Project: Obitsu May 2015

This month features another Azone/Obitsu hybrid doll, this time Shana from the anime-manga series Shakugan no Shana. To be honest, I've never followed this series and I'm not even a big fan of the magical girl-supernatural genre. I love this character design however and the idea of a tiny girl that's also a sword wielding bad ass also appeals to me. So yeah, another example of me buying a doll or figure from a series I don't follow just because I like the character design.

(Oh and there are also a number of examples of me NOT buying dolls/figures from series I do follow. That's another story though.)

There are also a black cloak and a pastry of some kind included with this figure but I forgot to bring them out for the photo shoot.

Omake or lagniappe, whichever you prefer:

The original version of a phone pic I posted on Instagram. Yes, she really is holding that pose on her own!

Let's.... uh... Joe?? May 2015

This month, we explore the question "what is a Joe"? No, not really but these two might stretch the definition just a bit. Our troops for May were produced in around 1999 and sold under the Saru-Inu Ya label. From what I recall, they were first sold at the 1999 Tokyo GI Joe convention then they were later available at other Joe shows and through some hobby retailers. What defines them as GI Joes for me at least, is that they are based on reproduction vintage Joe style bodies produced by US  based Cotswold Collectibles. Since Cotswold figures are produced with the knowledge and at least tacit approval of Hasbro, and they are aimed at collectors of vintage Joes, think they can technically qualify as GI Joes. Well, that's my excuse anyway!

So, our subjects are Ichiro and Masaru, two infantry rifle grunts in the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force circa late 1990s to early 2000s. Both carry the Howa Type 89 5.56mm rifle (made from die-cast metal) and wear the standard Type II "Jieitai" camouflage uniform along with the Type 88 helmet. In reality, the helmet is probably a US PASGT version standing for the Japanese helmet but I didn't bother to tear the cover off to check for sure. As mentioned, both guys are based on Cotswold vintage GI Joe style bodies with Kung Fu Grip style hands. In fact, they're both pretty much identical except for different headsculpts and that Masaru also includes a yellow artillery branch scarf in addition to the red infantry scarf both are wearing here.

 Ichiro

 Masaru

Masaru with the Howa Type 89 rifle.

Sorry that the photos turned out so wonky. I'm not sure what happened and I didn't have time to reshoot.