From Wikipedia :
Fujiko Mine (Japanese: 峰 不二子, Hepburn: Mine Fujiko) is a fictional character created by Monkey Punch for his manga series Lupin III, which debuted in Weekly Manga Action on August 10, 1967. She is a professional criminal who regularly uses her attractiveness to fool her targets. Unlike the rest of the Lupin III cast, Fujiko's physical appearance changes for most installments in the franchise. She is the star of the fourth Lupin III anime television series, 2012's The Woman Called Fujiko Mine, making it the first to not star Arsène Lupin III as the protagonist.
As the Lupin III series was to be published in a magazine targeted at adults, Fujiko Mine was created to add a female presence. Her name is derived from the title "Sacred Mountain Fuji" (霊峰不二, Reihō Fuji). Monkey Punch saw a picture of Mt. Fuji on a calendar and in less than a minute decided on Fujiko Mine; omitting "rei" from "reihō", changing the reading of 峰 to "mine", and adding "ko" to "fuji" to make it look more pleasing when spelled. She was developed from the intention to fulfill a "Bond girl" role. Creating a new female character each week was too difficult for Monkey Punch, so she evolved into a single character. At the beginning of the series, many of the women Lupin encounters are named Fujiko, but are treated as different characters from chapter to chapter. This concept was later changed to make Fujiko a single character who changes style frequently.Monkey Punch compared the characters of Lupin and Fujiko to those of D'Artagnan and Milady de Winter, and described them as "Not necessarily lovers, not necessarily husband and wife, but more just having fun as man and woman with each other".
As the Lupin III series was to be published in a magazine targeted at adults, Fujiko Mine was created to add a female presence. Her name is derived from the title "Sacred Mountain Fuji" (霊峰不二, Reihō Fuji). Monkey Punch saw a picture of Mt. Fuji on a calendar and in less than a minute decided on Fujiko Mine; omitting "rei" from "reihō", changing the reading of 峰 to "mine", and adding "ko" to "fuji" to make it look more pleasing when spelled. She was developed from the intention to fulfill a "Bond girl" role. Creating a new female character each week was too difficult for Monkey Punch, so she evolved into a single character. At the beginning of the series, many of the women Lupin encounters are named Fujiko, but are treated as different characters from chapter to chapter. This concept was later changed to make Fujiko a single character who changes style frequently.Monkey Punch compared the characters of Lupin and Fujiko to those of D'Artagnan and Milady de Winter, and described them as "Not necessarily lovers, not necessarily husband and wife, but more just having fun as man and woman with each other".
This version of Fujiko is arguably the most common and also most commonly available in the secondary market today. One can go as cheap as SGD50/- (used of course). There is really no harm picking up one to meddle around ie play. It is a good figure nonetheless.
Got my Medicom Stylished Collection's Lupin the Third's series kicked off in Jun 2005 with this figure. Paid SGD95/- back then at eBay shipped from Japan. Thing about buying used stuffs from Japanese sellers is that you can be assured of the good condition. The Japanese don't sell bad used stuff. Another +ve point to their advanced culture. Without any surprises, the figure came in with no issue at at all.
Got my Medicom Stylished Collection's Lupin the Third's series kicked off in Jun 2005 with this figure. Paid SGD95/- back then at eBay shipped from Japan. Thing about buying used stuffs from Japanese sellers is that you can be assured of the good condition. The Japanese don't sell bad used stuff. Another +ve point to their advanced culture. Without any surprises, the figure came in with no issue at at all.
DESIGN - 3/5
This is the first category that any toy designer need to put in more time and thoughts to come out with a winning figure. Balancing idea and manufacturing costs as well.
Fujiko is a well designed figure except for a personal taste preferance. I'd prefer to have a serious headsculpt to match the serious tone of the garb's colour ie black and brown. But it came with a smirky facial expression.
Also came to noticed, when trying to fix another Fujiko's broken body, that the head is permanently attached to a shaft that goes all the way to the sternum. That means head swapping is not possible. And that could also be the reason why for all female characters in this line, it only comes with 1 affixed head and no secondary. That's kind of a crying shame.
There isn't much other things to point out about. The design works for this figure in general and for once, the shoes are enabling the figure to stand more readily than the others ie Zenegata, Lupin, Cap etc. Even though to get a pose is still a challenge.
Breast is semi-soft rubber which will depress when pressed. But will go back to original shape when release. Does nothing to me actually however, nice to have this part "functional". Better yay than nay.
SCULPTING - 4/5
The crown of this piece, aptly so, is the hair piece. The sculpting exudes a properly pruned but yet kept a free flowing feel.
Although I prefer a more serious look, the smirked face sculpt also brings out a mischievous demeanor to Fujiko - whom she is usually so.
PAINTING - 3.5/5
Again most of the painting works goes to the hair. Paintwork manages to distinguished the hair from it's various flows and shapes. Since it is anime style, fine hair strands details are not there (and not require). Outcome is applaudable. Nothing outstanding just a job that works.
ARTICULATION -2.5/5
Head movement is hindered by the big hair therefore it can only turn a little on each side. Lift and lowered a little. To the extend it is not noticeable.
There are small swivel on the torso which is welcome.
Arms can be swivel inside - outside but not sure is it because of the age of the figure, it seem very stiff and it refuse to turn. For fear of breaking it, I relent.
Other standard articulations - wrist, hips, knee - with some degree shown in these pictures.
ACCESSORIES - N/A
Fujiko came with her favourite weapon a Walter PPk pistol. Fully painted in silver with some black wash. That's about all she had in the box - disregarding the clear stand which is a standard issue.
I don't know what else she need and seem a bit unfair to grade this category. So there it is.
This is the first category that any toy designer need to put in more time and thoughts to come out with a winning figure. Balancing idea and manufacturing costs as well.
Fujiko is a well designed figure except for a personal taste preferance. I'd prefer to have a serious headsculpt to match the serious tone of the garb's colour ie black and brown. But it came with a smirky facial expression.
Also came to noticed, when trying to fix another Fujiko's broken body, that the head is permanently attached to a shaft that goes all the way to the sternum. That means head swapping is not possible. And that could also be the reason why for all female characters in this line, it only comes with 1 affixed head and no secondary. That's kind of a crying shame.
There isn't much other things to point out about. The design works for this figure in general and for once, the shoes are enabling the figure to stand more readily than the others ie Zenegata, Lupin, Cap etc. Even though to get a pose is still a challenge.
Breast is semi-soft rubber which will depress when pressed. But will go back to original shape when release. Does nothing to me actually however, nice to have this part "functional". Better yay than nay.
SCULPTING - 4/5
The crown of this piece, aptly so, is the hair piece. The sculpting exudes a properly pruned but yet kept a free flowing feel.
Although I prefer a more serious look, the smirked face sculpt also brings out a mischievous demeanor to Fujiko - whom she is usually so.
PAINTING - 3.5/5
Again most of the painting works goes to the hair. Paintwork manages to distinguished the hair from it's various flows and shapes. Since it is anime style, fine hair strands details are not there (and not require). Outcome is applaudable. Nothing outstanding just a job that works.
ARTICULATION -2.5/5
Head movement is hindered by the big hair therefore it can only turn a little on each side. Lift and lowered a little. To the extend it is not noticeable.
There are small swivel on the torso which is welcome.
Arms can be swivel inside - outside but not sure is it because of the age of the figure, it seem very stiff and it refuse to turn. For fear of breaking it, I relent.
Other standard articulations - wrist, hips, knee - with some degree shown in these pictures.
ACCESSORIES - N/A
Fujiko came with her favourite weapon a Walter PPk pistol. Fully painted in silver with some black wash. That's about all she had in the box - disregarding the clear stand which is a standard issue.
I don't know what else she need and seem a bit unfair to grade this category. So there it is.
OVERALL - 3/5
I love the figure as a whole but as mentioned, she needs a serious face sculpt to match up with the garb she had on.
Nevertheless, it is a first figure to kick off this series she had her own special charm.
Retail box packaging is also commendable, keeping it small and manageable. Definitely a plus point.
For a 1/6 collectors who loves colourfully garbed figure with quirky, wacky anime caricature, this series is a good kick start. It offers a good range of individual characters and it's unique look in a certain episodes from the anime. Pricing are also from low to affordable (at least 1/3 the price of a HT figures). I do recommend.
I love the figure as a whole but as mentioned, she needs a serious face sculpt to match up with the garb she had on.
Nevertheless, it is a first figure to kick off this series she had her own special charm.
Retail box packaging is also commendable, keeping it small and manageable. Definitely a plus point.
For a 1/6 collectors who loves colourfully garbed figure with quirky, wacky anime caricature, this series is a good kick start. It offers a good range of individual characters and it's unique look in a certain episodes from the anime. Pricing are also from low to affordable (at least 1/3 the price of a HT figures). I do recommend.
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