Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Revoltech Yamaguchi Gurren Lagann Part 1

Is it even necessary to introduce this guy?

Going from cutesy moe in the previous posting to hot-bloodiness of exponential level with this next review. ^^


Revoltech Yamaguchi Gurren Lagann
Production company: Kaiyodo
Release date: November 2010 (Classic Selection), May 2008 (original version)
Price: 1,900 Yen (exclusive of tax).
Merchandise link

As the series' titular main mecha, Gurren Lagann gets to show off a lot of action in "Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann". ^^ Even though its upgraded forms, Arc, Super Galaxy, and Tengen Toppa which appear in the later half of the series are much more crazier in terms of size and power, this first gattai form is still the more significant mecha out of them all due to its "extensive" involvement with the characters. Even though all of them share the same finishing move, Giga Drill Breaker, not only does Gurren Lagann use it first, I think it also manages to show off the attack in the most hot-blooded/emotional way, twice. ^^

As I was writing about Giga Drill Breaker, the attack scene and the accompanying theme song were playing in my mind very vividly, almost as if I just watched the anime yesterday. ^^


Relive the awesome moment when Giga Drill Breaker was launched the second time. ^^
Video clip is from Youtube. Follow this link to the website if you can't see anything.

Besides Gurren Lagann itself, the awesomeness of the anime series it originated from is just as great as well, even though it's already a seven-year-old show by today's standards. ^^

Being the main mecha from a famous anime series, there were of course many merchandises of Gurren Lagann since the airing of the show until recently. Kotobukiya released an entire series of plamo kits based off mechas from the show, while Kaiyodo took care of the action figure segment with their Revoltech releases. ^^ Tamashii Nations was a bit late to the party (XD) with their offering of Gurren Lagann in the currently-inactive Composite Ver. Ka line, and subsequently a Super Robot Chogokin release. Then again, all features considered, I think the 2012 Riobot version by Sentinel (千値練) is the best action figure design for Gurren Lagann so far, but with a hefty price tag of 9,500 Yen (inclusive of tax), it's also the most expensive one among all of them. ^^;


Front view of the box.


Indication of this figure being part of the Classic Selection series as seen on the paper jacket band. ^^



Front view of the box, and product label afyet the paper jacket band has been removed.

Besides being the first action figure release of Gurren Lagann, the Revoltech series' flexible articulation and high durability are great advantages to realize the mecha's crazy action. ^^ I always wanted to get the figure after watching the anime, but the initial release was already gone when I started looking for it. Luckily, this Revoltech was reissued sometime in mid November 2010 as part of the Classic Selection series, and I got that version instead. ^^

On the other hand, by reviewing the figure now, a look at how older Revoltech designs work is perhaps going to be just as interesting as the figure itself. ^^





The figure itself, which occupies the center-most portion of the box, can be seen clearly through the front window.






Closeups on the content.



An old release as it is, it's still the same generic Revoltech design style for the sides, top and bottom. ^^




Introduction of the figure on the back of the box.


Box open.


The box flaps shows the swapping of the chest part when the giant boomerang is used for action poses, and the gimmick of the Core Drill to be turned into a handheld weapon for Gurren Lagann.


Package content.


Top view of the box content.





Closeups on the content.


With the clear plastic cover taken off.






Closeups on the content.


Rear view of the box content.



The display base and all accessories are stored in a separate plastic container which was initially being taped behind the tray.


A straight out of box display of Gurren Lagann.


As the Classic Selection version came out in November 2010, half a year after the launch of the Sci-fi Revoltech series, a promo pamphlet for that new product line is included.
This would never be part of the initial release back in May 2008. ^^


Front cover of the pamphlet.




The lineup shown in the pamphlet is up to No. 14 Jason Voorhees, which came out a month before this figure.


Back cover of the promo pamphlet.

A look at all of Gurren Lagann's weapons and option parts, as well as more images of the figure itself in the next posting. ^^

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