SH Figuarts Ahsoka review
I’ve picked up my fair share of Hasbro’s Black Series figures. I’m not a hardcore figure collector but the Black Series felt like the sweet spot between affordability and detail, to get something cool for the shelf, display case or desk. That said, when I was in Japan for Star Wars Celebration, wandering through Akihabara opened my eyes. I was blown away by the sheer variety and quality of figures on display.
SH Figuarts, Mafex, and more, a huge range compared to anything I’d seen in the UK and brands that are much harder to come by were everywhere. As somebody who usually only buys figures that wear helmets, for fear of poor head sculpts, I was surprised with the one figure that caught my eye: the SH Figuarts Ahsoka Tano.
Right off the bat, the accuracy of the face sculpt really impressed me, so I took a closer look, and the detail didn’t stop there. Compared to the standard Hasbro offering, it felt like a real step up. The figure overall was impressive on the eye but there’s a level of realism in the sculpt, especially in the face option with gritted teeth, that makes it feel less like a toy and more like a real collectable.
The articulation and customisable optionality of this figure were also genuinely impressive for a first timer to this sort of brand. You can really customise the look to suit the memory or moment you want to recreate, and I didn’t know I needed ankle AND toe articulation. The elbows, wrists and shoulders all move so much I had to keep checking I was posing it in a way that was physically possible for an arm, and the knees and hips help allow for some incredibly dynamic poses. Crouching, leaping, or something more stationary.
I also picked up a flight stand in Japan, something that never ocured to me for Black Series figures, and it really takes this figure to the next level. With the stand, you can play around with all sorts of mid-air poses. Its particularly effective because Ahsoka comes with her two lightsabers, so you can create some really cool positions that look like shes in combat, inspiring memories of fight scenes from Ahsoka or The Mandalorian.
Speaking of sabers, Figuarts knocked it out the park with the accessories in my opinion. Alongside her two lightsabers, Ahsoka comes with two swappable faces (as I mentioned, unbelievable sculpts), three pairs of hands, a soft goods robe, and the map to Grand Admiral Thrawn (both damaged and sphere versions). The lightsaber blades themselves are also a standout, and I think quite common for Figuarts. Each saber has a straight blade and interchangeable “swooshing” version that simulate motion for those dynamic poses. Hasbro has recently introduced a similar feature for Black Series.
In terms of downsides, there aren’t many. However, I did find the soft goods cape quite rigid and tricky to pose so that it looks like its falling naturally, especially the hood. It doesn’t quite sit as cleanly as I’d hoped, but its less of a problem if you pose the figure to look like its jumping. Its probably possible to soften the cape to address this with some heat or treatment.
I was also disappointed to find that when I got the saber blades out of the box, and put them into the hilts, the narrower ‘nub’ that slots into the hilt to hold it in place broke almost immediately. It didn’t appear faulty, and it didn’t snap suddenly, the blade almost wilted as if it the plastic was too soft or thin to hold it. It was a very hot day which may have softened the plastic, and I don’t think its a common issue, so I am giving the benefit of the doubt to what is otherwise an exceptionally tooled figure. Though I am contacting Figuarts for their feedback.
Overall, SH Figuarts Ahsoka is definitely more of a premium-priced figure, currently retailing around £80 for the UK (though it was more affordable to purchase in Japan, much closer to Black Series prices). However the jump in quality—from the sculpt to the articulation to the accessories—is absolutely noticeable. Especially as Black Series prices are catching up fast.
For me this is a special momento of my trip to Japan, and foray through Akihabara. But, for fans of the character or collectors looking to step up from the Black Series, I may have limited experience but for me this is a no brainer if you can tolerate the price tag or pick one up on the streets of Tokyo.
MTFBWY
