Vocaloid is a singing synthesizer software application, that enables users to synthesize singing by typing in lyrics and melodies. Miku Hatsune is a character which was introduced in Vocaloid 2 and her voice data was created by sampling the voice of Saki Fujita a Japanese voice actress.
Miku Hatsune has since gone to become Vocaloids iconic character and a has taken on her own life and character in the Otaku world.
Packaging:
Miku comes in a standard Figma box.
On the front is a window for viewing the figure, on one side is the Figma logo, on the other is a picture of the figure, on the back there is relevant information, all in Japanese, and pictures of the figure in various poses with their various accessories. Instructions for swapping face pieces and other items are usually printed on either inside of the box tabs or on a piece of paper slipped inside the packaging. Also take note that all figures you purchase have the correct authentication printed or stickered on the box.
Inside the box the figure is held between two pieces of moulded plastic, with spaces for their accessories. The extra hands and the base of the Figma stand are stored in plastic bags underneath the figure in the plastic moulding. Figures are usually wrapped with plastic in certain areas to protect the paint. Boxes also come with inserts which act as backdrops in the box and can be taken out and used for backdrops while displaying figures. Miku's backdrop is a shiny reflective silver.
Figma’s also are supplied with a small zip-lock bag to store all the accessories in, the name of the figure can be written on this bag so that figure accessories can be stored neatly. Figma’s also come with a neat little device for storing the extra hands in.
Packaging = 6/10
Stand:
Miku comes with the standard Figma stand. Made of clear plastic it has three points of articulation which move forwards and back on hinge joints, one joint is at the bottom where it plugs into the base, one in the middle and one where it plugs into the Figma. The articulation of the stand allows the Figma to be posed in a variety of dynamic poses, and because it is clear it does not interfere with the aesthetic of taking dynamic and exciting photos.
Stand = 7/10
Sculpt:
Miku's overall design has a very nice sculpt. I had no clue what Vocaloid was and yet I knew I had to get this Figma, she is just so cute and sweet.
Starting from the top, her hair is very nicely sculpted, and her costume looks great, with nice detailing around her shirt. Her head phones are also nicely detailed. However the sculpt of her shirt prevents the use of her waist joint. For the most part her joints are well hidden except for her shoulders. Miku's skirt is also made of soft PVC, and she is wearing the standard Figma soft PVC panties.
The only complaint with sculpt is that her sleeves over hang her hands and make changing her hands a difficult task.
Sculpt = 8/10
Paint:
Miku has a nice colour scheme, with shiny black paint, a nice chrome silver shirt and then highlights of green to match her hair. She has nice detailing around the trim of her shirt and her sleeves are panted very well with small detail of data and dots and squares. Her shoulder tattoo is also painted well, and she has some neat red line painting on her hair ties. Her headphones also have a nice chrome sheen to them. Her faces are also nicely painted.
Miku’s accessories are nicely painted, with nice shading on her leeks, and her microphone stand is great, with some fine detail and chrome silver paint.
Paint = 8/10
Articulation:
Miku use’s the standard Figma joint system. Figma joints are hinge joints with pegs on either end allowing both forward and back movement and rotation.
At the head a Figma joint is used at the top of the neck allowing the figure to look up and down and turn their head left and right, however looking up is restricted somewhat by the design of the back of the hair. To change the faces on Figma’s the front piece of hair is removed and then the faces can be taken of and swapped.
The shoulder consists of a double joint, a ball joint which sits inside the upper body, this is attached to a ball shaped Figma joint which acts as the shoulder, and this allows full range of motion to the shoulder. Further down a Figma joint is used as the elbow and bends in and then out straight and there is some slight rotation for the lower arm to turn in and out. At the wrist the various hands plug into a small hole at the end of the arm. Each hand also has a hinge joint, which not only allows the hand to rotate but also to move up and down which gives the figure realistic wrist movement. Miku uses the ball peg hands, and they are particularly difficult to change.
A waist joint is located in the middle of her torso. Waist joints are ball and socket joints, a ball joint will be attached to the upper body and which plug into a socket in the main torso, this gives the body twisting movement and bending forwards and back. At the hips a three jointed ball and socket joint is used. One ball plugs into a socket at the bottom of the torso acting as the hip joint; this allows the hips to turn side to side, lean forward or back, then on each of the other two ball joints the legs plug on. Each leg has an inner socket which the ball joint plugs into, this piece allows full range of motion from the ball joint and also allows the thigh to turn in and out as it pegs inside the main leg piece.
A Figma joint is then used as the knee allowing the knee to bend backwards and then out to straight, and there is some slight rotation for the lower leg to turn in and out. The ankle also is a Figma joint allowing the foot to point and flex turn in and out.
Miku has extra Figma joints at the top of each ponytail allowing her hair to move around in all directions, this helps with getting the figure to balance, however can cause the figure to unbalance if positioned wrong as her hair is rather heavy.
Pose:
Miku is therefore highly posable and can be posed in a variety of ways. With the use of the accessories supplied, her microphone and stand and her trademark leeks, she can be displayed in a number of poses, dancing with her leeks, rocking it on stage with her microphone and stand, or singing a sweet ballad with her mike in hand. However there are a few areas in which articulation is restricted, because of the sculpt of Miku's shirt she is unable to use her waist joint and so cannot move her torso, and her shirt also restricts her from sitting down properly.
Articulation & Pose = 8/10
Enjoyment:
I will break down enjoyment into two categories: Accessories and Play Value.
Accessories:
Miku comes with two facial expressions; her plain content expression, overly happy face. Miku also comes with an assortment of hands; a pairs of open hands, a pair of fists, a pair of relaxed hands, a pair of hands for holding items, and a pair of pointing hands.
Miku also comes with her signature two leeks, and a Microphone and stand, the microphone is used by removing the top mike holder and then slipping the a hand on. Miku can also hold it using two hands if you remove the main pole from the feet and then slide a hand onto it. The mike can be slipped into the mike holder on the stand or can fit into one of Miku's holding hands.
Play Value:
I will break down play value into two categories: Compatibility, with other figures and accessories, and general play.
Compatibility:
Miku's hands are able to hold most other Figma items, She can wield Saber's swords, and use Signum's weapons, and she can also make a prayer or too. So not a huge range of compatibility but enough for some interesting and fun poses.
Next up is a height comparison, as you can see she in the middle of the Figma height scale.
General Play:
In general Miku is a fun figure. She is cute and just adorable, who cannot help but love the long hair. She is easy enough to pose and can get into almost any position. She doesn't come with many accessories, but the microphone and stand are very cool, and although her hands are not compatible with all other Figma items she is able to hold a good range of items to play around with.
Overall Miku is an extremely enjoyable and cute figure, she is cute and cheeky and I do recomend her.
Enjoyment = 9/10
Over all Miku scores 7.7/10
