their complaints to: expensive and a supersized box.

Along with Hayate, the mistress of the Book of Darkness, you get Reinforce Zwei. A tiny (and ugly version) of a Reinforce Zwei Non Scaled version of Alter.

Reinforce has her own base or can float at the right shoulder of  Hayate. The book and Reinforce seems to float as the dark angel casts her spell. The wings on her back are just awesome. This figure is definitely worth to buy, even for non Nanoha fans. Though, know she’s huge!

TIP: checkout foobarbaz Yagami Hayate photo’s. Those are splendid and gives you a good view of the figure.

Capsule Figures, Yujin

Scale: ??? … 1/9
Height: 110mm
Price: €18 ($22.99)

I missed the first set, but the second and third set is in my (pre-) order list. These little figures are just cool to have as an collector. I wouldn’t advise them for a figure as is. Capsule figure’s are always low in quality and these wouldn’t be different. Though as collector item it will do for the small price.

Alter Fate Testarossa

Fate Testarossa Buster Version, Alter

Anime series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha and
Anime series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s and
Anime series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
Released: December ??, 2006
Re-release: May ??, 2008
Height: 250mm
Publisher: Alter
Sculptor: Tsumezuka Hiroyuki
Scale: 1/8 <– beware the cape is huge!
Price: 6,500 yen, €70, $84

The finest Fate Testarossa figure so far is created by Alter. Her sad expression on her face tells an unheard and sad story. Still, she stands firm and solid. Bearing her heavy blade proudly. Her weapon named Bardiche and Arf her familiar are her only friends. As she struggles to complete her mission to collect dangerous ’stones’ for her mother, she stumbles on Nanoha … Could Nanoha smile and kindness reach Fate’s heart? ^.^ Nanoha Season 1.

Alter Reinforce Zwei

Reinforce Zwei, Alter

Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s and
Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
Released: May 08, 2008
Height: 190mm (without base)
Publisher: Alter
Sculptor: Tsumezuka Hiroyuki
Scale: Non-Scaled

Reinforce Zwei, the blessing wind, is an unision device who came to life when Reinforce One died. As an unison device she’s able to combine her strength with her master or one of the “wolkenritters”* protecting the book of darkness. Still, out of the battlefield, Reinforce Zwei is just like a human. She does her chores and have a job next to her master Hayate.

* Wolkenritters is German. “Wolken” means cloud and “Ritter” means knight.

Vita/ Signum / Shamal/ Fate, CM’s Corp

Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s and
Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha StrikerS
Released: May 31, 2009 (Fate June 30, 2009)
Height: 210mm
Publisher: CM’s Corp
Sculptor: ???
Scale: ??? … 1/6
Accessories: Different faces, hands. (Fate has 3 swords, see nekomagic)

Three adult figures: Signum, Shamal and Fate Testarossa will be released over time by CM’s Corp. These three figures have all, what I think, a glimmered touch. The first (Vita) is released already (before November 2008 at least). I wouldn’t recommend the Vita, since Alter came up with an almost the same version in PVC which looks gorgerous. They don’t really fit the anime, but ain’t really bad. I wouldn’t recommended too anyone, but it seems to be great in collections.

Their homepages are: Shamal, Signum, Fate (I don’t know the link )
Screenshots Shamal: kent3583

Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Figures Overview

Thank you for reading my Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha Figures Overview, Part 1. I will try to keep these posts up-to-date. If I forgot a Nanoha figure or you can give information (eg. Sculptor), please don’t hesistate and inform me!

Currently there is only 1 part!

So, let’s start my very first figure review. Yes, this my first. Be nice, but criticism is a must!

Figure name: Fate Testarossa
Series: Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha A’s
second season of Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha
Scale: 1/8
Company: Good Smile
Costs: €58
Release Date: October 2006
Other reviews: riuva

First I used a blue screen, but that was kinda bad idea, since the cloak is blue too :S. I ended up using a white screen, since I couldn’t find anything green in my closet. If you are curious about the setup, here is a raw shot.

Let’s start from bottom to top. We see the base is a magical circle Fate’s uses when she summons her magical powers. It’s nicely done but kinda gray if we compare it with the yellow flashy in the series. However this is probably a good thing, since you should not focus at the base.

The shoes are great done. However you do see some stripes of distinct parts if you look well. It also applies to the left giant hair of Fate. You hardly find it and really need to search for it, so it’s definitely not a eye catcher.

The legs to the skirt are beautiful. The body is priceless! I love the body, which is definitely Fate’s. I tried pretending I’m holding a giant sword and I can say the stance is quite okay. The belt really does contains small holes, not just paint. It’s attached at the back of the figure.

The cloak wraps gracefully around Fate’s body. You can put off the cloak by removing the head, but it’s really cooler to attach the cloak. I’ve skipped the sword on my way to the top. So, the sword, which is called Bardiche, is in his sword form. This form heavenly drains powers from our little fate and slows her movement drastically. The sword’s length is 1.5x the figure which keeps up with the anime series.

You need to glide the sword inside the Fate’s fists which you need to force a bit. Wringing around, rotating the staff and it slides in. I won’t ever take it out again, but I think it is able to withstand some in-out go’s.

Fate’s face is a bit angry. The expression does not support her stance. It do give a good child like look. The hair and ribbon is okay for me. Though the front hairs are a bit plain.

The only real ‘bad’ thing I could find was the head didn’t attached well when the cloak was on and the dull expression. The stance is okay, but it’s a real pose stance because of the face expression. Unlike Nanoha PVC, this PVC stance is a true pose stance instead of an action stance. If you are okay with that, loves Fate, you do a good jog to grab this figure. This is good figure.