Release Date: October 2022
RRP: 18,000 yen
Bandai may effectively rule the roost when it comes to tokusatsu toys, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t other companies out there leaving that stone unturned – particularly when it comes to things Bandai themselves aren’t releasing. While the likes of Evolution Toys are doing interesting things when it comes to lesser-known heroes from the Showa era, one of the more surprising additions from the last few years was the Sentinel Choukou Senshi Changerion figure. With Sentinel perhaps best known amongst collectors for applying their talents to high-end mecha figures, I don’t think anyone saw an articulated action figure of the titular hero from the 1996 series of the same name. Or maybe even a modern Changéríon toy at all for that matter really.
Presentation is everything with a Sentinel release and that starts with the packaging, with Changerion's very much screaming "premium product". This large white box sports a glossy finish with silver foil lettering across all sides, which matches up rather nicely with Changerion's iridescent appearance. The front of the box features a close-up bust shot of the figure showing these transparent materials off in all their glory, together with "Changerion Action Figure: Super Shining Hero" written across the side. Both sides of the box sport the Changéríon logo in foil lettering, with one side also flanked by another image of the figure in Changerion's signature pose. On the back of the box you'll find even more images showing off both posing and all the accessories the figure comes with, and then inside you'll find all those things neatly stored on their moulded plastic tray. Just to further show off how premium this release is, instructions on how to use all the accessories have been printed in a glossy, colour paper booklet.
It only takes one look at this figure not only to see why it commands such a high price tag, but also why perhaps Sentinel were the best ones for the job here. Changerion is a hero renowned for his iconic (and extremely heavy) translucent "crystal power" suit, and the materials used to bring that to life on screen have been replicated here almost perfectly. Sentinel's Changerion figure is coveted in armoured parts with varying degrees of transparency - ranging from the almost completely clear helmet and torso pieces to the more opaque limb armour. The armour's iridescent look hasn't been lost either, particularly in the torso armour which has a gradient of reflective colours peering out underneath it. What isn't rendered in translucent plastic is either a suave matte black or metallic grey, making the figure just as striking as the suit itself. It isn't just the colours that are perfect either, with Sentinel also copying the moulding, detail and proportions of the suit as closely as possible. This Changerion will fit in perfectly alongside your S.H. Figuarts heroes despite some slight differences in build quality simply by merit of being made by a rival company. Not only is all the detailing on the armour present and correct, but the figure even has Changerion's infamous butt plate down perfectly as well. Even the weight of the figure feels like it mirrors the suit in some ways, as despite having some relatively light parts (namely the head and arms), others (such as the torso and legs) have a noticeable heft to them that suggest wearing a full-size one certainly wouldn't be pleasant. Whether the materials fully justify the price is another question entirely, but Sentinel definitely haven't skimped out when it comes to getting the figure look as screen-accurate as possible.
It isn't just the look of the figure that screams "high quality" either. As you would probably expect Sentinel's Changerion sports articulation that's nearly identical to an S.H. Figuarts figure (there's only so many ways you can articulate a human body after all), but the differences in how these joints are built makes the figure feel slightly different overall. Altogether Changerion features;
- Ball jointed head, neck, torso, waist and wrists
- Swivel hinge shoulders, hips and ankles
- Double hinge elbows and knees
- Bicep and thigh swivel
Certain parts of the armour have also been given additional articulation so not to hinder movement - the shoulder pads are on sliding hinge joints so can pull out and raise/lower from the arm, whilst the side pieces of the waist/"skirt" are hinged so the hips remain unrestricted. The "skirt" piece (to which the butt plate is also attached) is also a separate floating piece rather than piece attached to the main body. Tolerances seem to vary across the body - though this might be based on the weight/materials of the parts rather than quality issues. For example whereas the shoulders and hips are quite tight, the neck and torso joints feel a lot looser by comparison. The shoulders are probably something to look out for though, because on top of being quite tight the shoulder pads on top of them can be quite fiddly as well. It feels as if any area on the figure was going to break due to proper care not being taken, it would be the shoulders. Don't let that deter you in any way though, because overall the engineering of this figure is really solid and probably more articulated than the suit itself. The only noticeable restriction is that the butt plate gets in the way of the legs' backward movement, but the hips offer more than enough in forward and outward movement to make up for it.
And then just to cap it all off this release comes with just about everything you could want from a Changerion figure. In terms of accessories he comes with five additional pairs of hands (consisting of three different pairs of weapon holding hands as well as a pair of open hands and a pair of pointing hands), the Shining Blade with two swappable blade pieces, Gun Laser, Shining Claw, adapter parts to combine the Shining Blade and Gun Laser into the Scramblaser and then finally arguably the most important accessory of them all - a haddock. As strange as that last one might sound to anyone who hasn't watched the show, it's a gag in the show so infamous that not only did they name two separate episodes after it but it's also referenced in the Kamen Rider Brave: ~Let's Survive! Revival of the Beast Rider Squad!~ special. Each of the weapons have been beautifully moulded and painted to look exactly like they do on the show, all with their own clear plastic parts as well. The Gun Laser and Shining Claw both have clear plastic disc covers (though sadly no removable discs), while one of the Shining Blade blades is made from clear plastic. This can of course be swapped out with a painted gold version, meant to represent its powered-up state. Swapping between the blades is simply a case of unplugging them from the grip of the sword and replacing them accordingly, which is the same mechanism used to combine it with the Gun Laser to form the Scramblaser. Even the haddock has been given the same premium treatment, with a sharp metallic paint job to reflect the fish's reflective skin. All of the parts fit really tightly together despite being easy to swap, and all the weapons fit nicely into their designated hands. Other than the aforementioned swappable discs, there really isn't that much more you could ask for from a Changerion figure.
Getting any sort of new Changerion figure is a welcome surprise and if anyone was going to do a good job of it, it’s Sentinel. The Sentinel Choukou Senshi Changerion figure features the same high quality the company have become renowned for with their robot figures, doing that unique translucent suit justice along with great articulation and a comprehensive set of accessories. But while the materials needed to properly realise Changerion might command a higher-than-average price, whether it’s truly worth that steep 18,000 yen price tag is another question. Quality-wise it might be slightly better than an S.H. Figuarts figure, but it isn’t “well over twice the price” better. Thankfully that price isn’t something that’s stuck in the years since, and with careful scouring of the aftermarket you can pick one up for considerably less (mine for example was just 8000 yen). Given it seems unlikely Changerion will be getting any other figures any time soon, it’s pretty much a must-have for anyone who’s a fan of this weird and wonderful show.
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