Revisiting Shingeki no Kyojin theme

 Recently I have been watching some Gnostic documentary series and there are some interesting Ideas that I came across which resonated with Shingeki no Kyojin core themes. Attack on Titan is no doubt one of the most popular manga in the present and I believe I found one of the good reasons why this series manage to reach its mainstream popularity.

Some popular Japanese pop culture works can be immensely successful in Japan, but home country advantage does not always translate into worldwide success. But Shingeki no Kyojin have something special that enables it to reach its stardom and, in this regard, it shares some similarities with Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Transformers x Macross 7 Takara Tomy Basara Prime

 Not stopping after Diaclone x Zoids collab, Takara make another kickass Transformers crossover product and it is collaboration product with Macross 7! Out of this collaboration we got ourselves Optimus Prime hybrid with VF-19 Kai Fire Bomber dubbed Basara Prime. Scheduled for March 2026 release, Takara's Basara Prime will be sold for 20000 Yen.

Vocaloid Soskill Snow Miku - Frostbite

 

 A really cool Vocaloid product by Chinese manufacturers that is even eyecatching than Blokees Hatsune Miku! Created by the same Manufacturer that made B-Duck Mechas, Soskill present their Snow Miku model kit and this is no ordinary one! Dubbed as Frostbite, Soskill Snow Miku is scheduled for Q3 2025 release with 199 RMB.

JAKI Fruity Robo Brick Model

The recent Fruity Robo model kit did caught my attention and obviously I take a deep look when there are existing substitute! The Model kit lineup is currently on the 4th Fruity Robo. however apparently there is a licensed Brick Model series made by JAKI models which have complete set of 6 Variants.

Compared to the Model Kit lineup, JAKI Fruity Robo Brick Model are sold for 85 RMB SRP but apparently you can get it for Half on wholesale from certain Chinese sellers. For a 15% cheaper SRP compared to the Model Kit, JAKI Fruity Robo Brick Model offer available Complete set for any collectors who doesn't wish to wait Yilichuangwan to complete the run with the lack of combination gimmick as trade-off . So far Yilichuangwan still need to make two more Fruity Robo which is the Purple and the Pink mecha and I am willing to patiently wait so that I can obtain Fruity Wargod. If things went smoothly, Yilichuangwan will probably complete their Fruity Robo production within 6 months.

Honkai Star Rail x Fate Collab

 This has to be one of most highlighted event in Gacha game industry since Mihoyo's announcement last year and Fate collab event for Honkai Star Rail is here! In the celebration of the event landing, I am writing this post to pay a homage to the milestones achieved by Fate series. Personally, I am not particularly fond of Mihoyo due to their treatment on Genshin Impact but it is certainly a noteworthy achievement to score a collab with Japanese IP on the level of Fate/Stay Night considering the latter are very well known to be elusive in scoring a collab. Through the Fate x HSR collab event, we got ourselves Saber Artoria and Archer Emiya as playable characters in Honkai Star Rail. Saber Artoria is available as SSR character whereas Mihoyo is generous enough to make Emiya as welfare character.

 

Because my mistrust toward Mihoyo, I will never bother to install Honkai Star Rail for Fate collab. However as Type Moon series fans, this Fate collab event gives out the glimpse what Fate/Grand Order would look like if it got long due makeover treatment which didn't happen due to Sony and Aniplex greed to constantly milk FGO without allocating proper resources to get QoL Updates. Mihoyo probably spent a sum for this collab stunt around the anniversary period of FGO and try to show that Chinese developer does have what it takes to properly make use Popular Japanese IP like Fate instead of relying on Japanese constantly aging talent pool. I do hope Lasengle will learn something from this particular move by Mihoyo to strive on giving better experience with FGO. 

Fission Craftsman Soul 1/100 Yanmie Review

 
 Finally releasing the review for the last Chinese Diecast Modelkit that I built early of this year and compared to Bailu or Oracle, I don't really have much good things to see on Yanmie. Fission Craftsman Yanmie is supposed to be a heavy firepower Mecha but the aesthetics feels to be hodgepodge. On the surface, Yanmie looks aesthetically pleasing enough. But upon closer look, I do feel that it is quite an incomplete work that are shelved out prematurely for some reasons by manufacturers.

 In short, Yanmie is a medium build Mecha that tried to fill in the purpose of Heavy Duty mecha like Gundam Virtue which in turn does not translate perfectly due to being unfinished design in my opinion. The only thing noteworthy from Yanmie is its Backpack that can turn into mobile weapon platform but otherwise it is a subpar design overall. If you have the choice between Bailu, Oracle and Yanmie, Yanmie will be your least priority.

Fate/Stay Night 1/7 Saber Artoria - Garden of Avalon -

 
 By this time, there are tons of quality PVC Figure for the Eternal Heroine of Fate series, but this is another great new addition for Saber Artoria! Released by Goodsmile Company, this one is 1/7 Scale featuring Saber in her servant form without her combat armor in sitting down position and dubbed Garden of Avalon. Scheduled for August 2026 release this 1/7 Saber Artoria - Garden of Avalon will be sold for 23000 Yen price tag.

 Most Saber Artoria PVC Figure usually have Stoic face expression in her combat getup, but this one is unusually very serene. Artoria's untied hair and the veil really amplify the particular pure maiden quality that Artoria possess. On top of that, this is one of the few Saber PVC Figure that use Calibarn for Artoria's sword instead of the usual Excalibur. For 1/7 Scale figure standard, 1/7 Saber Artoria Garden of Avalon is not exactly too expensive and definitely a worthy addition whether for Seiba's Enthusiasts who still desire new addition for their Collection or a casual Fate Fans looking for their first PVC figure Candidate for this eternal heroine.

Uma Musume Pretty Derby Global Server - Starter Quick Guide

Even after pledging myself not to touch Uma Musume anymore, turns out curiosity got the best of me! As Uma Musume feed kept flooding into my personal Social Media, I decided to wear my Torena badge once again and give Uma Musume Global version a try. Turns out I still have what it takes to be an Uma Musume Trainer!

Long story short, I picked Oguri Cap as my starter Uma Musume and managed to clear URA Finals within 2 Runs with subpar Support Deck. Back then It took me about 10+ runs just to clear URA, probably due to language limitation but the muscle memory really does carry over which let me to breeze through the game and even clear Urara route in 1 try.

Given the gameplay nature of Uma Musume which will present immense roadblock unless the player understands the rules to properly to raise Uma Musume, I am making a quick short guide to help new players acclimated to Uma Musume in the best and efficient manner. Therefore In this Article, I will try to provide an advice for some Fundamentals of Uma Musume core gameplay along with SSR Char and Support card to look after as Uma Musume JP server player for one year.

Joytoy 1/25 APOC series Storm Tempestus Fire Support

 
 From time to time Joytoy make some 1/25 Titanfall-esque mecha when they not making some 40k Action figure and now it is the turn! This time is slightly different as Joytoy dubbed new lineup Called APOC series which feature more modular Mecha design compared to their previous 1/25 mecha. Scheduled for September 2025, this APOC Mecha series are sold for 60 USD Price tag.

Transformers Age of the Primes Titan Class Star Optimus Prime

 
 Usually Hasbro Transformers related stuff is out of my radar but this one certainly caught my attention. This one is apparently released as part of Age of Primes lineup which I will dig up later. Dubbed as Star Optimus Prime, this is one appears as one of the larger Optimus Prime variant available for collectors that still come with transformations gimmick and a cool one with that. Apparently open for preorder last year, Age of Prime Star Optimus Prime is available for 150 USD SRP.

Around Thirty OL Haman-sama

 
 One of the Gundam manga spin-off series that I decided to give a read recently after frequently appearing in my social media feed. Around Thirty OL(Office Lady) Haman-sama is a Slice of Life manga with a dash of Romcom featuring Haman Karn from Gundam series as main character. In this manga, Haman Karn lived in a peaceful modern life setting as a prominent corporate executive in Apparel industry with many casts from Zeta/ZZ Gundam serving as characters in this manga. 

Through this manga, you will see the Universal Century gundam casts living a peaceful life instead of facing the tragedy in the conflicts of their original timeline. OL Haman-Sama is certainly something that a Gundam fans will appreciate as the recurring joke of this series will require some knowledge of the original series that this manga based on especially Zeta/ZZ Gundam. My favorite part in this manga is Haman's interaction with Char which still Love-Hate relationship with Char depicted as Haman's Ex who still actively present in her life and perhaps it will have some kind of proper closure which I look forward to unlike the original series. If you are a Universal Century gundam fans, Around Thirty OL Haman-Sama is certainly a recommendation for more wholesome experince from Gundam series.

Dungeon Meshi Figma Senshi

 
 It has been almost one year has passed since the Dungeon Meshi Figma lineup began and the whole circle is completed within this year as the last of Laios Party member, Senshi made it as Figma! The hearty Dwarf Chef, Senshi made it as the Dungeon Meshi Figma released after Laios, Marcille and Chilchuck got their turn. Scheduled for April 2026 release, Figma Senshi will be sold for 15800 Yen Price tag.

 Compared to other Dungeon Meshi Figma, Senshi appears to be the most expensive for some reason. Probably it is a mix of Accessory size and unusual Figma Body type mold. For the accessory, Figma Senshi come with his Battle Axe, cooking Pot and Knife which makes him perfect for combat and cooking pose. In Dungeon Meshi, Senshi is definitely one of the primary reasons for Laios Party able to survive long in the labyrinth with minimum Provisions as Senshi's cooking skill combined with Laios extensive monster knowledge enable the party to survive many perilous situation. With Senshi's release, Dungeon Meshi figma is pretty much finished but the series could go abit longer along with the hype of 2nd Cour as Farlin, Shuro and Izutsumi are some of the prime candidates to join the Figma. Even Izutsumi got some revoltech release announcement not too long ago.

SEMBO Blocks Type 99 Tank Mecha Brick Model Review

 Another Sembo 30 cm Review and this time it is for Type 99 MBT of the 30cm Mecha Brick Model series. By far, this gotta be the best specimen among Sembo's 30 cm Military Vehicle mecha considering MBT have overall easier time to be made as robust mecha toy. At first I would expect a Frontline heavy suppression type out of a tank Mecha, but Sembo Type-99 is actually a Fire Support type with High Caliber Sniper rifle. Out of the 4 Models of Sembo's 30 cm Mecha, Type 99 is easily the best pick being a robust model and decent gimmick. Just like J-20, this one also comes with the brick model for the vehicle.

Overall I am very pleased with Sembo Type-99 and time will tell if I will get the Battleship and Space vessel in the future.

Eddas Technology 1/100 Valkyrie

 
 After the heavy gunner mecha Asgard early this year, Eddas Technology followed up with another Diecast Frame Model kit! This time it is a close combat monster dubbed Valkyrie which is armed to the teeth with Blades. Scheduled for Q3 2025 release, Eddas Technology 1/100 Valkyrie will be sold for 188 RMB.

Da Capo 1/7 Shirakawa Kotori

 Da Capo maybe a very popular VN series in its heyday to the extent having 2 Full Season anime and the Glory day series has long gone just like many of its popular peers. But even so, Kotobukiya did a nice thing to bring back pleasant memory for this classic VN series by releasing a Scale Figure for Da Capo popular School Idol, Kotori Shirakawa. Released in 1/7 Scale, Kotobukiya's Kotori Shirakawa will be scheduled for December 2025 release with 21000 Yen price tag.

 For those who are not familiar with Da Capo, it is one of the popular early 2000s Slice of Life VN series that are on par with series like Clannad, Shuffle, To Heart and many others. While I didn't get into Da Capo series for many reasons, I did read the manga and did develop a liking toward this particular Kotori during my secondary school years. Da Capo series also have some very nice Anime songs particularly Coorie's Sonzai which is still Top tier for me.

Kotori is easily the best waifu from the first Da Capo series despite Nemu Asakura being the main heroine, possibly surpassing the latter in Popularity. Kotobukiya do make the correct choice by making Kotori as the first pick to celebrate Da Capo series anniversary. Despite it is unfortunate that Kotori didn't win in the Da Capo main timeline, players could always pick Kotori as the main heroine in the VN and her Granddaughter is also available as main heroine in Da Capo 2nd VN who inherits her singing talent. In fact, perhaps I might give Da Capo VN series a try someday just for her route.