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Plex has revealed a new figure set featuring Yajirobe and Karin from the Dragon Ball franchise. The company has also opened pre-orders for the figures, which will be part of the Dragon Ball Arise lineup, on the Japanese Bandai website. [Thanks, Dengeki Hobby Web!]

The package will contain two separate PVC figures that have also been pre-painted. Karin's figure will have an overall height of around 8 cm (~3.15 in), while the bigger Yajirobe's figure will stand at around 23 cm (~9.05 in) tall. The latter will also have a one-star Dragon Ball hanging around his neck.

The figure set will be available in May 2025 with an MSRP of 27,500 yen (~$183.55). Even though the Bandai website has been infamous for its regional blocks, the Japanese press release has indicated that there is a possibility for the set to be formally sold outside Japan as well.

There has been a variety of new Dragon Ball merchandise appearing in Japan. On the 2024 Christmas Day, Banpresto released an ultra-long plush of Shenron from Dragon Ball Super in crane games across Japan's amusement centers.

The Dragon Ball Arise figure set featuring Yajirobe and Karin will be available in Japan in May 2025. Plex will close the pre-order window for the figures on Bandai on March 6, 2025.

The post Dragon Ball Arise Figure Set Features Yajirobe and Karin appeared first on Siliconera.

Plex revealed a real-life Kirby Star Rod that will feature playable audio tracks. The new toy product, named the Kirby Sound Star Rod, will be available via the Japanese Bandai store in late January 2025 at 4,180 yen (~$26.75). [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

The package will come with a star block stand where the owner can store the rod. The back side of the rod will host all of the toy's mechanisms from the power switch to the audio speaker.

When the owner turns on the toy, it will start playing the Star Rod's sound effects. They can also swing the rod to make the star emit light. When they press the small star button, they can also make the rod play "Green Greens" or "Kirby Dance."

Here are some of the sample images for the new product:

There have been many kinds of Kirby-themed merchandise appearing in Japan in recent months. Chopstick holders modeled after mini-scaled Kirby and Waddle Dee appeared in late 2024. Heinz also released Kirby-branded tomato ketchup pouches around the same period.

The Kirby Sound Star Rod will be available on January 25, 2025.

The post This Kirby Star Rod Can Play Sound Tracks appeared first on Siliconera.

Plex has revealed a new figure of the Type-3 Kiryu Mechagodzilla adorned with the Evangelion Unit-01 colors. The company has also opened pre-orders for the figure on the Japanese Bandai web store. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

The figure's official name will be "Toei Great Kaiju Series - Type-3 Kiryu (2002) Heavy Armament Type, EVA Unit-01 Color." It will be available with a price tag of 30,800 yen (~$203). The figure will have an overall height of around 29 cm (11.42 in) and a length of 36 cm (14.17 in).

Plex did not mention whether the figure would have any movable parts. Instead, it confirmed a focus on the lighting gimmicks. The figure's package will come with a power supply unit to light up the yellow eyes. In addition, the owner will be able to use a blacklight/ultraviolet flashlight to make the green parts glow with fluorescent effects in the dark.

Here are some of the sample images showing the figure from various angles, along with its dimensions and lighting gimmicks:

Plex has also confirmed that this new figure will be part of the Godzilla VS Evangelion crossover project. Earlier in May 2024, Bandai revealed an Evangelion Unit-01 Burning G Awakening Form figure, which shows Shinji's unit getting fused with the Godzilla.

The Toei Kaiju figure of the 2002 Type-3 Kiryu with Heavy Armaments and Evangelion Unit-01 colors will be available in February 2025.

The post Mechagodzilla Kiryu Will Appear In Evangelion Unit-01 Colors appeared first on Siliconera.

Bandai Namco's subsidiary Plex has opened pre-orders for new sets of paper art puzzles that feature the Zaku II mobile suits from the first Gundam anime show. People who reside in Japan can place their orders on the Japanese Bandai web store. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

The puzzle sets will be available in two versions: The regular mass-produced MS-06F Zaku II and the MS-06S commander variant painted in Char Aznable's custom color. Both sets will have the same price tag of 4,800 yen (~$30.55). Each package will come with an instruction manual and four paper sheets containing the puzzle parts.

Each version will also have a different pose and total height. The regular Zaku II will have an overall height of 125mm (~4.92 in) and come with a bazooka. Meanwhile, the Char custom variant will be around 133mm (~5.24 in) tall while including a machine gun.

Here are some of the sample images for each set, including their full dimensions in millimeters:

The Gundam franchise has been most famous for its plastic-based Gunpla model kits, but Plex has also been releasing sets that use other materials. In late 2023, the same company revealed a ki-gu-mi craft puzzle set based on the RX-78-2 Gundam that utilizes bamboo in lieu of plastic.

The Paper Art si-gu-mi Pro puzzle sets based on the Zaku II units from Mobile Suit Gundam will be available in late July 2024.

The post New Gundam Paper Art Puzzles Will Feature the Zaku II appeared first on Siliconera.

Plex will release a limited edition Deforeal figure of Awakened Evangelion Unit-01G. This is an original figure born from the question “What if we put Godzilla cells into the Evangelion Unit-01?” Pre-orders started from July 11, 2023, and it costs 15,400 JPY ($109.60). It’s about 17 centimeters in height. [Thanks, Hobby Watch!]

The spines on its back, as well as other green parts, use luminescent paint. So if you shine a black light on it in the dark, you’ll be able to make them glow. The figure also comes with a power unit that you can use to make both its eyes and chest core light up. While you can display the Awakened Evangelion Unit-01G Deforeal figure anywhere, these features make it stand out more in a dark room.

Since it’s a Deforeal figure, it’s got the proportions of a chibi character. Half of the Evangelion Unit-01’s large head looks like Godzilla’s, complete with sharper teeth than usual. It also has a tail, and fluorescent spines that the original mech lacks.

Here are some more pictures of the Awakened Evangelion Unit-01G figure:

[gallery columns="6" ids="972452,972453,972454,972455,972456,972457" link="file"]

This is not the first time that a company released a figure of the Unit-01 but merged with something else. For example, Fujimi Mokei released figures of beetles that have the same color schemes as the Unit-01 and Unit-02. The same company also released a velociraptor model with the Evangelion Unit-01 colors.

The Evangelion Godzilla figure is available for pre-order and will come out some time in October 2023. It’s available via Bandai, which does not offer international shipping. However, due to its popularity, there's the chance it'll sell out early.

The post Plex Releases Figure Combining Evangelion With Godzilla appeared first on Siliconera.

A new Dragon Ball Bulma figure is on the way, and this one is part of the Plex “Gigantic” series of merchandise. This means she’ll be a bit on the larger side. Specifically, she’ll stand at 38 centimeters, which is just under 15 inches, tall. She’ll head to Japan in March 2023.

Here’s the official Bandai announcement showing her off. She costs 18,700円 (~$127). Pre-orders for her are only open on the Japanese version of the site as of November 4, 2022.

全高約38cm！
『ドラゴンボール』より「ブルマ」がギガンティックシリーズに登場☆

ドラゴンレーダー片手に自信満々の表情で立体化♪
初登場時の衣装や髪形、小物等もリアルに再現しています！#ドラゴンボール #dragonball

https://t.co/FNTMySESE8 pic.twitter.com/4tAqYuB1z9

— プレミアムバンダイ 【公式】 (@p_bandai) November 4, 2022

Here's a photo showing a person holding Bulma. It's designed to offer more context, so someone can see exactly how large she will be.

And this is how the figure will look from different angles. She is wearing the same outfit she does in the original Dragon Ball manga and anime adaptation.

[gallery link="file" ids="939131,939132,939133"]

While there's no confirmation as to whether this figure will be easily accessible abroad, figures and models inspired by the series often appear worldwide. For example, Bandai Namco sells them through Bandai. There are also exclusive variants at events outside Japan, like SDCC 2022.

The Dragon Ball Gigantic Bulma figure will appear in Japan in March 2023. Pre-orders are open through Bandai now. There's no worldwide release confirmation for it yet.

The post Dragon Ball ‘Gigantic’ Series Bulma Figure is Over a Foot Tall appeared first on Siliconera.