Today‘s figure review is about Akaza Akari, the sweet announcer and heroine of Yuru Yuri.
The naughty anime always makes always fun of her lack of presence, but actually Akari is the most popular character. She was featured in a number of figures and other related products.
This Akari was manufactured by ALTER , she was also delayed like so many other figures from them, anyway she was finally released in June 2013. Akari is scaled 1/8 and has a height of 18 cm.
I’m quite attached to Akari Akaza, cause we have a lot in common, I’d even call her my anime soulmate, it seems bad to find someone like this in a silly comedy show, but underneath the” no presence” running gag, Akari has a beautiful personality. Akari is polite, kind and also cares for others, she likes animals, even the creepy ones (snakes). Even when her kindness is often unrequited Akari won’t change trying to be a good person. What we also have in common is that we always stay sheerful, even when the world around us isn’t always nice to us. These are things I can relate to. Well, maybe I also have a lack of presence, but that is another topic.
I’m 200% picky with figures of my favorite characters and rarely by such figures, but Akari received a wonderful figure adaption. Whenever I sit at my desk and look at her I say Akarin !!!
In a melodic tone. Let’s have a closer look at Akari’s qualities in the next 100 sentences (lol) .
Hair & Face
She has a red short haircut with many rounded, tapering strands around her face, at the sides there are little pigtails, Kyoko one of her friends calls her buns rockets, but of course they aren’t. There is also a thin ahoge on top. On her red hair there isn’t much shading applied, it only seems to be present at the strands tips.
The face turned out really nice, with the three dimensional sculpting it appears a bit squishy. Akari has purple eyes, designed in the Yuru Yuri art style she also has soft blush marks around her cheeks and a cute open mouth. How can someone say that there is a lack of presence when Akari is so adorable
Body & Outfit
Akari is a middle school girl, so her body is rather short and petite, something between a loli and a teenager. Well I haven’t ordered her for being sexy, but I like her innocent and cute charm.
Yeah as you can see Akari is another school uniform figure, but this is nothing bad since her very uniform is really chic in terms of color palette and design, she is wearing a nice one buttoned, sailor uniform over her long sleeved red dress. Im actually a fan of such double sleeve outfits. The wrinkles and flow of it are marvelous and the harmonic colors gives the whole thing a nice look. As little eyecatcher Akari has a navy blue school bag, which she carries over her shoulder, it is very detailed, the little teddy bar is something that will make women hearts jump higher.
The figure is sculpted in a standing pose, with her outstretched arm and waving fingers she cheerfully greets her friends on her way to school. I like this captured moment a lot, since it shows a part of the characters personality. The base is a cool eyecatcher, it is a clear disk with a red outer circle, that also shows her name and inside the circle are pink polka dots.
Final Words
What brought me too Yuru Yuri was Chinatsu, but as I learned that her personality is rotten to the core, my interest was quickly directed towards Akari, she is cute and I could partially identify myself with her character, which actually never happened to me in anime show before, at least not to such an extent.
ALTER made a great figure of Akaza Akari, the figure of her is sweet and petite, she looks really cute and her cheerfulness was nicely captured in this pose and her facial expression. The creative outfit is great and offers many details, the use of wrinkles and flow of the clothes create a convincing scene of Akari in her natural surrounding. I’m totally convinced by this figure.
Do you like Akari from Yuru Yuri? If yes I would really recommend this figure.
NY Otaku
Very nice photos! The setting seems to go well with the figure. Akari is so sweet, certainly my favorite girl from the series. Alter did a nice job in capturing Akari’s innocence with this figure, the pose looks like a snapshot from her everyday life. makes me regret not pre-ordering her, definitely a nicely done rendition of Akari.
wieselhead
Thank you, I thought that an outdoor shoot was best for her, so I used the early morning.
Yeah Akari is truly adorable, the pose appears quite natural for her.
You can still order her I guess, in case you think you’d like her 😉
Tier
I buy a lot of figures based entirely on visual appeal, but there’s something special when you get a figure of a character you particularly like, even if the figure isn’t posed in some exciting action pose or radiating sex appeal. This might sound odd, but it’s particularly neat when the figure isn’t one that you would normally buy. I have this really weird reputation for owning a lot of hentai figures (I have no idea how that idea got started) but I was very happy when Kaitendoh did a figure of Alvis Hamilton, because Last Exile was one of the shows that got me back into anime around ten years ago, when I was drifting away from it. Actually, one character I’d really like to own a figure of is Misaki from Angelic Layer; I really liked Angelic Layer a lot and I thoguht Misaki was plucky and adorable. A figure of Hikaru would be pretty neat, too. I must admit I don’t know who Akari is, but I’m kinda imagining she’s a little like Misaki.
wieselhead
In the first place I see figures as a kind of art, even though they are mass produced things.
I rarely buy figures solely for merchandise, buying figures of mainly unknown origin is a little more interesting for me.
Only if a figure from my favorite characters turns out good enough I might want to own it.
You easily end up in this corner, when people see that you ordered three ecchi figures in a row, you’ll be put in the ecchi corner.
The normal figures will get simply ignored or are seen as tame or innocent exception. Have you already reviewed Alvis?
I haven’t seen Angelic Layer so far, to be honest. Akari is a good girl, even though the anime makes fun of her, she has a real personality.
Tier
Nah, I haven’t reviewed Alvis yet; it’s frustrating because in my mind, I think I can see exactly what picture I want to make with her, but I don’t think I have the skill or the space to pull it off.
Angelic Layer is a fun show, or at least I remember it being fun. It’s about these kids who own these little fighting dolls; they send them into tournaments to beat each other up. Uhh, I guess that’s kinda like Pokemon or something? I have to admit I don’t know anything about Pokemon at all. Other than it gets some nice ero art on Pixiv and such. Misaki’s doll is named Hikaru and she is really cute, in that 1990s style sort of way.
wieselhead
Ah I see, hopefully you can do it like you imagined someday, I’d love to see that, actually.
I like older anime in general, Cardcaptor Sakura was something I really enjoyed.
Ah Angelic Layer is something like Busou Shinki as well.
Jenn
Yes, a fellow fan of double-sleeves! It’s a look that radiates youth! Yes, sir!
Akari is too cute! I also mainly buy figures for aesthetics, but if it’s a character I enjoy, nothing will stand in my way, lack or presence or otherwise. That being said, Akari’s a great example of a simple, yet effective figure. Her pose that embodies energy without being airbourne or windswept, and she has just the right details in the right places (that blush, that adorable teddy keychain). With her perky wave, bright eyes, and a stap slipping off her shoulder, it’s like she was immortalized mid-scene! I’ve only seen a few episodes of Yuru Yuri, but I agree that this figure captures her character wonderfully.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I love your set ups. The colourful popsicle stick fence is perfect!
wieselhead
Hehe, I like wearing that style myself.
Yes she is a super adorable little thing. You’ve analyzed this very well, it appears very simple at first,
but the details know to convince and turn Akari in a little gem.
Thank you for that, a few encouraging words from time to time are really motivating.
Oh yes it is mixed, especially for my Akari 😀
kixkillradio
Am i the only one who haven’t watched the series?
By the look of the figure and her expression, Akari seems has a bright and kind personality. The figure pose seems like she’s waving to someone while she passes by or perhaps saw a friend coming. You can think of different stories and scenarios in just a simple pose. Akari worked well in your outdoor shoot. Brilliant colors and natural looking. Love it. 🙂
wieselhead
Yes!!! Well I also watched this several seasons later than the majority, it’s funny ^^
Akari is very kind, she’s too kind for her own good, but she’s happy that way.
Something like this comes to mind when looking at her, thank you very much =)
Miette-chan
Akarin~
Akari is a good girl, perfect for you, good thing you did not go for the black hearted Chinatsu. Too bad Akari got “raped” by her though.
I sure waited for this review! I don’t know why but something about this figure really attracted me even before watching Yuru Yuri. Once I did, I liked Akarin quite a bit and was sadden I wouldn’t be able to buy her. Which is why I was so anxious to see your pictures of her!
Speaking of which I like them, they remind of the into bits.
wieselhead
lol
Yeah I like good girls like her, Chinatsu looks sweet with her twintails, but she’s a horrible kid.
Well, she didn’t really get raped, but she fell victim to Chinatsu’s incompetence ^^
It took me longer unfortunately. Akari is magical haha. But but she was cheap, buy her.
Thank you 🙂
Hoshiko
She’s so adorable. And yes, always stay cheerful regardless of the circumstances!! That’s always a good spirit to have!
I think this is one of the figure that makes people smile by just looking. She looks like she’s having so much fun.
wieselhead
She’s a little sweetheart XD Sometimes it is not so easy to stay cheerfulö
Yeah indeed she makes people smile.
Bakayaro
Akariin~ … ich mochte die Serie sehr und habe viel gelacht. Jetzt wo ich die Figur sehe gefällt sie mir auch sehr gut, nur würde ich mir da einfach wünschen, dass es alle von Alter geben wird. Sonst fange ich garnicht an mir eine zu kaufen. ^^ Auch wenn sie toll aussieht.
wieselhead
Haha, ja war richtig lustig die Serie und Akari hab ich dort sehr schnell lieb gewonnen (๑>ᴗ<๑) Das ist auch ne gute Logik um weniger Figuren zu kaufen :p Aber ich denke als Gruppe wären die Figuren toll, so wie ich ALTER einschätze kommt aber wohl nix mehr TT.
Steve
Congratulation on finding a great Akarin figure. I’m still waiting for someone other than Wave to make a decent figure of Kyoko, who is my favorite character in the series..
wieselhead
thx well it wasn’t that hard. ALTER often chooses just one character of an anime, too bad they didn’t do the group in their cute uniforms.
good luck with this ^^