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Kiss-Shot Acerola-Orion Heart-Under-Blade is a heck of a chuuni name for everyone's favorite Monogatari vampire.

The Monogatari series is a unique blend of supernatural mystery, psychological drama and witty dialogue crafted by one of Japan’s best selling authors, NISIOISIN. The story follows Koyomi Araragi, a high school student who survives a vampire attack and finds himself entangled with otherworldly oddities.

It is regarded as one of the best anime for many reasons. If you check Myanimelist’s top anime chart, you can find Monogatari multiple times within the top 50. It has a very unique way of storytelling and a strange visual style that tries to enhance the narrative’s surreal atmosphere.

Unlike conventional anime with action driven plots, it relies heavily on fast-paced conversations while simultaneously doing a deep character study. Each arc explores a different character’s struggles, weaving together themes of identity, trauma and personal growth.

While it is a masterpiece and true work of art, it's also not for everyone. Many things may turn a viewer off and it can be difficult to follow if you aren't giving it your full attention. It may not hook you right away but for those who click with it can enjoy an unparalleled experience with Shinobu Oshino serving as one of the most iconic and beloved characters.

The once powerful, fearsome and not so chuuni,  Kiss-Shot Under-Blade ends up losing most of her strength and as such, takes the form of a young girl, now known as Shinobu. Her past is filled with tragedy and betrayal. With vast knowledge and experience from being an ancient vampire and having a youthful, misleading appearance, Shinobu is one of the most complex characters in the series.

Despite her childlike appearance, Shinobu retains her sharp intellect and eerie presence. She is sarcastic, cryptic and often mocks Araragi who's fate has become intertwined. At times, she also has a playful, teasing personality that creates a layered relationship between the two, blending humor, tension and intimacy.

Shinobu’s expressions and posture also play a crucial role in her design. She is often detached or amused, rarely showing strong emotions unless provoked. Her body language, whether lounging lazily, smirking, or showcasing her power and intellect further add to her complex and contradictory persona. Fans are drawn to Shinobu for this duality and her unpredictable yet endearing presence in the story.

Shinobu has a ton of figures to choose from, including her adult, Kiss-Shot form. Many do a great job showcasing her childlike innocence or listlessness. Some will try to recreate the ecchi moments or attempt a more risqué visual. Very, very few manage to capture her teasing nature and preserve the dichotomy in her character.
Good Smile has achieved this challenging task with one of the best designed Shinobu figures. For diehard Monogatari fans, this is a must buy. It is a figure designed specifically with fans in mind and there is so much to love.

Starting with the base, the magic begins. Shinobu has a love for sweets, much like any child would. Using a strawberry shortcake as the base adds a playful yet eerie touch, fitting her vampire origins. It gives some imagery of blood dripping down with the candles further emphasizing her supernatural origin.

The base also showcases her kneeling on Yotsugi Ononoki and Araragi. Ononoki is another massively popular character from the series and Araragi has a central role in Shinobu’s story. Having her kneel on both is a way to portray her power and pay homage to the series cast.

Next, Shinobu has her oddity killing demon sword, the Kokorowatari. With Shinobu being famously obsessed with donuts, having them skewered on such a powerful weapon adds a bit of humor. While not the first figure to use this kind of imagery, having the strawberry jam dripping down like blood makes it a bit more powerful compared to others. We also get some cute little bat wings peeking out.

As for Shinobu herself, the sculpt is excellent. Her expression captures that smug, playful teasing nature quite well. While not a mesugaki character, the mesugaki-esque appearance hints at those ecchi scenes found in the series. We also have a bit more blood imagery on her cheek.

NISIOISIN’s writing can be best appreciated in how he crafts dialogue and distinct speaking styles for his characters. One of Shinobu's quirks makes an appearance on her shoulder. PANAINO! is a unique contraction in Japanese to say not half bad. It is a phrase that adds to her smugness.

Shinobu's attire follows the same color scheme as her traditional Kiss-Shot outfit of red and black but more open and exposed. The bandages wrapped around form a bow with some more bat wings and she has good shading all over.

Finally the skirt lift revealing Trick or Treat adds more playfulness and ecchi vibes.

This is an all around great figure of Shinobu and even though it is trying to be Halloween themed, it represents her wonderfully. Shinobu is available for pre-order with a slated release of March 2026.

Thank you for reading!