Our gallery is now live for the first release in the Shuriken Sentai Ninninger Ninnin Action series – #01 Aka Ninger!
This year’s Ninnin Action line is a bit of a line-drawer in the sense that unlike previous years, Bandai Japan is now using the same 5″ figures that Bandai of America has been using the last few years – the super muscular bodies that cause havoc when trying to pose the figures accurately to their actions in the actual show. So how did they do in their first run? Are there any differences that we can tell between these figures and the Bandai of America 5″ figures that you can buy at retail right now? Are the accessories the same unpainted soft plastic that we get on this side of the Pacific Ocean?
Check out the full gallery and review by clicking here and find out. We’ll also let you know whether or not these are worth picking up. But at least now they match your Power Rangers figures, right?
As collectors know all too well, each year whether it be for Kamen Rider or for Super Sentai, there is always an "affordable" line meant for kids which runs separately from the more adult collector line of the S.H. Figuarts. Usually these are also referred to as the "gimmick line", such as ToQGer's number swapping feature on the figures or the Arms Change feature on the Kamen Rider Gaim figures.
This year, Bandai Japan decided to do something a little different. Either they decided to decrease their spending by simply using some tooling already available or this is a new joint venture with Bandai of America in cost-sharing for figures, because ta-da! This year's "affordable" or "gimmick" line for Shuriken Sentai Ninninger is none other than the 5" figures from Bandai of America's line of Power Rangers figures.
That's right ladies and gentlemen, your favorite Super Sentai heroes are buffed out to the max and ready to be the most muscular heroes in existence! And nothing says ninja like giant muscles and an inability to stand upright without falling over because your muscles are THAT HUGE!
So without making you wait any longer - let's look at the first release in the Ninnin Action line, #01 Aka Ninger!
The Figure
For starters let's look at the articulation. You have a neck swivel, the typical arm joint allowing forward, side, and upward movement, forearm swivels (you know, that part of your arm that's connected to your wrist but doesn't move unless you're an action figure), the typical leg joint that allows forward, backward, and side movement, knee joints, and a swivel directly below the knee to allow the entire boot to move. So the standard Bandai of America patented 15 points of articulation.
The paint on this figure is nice - but it's also standard. There's not a lot of things to paint. You do have a red shuriken on the figure's left side of his belt, and a black one on his right side. The sash with the Ninninger symbol looks great and is painted spot-on. It continues on to the leg and can match up rather well with the chest.
The figure has some issues with raising his arms because of his upper suit - it doesn't allow for the arms to go straight up. Instead, they catch on the suit and you are forced to angle the arms when they are raised. No cool straight-up posing with the sword on this run of figures.
The Accessories
And here's where we fall in to the trap of Bandai of America quality. For starters, you get the Ninja Ichibantou, the Gamagama Gun, and the Karakuri Hengen weapon in its dagger/sword form. The accessories are of the crappy soft-plastic quality meaning they bend easily. They are also solid black with no paint applications what-so-ever on them.
The disappointing accessory has to be the Karakuri Hengen. The way they've molded it gives it a handle for the figure to hang on to, but it doesn't sit well within the hand (it flops around easily) and it isn't molded in the direction of the weapon, causing you to have to move the forearm swivel to get it to look right and then pray to whatever deity you believe in that it doesn't fall off the figure's hand.
The Ninja Ichibantou and Gamagama Gun, as well as the Karakuri Hengen, are all molded very nice and look great - it's just a shame they aren't painted.
The Final Verdict
Honestly, the best reason I can give you to grab these figures is if you're a fan of Shuriken Sentai Ninninger and you're uncertain on whether or not Tamashii Nations will release S.H. Figuarts of these characters, then this is a pretty decent pick-up at a price that will cost you more to ship than to buy. Otherwise, the only reason you would want to pick these up is if you'd like a nice head-start on whatever season of Power Rangers this will inevitably become. The overall feel and quality of these figures is pretty much 100% equal to that of the Power Rangers Dino Charge figures you can buy at any local retailer right now.
It's like looking into the future...
It still really disappoints me that they're using the BOA base body. For what it is I guess it's fine but at least the older gimmick figures were the right scale with figuarts for the most part. These things only work with a power Rangers collection, which kind of puts them out of the realm of interest for me.
The sash looks great and that's the only thing positive I can say about the figure itself
I love the simple packaging though! After the MA-HOO-SIVE SMF bubbles, I like this stream-lined approach.
It's too bad that this is essentially just a BOA figure. While it is just part of the gimmick line, it's still unfortunate to see the drop in quality from BOJ's usual standards.
I thought people liked the action hero line? I'm quite excited to get it and hope they release Starninger.
Well at least they get better high end collectibles than we do.
Why is it BOA buff? I don't even...
I want one. I want one badly.
Keep reading: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger - Ninnin Action 01 - Aka Ninger Gallery - Page 2
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