OUT OF THE BOX: Red-Haired Shanks (P.O.P. Excellent Model Strong Edition)
Series: One Piece
Character: Red-Haired Shanks
Copyright: ©Eiichiro Oda Shueisha Fuji TV Toei Animation
Category: Portrait of Pirates (P.O.P) Excellent Model, Strong Edition
Specifications: 4 x 2 x 5 inches
Sculptor: Ishiyama Yuuki
Price: about ~$60 (as of this post date)
Release Date: May 2011
Q gave me a Strong Edition Luffy, Zoro and Sanji (which will be blogged about later) for my birthday two years ago so I was thinking that I could start collecting more Strong Edition figures. I bought this figure about a year ago at Anime Expo. I checked online how much it was going for and found out that it's still around $60. I got this one for $45. That's $15 less because the exterior of the box isn't so great anymore but I didn't mind because the figure itself was perfectly fine.
I like the subtle designs on the box as it reflects the theme of the figure without being too overwhelming. The whole "aged yet classy" look was carried successfully throughout the whole box especially with the burnt paper background that they did on the back.
As for the side windows, I don't really see any purpose to them aside from letting light in. Maybe it's also to showcase more of the figure's dimensions but for me, it was really hard to see inside so it served little purpose.
I thought I had a photo of the protective plastic case inside the box with all the stuff in it but I guess not. Anyways, the first thing I pulled out was the stand since it's just tucked at the bottom, between the protective plastic things. The stand comes in this beautiful shimmery dark red color with some hints of black on the edges for a vignette effect. I'm not a very big fan of the type they used for the "Shanks" part since I find it too comical as opposed to the stability in the type used in "One Piece Film" and "Strong World". Also, the kerning between the "Piece" and "Film" seems farther than the kerning between "One" and "Piece" but I guess, that's just some nit-picky details that don't really matter so much by the end of the day since the figure will be the focus.
The package comes with two heads. The Shanks without the shades is the head already attached on the figure while the Matrix Shanks is a bonus one.
The figure is designed well enough to hide evidences that parts could be detached. In fact, if it weren't for the bonus parts, I wouldn't have known that those parts are detachable.
The fist (one on the right) is the one originally attached to the figure while the other is the bonus one. The bonus hand lets the figure hold the gun.
Speaking of the gun, here it is. The gunmetal gradient it a cool touch. However, it would have been more appropriate if they also did that at the tip of the gun since that's typically where the darker color should be.
These latches don't move but they are stuck in a cool-looking angle. As you can see, there are scratches on the gun handle. That's because this wasn't really the first time I unboxed this thing. It's been sitting in my room since I bought it assembled and everything so I had to take it apart to take these photos. I don't know if I scratched it when I put it in the hand or when I pulled it out.
On the other side, there's more visible darker color on the tip. I guess, they did try to make that effect. It's just not as prominent on the other side.
These figures usually open for more than $60 but still, I'm amazed by how well-painted these figures are despite the little details.
Here's Shanks without his coat. My camera tends to make the nearest thing to the lens much larger hence the gun barrel looking uncomfortably huge. In real life though, it's not like that. Everything is proportioned well to the character.
The coat comes separately and could easily just sit on Shanks shoulders.
I really think that Shanks look much hotter with the coat off since I really like how his back looks but I prefer displaying it with the coat on because overall, the coat adds movement and character to the figure itself.
Looking closely, there are some flaws with the hair mold which shows a lot in figures. The reason why I didn't get the Figuarts ZERO Battle Ver. Sanji is because of that reason as well.
However, the scar, facial expression and facial hair detail makes up for that.
Here's Shanks with his coat and shades.
I think the coat's more appropriate in this combination though. Doesn't it remind you of some movie featuring people who answer telephones and dodge bullets with their inhuman flexibility?
"He's...THE ONE."
Lastly, is the additional stand provided. I always save this for last because I think it's unnecessary considering how stable and reliable the main bases are. It's always nice to have extra support but if you're going to use the main base, then you don't really need this.
However, it's really useful if you don't want to use the base. The figure can stand on its own just fine even without the base or this clear support but again, additional support is always nice.
Overall, just like most P.O.P.s, this definitely did not disappoint at all.
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