It seems like just a few weeks ago I was reviewing the Good Smile Company’s one hundredth Figma, Append Miku, and now number two hundred has just shown up at my door. GSM again chose Miku to celebrate this occasion. Even though she looks a bit average, she’s actually the first figure to receive the new updated articulation.
But before I get into that, let’s take a look at her overall look. Miku comes in her standard clothing, a kind of futuristic schoolgirl look with metallic silvers and patent leather black. Her shirt, tie, and skirt are all made out of a soft rubbery plastic. This greatly helps the new articulation and allows her to move in ways the old figure couldn’t come close to.
Her hair also has another large change. While it remains the same basic style, it’s been given a more natural sculpt which looks more “fallen in place” than the jagged feel of the original’s. This is most evident on her ponytails which look windblown and fluid, a definite improvement over the first’s spoon-like shapes.
The paint apps are also improved. Her hair has been molded in a translucent plastic and painted teal, allowing the ends of her ponytails to be slightly transparent. The tampos on her sleeves are more crisply printed. Even the detail in her face and eyes is much more subtle. You can see different shades separating the layers of her eyes, and there are even slight blush marks on a couple of her faces.
Now onto the biggest change, her articulation. I’ve always thought Figmas were pretty mobile, but they’ve definitely improved on the original model. The head is now attached to the body with two joints, a swivel/hinge connected to a ball joint. This retains all the old head movement, while adding an articulated neck. The shoulders are still a swivel/hinge and ball joint, but now the socket in the body is cut a bit wider. Now she can cross her arms in front or behind her body in a more natural way.
The torso joints have been improved the most. Instead of one or two separate joints at the chest or waist, the new body has a swivel/hinge attached to two ball joints at either end. This effectively makes a very basic, but flexible spine segment. Miku can now actually bend forward and backward like a human. The only negative is that this can separate’s her clothing a bit far and can look odd from certain angles. Continue to page 2…
All these import figs and many like to get. Those are some crazy new joints. If ever wanted to do crazy fan(say Deadpool as an example) running off with Miku can do it (dunno the range of the tails)
Side by side comparison shot of the old/new for height difference?
seriously? all this progress of late and this time, he forgets the scale shot? for shame…
This is one of my favorite picture sets of all time.
Great pics! Can’t say I give a tinker’s dam about the figure (as nice as it is, I have no idea what property it’s from, and am not really bothered), but where did you get the mixing table?! I must own one!
Sometimes all those joints can be bad. That last pic on page 1 looks like she was just cut in half by a Figma Guts…
Nice review! I have the #100 Miku Append and I adore it. I prefer that design, but I’m very interested in Figma upping the ante and improving their already very impressive articulation scheme moving forward from this toy on. Figmas are really some of the best out there and it really great to see a company refuse to rest on their laurels and to continue improving. I’m excited for my next Figma.
Well, you got me. I never wanted to go near any of this Vocaloid stuff with a 10-meter stick. But you totally got me with this review. I just picked her up from a seller on Amazon and this will be the first figma I’ve bought just for being a figma and not for being a character I have an attachment to.
I totally adored the pic with her and MP Soundwave and that’s what sold me. So, thanks man! Wish I could get these pics in wallpaper sizes. *NUDGE NUDGE, WINK WINK*
P.S.- I honestly can’t stand all that Vocaloid music (no offense!), but the covers by the singer Nano were a significantly better alternative for me. So I’m beginning to warm up to it all….maybe. 😉
Lol, I know exactly what you mean. I can’t stand vocaloid music either but I frikkin’ LOVE the character design! I just received Miku 2.0 the other day. The articulation is awesome; I put her in all kinds of extreme rocker poses. xD