Japanese toy brand T-ARTS, a subsidiary of TAKARA TOMY Company, will be releasing a new animal capsule toy this November that every pet owner will instantly understand: the "Straining Pooches" (tentative translation, ふんばり～ぬ)! There are six types to collect, with a suggested retail price of 300 JPY per capsule.
The poses these dogs strike surely need no further explanation! When you see a dog in this stance, legs splayed and completely still, you know it's time to get your tissues and dog waste bags ready! The sculpting for this series was handled by the same prototype artist behind the Original Color Encyclopedia Series (原色図鑑シリーズ) and SR+ series. They have not only vividly captured the dogs' actions but also meticulously rendered the soft texture of their fur, making them incredibly adorable from any angle. Interestingly, the capsule toy also includes paper that can be crafted into a "brown object"! The Japanese are truly subtle, aren't they? To put it plainly, you'll have to make the dog poop yourself!
This series features a total of six dog breeds: Shiba Inu, Black Shiba Inu, Poodle, Pomeranian, Jack Russell Terrier, and one unrevealed secret edition. Each figure measures approximately 4–4.7 cm. While adorable on their own, they would be incredibly fun to display and play with alongside other action figures or accessories – definitely a must-buy! The term "ふんばり" (funbari) in the product name has several meanings in Japanese: to persevere, to make an effort, and to stand with legs spread wide and unmoving. Here, it not only describes the dogs' posture but also reflects the situation of the dogs "making an effort to unload." Furthermore, the "ふんばり～ぬ" (funbari~nu) part sounds somewhat similar to "いぬ" (inu), the Japanese word for dog. So cute!
Funbari~nu
Suggested Retail Price: ¥300 / capsule, Product Specifications: Approximately 4–4.7 cm, Six types in total, Estimated Release Date: November 2024
Source: Takara Tomy Arts