Lone Otaku

Anime, Manga, Figurines and Other Otaku Interests

Tags: Spice and Wolf

Fingurine Photos, GSC Horo & Mobip Yui

by loneotaku

Categories: Figurines, General

Tags: Figurines, K-ON!, Photography, Spice and Wolf

Comments: 1 Comment

Published on: January 24, 2010

Today I finally got around to one of the items that has been long on my list. That is to start photographing my figurine collection.

With Horo, I started simple using a simple tan background. I experimented with a number of angles, lighting options and camera settings until I cam up with what I have below. I’m not completely satisfied but these 2 are the best of the lot (in my opinion). I’m a little bugged by the reflection of the lighting from her dress. I need to find something to cut back on the harsh lighting.

For Yui, I started with the same tan background as Horo. My daughter suggested using the box interior as a background and I was very pleased with the result! I know that Yui is not quite in focus but I was running short on time by then. I’d love to have a Figma Yui to compare with the Mobip version side-by-side. Just not in my budget at the moment. I wonder if I can compare with my Nendo Yui…

: GSC Horo version 1

: GSC Horo version 2

: Mobip Hirasawa Yui – version 1

: Mobip Hirasawa Yui – version 2

Anyway, there you have it. I plan to take more since this round turned out so well. Let me know which of the 4 photos you like the best. Here’s a poll for you…

[poll id="3"]

I plan to do some more photo shoots since this seem to go quite well. I am using a Canon Powershot SD 800 IS for my sessions. Some day I’ll get that dream DSLR. I hope to raid the local hobby shop some day and see what kind of small decorative items they have that would be suited for using in my shoots.

2009 a look back on loot

by loneotaku

Categories: Figurines

Tags: Fate/Stay Night, Figma Figurine, Figurine, Figurines, Fireball, K-ON!, Kodomo no Jikan, Nendoroid, Spice and Wolf

Comments: 1 Comment

Published on: January 11, 2010

2009, one heck of a year. I hope all of you faired well and that 2010 proves to be an even better year than the last. For me, 2009 was a year of firsts… I got really into anime as I discovered new sources I never knew existed. Set my sites on attending some conventions and hope one year to make it to Japan for a convention. Also, this past year I discovered (much to my wallets regret) collecting figurines. Thank you to all that contributed to the poisoning of my mind. I appreciate it!

So, what did I collect this year? (In no particular order)

Drossel – just looks awesome, is awesome. One of my favorites thus far in my collection. I wish Disney would show Fireball here in the States but the dialog would probably get lost in translation.
Yui – from K-On! Lets face it, she’s kinda cute and gets into all sorts of antics. My daughter fell in love with her character on K-On! so I ended up getting the Mobip figurine.
Mio, Ritsu and Mugi – Not wanting to split the group up, I had to get Mio, Ritsu and Mugi as well in Mobip form.
Horo – My first exposure to Spice and Wolf was when I heard the closing song for the first season, “The Wolf Whistling Song” by Ringo Hiyori. I was listening to Radio Kawaii on WinAmp when I first heard the tune and had to know what the anime was about. I ended up with 2 figurines of Horo. One from Season One and another as she appears in the Manga.
Rin, Kuro – The next 2 are kind of an odd selection. I had seen one of them in photos taken in all sorts of outdoor / indoor arrangements and just thought it was cute. My first figurine collected, ever, Rin Kokonoe. Since I don’t like splitting up sets, I also picked up Kuro Kagami, my last figurine of 2009.
Sakura – Lastly on my 2009 list is Sakura Matō from the series Fate / Stay Night. I picked this character for the attention to detail that went into it (that and the price was good too).

Here are a few photos….

: Kuro Kagami

: Rin Kokonoe

: Manga Horo

: Horo

: Figma Drossel

: Yui Hirasawa

: Ritsu Tainaka

: Tsumugi Kotobuki

: Mio Akiyama

: K-On! gang in Mobip form

Whew… So, what am I expecting in 2010… Here is my list today…

Yui Hirasawa – Scale by Alter
Yui Hirasawa – Nendoroid by GSC
Mio Akiyama – Scale by Alter
Mio Akiyama – Nendoroid by GSC
Mio Akiyama – Scale by Uplark
Ritsu Tainaka – Nendoroid by GSC
Tsumugi Kotobuki – Nendoroid by GSC
Azusa Nakano – Nendoroid by GSC*
Aisaka Taiga, Miss Contest Version – Scale by Wave
Saber Lily – Scale by Alter
Canaan – Scale by GSC
Alphard – Scale by GSC
Mimi Usa – Nendoroid by GSC
Index – Scale by GSC
Black Rock Shooter, Blade Version – Scale by GSC

*Azusa was only just announced at Comiket 77 but I have added her to my list as a must.

2010 will be a little painful to start and I will also need to find room to store these as well. I hope to start photographing some of my collection soon and post them to this site. What is on your purchase list for 2010? Anything exciting?

This post was influenced by Zenical sharing her collection of goodies over on zotaku.com.

Yen Press Spice and Wolf Light Novel – English Release

by loneotaku

Categories: Light Novel

Tags: Light Novel, Spice and Wolf

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Published on: November 23, 2009

You may have (or maybe not) gathered from some of my other posts here that I enjoy the Spice and Wolf series of Anime. In fact I am looking forward to the English release of the Light Novel here in the States. However, I came across a story where Yen Press has opted for a different cover other than its original Japanese release. According to the article, Yen seems to think that the orignal cover would not appeal to American audiences.

English Release Cover for Light Novel

Hmmm, I don’t get the logic there… Who did you poll on that survey? I look at this cover and think, what the?!?! I see this and do not associate it with the original series. Guys, sorry but what is that supposed to be on the cover? What’s with the teeth?

Not knowing that this is the same series with a different cover on it, I would most likely pick it up, look at the cover and then put it right back on the shelf.

I understand that Yen Press is printing dust covers with a different image on it for online retailers to optionally offer. The brick-n-mortar stores will carry the English Release cover version.

Dust Cover for Light Novel

So perhaps someone who has not read or is not all that familiar with the Spice and Wolf series can explain why the original cover would not appeal? I’m assuming that a poll was taken somewhere to come up with the decision to go with an alternate cover for English speaking (American) audiences?

I’m gonna guess here that the majority of those purchasing the Light Novel will already be familiar with the series and Holo (Horo) herself. I can think of a couple other Light Novel series that sells with the original characters on front, Chibi Vampire and Blood+.

I hope that future releases have the original cover or something along the same lines. Not like the one shown above.

Source: Sankaku Complex

Spice and Wolf English Dub Release

by loneotaku

Categories: Anime, Review

Tags: Anime, Review, Spice and Wolf

Comments: 2 Comments

Published on: November 22, 2009

Wise Wolf of Yoitsu

With Funimations release of Spice and Wolf coming in the next few weeks (12/22/2009), I thought I would put in my reservation ahead of time to avoid the rush. While doing so I watched the preview of the Funimation version and I am not so sure what to think. I think the voice acting is a bit dry compared to the Japanese version. Here is the trailer, what do you think?

The voice actors have experience but I am not sure sure about their placement as the characters…

Actors:

Kraft Lawrence – J. Michael Tatum
Horo – Brina Palencia
Chloe – Jamie Marchi
Nora Arednt – Leah Clark

Listening to the bit of audio included with the trailer, I am picturing Rikichi (Samurai 7) when Lawrence speaks. That does not sound to bad. When Horo speaks, I’m not so sure. Brina also voiced Honoka Sakurai in Suzuka and I thought she came across as a little to shy to play Horo. In the Japanese version, the voice actor is far from shy. I guess I will have to wait and see. I am hoping that I won’t be disappointed, otherwise, I’ll probably be listening to the Japanese audio with English subs.

Some of my lootings

by loneotaku

Categories: Figurines, General

Tags: Fate/Stay Night, Figurines, Loot, Spice and Wolf

Comments: 1 Comment

Published on: October 18, 2009

I wanted to share some of my collection as a thanks to those who started me down this path. (interpret this as, poisoned my mind into purchasing these) The collection is still growing, more to come as they are released. I honestly did not know these existed until recently and I’m getting a kick out of seeing what is available. Anticipating the arrival of an order makes it all the more exciting.

Horo

Sakura Matō

Rin Kokonoe

I’ll share more as I receive them.

I feel the effects of PVC poisoning

by loneotaku

Categories: Figurines

Tags: Figurine, Spice and Wolf

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Published on: September 19, 2009

It’s bad…. Not sure what I am gonna do… Probably should take a 2nd job, that is if there are any openings. I say poisoning because of an overseas influence that I have received with regards to collecting these lovelies. My first was Rin, just to cute. Even those I know who are not really anime fans find her cute.

Well, the effects have been steadily seeping in and once again, I found myself making a purchase of another doll of a character. This time Horo from Spice and Wolf. I got lucky with this one. While stumbling around the internet as I worked from home, I came across a website that seemed to have a pretty good rep about them. Based on comments on various forums.

It appears I may have gotten lucky and snagged the last on they had in stock. I was surprised since the release date was in late April of this year. Looking forward to her showing up on my doorstep… I’ll post pictures when she arrives.

Sources -
ANN
Plamoya

Limited Edition Horo

by loneotaku

Categories: Figurines

Tags: Figurine, Spice and Wolf

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Published on: August 16, 2009

Poking around the Akibahobby website, I came across this little bit of cuteness…. I would not mind getting one of these as a gift [that's a hint]… It appears that this is a limited edition version available through a magazine “Dengeki Bunko MAGAZINE (magazine) No. 09, March 2009″.

Source:
Akibahobby

Spice and Wolf Holo figurine

by loneotaku

Categories: Figurines, News

Tags: Scale Figurine, Spice and Wolf

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Published on: August 13, 2009

I was looking around the Internet tonight just searching for a few random things at some of my favorite haunts and came across this familiar face from Spice and Wolf… Maybe one day this figurine will become available again since Funimation licensed the series…

I found Holo at Hobby Search.

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