Evangelion Action Figures
The Evangelion franchise has grossed more than ¥150 billion by 2007 in the Japanese and global markets just with merchandise and goods. Fans of the Evangelion series have been blessed with a variety of merchandise, from Evangelion model kits to character action figures. In addition to the Evangelion mecha robots that revolutionized the mecha anime scene, the distinctive aesthetic appeal of the main characters (especially female characters) designs have contributed greatly to the popularity and high sales of the Evangelion merchandise.
Action Figure
An action figure is a posable character doll made most commonly of plastic and most often are based upon characters from films, comic books, militaries, video games, or television programs, all either fictional or historical. The figures are usually marketed towards young boys or adult collectors. The term ‘action figures’ was coined by Hasbro in 1964 to combat the figures growing term ‘boy’s dolls’. In the Japanese anime otaku world action figures are popular among a wide range of ages, and both male and female fans.
One famous action figure maker in Japan is KOTOBUKIYA which have created Evangelion figures for many years with the rise in popularity of the franchise. With the new Evangelion Rebuild movies, they have also created a new lineup.
KOTOBUKIYA
KOTOBUKIYA is a Japanese model kit and figure company that was established in 1947. The company started as a single toy shop operated by owner Jusaburo Shimizu in 1947. Later the company focused on plastic model kits in 1983. At the time, one of their popular products was their first licensed kit, King Godzilla released in 1985. KOTOBUKIYA grew in popularity when they acquired the model kit license to manufacture Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam THE-O mecha. This was the first time that a company other than Bandai was given the permission to design and manufacture Gundam products.
2020 KOTOBUKIYA Evangelion Action Figures
In tandem with the release of the new Evangelion Rebuild movies, KOTOBUKIYA has released new figures based on each new movie. Here are some popular and most recent releases that promote the 2020 Rebuild of Evangelion: Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 movie.
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo: Ayanami Rei (Plugsuit ver)
The last figure release in the plugsuit lineup of Evangelion: 3.0 female pilots. A 245mm tall figure of Rei Ayanami wearing a black plugsuit that is first seen in the Evangelion Rebuild 3.0 movie. A different aura from the white plugsuit that many Rei fans are familiar seeing. The modern black plugsuit is in sleek black and comes with red stripes and black head sensors. In addition to Rei, the figure piece comes with her leaning on a piece of rubble that has been designed to look like the new Evangelion Unit she pilots, Evangelion Mark.09.
The Ayanami Rei (Plugsuit ver) figure is scheduled to be released in May 2020.
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo: Asuka Langley Shikinami (Plugsuit ver): RE
The second figure release in the plugsuit lineup of Evangelion: 3.0 female pilots. A 220mm tall figure of Asuka Langley Shikinami wearing her infamous red plugsuit with the same colors from the Anime series. This figure however portrays the new Asuka character with a different surname to the anime series and depicts the first scene of the new Evangelion Rebuild 3.0 movie. The Rebuild Asuka comes wearing a black eye patch over her left eye and holding an Evangelion red pilot helmet (that is detachable) in her right hand. Asuka is placed over a rubble ornament made in the shape of her Unit, Evangelion Unit 02.
The Asuka Langley Shikinami (Plugsuit ver): RE figure is scheduled to be released in March 2020.
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo: Mari Illustrious Makinami (Plugsuit ver) : RE
The first figure release in the plugsuit lineup of Evangelion: 3.0 female pilots. A 240mm tall figure of Mari Illustrious Makinami wearing her iconic pink plugsuit that matches her pink evangelion Evangelion Unit 08 as seen in the Rebuild movies. Mari is wearing a pink based plugsuit with blue stripe trimming and wearing her headband and head sensor connectors. She is also posed looking over her shoulder kneeling on top of a rubble ornament shaped as Evangelion Unit 02 in ‘berserk’ mode, shown from the Evangelion Rebuild 3.0 movie.
The Mari Illustrious Makinami (Plugsuit ver): RE figure is scheduled to be released in January 2020.
Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo: Asuka Langley Soryu (Gothic Lolita ver): RE
A figure of Asuka Langley Soryu that is not in the plugsuit series lineup. The figure includes Asuka in a black and white maid-style gothic lolita dress with black knee high boots. Asuka is sitting on a block of concrete stairs. This is not the Asuka from the Rebuild movies as she doesn’t have an eye patch on. However, this figure was most likely made for all the Asuka fans to promote the new movies. Also, it is the second version of a previously released Asuka Langley Soryu (Gothic Lolita ver) figure.