S.H. Figuarts Orochimaru - Seeker of Immortality

 Orochimaru is one of my favourite villains in the Naruto series. He has the mad scientist-type vibe and has no qualms about experimenting on people and killing those who stand in his way. He is based on a Japanese myth with a character of the same name, a robber who was blessed with snake magic that allowed him to spit venom at his victims. He is in love with Tsunade, the slug princess, who is Jiraiya's bride. A lot of names were taken in by the show! 

Orochimaru plays a fairly big part in part 1 of the show, being the main antagonist for a good chunk. He has acquired a ton of ninja techniques but is often seen using summons and powers involving snakes and poisons. Early on, he takes on Sasuke and Naruto in the Forest of Death and sinks his fangs into Sasuke, giving him the Curse Mark. This painful seal allows him to draw on power from outside his body but causes transformations of his physical body into something a bit more sinister. The sub title of the figure is Seeker of Immortality, but I'm not sure he isn't already. As long as he has access to a new body to inhabit, he continues living. Maybe it's a pseudo/viral type of immortality. 

Given that I didn't know this figure was coming (I was expecting maybe some of the other Konoha 12 from part 1), it's pretty cool that there's another villain! The figure is pretty great, and if you're waiting for me to put one of these figures on blast for something it's probably not going to happen. I love the accessories and completely forget it ALSO included another faceplate for Sasuke! A part of Sasuke's curse mark 1! The figure is very well articulated, and even the back of the hair flips up on a hinge to allow some movement. The only odd thing I could say here is there is some messy shading on the front and back of the bottom robe, but nowhere else. It's a little visually off. 

S.H. Figuarts Kid Sasuke Uchiha - Ninja Prodigy of the Uchiha Clan Bloodline

 The way Sasuke is written in Shippudden leaves a lot to be desired. I understood his character a lot more in Part 1. He wants vengeance on his brother, he's an emo kid who doesn't want anyone to truly understand him or be his friend. I get it! Despite that, Naruto perseveres in trying to make him part of the ninja family that Naruto has built up over the series. 

This figure is once again very well executed. The sculpt and engineering are great, allowing a wide range of flexibility. The accessories are almost everything you would want from his combat in Part 1minus his transformation into Curse Marks 1 and 2.  To get that done though it feels like you'd need a fully different sculpt for the wing hands, and a distinct head and face plate. Even if you wanted to execute Curse Mark 1, the arms legs and face would also need a switch. This figure definitely covers his moves including and past the Chunin exams. 

S.H. Figuarts Kid Naruto Uzumaki - Unexpected No. 1 Slapstick Ninja

 

Ever since they restarted the Naruto line for S.H. Figuarts, I have been more or less all in! I missed out on some web exclusives like Jiraiya, but they are doing so well at releasing new figures for this line, I am preordering things left, right, and center. I got this version of Naruto a while back, and am finally ready to review it. 

This version of Naruto is featured in Part 1 of the anime, preceding Shippudden and running for roughly 220 episodes. It had some missable filler, but I did enjoy it when it featured other members of the 12 main Konoha kid ninjas. This Naruto is 12-13 years old here, and is still coming into his own, learning from his teachers and trying to reckon with the demon fox creature sealed inside of him by his parents before their death. 

He is a lot more comedic in this part, pulling pranks, being loud and boisterous, and really letting out his feelings! This is well represented in this action figure. He comes with tons of hands, his rasengan energy effect, a kunai knife, and the best face plates featuring expressions and includes his fox cloak face form and hands. As per the other figures in this renewed line, Naruto has amazing articulation aided by hollow caps and waist areas to allow a lot more posing and flexibility. Also, they've managed to hide the jarring hip swivels a bit better here. 

Bandai 2003 Kakashi Hatake - Naruto

 We're back with another figure of Kakashi Hatake, only this is an extremely rare one. If you hadn't seen my most viewed post ever, Bandai 2003 Sasuke, you may not know that this figure is part of the same limited line that was made in 2003 alongside Naruto, which for the life of me I can't find anywhere. At the time, these were the most poseable figures from the show released in Japan. The character of Kakashi I've gone over quickly here (SH Figuarts Kakashi) but in case you didn't know, he is the teacher and leader of Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno and Sasuke Uchiha from the anime Naruto. This is one of my favourite characters alongside Shikamaru and Naruto himself. He is a famous ninja in the world, using a wide array of techniques mastered over his years in the ninja wars. 

Like the Sasuke figure, he is chock FULL of accessories including the art scroll which someday I will find a way to hang so that it doesn't get exposed too much to dust and light. He is shorter and less poseable than the SH figuarts Naruto line, but that doesn't stop this figure from being pretty great in its own rights. 

IN OTHER exciting news, SH Figuarts is revisiting the Naruto line with exciting new face plates and advanced articulation. From the promotion pics I'm pretty excited. ESPECIALLY because they are finally making a female figure for the line, Sakura Haruno. You can be I've already preordered all three even though I have a few Naruto figures at this point and one teenage Sasuke. Visit Hobbylink or Tamashii nations directly to see promo pics and preorders!