ninja arashi- go big or go home

Discussion in 'Vintage Vinyl' started by vintagevinyl, Mar 25, 2010.

  1. michael

    michael Side Dealer

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    [​IMG]

    neko mandala, mashira, poison eel, and wind weasel kamaitachi. really enjoying popy midsize
     
  2. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Wonderful stuff man. I was just remarking in the other thread how great these midsized toys are, and I think are highly underrated. Some of them used to be available here and there, but I think a lot are now as hard - or harder - to track down then the full sized Bandai figures. I really like this take on them. They have got enough of a different style to give them their own feel, but are still wonderfully crude and expressive. Personally, I love them, and, if I am honest, this size toy frankly has a lot more 'playability' factor too. Not that, you know, I would ever play with toys or anything... :oops:
     
  3. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Congrats @michael great haul, I'm not really into the mini sofubi but the painting job on these figures is great. Seeing them together is a delight for the eyes:thumbsup:
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2017
  4. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    That neko mandala has always been one of my favorites. They look great together.
     
  5. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Meant to share this guy here too, as we were collecting images of NA variants. Nice packaged version of the straight-hand style bootleg removable mask Ninja Arashi, with the transparent red sword/red hilt:





    A great looking toy; not sure I've seen another of these ones packaged like this. Wasn't me that took him home, much as I would love to. Very nice seeing such a minty version of the fella. 'Course I'd be forever tortured to keep him sealed up like that. :razz:
     
  6. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Thank you guys for your nice comments!
    @Mr. Humphreys I am glad that you enjoyed the video, the few chapters I have seen have been in Japanese or Thai, although I did not understanding the dialogue I have enjoyed. I agree with you Grace, I think the Doku Utsubo would be a bit scary for your Butas:D

    @ultrakaiju I think I am very critical of the state of the figures, but this particular one the more I see it the more I like it. Besides the excellent work they did with the sculpture, the detail of the hair gives a plus. Before I was a little reluctant to acquire figures with hair, but in the case of the vintage figures feel that gives them more personality.

    All have a great day! :D
     
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  7. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Steve I also saw that bootleg in the Mandarake, by the way I found it a bit expensive.
    We have had this conversation before with @andy, but I continue with my theory of several versions of bootlegs, I do not think they manufactured them in a random way, the figures of this size which is a little smaller than the standard size I have seen three versions and those of standard size bootleg I have also identified three versions. If you wish, I can share with you some photographs of some figures in their original packaging to see the differences.
    Best regards!
     
  8. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Straight-hand style version
    Variant 1:
    The helmet has hair, the vest has some stars printed on the top and also has peaks out, the handle of the sword is gray and red sheath.
    [​IMG]
    Variant 2: Helmet without hair, the top of the vest has only a triangle shaped tip to the sides, the handle of the sword is gray and black sheath.
    [​IMG]
    Variant 3: The helmet has hair, the vest has some stars printed on the top and also has peaks out, the handle of the sword is clear red and the sheath is also clear red.
    [​IMG]
    Variant 4: The helmet has hair, the vest is also shaped like peaks on top but without printed stars, is the only one of these variants which the belt is a chain and the scarf have a light color, not purple.
    [​IMG]
    Standard size version.

    Varinat 1S:
    This figure is almost the size of the licensed figure, the hair of the helmet is orange, the vest is a very thin plastic, the scarf is made of purple fabric, the belt is made of chain, the handle of the sword is made of a clear yellow plastic and the sheath of the sword is a clear green plastic and the extremities of the figure have a yellow paint.
    [​IMG]

    Variant 2S:
    This figure is almost the size of the licensed figure, the hair of the helmet is red, the vest is made of a thicker plastic with red lining on the outside and white inside, the scarf is made of purple plastic, the belt is made of chain, the handle of the sword is made of a clear yellow plastic and the sheath of the sword is a clear blue plastic and the extremities of the figure have a gold paint.
    [​IMG]

    Variant 3S:
    This figure is almost the size of the licensed figure, the hair of the helmet is red, the vest is made of a red plastic with, the belt is made of plastic similar to the licensed, the handle of the sword is made of a clear red plastic and the sheath of the sword is a clear red plastic and the extremities of the figure have a gold paint.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2017
  9. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    Photos aren't working
     
  10. Lixx

    Lixx Mr. Grumpy™

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Here's a picture of that same bootleg ultra mentioned before unpacking it (different backing card- sword sheath different). Pic is on page 2 but I'll repost it here:
    [​IMG]

    I personally prefer this over all other Ninja Arashi versions.
     
  11. Alebrije

    Alebrije Line of Credit

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Can you see the photos already?
    Thank you!
     
  12. Lixx

    Lixx Mr. Grumpy™

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    Yes we can now thanks Roger.

    Keen observations on the bootlegs- never knew there were so many different versions! So I have version 1S of the straight hand and 3S of the other type.

    This thread makes me hungry for more Ninja Arashi. I need some standard sized villains like Cat Maddalla. I do notice though in regard to actual Ninja Arashi toys they are becoming harder and harder to find on YJA. And the ones you do find are usually missing the vest and often the helmet.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2017
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  13. bryce_r

    bryce_r Die-Cast

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    Yup works now.
     
  14. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Thanks for taking the time to collect this all together Roger. As much as I knew these variants were out there, seeing them altogether like that, and noting each of the changes, really puts it all in perspective. I wouldn't even be surprised if we have to modify this list at some point because someone might come across some other weird variant. This is exactly part of what makes vintage bootleg hunting such a joy.

    If there is one thing this is telling me, it's that I need more Ninja Arashi in my life. These photos are really making me crave more YJA hunting even more than I already do (which is plenty!). Loving how this thread has developed and expanded with the passion of our little community and appreciation of this license.
     
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  15. Alebrije

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Thanks for your words guys, I'm glad you enjoyed this collection of photos that are intended to be a kind of catalog or guide to identify the different variants, but what I feared most happened, the Kraken devourer of figures has awakened in you, which means more competition for me in the auctions :lol::lol::lol::lol:
    @Lixx as you well say Chris, your versions are 1 and 3s, with respect to the variant 3s according to what I have seen is one of the less common, I have only seen about three.
    Chris good luck with the Cat Mandalla hunt, for some reason it's the most fought of the Ninja Arashi figures, I lost about six auctions before I could catch mine, but you're the lucky one of the auction so I do not think you are going to have problems:D

    @ultrakaiju I know there are a lot of people out there that may have some other variant that does not appear in this set of photos and which we can add to this collection of images, like @andy who know a lot about this type of figures. That's why I try to add mainly pictures of figures still in the original bag, so as not to confuse them with the frankensteins out there.
     
    Last edited: Mar 12, 2017
  16. Mr. Humphreys

    Mr. Humphreys Mini Boss

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    @Alebrije , EXCELLENT write-up of the variants Roger! :D Very helpful and informative, and I enjoyed the comparison details. This is a great reference.
    ..those legs though, always makes me think Ninja Arashi is a giant white chicken :D
     
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  17. joshuajh

    joshuajh Administrator Staff Member

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    These guys are so nice, really love this series. great scale and sculptures. Great pickups, need that weasel so bad!
     
  18. andy

    andy Mini Boss

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    Very impressive work there @Alebrije ! I constantly come across all sorts of different characters' bootlegs with packaging variants. I think for a lot of stuff it was just whatever they had on hand at the time, especially for the headers, bags, and backing cards.

    I'm also a fan of the Arashi minis. Really fun line.
     
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  19. XVivaHateX

    XVivaHateX Addicted

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    Oh man what a cool lineup. Im super jealous. I only have Majin Sai in this size. Guess I need to get to work.
    Also, great research work on the arashi bootlegs Roger. This will be a fantastic reference for years to come.
     
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  20. fosa comun

    fosa comun Toy Prince

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    hi everybody, So during my travels in japan I manage to get a ninja arashi origianl in very good state and at a dirt cheap price w mask and belt. no sword or vest. how impossible are to get those vests and dare to say sword....?
     
  21. Alebrije

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Congrats for the score, the sword It is almost impossible to find it and if you could find one it would not be cheap, respect to the vest I think I've only seen one or two for sale, the most common is the scarf; usually comes with some loose figure (no vest, no helmet, no belt, etc) just body and scarf.
    Not much information but I hope it was helpful.
    Best regards!
     
    Last edited: May 4, 2017
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  22. fosa comun

    fosa comun Toy Prince

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    @Alebrije that was great info thank you....
     
  23. ultrakaiju

    ultrakaiju Die-Cast Staff Member

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    That is a nice pickup, congrats. I think Roger hit on all the relevant points already. I think, especially if you look through some of the threads here, you will find it is always a challenge for vintage collectors to find the accessories/pieces they are missing to complete a figure (not even limited to vintage sofubi). It is just something that comes with the territory, with so many small bits being broken or lost through the decades of play and storage, and really, most of the materials were never designed to last that long. Hence, a lot of collectors are willing to shell out incredible premiums for a 'complete' figure, where even just having one extra accessory can lend multiple hundreds of dollars onto the selling price of a toy. As far as finding replacements go, some do very occasionally come up, but generally I would advise it is not something you can count on. Thus, buying loose/incomplete toys is really something to judge as affordable alternative (or what is actually available for a lot of toys), and when choosing one I think you have to sort of have the mindset going in that you have to love it as is, and can't count on necessarily ever getting the extra bits. Not to say it wouldn't happen, but knowing the market, I wouldn't select a figure with this in the back of my mind. I have a majority of 'junked' or loved figures, and i am fine with the various degrees of incompleteness. It is just the best I could hope to achieve being a vintage addict but also on a tight budget.

    Plus, I feel these misfit toys deserve some love too, and I am happy to fulfill that niche as the adopter of the unloved and forgotten. :)
     
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  24. fosa comun

    fosa comun Toy Prince

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    @ultrakaiju thanks for your thoughts on this. In my short time collecting vintage I have seen several toys missing parts and in several stages of completeness and always wonder how hard is it to find the missing parts,....I ran into this ninja at a very good price in a unexpected place (which made the toy hunt fun) and the level of completeness that was not bad, mask and belt only, so I got it....
     
  25. Lixx

    Lixx Mr. Grumpy™

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    ninja arashi- go big or go home
    Tired of those crap shots I took in my room in the middle of winter with the new camera- wanted to get this giant guy out in the natural light (and it's always fun to take toy pics again):
    [​IMG]

    As you can see loads of scratches/rubs but it gives him character. I like that he has those cool bluish highlights I loved on Roger's toy.
     
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