Although the immensely popular Japanese manga "Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba" concluded long ago, the fervor ignited by its anime adaptation continues to burn brightly. Following the record-breaking success of the "Mugen Train Arc" and "Entertainment District Arc," the animation of the "Swordsmith Village Arc," featuring the exploits of the Mist Hashira and Love Hashira, has been confirmed. Fans of Demon Slayer are surely anticipating another tour de force from animation studio ufotable, with their incredibly fluid animation and the passionate, blood-pumping voice acting from the cast.
But how to endure the agonizing wait before the "Swordsmith Village Arc" airs? Naturally, Bandai has it all figured out for you. The numerous "Figuarts ZERO" PVC complete figures announced during the "Entertainment District Arc" broadcast are being released sequentially in the latter half of the year. These figures immortalize the spectacular battle stances of the main characters, keeping you company while you await the arrival of the "Swordsmith Village Arc"! Today, Toy People is unboxing the latest release from August 27th: the "Figuarts ZERO Zenitsu Agatsuma - Thunderclap and Flash." Let's dive right in!
▼ The overall box design is themed around the orange-yellow of Zenitsu Agatsuma's haori. The product name is rendered in calligraphic kanji to express the Japanese aesthetic of Demon Slayer, while the stunning preview image of the figure, paired with the foil-stamped English product name, adds a touch of luxury. The front, sides, and top all feature clear windows, allowing consumers to inspect the actual condition of the figure inside. The interior is equipped with a comprehensive clear blister pack to securely protect the figure itself.
Zenitsu Agatsuma, whose in-series performance is both annoying and awesome, leaving audiences with a love-hate relationship, had several memorable moments in the Entertainment District Arc. These included not only his hilarious "Zenko" cross-dressing disguise and the high-energy shamisen performance but also the powerful moment he unleashed "Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash, Godspeed" against Daki, a scene so cool it gave us goosebumps. It's no wonder that following the first release, "Zenitsu Agatsuma - Thunder Breathing," Figuarts ZERO has launched a second version, "Zenitsu Agatsuma - Thunderclap and Flash," to let fans relive Zenitsu's most spectacular moments!
▼ After removing the figure from the box, the Zenitsu Agatsuma main body, base, and effect parts are all pre-assembled. Even novice collectors need not worry about installation or accidentally snapping off parts.
▼ The figure stands at an overall height of about 15 cm. The theme this time is the instant of unleashing "Thunderclap and Flash," immortalizing the moment Zenitsu steps forward, preparing to draw his sword. Although it is a non-articulated static figure, the flowing sculpt of the haori, the forward-lunging leg pose, and the abundant lightning effects imbue Zenitsu's cool stance with a palpable sense of speed. This dynamic pose can be appreciated from every angle!
▼ For a non-articulated character figure in the 8,000 JPY price range, the overall paint and sculpt are of a considerably high standard. The hair parts have an orange application at the tips to create color variation, and the facial contours are quite faithful to the source material. The tightly closed eyes are applied via transfer printing, recreating his appearance when he enters an unconscious state to unleash his full combat potential.
▼ His characteristic orange-yellow haori is rendered with a gradient paint job to replicate its look in the anime, while the white triangular pattern is applied via printing. The metallic buttons of the Demon Slayer Corps uniform and the metal parts on the sword hilt are all expressed with metallic paint. The base not only depicts the light and shadow on an uneven, rocky ground but is also sprayed with a thin layer of gold paint to simulate the reflection from the lightning effects.
▼ The lightning effect parts are sculpted with irregular, dynamic shapes to capture the moment sparks erupt. They use both yellow and blue colors to represent the immense power of "Thunderclap and Flash," as he accumulates energy before dashing forward at high speed to slay the demon. Furthermore, the two types of parts are treated with aqua-blue and gold gradient paint, respectively, giving the colors a more three-dimensional and lively appearance.
▼ However, this piece does have some drawbacks. For instance, the details on the hair strands are a bit indistinct, and the tips of the hair are overly rounded, making them look a bit like french fries. There are also quite a few instances of color bleeding in the paint application, and the seam on the haori is more noticeable than in the official product photos.
▼ For display, we recommend using a black background and low-color-temperature lighting. This will make the light and shadow on the predominantly yellow-toned Zenitsu figure more three-dimensional and his silhouette more defined. More importantly, the colors of the lightning effect parts will become strikingly cool and sharp, evoking the anime's depiction of "Thunderclap and Flash, Godspeed" as it streaks across the night sky, a high-speed interplay of yellow and blue currents!
▼ Doesn't it look cooler from every angle compared to a plain white background?
▼ As mentioned earlier, several new "Figuarts ZERO" releases timed with the Entertainment District Arc are coming out one after another. Let's display this one alongside the already-released "Tanjiro Kamado - Total Concentration," "Nezuko Kamado - Blood Demon Art," and "Sound Hashira, Tengen Uzui"!
▼ A key feature of these "Figuarts ZERO" figures is that they are all designed with extremely dynamic combat poses and spectacular effect parts. Therefore, they look perfectly harmonious when displayed together. The interplay of their effect parts can even make the entire scene more magnificent, inspiring one to collect more characters to create an incredibly grand diorama!
If you want to collect more characters, don't miss the two new "Figuarts ZERO" items currently up for pre-order: the deluxe two-in-one set "Daki & Gyutaro" and the alluring, larger-sized "Nezuko Kamado - Demon Form Advancing," to complete your collection of characters active in the Entertainment District Arc!
▼ Figuarts ZERO Daki & Gyutaro
▼ Figuarts ZERO Nezuko Kamado - Demon Form Advancing
Additionally, if you're a fan of cute, chibi, super-deformed styles, Bandai also has the "Figuarts mini" series for your consideration. This line has already released numerous characters, including Tanjiro, Nezuko, Zenitsu, and the various Hashira of the Demon Slayer Corps. The two new sets scheduled for release in January 2023, "Daki & Gyutaro" and "Tengen Uzui - Sound Breathing," are also currently open for pre-order!
▼ Figuarts mini Daki & Gyutaro
▼ Figuarts mini Tengen Uzui - Sound Breathing
