Pre-Order Rikka Now!
One of the great things about mobile games is their seemingly random collaborations. Azur lane, the Chinese version of Kantai Collection, is no exception. This gacha game features anthropomorphic warships where cute girls become… shipgirls?!?! Yes, it's weird but it works. Back in 2021 Azur Lane introduced an event with the Gridman universe introducing us to Rikka envisioned as a shipgirl. The mecha anime girls would be fighting alongside shipgirls to fight a new kind of kaiju. The event would go on to have a rerun in 2023 giving players another chance to acquire Gridman characters and purchase special skins.One of those skins must have been super popular or greatly outperformed because that is where the inspiration for this figure came from. Anime figures from games are pretty run of the mill but a figure from a short collaboration event is something special. Taking a closer look, it's very clear why.
Good Smile Company has taken Rikka’s Azur Lane skin, Blue Sky Station and turned it into a figure which everyone can love. Azur Lane might be the origin for the design but the figure is all Rikka without much shipgirl influence. The design shows Rikka happily waiting for a train in casual wear. The in game visual has been faithfully recreated, even keeping the curious pigeon.
The sculpt of the railing that Rikka rests on and the train platform base is very accurate to what you might see in Japan. Rikka’s pose looks realistic as she grasps the railing to look over her shoulder at the viewer. Her expression is adorable and the jacket sliding off her shoulders creates a unique allure. For those with a keen eye, you may notice something peeking out from her skirt…
Good Smile made good use of shadowing and a mix of glossy and matte colors in the paintwork. This helps to create a more realistic look to the clothing texture. You can feel the sun shining and the warmth radiating from the visual of this figure. At the center is Rikka, beaming with her friendly and up-beat personality. She looks great at any angle!
Of course Rikka is also known for having thicc thighs. Ryza gives us some juicy thigh pinch with her white stockings and brown boots. Rikka on the other hand is normally shown with bare legs so those who lack a sophisticated palate may feel she is underwhelming. Can Rikka go toe to toe (maybe thigh to thigh is more accurate) with Ryza?
What Rikka lacks in pinch, she more than makes up for in squish. Good Smile capitalized on her healthy thighs and placed special attention to making the sculpt of her plump and squishy derriere look good. You can see a cheek poking out when looking head on, but if you take a closer look, you can fully appreciate it. This is the true power of Rikka!
Photo credit: Popcornography
Azur Lanes in game visual is a low angle shot, so the way this figure is meant to be viewed is from below. You can feel guilt free placing this one on a higher shelf. After all, it is a squish that is too good to ignore 👀
Photo credit: Popcornography
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