Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Nendoroid Alleyne Part 1

The super cutesy side of Queen's Blade

The fourth and last Nendoroid item to be reviewed on this blog this year, after Nendoroid Petit Haruhi Summer Festival Set, Nendoroid Rinko Kobayakawa, and Nendoroid Complete File. ^^


Released in August 2011, this is Nendoroid Alleyne from FREEing. ^^ While the manufacturer wasn't Good Smile Company like most other releases in this action figure series, Alleyne wasn't the only item produced from the collaboration between the two companies. Back in 2008, close to three years after the Nendoroid series was established, FREEing released Primula's Little Big Adventure!?, the first Nendoroid figure with voice gimmick, which is also one of the most expensive releases in the series ever (7,980 Yen inclusive of tax). ^^ After that, FREEing focused exclusively on the "Queen's Blade" line, with Reina, the protogonist of the first TV series as the pilot release (August 2010), and Melona: 2P Color Ver. being the latest (June 2013 release).

Another notable collaborative project of FREEing is with Max Factory in the latter's Figma series, where all except one releases in the ex:ride special accessories line were produced by FREEing. The lone exception being Spride.05: Saber Motored Cuirassier. ^^

Despite being produced by a different company, Alleyne's overall design looks indistinguishable from the rest of the Nendoroid series. ^^ Without looking into the content at the moment, the dimension, design, images, content introduction, pretty much every single element of the packaging follow the pattern as seen on all other releases by Good Smile Company, with the only exception being the manufacturing company's logo at the bottom right corner in front of the box being FREEing and not GSC. Then again, that design consistency can be seen on other Nendoroid releases from the collaboration between Good Smile Company and other firms like Gift (Kudryavka Noumi: Winter Uniform Ver., Kana, and Haruka Minami, and others) and Phat! (Raspberyl, Ika Musume, and others). Licensing issues notwithstanding, I find having different companies contributing to the same product series to be very interesting. ^^


This is the second figure of Alleyne in my collection - the first one being the Revoltech version reviewed back in March 2011. While the same liking I have towards the character is the main reason for the purchase, the really cute design of this Nendoroid figure is a major influence as well. ^^ Since I talked about my opinion about the anime series she originated from, and the character herself back in her Revoltech review, I won't reiterate it here, but one particular point I would like to mentioned about Alleyne in Nendoroid format: since the ero factor as seen on her Revoltech version isn't "inherited" by this figure, you can expect a more complete review of her. XD


The 'a' behind the product number refers to the 1P (original) color version of this figure. Type-b, obviously the 2P color version was released in September 2011 as a Hobby Channel limited item.
Each of the Nendoroid Queen's Blade releases has a 2P color version. ^^








The figures and most of her accessories can be seen through the front window of the box.





Images on all sides of the box.



Introduction of the figure on the back of the box.





Comparison with the box of Cattleya, another Nendoroid Queen's Blade figure that I have. ^^


Box open.


Text-based cautionary information about the figure's magnet part printed on one of box's ears that is mighty "useful" to international customers. ^^;


Front view of the content.


With the tray cover removed.









A look at the figure and all her accessories on the tray.


Rear view of the content.







Closeups on the details.



A light khaki background with dark khaki text for Alleyne.



Straight-out-of-box Nendoroid Alleyne.
Still with tons of plastic wrappers attached, the figure won't be able to stand at all without the display base support. ^^;


The option arms have plastic wrappers between the wrist and hand units as well.


Three parts for the standard Nendoroid display base.


(Left) Copyright information printed on the display base.
(Right) The completed base. ^^


Unlike most other Nendoroid figures, the connector piece attaches to just one of Alleyne's legs, not both. This feature actually caters to the design of Alleyne's option legs (to be shown in the next posting).


Supported using the display base, Alleyne can now be shown in a standing pose. ^^

More images of Alleyne and introduction of all her accessories coming in the next posting. ^^

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