Actar’s Acquisitions – December 2014 and January 2015

It’s 2015 and we can’t send our cars in for a hover conversion… Color me disappointed!

Actar’s Reviews 221 – Bandai’s Official Cardcaptor Sakura Star Wand (DX Star Power Set)

It is definitely a monumental milestone in my collecting life as I finally attain the last piece necessary to complete my Cardcaptor Sakura collection, the DX Star Power Set featuing Sakura’s Star Wand.

This also means that this is the final installment of our Cardcaptor Sakura series of reviews. I really do hope that you’ve enjoyed this series of reviews and I also hope that they have helped fellow Cardcaptor Sakura fans.

Birthday, June and Late May Acquisions

With all the Birthday shenanigans and tomfoolery out of the way, it’s time to count up my acquisitions. This post will not only consist of the stuff I got for my Birthday (both as gifts and self-indulging), but also stuff that I’ve been accumulating over the past month.

 

– Yamato’s 1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-19 Kai Fire Valkyrie
– Actsta Fate Testarossa
– Figma Koyomi Araragi
– Figma Ayanami Rei
– S.H.Figuarts Faiz Blaster Form

– Composite Ver. Ka Shinkiro
– Figma Kousaka Kirino
– Rubber Keychains: Misaka Mikoto, Misaka Imouto, Last Order

– Misakaa Imouto Plush Doll
– Figma Senjogahara Hitagi
– Puella Magi Madoka Magica BD Vol. 1
– Nanoha The Movie 1st iPhone 4 Case Fate Magic Circle Ver.
– Imaichi Moe Nai Ko Strap

– DX Kaixa Blaygun
– Tamashii Stage W Act
– S.I.C. Kamen Rider Faiz
– Baka to Test to Shoukanjuu Guide Book

– DX Accel Driver
– Faiz Axel Watch
– DX Metal Shaft
– Ichiban Kuji Fuuto-kun Keychain

– Bandai’s DX Star Power Set (YES!!!)
– Digivolving Gallantmon/Dukemon Figure

– Robot Damashii Codarl
– S.H.Figuarts Cure Sunshine
– D-Arts Beezlemon
– Amiami Exclusive Chibi Icaros Figure
– Amiami Exclusive Chibi Astrea Figure

– Digivolving Imperialdramon Paladin Mode Figure
– Digivolving Agnimon Figure

– Figma Misaka Imouto
– Figma Misaka Imouto
– Figma Misaka Imouto
– Figma Misaka Imouto
– Figma Misaka Imouto

– Nendoroid Panty
– Nendoroid Stocking
– Dual Model Kit Optimus Prime

– Alter’s 1/8 Scale Kazari Uiharu
– GSC’s 1/7 Scale Tosaka Rin
– GSC’s 1/8 Scale Tenshi

– Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu Complete Blu-Ray Box

– Ga-Rei Zero R1 Hybrid Box Set

– Kamen Rider 555 Movie: Paradise Lost BD

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Comments:

The “Americanisation” of Cardcaptor Sakura

Picture by artist Moonknives, who does the most gorgeous Sakura art.

Taking a course on Contemporary Japanese Popular Culture this past semester, I was fortunate to find myself in the company of many other like-minded people who shared my passion for Japanese Animation and the preservation of its originality. For our class research paper, we decided to do it on the Americanisation of Anime, using the series that I and my group mates adore, Cardcaptor Sakura, as a case study. Since term is now over, and after consulting with them, it is my pleasure to bring you our paper in it’s unadulterated form.

Do note that this is somewhat different from the other articles that you have read on this blog due to the nature of it being an academic paper. Not to mention, do be prepared for a ton of text as I don’t think I’ll be putting any pictures in this article beyond this point. However, if you are a fan of Cardcaptor Sakura or Anime and just want to know what went on/goes on behind the scenes, I do believe it’s worth a read. Do also note that the paper will be in standard British English.

The paper is written by myself, Jovi, Wei Lun and Anmari.

Without further ado:

Actar’s Reviews 183 – Bandai’s Official Card Captor Sakura Sakura Cards Set (2nd Movie Version)

The final Sakura Card set released by Bandai is based on the Second Cardcaptor Sakura Movie – Sakura and the Sealed Card. While not as extravagant as the sets before it, it still comes with enough to make it a decent release in its own right.

RELEASE!!!

Same Voice, Different Character and Vice Versa

Now, as there are very few good voice talents out there, it is natural that some voice actors are reused. There are cases where they are able to change their voice so much that they sound completely different, but still deliver perfect dialogue.

Actar’s Reviews 182 – Bandai’s Official Card Captor Sakura Clow Wand/Sealing Staff Role Play Toy

What’s a magical girl without her Staff? It’s time to ‘Release!’ with Sakura once again as we take a look at another entry in Bandai’s series of Card Captor Sakura toys, this time, it’s her signature bird headed Sealing Staff.

RELEASE!!!

CDP: Creating My Dream Sakura Doll

Being a self-proclaimed die-hard fan of the series Cardcaptor Sakura and the titular heroine, Kinomoto Sakura, I have been simply distraught over the fact that up to this date, no ‘good’ figure of Sakura has been released. From what I’ve gathered after prowling through auction sites and CCS Fan Sites, the only completed PVC figures of Sakura were all lower quality prize figures or trading figures. As for dolls/action figures, Bandai has released an entire plethora of ‘Bendy Dolls’ in their old ‘Free Pose Selection” range.

The main bodies of these dolls are made of a bendy plastic/rubber type material. While they do look good in some poses while appearing seamless, they look awkward in others and are a chore to pose.

What is one to do in this situation?

Actar’s Reviews 150: Bandai’s Official Card Captor Sakura Sakura Book and Card Set

Continuing with the Card Captor Sakura series of replica reviews, we take a look at the Sakura Card and Book set released by Bandai in 2000.

Actar’s Reviews 149 – Bandai’s Official Card Captor Sakura Clow Book and Card Set

Remember the Clow Book and Clow Card set I reviewed before? Well, while that one was good in it’s own right, it was far from accurate to the show counterpart. Today, I bring you the officially licensed, by CLAMP, CardCaptor Sakura Clow Book and Clow Card set produced by Bandai in 1999.