'Real' Yoko Doesn't Do It For Me

Nice sculpt, but as is so typical for me, the face ruins it.

By gia manry | May 14, 2009

Just caught some pictures of this new Yoko figure, titled “Real Image Version,” clearly a reference to a slightly (and I mean very, very slightly) more realistic figure style-- more detail on her body and a minutely less cartoony face.

Frankly, while it's a very nice sculpt, I don't find it very attractive. Yoko's design is cartoony by nature (as are all of Gurren Lagann's), and the slight shifts in style just make her cute skull hairpiece and mostly-worthless muffler make her look...kinda silly. Sort of like seeing a 60-year-old dude cosplaying Ash Ketchum-- except that's kind of awesome silly, and this is I-would-totally-not-pay-¥9800 ($102 USD) silly.

I do have to admit that she has very sharp eyes, although I think the rest of her expression, intended to make her look sexy, kinda makes her look vapid-- not like the Yoko I know and love!

What do you guys think? Win or fail?

19 Comments

nweaselon May 14, 2009 at 7:18 a.m.

Hmmm. It's, well... I mean, I like it, but, I agree, it just isn't HER. Also, I wouldn't pay USD$102 for it, haha.

Void_Wizardon May 14, 2009 at 7:23 a.m.

Fail thanks to the face. I like how she has glasses with the figure though.

Agent_Loston May 14, 2009 at 8:11 a.m.

yea, it look nice, until you see the face.

blackholehearton May 14, 2009 at 8:35 a.m.

You know this figma only exacerbates a problem with the basic Yoko design, namely that she supposed to be around 14 or so in the 1st half of GL. And if thats what 14 year olds look like these days I fear I and many others will wind up with statutory charges sooner or later. As for the figma itself the missing Yokoness could have been captured if it had her "I know something you don't know" grin instead of looking like shed about to drool on herself. Just my two bits

giaon May 14, 2009 at 9:03 a.m.

Carbon: Last I heard, Gainax never actually confirmed her age (correct me if I'm wrong)-- in fact, it was asked at Fanime Con last year, and they specifically declined comment, although they noted that to people who have lived underground for generations, a "year" might have a somewhat different definition, since it would probably no longer be based on lunar and solar cycles.

I would actually have put Yoko at 16 myself.

SYLiENTon May 14, 2009 at 9:40 a.m.

Fail. It's just the styling of the eyes and the mouth (the nose is fine). ... In fact this isn't Realistic!Yoko, more like Shojo!Yoko. O_o;;; Sparkling eyes, loads of eye lashes, and lip gloss lips. >_<;;;

The only plus with her face is that there are glasses to cover the sparkling eyes (they make the face work in my opinion).

blackholehearton May 14, 2009 at 9:41 a.m.

Gia: Your are most likely correct about the age question as I can't recall where I picked up that bit of fan wisdom and sadly my old gray cells don't vet for accuracy when they dump random trivia into my frontal lobes. ;)

ethan staff on May 14, 2009 at 10:10 a.m.

I didn't even notice the face.

giaon May 14, 2009 at 10:36 a.m.

Carbon: I've heard the 14 number thrown around dozens of times; IIRC it came from some promo material, but for a toy or figure or something else that wasn't directly from Gainax. I was glad someone asked though.

ethan: I am shocked by this information. ;)

omoon May 14, 2009 at 10:43 a.m.

This is a win for a real-style figure. Most of them don't come even this close I think.

jlrm01on May 14, 2009 at 11:42 a.m.

Love the figure. All of it. (But I don't buy figures... Guess I'll save the images. hehehe). Real Yoko, Original-But-Less-Real Yoko, Whatever Yoko... all are cool with me, I suppose. ^_^;

Blindshogunon May 14, 2009 at 1:05 p.m.

Wait! She may be fourteen...too old. jk
I like it she looks "realer." Plus look at that craftsmanship, the creases in her gloves are real attention to detail. It looks like it was made with love.
Anyone else kinda turned on... no, j-just me...kay, that's cool it's just you know it's-it's...don't judge me!

kratos1010on May 14, 2009 at 1:23 p.m.

Its not bad...just not good.

Nikoon May 14, 2009 at 1:32 p.m.

I actually like it. It's nice, but not $100 nice.

RedRoseson May 14, 2009 at 3:26 p.m.

I like this Yoko figure. There's way too many Yoko figures out already (seriously, just look it up hah) and this one stands out amongst the pack. It may not be the Yoko we all know and love but as a figure itself, it is lovingly crafted. I think the details are exquisite and the paint job is beautiful. I especially love the skin tones Max Factory (I think that's the one that made this figure) chose along with hair.

lanaswifton May 14, 2009 at 3:44 p.m.

It's definitely a nice, well-made figure, but I'm with gia on this one. It's too serious a figure for the design, if that makes sense. Where's the wink-wink-nudge-nudge-tongue-in-cheek that we love about Gurren Lagann? Instead it's kind of lifeless. Swap out the hair and clothes and she could be any random American comic book heroine.

That said, I would definitely read, say, a Marvel-made Gurren Lagann comic book. That would be interesting. Stop making manga out of western comics, try making western comics out of manga!

transgojoboton May 14, 2009 at 8:08 p.m.

I like the *ahem* "creases" too. However, this sculpt does not in any way, shape or form suggest a fourteen [or even sixteen] year old girl. Yoko at twenty? Sure. I can see it. Yes. Yes, I can. See them. The "creases", I mean.

What was I typing again?

Blindshogunon May 15, 2009 at 7:01 p.m.

@transgojobot:
And with those words spawned the greatest and most influential friendship to reach across time/ I like the way you think.

I was being sincere though...I thought the figure was crafted very well from the creases in her clothing to the visibility of her ribcage. That level of detail was kinda mind blowing. Even if they did kinda mess with Yoko a bit [which I'm not syked about] but I want it none the less.

Sonata moderator on May 15, 2009 at 7:08 p.m.

Doesnt look too bad, it has a mature look which is cool I like Mature Anime girls the most:)

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