When I was lamenting over the lack of new Power Rangers seasons a few weeks ago (during my Armorsaur reviews), it made me wonder about the Super Sentai seasons that never make the jump to the US market after Hasbro slammed on the brakes back in 2020. And the funny thing is, when I started to to look at the six un-translated series since Dino Fury/Cosmic Fury, I realized I had purchased this toy years ago and promptly forgot about it. The 45th Super Sentai series from 2021-22 was Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger. Without any western-hemisphere version to help me fully understand the series, I am admittedly a bit confused. But I know that the main team is made up of one human and four kikainoids - mechanical humanoid aliens. Magine is the Pink Ranger of the team and the token female kikainoid. This figure is depicting the powered-up Zenkai Magine who transforms into Magine Dragon. She has an amazing design and I'm so glad I picked her up years ago. Let's check out Magine below!
UNITING ALL WOMEN OF PLASTIC
Showing posts with label Pink. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pink. Show all posts
Sunday, June 14, 2026
Kikai Sentai Zenkaiger - ZENKAI MAGINE!
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
Yo Gabba Gabba - FOOFA!
I walked into FiveBelow last week and was overjoyed to find this small articulated Foofa figure. Believe it or not, I've wanted to add this character to my collection for almost two decades, but was unable to find a toy that wasn't plush or a simple PVC figurine. I love flower-themed characters, weird preschool properties, and I was obsessed with Yo Gabba Gabba! in my early thirties. If you're unaware, this show was bizarrely cool. It was created by musicians... specifically alt rock indy/punk band members who wanted a better show for their kids. Kidrobot designed the character models and awesome bands regularly appeared doing original kid's songs in their unique styles. The characters even went to Coachella 15 years ago when it was still cool. My favorite band appearances/songs were The Faint, The Killers, and The Shins (Youtube them!). The show was just fun. Foofa is the token girl of the five main characters. She is a pink "flower bubble" and I always loved her design. Let's check her out below!
Friday, April 3, 2026
Super Mario Bros - BIRDO!
Birdo is easily my favorite villain in the entire Mario Bros franchise. It's not just because she's the most notable female character, either (and, yes, I'm aware her gender is a matter of debate and speculation, but I have always assumed she was female and will keep doing so until there is some official statement otherwise). Rather, I think she was the first villain that had an interesting presence in the games. The fact that she hopped around protecting an egg, while confusingly spitting other eggs at you - and the only way to defeat her was to catch her own eggs mid-flight and toss them back at her - was twisted and weird. I loved it. And the noise that accompanied her egg-launching was oddly haunting. Jakks has been nailing it with their Nintendo (and Sonic) figures. There hasn't been a single one that has been poorly sculpted or problematic in any way. I've been waiting several years for this upscaled Birdo in the 4" Jakks line but she was worth the wait. She looks amazing. Let's check out Birdo below!
Saturday, February 28, 2026
Transformers Blokees - ARCEE!
It's amazing how quickly Blokees have become one of the most popular collectibles out there. Every store I stop in has displays or counterboxes. The mom and pop stores seem to have the best selection, followed by FYE, and then Walmart and other big box stores are good for a counter box or two. They seem to be filling in the void left by the dwindling selection of Funko product. The selection of female characters is not very impressive overall, but every one I buy I like better than the last and the lines are so prolific that there will undoubtedly be more. At the very least I predict Arcee to be repainted as a green Paradron Medic in the near future. When I went into my local toy shop yesterday, I was excited to see the Series 9 counterbox. I had been keeping my eye out for this new wave for months. But to my dismay, there were only two boxes left. One weighed a lot, and one was light as a feather. I took a gamble and bought the light one.. and huzzah! Got her. Let's check out the Arcee Blokees below!
Friday, September 19, 2025
Transformers Furai Model Kit - ARCEE!
I've been hesitant when it comes to purchasing heavily stylized Transformers toys over the years. I specifically mean the super-detailed, almost cinematic, figures made for the Asian toy markets. Some of these are 3rd Party, and some are officially licensed by Hasbro. But while the male characters look strong, dynamic, and interesting, the predominant trait for the female characters is often sex appeal. The Arcee (Nicee) figure from Big Fire Bird (and all her retools/repaints) is a prime example. The figure features enormous organic-looking breasts on slim robotic body. I find it bizarre and off-putting personally. For a long time, I judged these Furai Model Kits in the same way. There is definitely some intended titillation in the underwear region (there is always a thong motif and a pronounced pubic mound), but at least they look largely robotic. The true reason I caved and picked up a couple of these, though, is that I love putting together action figure model kits. This one was very satisfying. Let's check out Arcee below!
Monday, August 11, 2025
Auldey Transformers - ELITA-ONE!
I'm thrilled with the Alpha Elita Transformers blind box figures from Auldey. In quick succession they have given us the two most iconic female Transformers in amazing G1 designs and for a very reasonable price (for blind box imports of course). No, these figures do not actually transform. But for a collector of fembots with a penchant for classic animation designs, the modern Hasbro and Takaratomy transforming toys have so much kibble that the sleek animation references get lost pretty quickly. I realize that the female autobots in the G1 cartoon defied physics with their transformations even more than the male characters did, and that's exactly why these figures are so great. We've seen some great figures of Bumblebee, Megatron, and Optimus Prime that both closely resemble their animated appearance and also transform, but for the female characters we haven't been so lucky. Their petite designs just can't contain the sheer mass of their vehicle forms without a miracle of modern engineering.
Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Transformers One - ELITA-1!
The Transformers Studio Series Deluxe Class line can be a bit confusing with their releases. In the Transformers One movie from last year, Elita-1 was a major character. She is in all the big scenes and she is in the core group of all the promotional images, but her Deluxe Studio Series figure didn't come out for a year after her contemporaries. And with the last big theatrical movie, Transformers Rise of the Beasts, they released figures of Airazor and Nightbird, but skipped on Arcee. The Airazor was essentially a concept design (not in the film) and Nightbird's scenes were so quick that you never got a great look. And with the Bumblebee (2018) film, the two ladies (Shatter and Arcee) were released 15 months and 43 months after the premiere (whereas the leading male characters are on the shelves before the movie is released). This Elita-1 got the same predictable delay, but she's basically the quintessential TFOne Elita released so far, so she was worth the wait. Let's check her out below!
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Auldey Transformers One - ELITA-1!
When I got my first Auldey Transformers figure last month (a beautiful G1 Arcee), I instantly started researching what other toys this company had made. I knew there was a G1 Elita-1 coming in wave two, but a quick search on eBay pulled up a bunch of listings for this Transformers One Elita figure that I previously knew nothing about. All the images I saw were clearly digital renderings, but I was so impressed by Arcee, that I bought this figure blindly. I was admittedly surprised when the figure arrived in a simple (printed) cardboard shipper box with a plastic tray inside. She was nearly twice and tall as the Arcee from a few weeks before and she was essentially a statue with almost no articulation. She was inexpensive so I wasn't upset, but I had a lot of errant preconceived notions I needed to accept. But the fact that she still looks very cool and imposing (she's about the same height as the large Yolopark Cogged Elita-1 figure) makes me glad to have her in my collection. Let's check out Elita-1 below!
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
MiniForce: Super Dino Power - LUCY!
With the myriad of MiniForce product that have saturated the Asian toy market since 2014, it was surprising that a 1:18 action figure line (with associated in-scale mecha) didn't hit the market for six years. I feel like similarly-themed Super Sentai toys in the American market seem to hit the shelves right away. But it wasn't until the fifth season, MiniForce Super Dinosaur Power Season 1, that this line finally got made. Interestingly, the core MiniForce Agents were released in a variety of sets with different transforming armor or beasts over the course of several years and from several different toy manufacturers, but the human figures seemingly stayed the same throughout. Therefore I wasn't picky about which 3.75" Lucy set I ordered, but I'm glad I got one with her Triceratops beast because I love a good human-and-steed combo. I only wish there were more costumed female characters in this show so I could get more toys. Although with current shipping and tariffs, maybe that's a blessing. Let's check out Lucy below!
Friday, June 13, 2025
Auldey Transformers - ARCEE!
With all the movie and modern television versions of Arcee and Elita-1 action figures filling the toy shelves in recent years, it is really nice to see a series super classic G1 figures. Auldey is Chinese company with origins making knockoff racecar toys and yoyos in the early 90s. Over the years, they have legitimized their business and become well-known for producing toys from popular brands like Pokemon and Super Wings. But this Transformers blind box series is the first thing that got me excited. The sculpts are very representative of the 80's animated look and the figure scales vary drastically depending on the character.. but reflect the actual character scale in the vintage cartoon. (Arcee is on the small side). This was my first Auldey purchase but I have a movie Elita-1 on the way and there is a classic G1 Elita-1 coming in wave 2. I'm very hopeful we might see some more classic ladies. I for some reason keep envisioning a Firestar as a chase figure. Here's hoping! Let's check out Arcee below!
Saturday, May 31, 2025
Transformers Busts - ARCEE!
With all the great G1 Arcee products we've seen in the last two decades, it's amazing to look back and see one of the first official pieces to capture the token Transformers female in all her glory. The Heroes of Cybertron PVC figure was released at least five years earlier, but this DST sculpt celebrated her in a whole new way. It's still shocking to think they they only made 1000 of this mini-bust (and only 600 of Elita One). Back in the early 2000s, mini-busts were all the rage. So many different companies were producing them and every comic specialty store had display cases full of beautiful little statues. I avoided them for as long as I could (purely for budgetary reasons). But just a few months earlier I had purchased my first (Firestar). Arcee and Elita One were my next two purchases. Now I can't even count how many I have. But even through those multitudes, these Transformers busts stand out as perfect collectibles from a time when these characters had almost no representation. Let's check out Arcee below!
Friday, May 30, 2025
Transformers Busts - ELITA ONE!
For roughly seven years, this was the only Elita One piece in my collection (I now have over twenty). As much as I've always embraced her as a key character in Transformers lore, the tragic truth is that she had only appeared in a single G1 episode (that most diehard Transformers bros hated). And my handful of Transformers friends had never even heard of her. So this bust was a dream come true for me. She has a perfect classic sculpt from Mark Wong and I didn't hesitate at all to buy her. She was actually my second ever order from BBTS and also my second ever mini-bust purchase (after the 2007 Firestar Bust that opened the floodgates). The only downside to this purchase was my overinflated expectations. I either heard a rumor of a Chromia or just imagined it, but either way I was a little deflated they only made two fembots. But I'm so glad Diamond Select Toys made the first official classically-inspired female Transformers products. Let's check out Elita One below!
Monday, May 26, 2025
Transformers Authentics - ELITA-1!
The newfound A-list status of Elita-1 continues with this basic series figure from the Transformers Authentics line. This is an inexpensive, yet official, line made by Hasbro for stores like FiveBelow, Dollar General, and Family Dollar. There are several different scales for this line, but so far the female figures (Arcee and now Elita-1) have only been in the smallest Bravo Class style. The roster of these figures is pretty exclusive with only the top-tier characters making the cut. Ever since her leading role in 2020's War For Cybertron animated series on Netflix, Elita-1's popularity has been on a steady climb and she has been the go-to token fembot ever since (in Earthspark, Transformers One, Cyberworld, etc). I've always adored this character so I'm thrilled she is finally in the spotlight and getting an abundance of long overdue merchandising. While this isn't the greatest toy in the world, I considered her inclusion in this line a badge of honor. Let's check out the Transformers Authentics Elita-1 below!
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Dr. Wu - ALIE!
I find it endlessly amusing that the best Elita-1 figures come from unofficial 3rd Party companies. I've thought the various official Hasbro releases have been pretty great. But each one has something a little off about it. This Dr. Wu (Mechanic Toys) Amie figure is a prime example of how this character should be done every time. I'm a sucker for the original 80's cartoon designs so the modern interpretations that take artistic liberty with proportions and structure will always take second fiddle to a super classic look like this. The original batch of Dr. Wu fembots came out back in 2022 (at the same time as a competitor line from NewAge), and I was always sad that an Elita-1 homage was excluded from the lineup and replaced by endless Arcee variants. It took a few years, but they finally produced this late-release Amie and I couldn't be happier. This is quite possibly the nicest Elita-1 figure ever. If she were a larger 6-7" scale, she would be perfect. Let's check out this beautiful 3rd Party Elita-1 in detail below!
Friday, April 18, 2025
Transformers Movie - ARCEE (G1 COLORS)!
When I first started collecting female action figures as an adult (circa 2002), I was really resistant to anything pink. I felt it was a reductive and 'simple' design choice. At least that's what I told myself. In retrospect, I realize I felt shame at the prospect of having a Billy bookshelf loaded with pink toys in the corner of my bedroom. Thank goodness I was able to shake off those deep-rooted societal hangups eventually. But the unfortunate fallout from my arrested development, is that the very pink figures I sneered at back then have become nearly unobtainable holy grails to my older (and wiser) self. This Wonder Festival Japan Arcee is a prime example. She was available on eBay and other sites back in 2008, but I scoffed at the "forced femininity" of her pastel deco and ignored her. It took many many years to finally get her into my collection, but I can only blame myself for that delay. I think this is a landmark figure and deserves more recognition. Let's check out the Wonder Festival Arcee below!
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
Miniforce X - LUCYBOT!
This figure has been a thorn in my side for many years. I have ordered her multiple times but have been scammed repeatedly. Recently I tried again, after a several year hiatus, and was successful. Albeit, for a knockoff version, as the original is now scarce and expensive. The anthropomorphic fox character, Lucy, has had several bot forms over the many seasons of Miniforce, but I love this one because it looks the most like a G1 Transformer. Miniforce (and many other kid-focused South Korean shows I've seen) is amazing because it blends genres seamlessly. Lucy is a cute cartoony pink fox that would appeal to very young children. But when the action arises, she can change into a human Super-Sentai-esque warrior. And then that human form can pilot different robot mecha (like we see here), and then those bots even combine into a mega-bot. I can imagine kids growing with this series and just latching on to different aspects as their interests change. It's rather genius. Let's check out the knockoff Lucybot below!
Monday, January 13, 2025
GoGo Dino - VIKI MECHA!
GoGo Dino is a long-running South Korean animated preschool show that first aired in 2016. The character designs look similar to Super Wings, another South Korean import, but instead of aircraft, they are all cutesy robot dinosaurs (see the box side below). I regularly dive into Korean pop culture to check out the toys, so I've been aware of the property for almost ten years, but I wasn't interested until I saw this new toyline. The newest iteration of the show has the five main robo-dinos transform into cool humanoid mecha. Two things to know: the popularity of this show apparently exploded in China and production of the shows seems to have moved there. The show logo on the packaging translates to "Bang Bang Dragon Adventure Pioneer 2", but who knows what the title will be when it is finally adapted for English audiences. The mecha each has an additional elemental theme, so Viki is a Brachiosaurus as well as "Water" alongside teammates Thunder, Hurricane, Fire, etc. Let's check out Viki below!
Sunday, November 24, 2024
Sonic - CLASSIC AMY ROSE!
Jakks Pacific is really rounding out their 4" Sonic the Hedgehog line. This 4" Classic Amy Rose is the last of the current 2.5" female characters to be also released in 4" scale. Of course, there are several that go the other way (we still need a 2.5" Blaze the Cat and Cream the Rabbit). Plus there is a rumored 2.5" Trip the Sungazer coming soon, that will hopefully also get a larger figure. Amy Rose wore this classic green shirt and orange skirt outfit from her introduction in 1993's Sonic the Hedgehog CD through 1997's Sonic R. After that, she started wearing the red and white dress we know as "Modern Amy." I was worried that I would never be able to find this figure because most stores aren't stocking the main video game line in favor of Netflix Sonic Prime and Sonic 3 figures. You see those solid-pack pegs of Sonic himself, but the actual full waves have been scarce. Luckily I found her at Target last week (laying face down on a shelf in the wrong aisle... but I'm not complaining). Let's check out Amy below!
Thursday, November 14, 2024
Transformers - ARCEE (ONLY HUMAN)!
There are only a handful of classic Transformers episodes that are still fused into my brain as an adult, and amazingly most of them have managed to get action figures. An iconic episode for me was Only Human (S3 E23, November 1986) wherein Ultra Magnus, Springer, Rodimus Prime, and Arcee fall victim to a plot by the mysterious Old Snake (Cobra Commander in disguise) and have their consciousnesses transferred into humanoid synthoids while their empty robot bodies are piloted as weapons by the bad guys. Three figures were released based on this episode; Arcee, Rodimus Prime, and Old Snake. (Springer, Ultra Magnus, and Victor Drath prototypes were shown at conventions, but never produced). This episode is quite well-known for linking the Transformers and G.I.Joe universes (even if it's just strongly implied), so producing these club-exclusive Transformers figures using G.I.Joe body construction was a genius move. They are pretty amazing. Let's check out Only Human Arcee below!
Saturday, September 7, 2024
Transformers EarthSpark - ELITA-1!
When I started collecting action figures as an adult, fembots were basically nonexistant. But now there are a ton. Since January 2023, there have been 30 official female Transformers released (and that's not even counting the awesome 3rd Party figures). But along with the collector-friendly deluxe figures, these characters are also now released as gimmicky lower-level figures, too (a luxury that was limited to only the male characters for decades). These figures can look pretty cheap and cheesy (ex: Tacticons and 1-Step Changers). But I'm a completist for most fembots so they still end up in my collection. I recently splurged and bought all the TakaraTomy Japanese releases of the EarthSpark ladies and I was impressed at how a few added paint details can improve their visual appeal. This 1-Step Changer Elita-1 from TakaraTomy has paint on her forearms, shoulders, chest, and forehead (all of which were lazily unpainted in the Hasbro version) and it's a big improvment. Let's check out the updated Elita-1 below!
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