Friday 25 October 2013

Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kiba Ranger

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

I don't think there has been any S.H. Figuart I've been more excited for than this one (well, maybe Oh Red/Zeo Ranger V, but who knows when that will get made). Our final Akibaranger-related Super Sentai is a lot of things - a sixth hero, a Tamashii Web Exclusive and the first child hero in the franchise. Sentai fans will know him as Kou of Howling New Star aka Kiba Ranger from Gosei Sentai Dairanger, but more many he will always be Tommy Oliver the White Ranger from Mighty Morphin' Power Ranger. Regardless of who the character is to you it's the same figure, so here's the review!

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web ExclusiveSH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

In what is perhaps become a trend for future Tamashii Web Exclusive releases, Kiba Ranger is the first Super Sentai figure (excluding villains) to feature windowless packaging. While the front is a rather plain box with a picture of the figure, gold lettering and appropriate logos, the back naturally features a similar aesthetic to the previously released Ryu Ranger. The grey background features a rather nice tiger print, and the Akibaranger image isn't obtrusive from the rest of the design. Since there's no window the box does feature some rather nice spine images, and the figure is inside on a single plastic tray.

Meanwhile Bluefin's White Ranger release features standard window packaging more akin to what they've been doing with the other Mighty Morphin Power Rangers releases. You can see pics of that packaging HERE.

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web ExclusiveSH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

So here we have it - one of the most iconic Super Sentai designs on a worldwide scale. It's pretty impressive that despite being a Dairanger character the Kiba Ranger suit goes well enough with the Zyuranger suits for kids not to notice (as an adult it's a little more obvious). But enough nostalgia, let's talk about the figure itself! True to Kou's appearance in the show, Kiba Ranger is a slightly shorter than the usual Super Sentai body. Rather than be flat white, the figure has a really nice pearly white finish, which shines nicely against the matte black and gold accents on the suit.

Rather than have the shoulder articulation limited, the shoulder pads are both hinged and can be lifted up to accommodate any raised arm poses. While the broken shoulder pad look is technically inaccurate to the actual suit, it's far preferable to having the shoulders be able to do very little despite being capable of plenty. The usual array of Figuart articulation is all present and correct, including double jointed knees/elbows, swing-down hips, hinged toes and a ball-jointed neck, wrists and ankles.

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web ExclusiveSH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai White Ranger Power Rangers Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

Unfortunately, accessory count is where this guy really disappoints. In grand total we have four alternate hands, Byakkoshinken (or Sabba to Power Rangers fans) with an alternate extended blade and (if you're buying the Japanese release) an Akibaranger accessory. That's it. Initial disappointment aside, Byakkoshinken is really well detailed, and can be stored in the holster by taking apart the sword (as if you were changing the blades), and then slipping the pieces into it before reconnecting.

While admittedly there isn't a whole lot accessory-wise that Kiba Ranger could have come with, its the hands that are the biggest problem with this release. The two additional hands aren't identical (the right is a gripping hand that the left is splayed open) so Kou can't even hold the sword in either hand. Not to mention that there is PLENTY of potential for great hands with the character. He can't pull off the roll call pose, there's no cocky pointing hands, not even any hilarious groping hands. Considering the amount the other recently released Super Sentai figures have been coming with, this really feels like a half-hearted attempt. Of course you COULD use some of the other Super Sentai hands as a substitute, but thanks to the pearly finish they aren't going to be a perfect match either.

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

SH Figuarts White Ranger Power Rangers Tommy Bandai Tamashii Web ExclusiveSH Figuarts White Ranger Power Rangers Tommy Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

As you can see, Kiba Ranger fits comfortably in both a Dairanger and Power Rangers display. Though there is a bit of height discrepancy to keep the figure accurate to the character's appearance in Dairanger, this is easy to hide among the slightly taller Zyuranger figures with a bit of posing trickery. I'm sure many people will want to display the Green and White Rangers together, so you'll be pleased to know they look pretty spiffy side by side.

Of course if you've bought the Japanese release of the figure then you also have an added bonus in the form of an Akibaranger accessory - an Akibaranger logo badge for the chest to turn the character into (A)Kiba Ranger, the additional hero from Gosei Sentai Akibaranger who never saw fame thanks to the show's premature cancellation. Changing over the emblems may seem like an impossibly difficult thing to do at first because there isn't any space to pry them out, but its actually pretty simple. All you need to do is press down on the right-hand side (the figure's left) and the piece should just pop out with ease.

SH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai Akibaranger Bandai Tamashii Web ExclusiveSH Figuarts Kiba Ranger Dairanger Super Sentai Akibaranger Bandai Tamashii Web Exclusive

The White Ranger is my childhood hero, and this S.H. Figuarts release certainly does the character justice. The sculpt is superb, the pearly white finish lovely and the "shield" implemented in a nice way that it's actually part of the figure and not done like the Green Ranger shield. However simply because of the horrific accessory count, I refuse to call Kiba Ranger a perfect release. They could have easily thrown a few more hands in with this guy, and foreign buyers are clearly going to be getting a lot less while paying more (unless you in the US and buying the Bluefin release, but then no Akiba piece for you!). Make no mistake this is a wonderful figure and absolutely deserving of being in anyone's Super Sentai and Power Rangers collection, but with how good Sentai Figuarts lately I have to draw the line on perfection somewhere.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

It'd be awesome if they would do movie versions. I've been wanting to see detailed action figures with those suits since seeing the film when I was little! lol