Vocaloid is a singing synthesizer software application, that enables users to synthesize singing by typing in lyrics and melodies. Megurine Luka is a character which was introduced in Vocaloid 2 and her voice data was created by sampling the voice of Megumi Nakajima.
Packaging:
Luka 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. Luka's backdrop is a 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 = 7/10
Stand:
Luka 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.
Luka also comes with an extra L shaped piece which attaches to the end of her stand so that she can be attached to her stand in spite of her long hair. A very nice touch by Max Factory.
Stand = 8/10
Sculpt:
Luka's overall design is very slick, with black and gold and with a nice use of soft PVC to make her clothing that little bit more better than most Figma's with long skirts.
Starting from the top, her hair is nicely sculpted with the front strand being made of soft PVC so that it does not interfere with her movement. Her top is well sculpted and made from soft PVC, some really nice details on the brocades, her tummy looks really nice and cute and her belt is loose from her skirt and also made from soft PVC, and her dress is the first long dressed Figma to have a soft PVC skirt, this allows her more movement with her legs than you typically get with most Figma's who have long skirts. And lastly are her boots which are just grand with lovely detailed laces.
Sculpt = 7/10
Luka has a colour scheme of black and gold and looks very striking and visually appealing, and to be honest it was her shiny gold boots which made me want to get her. Her paint job is good but not fantastic, and lately I have been seeing a drop in quality control with some Figma's such as Luka has scratches on her hair and had a few other area's where the paint was in the wrong place, a dot of colour where it shouldn't be. But overall her paint work is rather good, and the gold shiny paint is just so visually striking.
Luka's accessories are nicely painted, the colour work on her Tuna looks top notch it looks very realistic, which makes it more comical when put beside a Figma, and her microphone stand is also a very nice gold finish.
Paint = 7/10
Articulation:
Luka 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 her neck a Figma joint is used allowing the figure to look side to side, down and up. 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.
A waist joint is located under her chest. 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.
Pose:
Luka is therefore highly posable and can be posed in a variety of ways. With the use of the accessories supplied, her microphone and Tuna fish, she can be displayed in a number of poses, playing with her tuna or singing her heart out. However there are a few areas in which articulation is restricted due to length of her skirt her leg movement is very restricted even though they made the skirt out of semi-soft PVC.
Articulation & Pose = 7/10
Enjoyment:
I will break down enjoyment into two categories: Accessories and Play Value.
Accessories:
Luka comes with Two facial expressions; a plain expression and a singing expression. Luka also comes with an assortment of hands; a pair of open hands, a pair of relaxed hands, a pair of fists, a pair of hands for holding items, and a pair of hands for holding her microphone.
Luka also comes with her signature Tuna fish, and a gold microphone and stand.
Play Value:
I will break down play value into two categories: Compatibility, with other figures and accessories, and general play.
Compatibility:
Luka is very compatible with other Figma accessories, and with her holding hands she can hold just about any other Figma accessory.
Next up is a height comparison, as you can see she is about the average height on the Figma height scale.
General Play:
In general Luka is a nice figure, she is pretty and elegant, however very sparse on accessories, but the Tuna is rather awesome. However shortly after getting my Luka I sort of became unenchanted by her for some reason so have sold her on to someone else who I am sure will be much more excited than I am, perhaps it maybe because I am just not a huge Luka or Vocaloid fan and plus my poor Miku Figma is broken so Luka had no friend to play with, any how she is a good figure and I recommend for any fan.
Enjoyment = 6/10
Over all Megurine Luka scores 7/10
