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Nana's Winter'18 Wonfes Picks

Monday, August 27, 2018 / No Comments

Hi everyone! Nana here~

Older readers might recognise me as sharing lots of figure unboxings when I first joined Milkcan; although I don't do that much now, I still religiously follow figure news! C3AFA Tokyo might be the latest event but Wonfes is definitely still the largest in terms of figure announcements! Without further ado, here's my top picks!

1. Shuten Douji (QuesQ)

I tend to nitpick when it comes to female characters. It's no secret that the female characters market is saturated with swimsuit designs, which is why I love FGO's character design so much, even though they can be rather controversial when it comes to anatomy. Named after the sake-loving mythical demon, I really enjoy Shuten Douji's devil-may-care sort of attitude, and the figure really brings across the idea that she can and will drunkenly decapitate you. Though not the top of my priority list, she's definitely one I will consider, although it really depends on whether QuesQ can bring across the quality!

2. Berserker / Cu Chulainn Alter (FREEing)

More from FGO, this is probably my favourite version of Cu Chulainn, the shadow side. I love the overall design, with the flamboyant outfit and chest (torso?) markings! The figure has him standing atop a bunch of skulls, which only adds to its likability and brings across his dangerous aura. Since his CG has him in the midst of a fiery field, I'm looking forward to see the colours as well. Here's hoping FREEing brings across the gorgeous deep reds.

3. P5 Protagonist / Amamiya Ren Uniform Ver. (Soyokusha)

Persona 5 continues its prominent figurine run with even more figures announced! In fact, I've lost count of how many figures the protagonist has now. If only they would give Ryuji a scale figure too... That being said, I like this one for his pose and props! Although I'm hesitant about Soyokusha since I do not particularly like the way they do eyes, not to mention this is the first time I've seen a male character from them.

4. Roronoa Zoro "Sanzen Sekai'!!!! Ver. (Megahouse)

Megahouse's huge moneymaker, the POP series. I have figures from this series since 2012 (Eustace Kidd), and in fact have a full collection of the Straw Hats (although I should perhaps work on adding Jinbe and the Straw Hat Grand Fleet now?). On the other hand, a Zoro in-action is too hard to pass up!

5. Nendoroids (Good Smile Company)

Small and adorable, Nendoroids are the way for me to collect entire series as they are the most affordable and usually the easiest to obtain. After wishing and waiting for years, I finally finally will get to collect KnB and JoJo Nendoroids! I've already picked up two Jotaros, so these are definitely gonna follow up on my must-buy list.

Although it's been a long time since I've shared my love for figurines here, I hope I'll get to share these with you next year!

Written by Nana

Today's Menu at the Emiya Household

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Hi everyone! It's Nana here!

I'm sure most of you know about the Fate series. It's daunting to start on since it's so complex, but today I'll be sharing with you one of its offerings that doesn't require you to cross-reference a whole bunch of wikia articles!

It's an anime adaption of a manga parody that revolves around food! The whole show revolves around Shirou cooking for everyone else, mainly the Fate/Stay Night cast.

My favourite is the great Celtic hero Lancer and he is extra adorable here. I really like his excitable character and that snaggletooth!

Each episode introduces new characters and new food, and is thorough enough that I feel like I can attempt several of these recipes. Most recipes are generally quite simple too. One of my favourites is the one in episode two, foil-baked salmon!

I'm quite fond of the art as it's very soft and pastel. Combined with the domestic atmosphere and lack of Holy Grail Wars, the whole anime feels very fluffy and heartwarming. Normally, I would focus on the manga, but I like the colouring of the anime so I'm watching it as and when even though releases aren't frequent nor regular.

Will I be trying out the recipes one day? If I do, I'll share it! Til next time!

Written by Nana

My Top Picks from Wonder Festival 2018 (Summer)

Saturday, August 25, 2018 / No Comments

This year's summer edition of Wonder Festival was a surprise for me, in more ways than one. I completely forgot when it was going to be held and I didnt even have the time to check out the previews from the different figure manufacturers. Unfortunately - or fortunately for my wallet - I felt like I wasn't missing out on much, come the actual event. Perhaps it was a matter of taste but the figures and other collectibles that were showcased didn't appeal to me.

Although the scale of Wonder Festival continues to grow every year, I sensed that the manufacturers were looking forward to the Winter edition in around six months instead. That being said, I couldn't deny that the quality of the figures previewed trumped previous editions, as it should be. I'm blown away by the increasing attention to detail the manufacturers have, such as the creases on a jacket or painstakingly painting minute accessories like zippers or patterns on a skirt. Here are a few scale figures that I found particularly appealing, although I'm sure that there are many more that I missed out. All photos are taken from Nekomagic's coverage of the event.

1. (Alter) Kunikida Hanamaru 1/7 scale figure from Love Live! Sunshine!!

Personally, Hanamaru's scale figure is the most attractive one from the Love Live! Sunshine!! franchise so far. I'd say it even trumps the Birthday Project series by Stronger, thanks to the level of detailing and how closely it resembles the art it was based on. You can easily spot the creases on her skirt and pullover and Alter even went through the trouble of using a glossy black paint just for her shoes. I hope that the other 8 members of Aqours receive the same treatment and if Kanan's figure is anything to go by, there's no need for fans and collectors to worry.

2. (Stronger) Nero Claudius (Saber) 1/7 scale figure from Fate/Grand Order

The Roman emperor with exhibitionist tendencies has received more than a few scale figures but nary a single one that features her 3rd ascension outfit from Fate/Grand Order. Coincidentally, I featured another Nero Claudius scale figure from Stronger as one of my top picks from last year's Wonder Festival, specifically the Type-Moon Racing one which I pre-ordered the moment it was available. Unfortunately, I'm hesitant to do the same for this but I'm willing to bet that this will be one of the more popular Fate/Grand Order scales out there, due to how opulent her dress looks. I'm constantly drawn to the gold detailing, be it on the hems of her skirt or on her corset. The only gripe I have would be Nero's expressionless face but I doubt that it's a deal breaker for potential buyers.

3. (Megahouse) Roronoa Zoro 1/7 scale from One Piece

I'm hardly the biggest One Piece fan out there, having stopped watching the anime soon after the Arlong Park arc more than a decade ago. However, the characters remain as memorable and having friends that continue to read the manga week in and week out helps. Zoro was and probably still is every teenage boy's favourite character, I mean who else wields a sword with his mouth? His appearance has changed little throughout the years, swapping swords a couple of times and receiving scars here and there. Megahouse has a winner on its hands with this scale figure, with his sculpted physique threatening to empty the wallets of many a fangirl out there. I'm looking forward to the fully painted prototype in a few months' time and I'm sure more than a few One Piece fans will be as well.

4. (Amakuni) Iowa 1/7 scale from Kantai Collection

I haven't been keeping up with the Kantai Collection franchise due to the lack of any anime being produced for it. Unfortunately, I lack the time to play the browser game as well, choosing to stick with Love Live! School Idol Festival and Fate/Grand Order instead. And as for the arcade version, Singapore won't be receiving it anytime soon so there goes my last option. Fast Battleship Iowa was introduced to the game two years ago and it appears that she's a fan favourite, having multiple figures announced just at this one exhibition alone. It's easy to see why, with an appealing character design and vivacious personality to boot. Amakuni has had a stellar track record with their scale figures so I don't think they'll be flopping anytime soon, especially with this one.

5. (Amakuni) Nitocris (Caster) 1/7 scale figure from Fate/Grand Order

I'm glad to see figure manufacturers expanding their portfolio of Fate/Grand Order characters. It's sorely needed, especially with how many Artoria and Nero scale figures there are out there. The Egyptian pharaoh makes for a particular attractive one, with her gold and purple colour scheme ensuring that she'll stand out no matter how big your figure collection is. One thing I'm interested in would be the base that Amakuni decides on using for the mass production version. I don't think it'll be the easiest figure to assemble and display but then again, I have a serious case of butter fingers so that skews my judgement especially when it comes to Nendoroids. Amakuni has announced several other Fate/Grand Order scale figures as well, featuring less prominent characters like Helena Blavatsky and Medusa's Lancer version. Kudos to them!

Although this year's summer Wonder Festival was hardly a disappointing one, it still lacked that special something. I'm looking forward to the winter Wonder Festival come January next year and I'm sorely hoping that the manufacturers will pull out all the stops there.

Written by ET

Hataraku Saibou (Cells At Work)

Monday, August 20, 2018 / No Comments

Hello my little nuggets!

I'm pretty sure most of you would have seen Hataraku Saibou floating along the internet, especially since it seems to be pretty popular this season.

It's an anime about the cells in your body, aptly titled, 'Cells at Work'. I'd say it mainly revolves around the RBC as she seems to be the focus, but there are of course many appearances by the other cells. My favorite by far is the B-cell! He's too cute!

the one in denim!!

The little Platelets are obviously also incredibly cute, no competition there. I swooned when they appeared. The anime is split up to introduce a new cell and a new bacteria/germ almost every episode, and when they make an appearance the narrator will explain the function of the cell and the effect of the bacteria/germ, so not only is it super cute, it's also actually very informative. There's a portion about what happens when you get an abrasion, what happens afterwards, etc etc.

The anime is only up to episode 6, so as usual I went and continued with the manga. The manga sort of progresses at a faster pace, so I would usually drop the anime and focus solely on the manga, but since I like the animation I actually don't quite mind doubling up.

Also! The world of Hataraku Saibou obviously takes place in a human body, and I think it's a pretty healthy body. However, there is another version titled Hataraku Saibou Black, where the cells are working in an unhealthy body. This means smoking, drinking, and stress as well.

After reading Hataraku Saibou Black I have the urge to take super good care of myself to not put my cells into overdrive. I definitely would recommend watching Hataraku Saibou and reading Black as well!

Nerd out for now, and take good care of yourselves my little nuggets!!

Written by: ninetylives

Figure Unboxing and Review: Nendoroid #692: Watanabe You (Good Smile Company)

Sunday, August 19, 2018 / No Comments

To date, there have been 900 different Nendoroids created by Good Smile Company and that number only covers the main series of posable figurines they churn out every year. Include the various spin-offs such as the Nendoroid Plus and Nendoroid Petite lines and you probably have over a thousand out there. Name any anime or even video game character and he, she, or it probably has a Nendoroid figurine in one form or another. I can still remember when the 600th one was released to much fanfare two years ago, how time flies. To say that I'm a sucker for these is a major understatement, having reviewed one too many Saber Nendoroids over the past three years. Fortunately..or otherwise, you'll be reading about Love Live! Sunshine!!'s Watanabe You instead of the King of Knights yet again in this post.

Fun fact: You's Nendoroid was sold out everywhere in Tokyo (in Akihabara and Nakano at least) a year ago and secondhand pieces were going for more than double its usual retail price, talk about scary. It didn't matter much to me considering I pre-ordered it but if you'd like to make a pretty penny the next time you're in the Land of the Rising Sun, you know what to do.
The packaging won't be standing out anytime soon, having the same size, features and even colour scheme - the sides bear each member's unique image colour, i.e mandarin orange for Chika, blue for You, etc - as the 17 other Nendoroids from the Love Live! franchise. And like the other 17, they're all wearing the same outfit from the first opening theme; Bokura wa Ima no Naka De for μ’s and Aozora Jumping Heart for Aqours. The cost definitely reflects this, with You's Nendoroid setting you back only 3241 yen. I've no qualms parting with the money, she's easily my favourite character out of the 9 from Love Live! Sunshine!!'s Aqours.

It's the same story after taking a look at the different interchangeable parts in the blister packaging. However, the accessories make for much more dynamic poses compared to the μ’s Nendoroids. As a nod to the fans, You's pair of glasses as seen in the first season of the anime is thrown in. The second faceplate features her winking and smiling and it's probably the one I think most people would stick with. And if you're wondering, yes you can re-create her iconic saluting pose. The two parts on the top left of the blister pack probably gave that away though. So far so good!

I'm not sure whether my eyes were playing tricks on me or if it's because of my room's bright lighting but Good Smile Company knocked it out of the park with You's sculpting and painting. There is nary a misstep in the paint job, with no mistakes even in tiny areas such as the shoes and wristband. You's hair was perfectly sculpted, easily achieving a tousled look. The quality control that went into the product is evident and I hope Good Smile Company continues to maintain this level or even exceed it as they expand their line of Nendoroids.

If you've read my other Nendoroid unboxings, I'm hardly the most creative when it comes to posing these figurines. I've decided to stick with one of the sample poses on the back of the box yet again and I doubt I'll ever change it, like my other Nendoroids on display. On the bright side, this was probably the fastest one I assembled and posed, other than Gilgamesh where the bulk of the time was spent figuring out which weapon went into which part of his Gate of Babylon piece. Although You's Nendoroid was admittedly a run-of-the-mill one, it was an improvement compared to the μ’s line of Nendoroids. I do hope Good Smile Company spices up their inevitable training outfit ones down the road via the addition of more dynamic accessories or unique bases, maybe? In the meantime, I'll be waiting patiently for the premiere of the Love Live! Sunshine!! movie come January next year.

Written by ET

The 10th Anniversary! AniManGaki 2018!

Thursday, August 16, 2018 / No Comments

Ask me what my favourite regional events are and I'll reply wholeheartedly that AniManGaki ranks among the top of my list.

Hosted annually at the Sunway Pyramid Convention Center in Malaysia, with varying themes every year, AniManGaki has been touted as the anime, manga and games convention made for the fans, by the fans. While a drive to Malaysia is always worth it for the food and sights, adding AniManGaki to the list for my weekend getaway would be the cherry on top of a very delicious (imaginary) sundae tower.

It will be my fourth year at the event, held this year from on the 18th and 19th of August, and this year's theme features RPG (or role-playing game). This being AniManGaki's 10th year, the convention is bigger (they have an extended play space at Sunway Pyramid Shopping Mall LG2 Central Avenue) and better (think LED screens!) than before, with a whole host of activities, stage events, and of course artwork to buy over the two days~

Here are some highlights you can expect this year!

Photo: AniManGaki

Cosplay Competition

Sponsored by Warlord, Armaggeddon & TokyoNinki

One of AniManGaki's anchor activities as cosplayers vie for number one, as they perform sketches on stage and make their best impersonation of their cosplayed character. This year's guest judges include Chinnie (Malaysia), Yugana Senshi Uon (Malaysia) and Serg Loki Mirage (Russia). The winning team of this competition will have a chance to compete against other Malaysian cosplay champions at the annual Cosplay Invitational! The standards have been pretty good over the past years, so this is definitely one event to look out for!

Photo: AniManGaki

AniManGaki Idol

Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth

Sunday, August 12, 2018 / No Comments

Hello my little nuggets!

Persona Q2 has been announced for a while now, and I cannot believe I only found out about recently! I have failed myself.. But anyhow! If you haven't read up on the post I did on Persona Q, please go take a peek at that one first!

So what's up with PQ2? The obvious difference here is that PQ2 heavily features the newest in the Persona series: Persona 5. The setting is based in a movie theater, and as per the official website:

The Persona users are trapped in a world of movies. And a girl is the one who holds the key…?
In Mementos, the Morgana Car suddenly goes out of control!? Sucked into a mysterious space, the Phantom Thieves arrived at a mysterious town where unknown enemies wander about.
Barely managing to escape, the Phantom Thieves ended up lost in a movie theater without an exit.
And then Nagi, a black-haired, white-clothed woman they met at the movie theater, and Hikari, a downcast-looking girl, informs them that they just came out of a movie.
Labyrinth-like movie worlds. And in those movies, as if something was guiding them, they encounter those who possess the same powers.
Will the Phantom Thieves be able to escape the movie theater…?

new unique characters!

As it seems, PQ2 focuses mainly on the cast of P5, though you will get the cast of P3 and P4 later on. One surprising thing to me is the appearance of the P3's female Protagonist. In P3 on the PSP (iirc), you only get to pick the female protag as the MC after completing one round as the male protag.

In PQ2, however, both the male and female P3 protags exists as separate entities, and the female protag will be heavily involved in the plot of PQ2.

You get a total of 28 persona users to mix and match from, although I think that right off the bat you're only allowed to form a team with the P5 cast, then subsequently recruit the other Persona casts. You also get to set a second persona for team members! This is going to be super helpful.

Game system wise, it looks pretty much the same as PQ, with there being different themes for different labyrinths. The map drawing feature stayed, which is great, I really like that portion. There is an auto map feature as well.

I think PQ2 is meant to be a release for the 3DS, but they might also release on the Switch as well, considering the rising popularity for the Switch. I'm all for either; I fully intend on getting a Switch in the near future, but also don't mind putting the Switch on hold till more game releases and playing on the 3DS instead, provided it's not a New3DS only version. We'll see.

Here are the trailers!

For now, nerd out!

Written by: ninetylives

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