Kuroyagi-san’s Letter Corner! (Number 65)

Only two and a half months left of 2012!

I haven’t done a letter corner in ages… sorry everyone!

Ever since I joined GSC I’ve wanted to spread the love of figures as much as possible, but sometimes I get so pressured with work that I back into a corner and can’t get the time to do a letter corner. Fortunately I really do put whatever I like up on the blog… so I do try to add in this corner whenever I have the chance!

So… let’s get started! (`・ω・´)
Kuroyagi-san’s Letter Corner!

Please note that whatever I write in this section isn’t official – it’s just my thoughts on matters! If you’re only looking for official news, you might want to dodge this post!

I’m always following and enjoying both your blog and your twitter.

I purchased Snow Miku at both WonFes and through the website, and I was quite sad to see how differently the two came out. It was an unfortunate incident, but I haven’t lost my faith in Good Smile at all – in fact I’ve already preordered a number of other upcoming figures, and I trust they’ll all be great!
– Anonymous

Hello! I hope you’re well!

It seems like Snow Miku is causing quite a lot of trouble, so I hope you’re not too stressed! Both Mikatan and the GSC Support team are all so kind, so I’m sure everything will work out fine! I’m looking forward to all the cute figures that’ll be announced soon! Good luck!
– Tabu

Once again I’d like to apologize for all the problems that arose regarding the Nendoroid Snow Miku: Fluffy Coat Ver. Replacement parts are being sent out in order of the orders on the site, so you should have received, or be receiving a mail regarding the shipment shortly if you ordered her!

Many people sent in encouraging emails regarding the matter, and I’ve read through each and every one of them – thanks to everyone and sorry for the concern. There are many factors that come into the manufacturing of the figures, and with the constant attempts to improve quality, the increase of customers and the state of affairs in China, many problems can arise during production. That said, we will of course be doing everything in our power to make sure that everyone who ordered Miku is happy with their purchase.

Changing the subject a bit, I’ll be visiting China myself next year! I’ll be checking all the products with my own eyes and I’ll be reporting back to everyone about how the manufacturing line is looking in China!

What ever happened to the rerelease of Zetsubou-sensei that you mentioned on your blog back on the 11th July? You said he’d be rereleased soon, but it’s been over three months now!

I hope I didn’t somehow miss the rerelease or something…
– Anonymous

Sorry for the delay!!!

The rerelease is still being prepared, but he should be announced for rerelease soon! Keep your eyes on the blog, I’ll let you know as soon as he is available again!

Something I’ve been wondering about the figure making business… do the publishers request figure companies create figures of their products, or do the figure companies need to ask permission from the publishers to make figures from their series?
– Batten

Both possibilities can occur!

In most cases, the planning team will go to the publishers with their plans and ask permission, however recently there have been a number of requests coming from the other direction as well! It’s most common with Nendoroids, which I think it shows just how many people love Nendoroids!

I’m so glad to see the UtaPuri Nendoroid Petites!!
If there are 8 characters in one large box, does that mean there is a secret character? I can’t wait to find out!!
– Anonymous

You probably know by now, but there is a secret character!

You’ll have to wait and see who it is though! It is a secret character after all! They release next month, so you’ll be able to have the princes by your side shortly! (・∀・)ノ

Hello! I’m a big fan of your blog! I was fortunate to win some things in the Miku lots, and I heard there will be a new set of prizes in Winter, have they been decided yet?
– Anonymous

The FamilyMart x Miku HAPPY Lots officially start tomorrow, but many of the stores had already been running the lots since yesterday… apparently many of the stores have been absolutely packed.

I’m sure this probably will just make me look like a sore loser, but I feel that the supply and demand is not well structured for the lots. The chances of getting the GSC figures is so slim, and the bulk of people that win them simply buy endless lots and then put the winnings up for resale at exorbitant prices. It makes people like me who really want to win very unmotivated to even try.

Is it not possible to have the products available as made-to-order products at a later stage after the lots? I’m a huge fan of Miku and the Nendoroid series, and it makes me quite depressed to see that I can’t get my hands on some of the products without a slight stroke of luck.

– Wasabi

I received quite a lot of mail regarding the Miku HAPPY Lots, and let me first say that your concerns have been noted, and thank you for the suggestion. Unfortunately due to the fact that the project is also largely in collaboration with FamilyMart and Miku , I don’t have very much say in the matter… I do however wish to apologise that we cannot simply sell the product to all the fans who want to get their hands on it. Figures are actually a fairly expensive commodity for students and the younger generation, so I think the possibility of getting a figure from a lot is quite a nice option for some!

As has been announced, there will be another set of Vocaloid lots this Winter that Good Smile Company will be associated with once again, however the prizes have not yet been announced. There will be more information available sometime in November, so just be patient a little while longer!

A quick question, do figures kept in their boxes have any risk of getting damaged over time? I have many unopened figures and I’ve become concerned about whether or not they’re safe like that.
– Anonymous

It depends on the product, but certain products will become kind of sticky on the surface if left in their boxes for a number of years. I asked the manufacturing team for a more detailed explanation, and they had this to say:

One of the raw materials for PVC plastic is oil, and when it remains in hot and humid conditions over a long period of time while still sealed, the oil-based plasticizing agent included in the products exudes onto the surface of the product causing it to become somewhat volatile. Removing the figures from the sealed state and into the open air prevents this from occurring, so it is a better idea to display your figures out of the boxes.

There you have it! It’s a good idea to either display the figures out of the box, or at least take them out for some air once in awhile. That said, it’s very unlikely that any other degradation will occur to figures kept in the boxes (except perhaps the loss of color from UV rays if they are stored in a sunny area). It all comes down to keeping good care of your figures so they can last as long as possible!

In the requests of figure polls, a scale figure of KAITO was one of the most requested figures, are there any plans to make him into a scale figure? Please tell me there are!! I look forward to seeing the sexy KAITO as a scale figure by my side!
– Rokuro

I’d really love to see a figma of KAITO. I’ve got the Nendoroid, but figmas were the reason I got into figures, so I’d love to see a figma of him as well!

My request might fall on deaf ears, but I thought I had to at least try!
– Herumetta

I want them too!! Σ(´Д｀)

KAITO was high in multiple places of the polls, so he is being considered for figures!! Personally I’d love to see a figma as well – I want to be able to display him on my desk in a new way each and every day!

Your blog is always so playful and yet still very respectable, I often read the blog on my phone while riding on the train and end up bursting into laugher as everyone around stares at me suspiciously. When I found out you were really a girl I was really quite surprised! You always seem to notice the exact same details as me, and I’m a middle-aged guy! :P

DIY Figure Repairs Part 1: Broken Joints
DIY Figure Repairs Part 2: Reinforcing Joints
DIY Figure Repairs Part 3: Scuffed Paint

I made a secret base for Nendo Menma! But she’s all alone, which is a bit sad… I think she’s hoping for some of the other Super Peace Busters to join the Nendoroid universe! ^^
– Annon

This is lovely!! Σ(ﾟ∀ﾟ*)

The texture of the wood and the walls is incredibly realistic! I also the the use of light! It must also go up quite high for a Nendoroid-sized secret base! It really makes me want to listen to anything that Menma might want…

An angelic Miku descended from the heavens down in front of my TV, so I grabbed a quick photo! I only had my iPhone as a camera… but it allowed me to apply a rather interesting effect!
– Anonymous

It’s like Append Miku is in some sort of commercial!

I believe you sent an equally lovely picture of Aigis in the past, also with an iPhone. It’s amazing how well you manage to take pictures with an iPhone! The quality of the camera is only one side, you also need a good sense for taking pictures, and I think you excel in that department!

Hello! I love reading your blog! The hot summer months are quite unbearable at times, but this Nendoroid suits the season so nicely! Plus she looks great displayed with the ocean!
– Ander B

Ika-chan looks so adorable!!

The little footsteps in the sand look like she has been pit pattering around! That expression looks happier than ever now that she’s by the ocean!

Viva outdoor photos!

Nice to meet you Mikatan! I’m a girl living in Hyougo prefecture.
The other day I picked up my Cuirassier, so I took her with me when I went fishing at Kobe Park! The area was seen in Fate/Zero which made me really happy to be a local! You should come down and visit sometime!
– Yuki

I love seeing figures in locations from the series!

As a Fate fan, I think the first place I’d like to go is Fuyuki bridge! When the 1/1 scale Cuirassier was touring around Japan, there was some discussion about taking it down to the bridge, but there was no time in the end. One day…!!

I was fortunate enough to enjoy the Miku events at Hakkeijima! I decided to take a Nendoroid Miku commemoration photo to remember the Summer!

Always looking forward to your blog updates!
– Kitsune to Figure na Hibi

I hope everyone enjoyed the 39’s CARAVAN event at Hakkeijima!

I went along with some of the GSC staff over the long weekend – the combination of the lovely ocean scenery and Miku was wonderful! My personal favorite was the ‘Deep Sea Goddess’ that was inside a giant water tank – there was a little eel sleeping underneath her twin-tails which made me laugh. ^^

My Nendoroid Gakupo has arrived!! He’s so awesome!! I want a figma next!!
– Anonymous

So cute! I can feel the love!!

I’m so glad to see that Gakupo was so popular with the fans! I hope that you’re all looking forward to the recently announced GUMI Nendoroid as well! The ‘feudal lord’ expression you’re using in this picture is such a lovely expression part too… you can use it with any Nendoroid with ease!

I’ve been looking forward to Sanya for ages, and she finally arrived! She’s adorable, and I’m very happy with her! The first thing I did was recreate this scene from the 6th episode of the 1st season and took a photo! Now I’m just waiting with Eila to display with her!
– Tanupon

How beautiful!! (*ﾟ∀ﾟ)=3

Is the left side making use of the figma archetype? It makes it surprisingly sexy to have one bare leg like that!!

I love outdoor photography, but I must say that the digital backgrounds like this one are also lovely to see! You can even simply take a picture with the monitor in the background for quite a nice effect!

I love reading your blog every day! I was playing around when I took this photo, I hope you’ll enjoy it!
– Anonymous

Nendoroids playing games!

What a relaxing picture! I want to join them!! 。・゜・(ノД`)・゜・。

Millhi is playing on the Super Famicon… I wonder what she’s playing? I’m not even sure if the younger readers of this blog will know of the SNES anymore…

Nice to meet you! I’m a fellow girl that recently got into Nendoroids! My very first Nendoroid was bought by my parents for me… it was Nendoroid Sonic, and as a Sonic fan I couldn’t explain how happy I was to see him! I was so excited! It’s been one month since I grabbed him, and so I decided to take a photo together with Miku to celebrate!

– Anonymous

Be sure to thank your parents!! (；∀；)

It’s like they jumped out from the 3DS screen – you can even see the respective games at their feet! I hope you have lots more fun with your Nendoroids!

Dear Mikatan:

This is the first time I write a letter to you, so maybe I am a little bit nervous… But first I must say: Thank you for all your excellent work~ I love GSC and I love mikatan too~

It is summer here in Hong Kong and I couldn’t stop myself from taking some photos of one of my most beloved figures: Ryuna. She just rose above the surface and she was there like a waterlily, with all the silent trees, all the silent water around. The only problem was I had to jump into the water to take this and later I caught a cold…

So, that’s all~ Hope we will meet again~

– Ateens

A message from overseas!!

She really looks like a true Goddess in this photo! The drops of water on the figure make it so much more beautiful – not to mention the lovely reflection of her legs in the water!! The contrast of the white swimsuit and the green background is also stunning! It’s amazing how wonderful a photo you can create even with the figure facing away from the camera – this is a perfect example!

So many of the photos that come from overseas have such unique ideas, they give me so many wonderful ideas!

Mikatan! I finally found this rare, adorable snail here in Hokkaido! She was in one of the hydrangeas that flower in July!
– Anonymous

Hachikuji!!

The slightly faded colors and use of light really make for a very gentle picture! I hope you took the poor lost snail home with you!!

That brings this Kuroyagi-san’s Letter Corner to an end!

Thanks to everyone who sent in messages! There were so many photos I just didn’t have time to show here on the blog, but I read through every single one of them, and as always, I’m looking for more mail from readers!

If you have any questions, photos, product requests, want to talk about what you ate today, your goals for the last two months of the year… no matter what you want to talk about, send it through to me! Girls and boys both welcome!

 
(ﾟ∀ﾟ) Mikatan Mail
mikatan-b@goodsmile.jp

Anyway, that’s all for today!
I hope to see you all again tomorrow!! (・∀・)ノ゛