Toybox REVIEW: S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Vram Pudding Custom

Release Date: August 2025

RRP: 8800 yen

While we certainly don't get as many alternate forms from a Kamen Rider series as we used to in the S.H. Figuarts line (and even less as retail releases), Bandai Tamashii Nations still do a good job at least at making sure all the Riders featured in the most recent shows are represented. Kamen Rider Gavv may have reached its conclusion onscreen but there's still plenty to look forward to in regards to figures, with S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Vram Pudding Custom releasing hot on the heels of Kamen Rider Valen. Both the third release and third character to appear in the Gavv range, like Valen before him Vram is also a Tamashii web exclusive release.

S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Vram Pudding Custom comes in packaging the aligns nicely with the other Kamen Rider Gavv releases - carrying over the white base colour but adding orange and yellow into the mix to give it that appropriate caramel pudding flavour. The front of the box features a nice big posed image of the figure, alongside the character name in big lettering and Vram's unique helmet logo beside it. One side of the box simply features the character name again (sans the logo) in big bold lettering, whilst the other combines slightly smaller lettering with a full body shot of the figure. On the back of the box you'll find the usual array of images showing the figure off in various poses, and then inside both the figure and accessories are neatly stored on a moulded plastic tray. Instructions for how to use and switch the alternate parts are printed on an inside flap of the box. 

As far as Kamen Rider motifs go Gavv's sweets theme is pretty out there, and all of the suits in the show really go all in on incorporating their particular confectionary into the design. Vram's in particular is done in such a way that on first glance you could miss it, but once you see all those bright yellow and orange pudding shapes littered across the suit you won't see anything but. His helmet sculpt is particularly great, the crowning achievement of course being those pudding-shaped antennae on either side. But the shape of the helmet also feels really befitting of a villain (kinda)-turned-hero Rider, because while it doesn't look outright villainous the more angular shapes don't feel quite friendly as Gavv's or Valen. The compound eyes in particular feel quite hornet-esque due to their colouring. The bright colours stand out really well on the black and silver under suit, which is of a similar design to Gavv's but not identical. All the different aspects of the suit come together well to make a really coherent design - one that's just as overt in its theme as any of the other Gavv Riders, but done so in a way that might make it appealing to those not as sold on the motif.

However it's the Vrastumgear that arguably has the best detailing of all, with that molten-looking pudding in the central unit (the "Tasteylinder") peeking out from behind a pane of clear plastic. The metallic colours used here are sublime too - both the blue working together with the yellow/orange and the purple colouring of the belt itself. Though the doors look as though they might be moveable because they have hinges moulded into them, they are in fact moulded into place and any force could easily snap them so be careful. The Vrastumgear however does sport a moveable lever ("Fallternator") on the side and a removable Pudding Gochizo. Like the ones included with Gavv and Valen's transformation devices the details on the Gochizo are incredibly simplified - it's moulded in clear plastic with some yellow colouring on the underside. The opposite side of that yellow disc is orange though, which reflects into the clear plastic above for a pretty cool effect.

Poseability matches what we've previously seen in the Gavv range, which shouldn't come as a big surprise since all three Riders share the shame engineering. Altogether Vram features;

- Ball jointed head, neck, torso, waist and wrists

- Swivel hinge shoulders and ankles

- Butterfly joint shoulders

- Double hinge elbows and knees

- Drop-down ball joint hips

- Single hinge toe sections

- Bicep and thigh swivels

Looking at the suit design you're probably thinking that those pudding-shaped vest straps have some impact on both the head and shoulder articulation, and while that isn't wrong it isn't quite as impactful as you might think. The head will push up against them if you tilt the neck too much, but there's still enough movement there to get Vram's signature nonchalant head-tilt poses down without a hitch. Similar the straps only really interfere with the butterfly joint shoulders if you're really trying to push them towards the centre, at which case you're coming to the limited of what Figuarts are doing anyway. The rest of the figure however is exactly the quality one should expect from the line - particularly the lower half which impresses with its combination of drop down hips, thigh swivels, double hinge knees and superb ankle tilts.

Vram includes a fairly standard array of accessories, but they cover everything the figure needs along with some gimmick action thrown in for good measure. In the box are four additional pairs of hands, the Vrambreaker and an extended "Break String" lever for use with the weapon in bow mode. No extra Gavv accessories are included here, but with Valen having the Gavvgablade bundled in with him there isn't really anything else essential missing. Vram's hand selection includes closed fists, two pairs of open hands and then two pairs of accessory holding hands (one pair for holding the Vrambreaker, and the other for holding the Break String) - meaning the figure can comfortably hold the weapon both left and right-handed. Much like the Vrastrumgear, the Vrambreaker is beautifully detailed with vibrant blue, yellow and metallic orange paint. It's a bit of a colour clash, but works so well with Vram's loud colour scheme. The weapon can be switched between bow and sickle modes simply by flipping the top blade piece ("Oxidanzer") over. While it might not seem like much of a gimmick, it's a nice little feature to have as opposed to swappable parts. The Break String however is swappable, and can be changed by popping off the side panel and pegging the desired piece in. The Pudding Gochizo can also be plugged into the front of the weapon for added detail/accuracy. A great-looking and unique (how many Riders come with a sickle?) weapon that looks great in Vram's hands, topping off a really fantastic release.

The Kamen Rider Gavv range has pulled out some really solid releases so far, but S.H. Figuarts Kamen Rider Vram Pudding Custom really feels like the best of the bunch. Part of that is thanks to all the clever detail that went into the suit design, but Bandai deserve credit too for how well they've crammed those details into a six-inch figure. Together with a gorgeous colour scheme that's unashamedly loud and a fun little weapon, there isn't much more you could want from a Vram Pudding Custom figure. Maybe at a push a more detailed Gochizo would have been nice, but it's certainly no worse than the ones that came with the other Gavv releases. With how unpredictable Kamen Rider releases can be these days who knows if we'll get Vram's other forms in the line, but at the very least they knocked this one out of the park.