What's Nuevo???

New junk I just got around to scanning

Toy shoppin', toy shoppin'! Well, as much as I despise "reviews" and "reports" of toy stores (which too often smack of, "I got to shop there and you didn't, neener neener!"), I've decided to devote this month's update to talking about a couple of cool local anime toy shops.

Without a doubt, the numero uno question I get on this page is, "Where did you buy [fill in the blank]???" More often than not, nowadays, I bought that from some anonymous online dealer. (And I should note, both of these shops also do mail order through their web pages.)

But, as much as I enjoy the luxury of being able to plunk down an alarming postion of my monthly disposable income on anime dolls even while I sit here, dressed jammies and bunny slippers, sipping cocoa and munching a yummy bialy--still, sometimes, the virtual world just does not cut it! To my mind, nothing beats the experience of chugging into a real toy shop, hefting the merchandise, thumbing through dog-eared back copies of Hobby Japan, and having a real-time conversation with the friendly and helpful proprietor.

Just Be Toys

Just Be Distribution is located in Portland, Ore. They do a lot of mail order business, but also have an attractive storefront set up on Second Avenue in downtown Portland. We were already down in Portland for the marathon, so I managed to entice my runner husband to visit Just Be. And by the way, there is a really good sushi bar next door to the shop. We highly recommend the Crazy Rolls!

Cao Cao

Don't know who this attractive fellow is supposed to be (the box notes that he is a Japanese Toys R Us exclusive). He has tremendously huge hands, although Medicom has thoughtfully included an extra set of normal-sized hands for him. UPDATE: According to Mos (wkchia@nel.com.sg), my informant from Singapore: "The Medicom figure is an Anime version of a historical character from ancient China, namely Cao Cao."

Aaron Kwok action figure

Another unknown, long-haired dude with a big old samurai sword. This figure was made by Dragon Models of Hong Kong. I bought it because I love the zippy artwork on the box. UPDATE: "The Dragon figure is a movie character from an HK movie, Storm Riders, based on an HK comic of the same name. The likeness is that of an HK singer, Aaron Kwok." There you have it. Thanks, Mos!

Rozena

Looking somewhat like a cross between Nurse Angel Ririka and Cupid, this 8" scale Bandai doll evidently originated on some kind of kooky live action show. She comes with some cool accessories, including a harp and a little heart arrow. (A little heart? Maybe she's a Power Puff Girl!)

Volks body

This is the "Excellent mini-B" body manufactured by Volks, a company beloved of customizers. You get a doll body and an (unpainted, unrooted) head in a little baggie. Those little twits you see in the bottom of the bag are actually plugs you can use to cover up the screw holes in the back of the body.

Anime Kingdon

Anime Kingdom is also on the web. But, as they cautioned me, not all of their merchandise is on the web site, so if you're looking for something, call or email them. They are located along University Avenue ("The Ave" to you UW types), about a block south of the U bookstore.

Utena art book

Isn't this amazing? I will basically buy anything Utena, but this art book is gorgeous. Here's a look at the back of the box. And here's the book cover.

Super Excellent Rei Ayanami

This doll is from the good folks at Marmit. There were actually three different Rei dolls in the series--the others feature Rei in her school uniform, and Rei in her jammies. I don't recall this plaid jumper from the show, but it's been a while since I sat through EVA. "Fly me to the moon...."

Minis!

Toy Story mini aliens

This has nothing to do with anything, except that I bought these from my friend Leslie at the Lake City show. Toy shows are another great way to escape the virtual world of toy collecting. These teeny weeny carded figures were evidently available in vending machines in Japan, and are actually less than an inch long. (Depending on the size of your computer monitor, the image is probably around 50% bigger than the real thing.) So, your dolls can collect their own action figures!