Japanese model manufacturer Kotobukiya recently announced the second product in its new original plastic model kit series, "Megalo Maria", "RUBY EYE", slated for release in March 2024.
The new series, "Megalo Maria", is Kotobukiya's first product with the vast majority of its parts manufactured domestically in Japan. Unlike previous plastic model kits featuring bishoujo-style humans or mecha girls, this series adopts the new "Marionette Style" body, which boasts a humanoid puppet appearance and prioritizes "poseability" and "expressiveness." Its unique composite worldview connects Kotobukiya's various plastic model kit series through a "play-within-a-play" format, allowing for an infinite number of play possibilities.
The second character, "RUBY EYE", is designed with a nurse motif. Her entire body utilizes the same base body design as the first release, SWORD DANCER. Standing approximately 16 cm tall, she features around 50 points of articulation, including highly flexible shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee joints, allowing the figure to achieve incredibly fluid, lifelike poses. Furthermore, various 3mm hardpoints are located throughout her body, enabling interchangeability with parts from other Kotobukiya plastic model kits. Her head expressions and bangs parts are also compatible with the "Sousai Shojo Teien" series, greatly expanding playability.
In addition to enhancing these basic joint articulation designs, the "Marionette Style" body also introduces many new elements not seen in previous products. These include hip armor that can be chosen as either left and right independent pieces for enhanced articulation or a single piece that prioritizes aesthetics, and wrist joints that utilize a triple-joint structure capable of bending 180 degrees to replicate deploying internal weapon connection points. However, this time RUBY EYE does not include the same movable eyeball mask parts as SWORD DANCER; instead, she comes with two styles: a right eye patch and both eyes open.
The nurse-themed armor is also equipped via 3mm hardpoints, and the skirt armor features an articulation mechanism to minimize obstruction to leg movement. Her armaments include twin swords modeled after scalpels, two syringe-shaped pistols, a blood bag-shaped backpack, and four life capsules. These armaments are also available as a standalone "Transformation Kit: White Nurse Expansion Armor," allowing for customization and costume changes for characters in the "Megalo Maria" series.
Megalo Maria: Ruby Eye
Suggested Retail Price: 6,930 JPY (tax included)
Expected Release Date: 2024/03
Product Specifications: Non-scale plastic model kit, approximately 160mm tall
Design: Katsuhiko Hori, KOTOBUKIYA
© KOTOBUKIYA
via： KOTOBUKIYA