And so we reach the 4th part of our AFA ‘08 coverage. In this post, I will talk about the figures that were on display, though not all of them, and the models they hired at the particular booth, which was, anyway, about the only booth that sported models. For the previous three parts, you may go here for the coverage and feedback, look here for the coverage on booths, and here for the stage events. For an aggregate post of the blogs, in or out of the team, known to have covered AFA, you can take a look at Team Blue’s aggregate post.

Many figure manufacturer brands were represented at AFA by Toys N Toys, a local store that deals almost exclusively in such stuff. The figure display cabinets were in fact the most popular static display at the convention. Not surprising, considering there were few outside of the anime and otaku culture circle that were familiar with figures. Even those who were familiar with them, were jostling around trying to get good shots of figures that they had either no money to buy or had missed somehow. For me, keeping up-to-date on new releases months before they were out and having gone through the ups and downs of careful preorders and rash impulsive buys, the figure display cabinets were nothing more than eye candy for the soul.

Still, it was good to see them displayed out in the open, as though it were a real convention. I see potential in future events of such calibre to bring in more of such cabinets, perhaps even by the figure makers themselves. I know there were Kotobukiya personnel around, and I guess they would be much impressed by how much attention the figure cabinets kept drawing throughout the two days.

All pictures here are courtesy of Setsuna-san, AK, Wcloudxkumo and Squee.

If, like me, you have been keeping up to date with figure releases, then whatever is shown here on in will be nothing new to you. Here we go, beginning with Alter’s section.
 

Some maid Saber version in the center, a re-release, info thanks to lovelyduckie. The relatively recent release of Beat Blades Haruka’s Haruka (was it Takamori?) is also featured at right.
 

Lily Salvatana from Satsuriko no Jango eroge series at center, with Oneechanbara VorteX’s Aya at right, of whom I have. Megachu eroge makes an appearance at left, whose character I know not.
 

Few other recognizable recent releases, or relatively so at least, with Chua Churam at left from ChuXChu Idol eroge series, and Ayanami Rei from Evangelion series lying down almost beside her.

Good Smile Company up next.
 

Apparently, they are not spelt Nendoroids but Nendroids. But then again, this is Japanese we are talking about. I still prefer Nendoroids, and much was the laughter when we first saw what we considered to be a grotesque mislabeling. More on this later.
 

More little critters. Also, the Hand is now a new Nendoroid. No wait, that may actually be a 1/1 figure of the Hand from Addams Family!
 

The highly anticipated and awaited Vocaloid series Nendoroids.
 

Tachikoma from Ghost in the Shell. I have yet to catch any of that series, it is on my ever-growing backlog of things to watch. Argh.

The hilarious Max Factory display section is next. Apparently the people who put these figures in their cabinets had little knowledge of what they were doing, or felt some manufacturers had too little figures present to represent them in a separate cabinet section and stuck them with Max Factory. Still, I wonder how Shinra (a GSC figure) got in the Max Factory section…
 

Figmas. I am still not interested in them, but Max Factory’s Figmas sell like hotcakes, you cannot deny that at all.
 

Figures from various series including Idolm@ster. The Tenko Kuugen figure from Wagaya no Oinari-sama. is by FREEing, as are the three figures in the top shelf above – from left to right, Kimidori Emiri bunny and Asakura Ryoko bunny from the Melancholy of Suzumiya Haruhi, and Ryoufu Housen from Koihime Musou. Obviously, with only 4 figures present, FREEing could not be placed in a section all on its own. I will talk more about Ryoko later.
 

Oh WTF, Shinra from GSC!

And for something completely different and rare here…
 

This be, the low angler shot. I knew I had to get someone to take a picture of this when it happened. One wonders what the Kotobukiya attendant (in green) is thinking.
 

A closer look at FREEing’s Kimidori Emiri bunny.

Toys N Toys also hired some models to help them with the sales of figures. There were a total of 4 I believe, and Raven kindly helped me with a picture of three of them together, shown below.
 

The one at right does have a pretty long face but she was pretty good, though the one at left is also pretty cute in her own way, and in fact had at least two different males talking to her trying to get to know her more. You do not fool me, guys, with the pretense of trying to know her and exchanging business cards – it is a well known tactic. Not like it would work, and not like I want to try it though. Primarily because I have no namecards lol. Below is a closer look at the model at the right.
 

Not a very flattering shot but oh well. The conditions truly suck for photography.

And now, finally, the two figures that made the most impression on me. The first is Art Storm’s Limit Gunz, which is yet to be released even now. It is quite likely that the one on display was the final sample of the mass product and she will be out soon. I did not preorder her, but I know some of you did, so here are two pictures of her. The last one was thanks to TP, who provided me with the full profile picture.
 

The gun looks really nice up close, which is not shown here, unfortunately. I assure you that those who bought this figure for the gun, at least, that you are getting your monies worth.
 

And, for the figure of the event, the huge and lovely Asakura Ryoko bunny! Seriously, after seeing her in the “flesh”, I want her now. She is also seriously huge, at 1/4. This will probably be my first and last FREEing figure in a long time, assuming I can still find her.

Also, at the pre-event, Actar took a photo of her and the label in front of her was “Nendroid Ryoko”. Awesome. I would so totally buy a “Nendroid Ryoko” if it were that big and as cheap as the other “Nendroids”.
 

And that ends my short coverage on only a portion of the figures available on display. I was really not that interested in the display, though it was nice to see them all together like that. The last section of the AFA ‘08 coverage will be coming soon, split into two parts, covering what is a norm at most conventions involving anime culture – cosplay. Stay tuned.

Related posts:

1. Wonder Festival 2008 Summer Part 3 – Ze Small & Many
2. Miyazawa Models Expo 2008 Fall
3. Figures For Sale
4. Tokyo Anime Fair 2009 Figures
5. Mini Review – Asakura Ryoko Bunny