It has been around two years since Tamashii Nations released the S.H.Figuarts Kira Yamato from Gundam SEED Freedom as a Premium Bandai exclusive. Now that the company has likely maximized its sales through the P-Bandai release, Bandai appears to be shifting gears as part of its broader Gundam SEED product campaign by bringing the franchise's protagonists to the regular retail lineup. Leading the charge is arguably the series' most popular character, Kira Yamato, in his Gundam SEED Destiny appearance. Scheduled for release in December 2026, the S.H.Figuarts Kira Yamato (Gundam SEED Destiny Ver.) will be sold for 9,000 yen.
This figure is unmistakably based on Kira's Gundam SEED Destiny design, featuring the distinctive pink trim on his ZAFT pilot suit. It includes many of the same accessories as the SEED Freedom version, such as his handgun and pilot helmet. Interestingly, it also comes with a bruised face expression, seemingly referencing the scene where Athrun punches Kira. This could be a subtle hint that S.H.Figuarts versions of Athrun Zala and Shinn Asuka may eventually join the lineup.
As with previous releases, the biggest appeal of S.H.Figuarts Kira Yamato is displaying him alongside the Strike Freedom Gundam. Considering how popular the mobile suit is, many collectors will likely already own one or more Strike Freedom model kits or figures to pair with him.
Personally, I find Kira's Gundam SEED Destiny design far more iconic than his SEED Freedom look. While the updated costume is not bad, its overall aesthetic never quite clicked with me. That said, I am still curious whether Tamashii Nations will eventually release Kira's original Gundam SEED version in the S.H.Figuarts line, especially since a prototype has been shown for quite some time without any official announcement.
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