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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Last, but not least. One more original announcement by a new company under the Good Smile umbrella.

It is simply called the Black cat & White cat! And just the thought of it and this artwork! Cats in Victorian dresses with umbrellas... and if you add the absolutely adorable Tea Time Cats by Ribose... It is like a whole cat family!!

And I am a vivid cat lover, so let’s see how this one goes! So far I love it!

And this pretty much wraps the highlights. Which were your favorites?

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Back to the more original side of things, with this completely original DSmile artwork called Lily. Oh, she is so cute! And if the sculpt includes the bike and all the props, this has the potential to be absolutely gorgeous figure.

I already own one more original figure based on art by DSmile, and all their works are very cute, so I am glad they are getting more releases.

On the other hand, Hobby Sakura looks like a new-ish company. I checked their Twitter, and they appear to be working on a few stuff that look solid enough.

So there might be a lot of unknowns with this one, but once again it is a Chinese company (I think?) and I would admit I have rather high expectations, despite the little information.

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

With the new anime Urusei Yatsura has been going through a literal renaissance in popularity. And of course, she got a few brand-new figures announced.

This is one of the more recent releases, I think she is up for pre-order at the moment, and she was displayed during the festival. It is a collaboration of some sort with a themed café, if I remember correctly.

I love Rumiko Takahashi, and while Urusei Yatsura in particular is one of my less favorite series of hers, every time I see a figure of Lum I get a smile on my face. She is one of the original anime sexy ladies, so seeing her overshadow the more modern ones feels great! XD 

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights

So this figure was up for pre-order on AmiAmi, then all of a sudden it was not up for pre-order, but it got displayed during the WonFest... Yet the prototype looks complete, but the pre-orders were still pulled... So I am not really sure what is happening.

But overall. Among all the amazing Sakura figures we got over the last years, some of them part of my collection. This one... I am not super impressed by it. Especially for the price she was listed at before they pulled the pre-orders.

For starters, her shading is next to non-existent. Then the sculpt itself, the wings make no sense to me being as crooked as they are. And yes, I know it is technically a ribbon, so it moves differently, but in the contest of the figure composition, it still looks strange to me. Then there is also, Sakura’s face and the “eating melon mouth“...

So yeah, eSteam, if you plan to charge this much for this figure, I think you should bring your A game, especially when we have so many other way better and way cheaper options.

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

With the Nier anime in full swing it was more than clear that a new set of figures was on the horizon, and they finally announced A2 as well, which completed our three leads.

However, I have all the Flare Nier figures (A2 is on pre-order still, as she hasn’t been released yet). And as much as I LOVE Nier, at the end of the day, the three of them are the same old dressed completely in black and white haired characters, so there is only so much one can do in terms of design and presentation when it comes to them. And I like to have some variety in my collection, for the most part.

But despite that, being the crazy fan that I am, I am keeping both my eyes on these and who knows... it really depends on what Aniplex does with them.

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Another figure, I never thought would catch my attention, but it did. Maybe it is the fox motives and the colors, or just that the prototype looks so spot on. Or the fact she looks sexy and deadly without being too revealing. Also, I am super curious if she will come with an additional face plate without the mask or not.

I will still have to wait and see her painted to make a final judgement. But so far I am loving her, not to mention I can already envision her on the neco shelf with some of the figures in the previous posts, and this alone are dangerous for my wallet thoughts. XD

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

And we continue with neco characters! This is Ronin from the FALSLANDER line. There was a previously released figma of this design, but thank the heavens I don’t collect figmas.

But then they go and announce a scale, a full-fledged scale! Yes, sign me in! I love, love, love this artwork once again, and if they make her right, this will be another instant pre-order.

Being addicted to artwork is not good for one’s wallet...

Source: https://twitter.com/neco_person

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights

You think we were done with the neco art, nope! Not even close!

So I am technically cheating a bit with this one, because this announcement was done a few months back, but since I am going bonkers over neco, might just as well mention it.

Just like with the A/Z figure from the previous post, as soon as I saw this art, I knew this will be a gorgeous figure. The colors, the composition, the tree she is sitting on, even the fact she is wearing sneakers! I love all of it! And fingers crossed the price will be right!

Source: https://twitter.com/neco_person

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights

I’ve been obsessed by neco’s artwork recently... I love all the stuff they have been doing for the A/Z line and for some Myethos releases. I’ve been following them on Twitter and every single piece of art is awesome!

So, of course, I have a few of the A/Z figures on my radar and as soon I saw they posted this art on Twitter I went bananas. The unpainted prototype for this figure was displayed during the WonFest, sadly with not very good pictures, but damn... It looks good! Can’t wait to see this painted and hopefully if the price is right, I will be ordering this on the second.

Source: https://twitter.com/neco_person / https://idelite-figure.com/password

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights

Deedlit! A Deedlit scale figure! What a time to be alive indeed!

Record of Lodoss war is such a classic, it is a miracle Deedlit has never gotten any of the attention she deserves! For all these years, she has gotten what, a few garage kits may be, a few price figures and that is about it! And one would think someone with her background would be much more popular...

Sadly, the company - Kaitendoh... I feel they are one of the older companies on the market, but their releases have never really caught my eye or stood up to me in any way. I know next to nothing about what to expect in regard to execution or quality, or pricing.

But the art looks promising so I will keep an eye for this one. Super excited, she even got announced! Fingers crossed she is worth it!

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Now onto a more unusual for my taste highlight. It’s an Azure Lane figure. Now first, I know next to nothing about Azure Lane. Apart from the fact it gets cool figures from time to time and that it is yet another game, I will probably never touch, despite the fact I like the art from it.

But, there is something about this art in particular I find strangely appealing. I like the colors and the kimono, I like the setting and the umbrella, and if the actual sculpt incorporates the snow in some way it will be even better. The art also gets points for the fact that the lady is not overly sexualized.

Is this a future pre-order, too early to say, but I am intrigued nonetheless.

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

More Tales of Arise, anyone? Yes! Especially if it is of the other gorgeous man in this game!

Okay, I admit! I am holding on from getting the game before getting a PS5. (The prices in my country for the console are still ridiculous!) But, it is one of my must-plays, and it will be one of the first I get after getting the console. With all the awesome characters, plus me being a fan of the franchise, of course. So, give me more figures! And Koto, be careful how you paint this one!

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Another new announcement. Aniplex are doing a new Kenshin figure, from the looks of it, inspired by the new anime.

I will take it, the only decent Kenshin figure we got was a MaxFactory one a few years back and even that had a few issues upon release. But I am all in for more Kenshin stuff, any day!

Aniplex in particular have a bit of a hit or miss track record i my book, but I will still keep an eye on this one. Hopefully it will be on the “hit” side of things.

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Well, with Genshin Impact being as popular as it is, I am not surprised we are getting more figures, but I am surprised the next one to get a figure will be Eula. I mean, We got a Xiao figure pre-order (instantly pre-ordered that one), but where exactly is everyone’s favorite daddy Zhongli?

His character trailer has more than 50 million views on YouTube. Are figure companies not seeing that? I mean, with the figure collecting hobby it has always been waifus before husbandos, that much is true, but with a character as popular as Zhongli... you would think, companies will be fighting over who to make a figure of him first... No? Anyone?

Kinda disappointing, especially since the last figure pictures of him, that were posted, turned out to be a fake, I think... It is kinda sad when you think about it, but to every Eula main out there, congrats!

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

More Tea Time Cats! More Tea Time Cats! Thank you Ribose!

Just look at her, she looks adorable, and this time is sitting in a tea pot! Kyaa! And her little hat looks a bit like a macaroon! I am dying of cuteness!

And since I got the other two, I am so getting this one too! They are just so well done and cute! Chef’s kiss Ribose! I just have to complete the set!!

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Aha! Scratch what I said in the previous post, as I decided to educate myself for this one. Looks like Shakugan no Shana is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Now I am in shock that it has been 20 years! XD

But this will definitely explain why we are getting not one but two brand-new scales. I love the kimono design on this one, but I am not a fan of how the flowers are the exact same shade as her hair. It looks like she has a bed hair or something. May be with a bit more shading? The flames at her feet are cool, the black base, not so much. Hopefully they will at least paint it red by the final prototype...

But still an overall interesting one. A+ for effort, Kadokawa!

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Wonder Festival (and others) Winter 2023 Highlights 

Shana is getting a resurgence? Interesting. I am sometimes amazed how some companies will just almost randomly remember certain characters from older franchises, almost like trying the waters, to see what will stick.

Or may be Shakugan no Shana just has an anniversary of some sort that I don’t know about? Anyway... Despite the Miku obsession, I do like variety.

Let’s see how this one will turn out. I remember liking the show back in the day, especially the opening/ending combos. So, I will be keeping an eye on this one.