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Dragon X

Bandai Mugenbine Xenonbine

A photo of dragon mode Xenonbine, a 2004 figure released as part of Bandai’s Machine Robo Mugenbine line.

Fans of Machine Robo Rescue, Mugenbine’s predecessor, came up with all sorts of creative custom fan-modes and Plex, Bandai’s design team, must have taken note because Mugenbine was an action figure line that featured super robot construction and interchangeability as a core theme.

(Plex has ex-Takara personnel — Aoki Tetsuya worked on G1 Transformers — and it’s possible the design team was influenced by Takara’s cross-line 5mm connectivity.)

Mugenbine began in December 2003 and figures are still being released this year. This is rather unusual because Mugenbine is one of the few toy lines that isn’t being supported and promoted with an animated show.

The line has mutated and changed over the past few years but interchangeability and connectivity remain the main theme.

I fully expect Japanese toy fans will be raving about this line in a decade the way I do about Takara Blockman.

Posted in Mugenbine, Pix, Toys.

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By Gobi – Monday, April 30, 2007

Armed princess

Konami Busou Shinki Angel Arnval

A photo of Angel Arnval from Konami’s Busou Shinki line.

Boy’s toys (and even toys aimed at men) have always been flavoured with machismo, aggression and implied violence. Muscle-bound he-men with snarls and grimaces wielding swords and guns are the traditional action figure standards.

But Japan also has a long-standing love affair with all things cute with kawaisa flavouring everything from commercial goods to military mascots. Putting a cute face on a fearsome heavily armed, battle-ready warrior is a quirky but natural next step for Japanese action figures.

As a franchise, Busou Shinki is Konami’s cunning attempt to separate the otaku from their money. Otaku like moe female figures so Busou Shinki features moe designs. Otaku like mecha so Busou Shinki features weapons and add-on armour pieces. Otaku like videogames so Busou Shinki features an online game component.

Konami has recently begun selling the figures in the US. I have my doubts about how well the line is going to do States-side since the moe movement hasn’t taken off in gaijinland the way it has in Japan. Still, who knows? Pokemon’s kawaisa conquered the world. Perhaps moe will follow suit.

Posted in Busou Shinki, Pix, Toys.

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By Gobi – Sunday, April 29, 2007

Elsewhere on the web

Kiba from Garo Equip and Prop vol 6.
A stunning portrait by Aplus.

BSoD gets around.
The Mega Bloks Green Goblin’s Secret Lab construction set has a funny easter egg. One of the LCD monitors in the lab shows the Blue Screen of Death.

All things pink.
Including pink ninjas. Be sure to visit the My Pink Hair group as well.

Posted in Web.

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By Gobi – Saturday, April 28, 2007

Red dragon rising

Bandai Kamen Rider Ryuki Dragreder

A photo of Dragreder from Bandai’s R&M1 Kamen Rider Ryuki set.

Dragreder, Kamen Rider Ryuki’s contracted monster, was modelled after an Oriental dragon and specifically, a Japanese dragon since it has three toes on each foot. The figure is an impressive 52cm-long and features 24 joints which allow for some sinuous poses. Unfortunately, the 9 ball joints on the body are prone to popping out making this a frustrating figure to play with and pose.

Posted in Pix, Toys.

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By Gobi – Saturday, April 28, 2007

Elsewhere on the web

Nike Free 7.0 Convoy released.
Japanese pictorial reviews: Gamu, Hiro, Toybu.

Revoltech Patlabor digirama.
I am stricken with awe.

Monoblos hunt.
Cool tableaus featuring Microman Monster Hunter customs. Hope they packed sonic bombs.

Optimus Prime through the ages.

Prof Jenkins on media violence.
“A thorough account of violence in media would include: fairy tales such as Hansel and Gretel, oral epics such as Homer’s The Iliad, the staged violence of Shakespeare’s plays, fine art paintings of the Rape of the Sabine Women, and stain glass window representations of Saints being crucified or pumped full of arrows, or for that matter, talk show conversations about the causes of school shootings. If we were to start going after media violence, then, we would need to throw out much of the literary cannon and close down all of our art museums.”

Roger Ebert on the news media on Columbine.
“The message is clear to other disturbed kids around the country: If I shoot up my school, I can be famous. The TV will talk about nothing else but me. Experts will try to figure out what I was thinking. The kids and teachers at school will see they shouldn’t have messed with me. I’ll go out in a blaze of glory.”

Posted in Web.

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By Gobi – Friday, April 27, 2007