Bandai's Gashapon capsule toy brand, known for its intricately sculpted and precisely sized bishoujo figures, recently announced the latest additions to its "HG GIRLS" series. Coming from the popular completed manga series "ARIA," the new "Akari Mizunashi / Aika S. Granzchesta / Alice Carroll" figures are slated for a March 2022 release. These items are currently available for pre-order via Bandai's Gashapon Online service in Japan.
"ARIA" is a futuristic, healing-genre work created by Japanese manga artist Kozue Amano. Set in Neo-Venezia, a city on Mars designed to resemble Venice, the story follows protagonist Akari Mizunashi, who hails from Earth. After becoming an Undine (gondolier) apprentice, Akari and her friends practice their skills while experiencing the beautiful and mysterious things they encounter for the first time on this planet, where a year lasts 24 months. Through Amano-sensei's exquisite background art and the characters' interactions with residents and tourists, readers, much like Akari, gain a deeper understanding of this beautiful city and become immersed in its charm.
The newly announced "HG GIRLS ARIA Akari Mizunashi / Aika S. Granzchesta / Alice Carroll" is a repaint version of the figures originally released in 2019. These three protagonist Undines are reproduced with exquisite detail at approximately 10 cm tall, featuring delicate body lines and intricate costume wrinkles. Each figure is depicted cradling their respective Mars cat presidents, creating a truly heartwarming scene.
Compared to the 2019 edition, which was based on the anime character designs, this new repaint features re-drawn eye designs and an overall color palette closer to pastel tones, significantly recreating the style drawn by Kozue Amano-sensei in the manga.
HG GIRLS ARIA ~Akari Mizunashi / Aika S. Granzchesta / Alice Carroll~
Price: 2,000 JPY (Tax Included) per capsule
Release Date: March 2022
Specifications: Pre-painted PVC & ABS figures, Approximately 100mm in height.
via： PREMIUM BANDAI