Pre-Order BANLE001 Now & Save 15%!

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There’s a moment in figure collecting when you see something you want but just can't reason yourself to shell out big bucks. Luckily, this original character, BANLE001, is very moderately priced. In fact, it may actually be too cheap and/or too ambitious.

I have mentioned in previous blogs that in the past few years there has been an explosion of Chinese manufacturers that are entering the figure market. I have not purchased or gotten hands-on with each of these new companies' products but from what I have seen, they have been generally very good and an excellent buy given their price. When compared to other established non-scale options like FuRyu’s tenitol line or Good Smile's Pop Up Parade, many of these newer manufacturers are outperforming expectations with better sculpts and solid paintwork. In terms of quality, there have been delays and changes from initial plans due to unforeseen issues, but the key is that they improved the product before putting it in consumer hands.
3D printing technology seems to be at a level that is ushering in a new wave of possibilities. AI is also continuing to advance and there is now the capability to turn a 2D image into a 3D object. While each company's workflow is unknown, I think it's safe to say that part of the competitiveness and cost savings is at least in part related to these rapidly advancing technologies. To further keep costs low, many of the companies are working with creators directly and focusing on unique IP’s and original designs. Hopefully the well known brands that focus on licensing popular franchises will follow suit.

Kawa Design is yet another newcomer to the non-scale figure market and seems to be following a similar trajectory as many others. Several figures have already been announced and promotional photos are looking very good. There is one very big problem however. They have almost no social media presence with even their Weibo page being very scant. A new manufacturer with nothing available to prove quality, very cheap prices for what is being offered and an absent online presence feels like it is a bit of a gamble. The questions don't just end with Kawa Design. The artist behind BANLE001 is equally as mysterious. First, some promotional materials have two versions of the translated name.

The Chinese hanzi characters have the English translated Ban Le below it, yet the signature most definitely contains an I and looks more like Ban Hei. Elsewhere the artist has Ban Lei written behind their designs. On some sites I have seen the copyright for this figure attributed to BANLE Hei Le. Doing some digging, this artist does not have much of an internet presence either. I found some information hinting that they are a popular artist known for creating VTuber avatars and I believe Ban Le is how they known to English speakers.

The numerous rabbit holes I went down trying to learn more about Kawa Design and Ban Le revealed that the character BANLE001 is involved in some adult content and that's when things started to make sense. China has strict censorship laws aimed at maintaining public decency and morality. A few months ago we put out a video on the Solaris Japan YouTube channel about a figure manufacturer that had legal action taken due to the lewd nature of their products. Kawa Design and Ban Le might be very active in some underground communities but for the wider audience, keeping a low profile to avoid legal trouble. Entirely speculation on my part but makes sense. So, let's take a look at BANLE001 and see if it's worth possible jail time for them.

The best way to summarize this figure is high-impact, low-price and weaponized memes. She comes with a whopping four alternate faceplates, a swappable arm, a pen, a mushroom and… a chicken wrap. The mushroom and different faces could be a nod to her NSFW origins but there has to be a story behind the chicken wrap. Fans may appreciate the addition, but for the rest it is just a quirky accessory. It is pretty rare to get that many swappable parts without premium prices.

The character design itself makes it a perfect bishoujo figure. A form fitting black leotard accentuates her body and cat girls have a natural cuteness. With thigh high socks of mismatched length and slightly disheveled hair adds a laid back, comfy atmosphere. The straps on her arm and legs add realism and a bit of healthy squish.

The sculpt, along with the customization allow you to decide what level of ecchi you want. Want to go all in? Pop the obvious metaphor in her hand and give her the faceplate sticking her tongue out. Want something more reserved? Swap them with the pen and have her blush.

The big cat bean bag seat also does well to add balance to the figure. No matter what combo you use, the derpy squished face is charming and fits the vibe of BANLE001. The paintwork is also looking very good. The glossy paint for her leotard really shines nicely. The techniques used on her socks helps give the fabric a realistic look that it is being stretched. Her different face plates have slight differences in blush and tones used to match the expression.

The cat ears and tail are the biggest weakness for this figure. Both lack any significant texturing on the sculpt and the painting is nothing special. They get the job done and are satisfactory but could be a little better.

BANLE001 is currently available for pre-order and eligible for 15% off with an early bird discount. At the current price point, it is really nice if the character speaks to you. Of course there are some risks as the manufacturer is new, so waiting until it releases in 2026 is always an option.

If you know anything about the character or the artist, please leave a comment below! I would love to learn more! Have a chicken wrap for dinner and as always, thank you for reading!