Hey there everyone, this is Tominon.
I did a special on Rei a few weeks ago, so this time I'm going to do one on Asuka.
Asuka Langley Shikinami (Soryu) is proud and fierce but shows moments of weakness, and has moments of rage between her usual laughter.
It's up to the modeller to make a figure nice while retaining the character's original image.
Here's the first figure.
Shikinami Asuka Langley Plug Suit Test Type Ver.
Alter is releasing this 1/8 scale figure of Asuka this October.
This one has her in the test type plug suit she wore for the EVA-03 tests.
The modeller is Toshiyuki Yagyu, known for frilly clothes and detailed wrinkles. His attention to detail is present here on this plug suit as well.
You can see his other works
here.
The most important feature of this figure is, without a doubt, these hips!
Yagyu put so much effort here that he was able to say,
"This butt is the highlight!"
This base looks like a real fragment of a concrete building and provides a beautiful contrast with the soft texture and vivid colors of Asuka.
He even got the design on the soles of her feet, so you can enjoy every aspect of this rare version of a plug suit.
Yagyu's unique style of hair is always so splendid.
This relaxed shade of brown creates a kind of warm feeling.
Her modest breasts, still developing.
The cables along the orange see-through part of the suit and the wrinkles at her curves are extremely realistic.
Her interface headset is larger than usual and is a nice accent.
The sensor parts are crafted carefully down to every detail.
Shikinami Asuka Langley Plug Suit Test Type Kotobukiya Ver.
Asuka, tying her hair.
Her gaze is that of a girl, maybe even a woman.
It's one of those looks you only see when she's alone.
Tsukuru Shirahige, who left us with the great words, "No matter how far you go, you'll never arrive at 100%," modelled this figure.
His works range from large scale to SD miniatures and are known as part of the "Shirahige brand" of figures.
Here is a link to a list of Shirahige's figures.
The see-through part achieves the transparent look with a different kind of paint than the other parts of her suit.
Shirahige too focused on her hips and butt. And sure enough, these curves are delicate, flowing, and just beautiful.
The green parts of her suit glow under blacklight.
This figure doesn't miss the details like her soles, the wrist portrusions, or the TEST prints on her suit either.
Shikinami Asuka Langley -Plug Suit Ver.-
This is another Shirahige figure.
Check out
Rei and
Mari of the same series for a full set of awesome.
Shirahige has modelled almost 80 figures to date, each capturing people's hearts with their realism and fine sculpting.
In order to make realistic clothes, he wears similar pieces of clothing and observes how they form creases and wrinkles in real life.
You really do need a keen eye to be a modeller or animator.
FRAULEIN REVOLTECH Shikinami Asuka Langley
This is the Revoltech Asuka, which you can pose any way you like.
The modeller is Tomohide Enoki, who does a lot of work for the Revoltech series.
Asuka's hair is split up into three, each with its own joint.
There are three face parts: smiling, angry, and embarassed.
It also comes with Asuka's NERV official cell phone, with "classified connection SOUND ONLY" displayed.
You can attach the hand puppet to her arm joint, like in that one scene.
The ASUKA is printed on (of course), but it looks like it's really embroidered on there.
Creators Labo #026 Evangelion Soryu Asuka Langley
A figure of an adult Asuka!
An older, sexier Asuka is featured in this unique plug suit with heels and areas of exposed skin.
This suit was designed by artist Shunya Yamashita and modeller Mitsumasa Yoshizawa.
Entry Plug of EVA-02 Shikinami Asuka Langley
This is a non-scale 50cm model, complete with a miniature Asuka figure.
It has LED lights that light up the insides! (LCL not included)
KUBRICK Evangelion:2.0 You Can(Not)Advance
Bearbrcik Evangelion New Movie Edition 2pc set C
These are are pretty different kinds of Asuka figures.
Sadly they're both out of stock, but I thought I'd at least mention them.
The KUBRICK on the left has a blocky build like LEGO people.
The BE@RBRCIK on the right is also blocky but a bit different, every one with bear ears.
Add them to your collections or start them here!
And finally, the origin of Asuka's name.
Soryu is the name of the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) ship that carried the emperor, Souryou, and the WWII aircraft carrier Soryu.
Langley is the name of an American WWII aircraft carrier. Asuka was pulled directly from Asuka Saki, the main character of Shinji Wada's manga
Supergirl Asuka.
Her name in Rebuild was changed to Shikinami, from the Japanese destroyer of the same name.
There is also another destroyer called Ayanami. Anno might have had specific reasons for changing Asuka's surname from that of an aircraft carrier to one of a destroyer similar to the Ayanami.
How about some models of these ships that are the origin of her name?
IJN Aircraft Carrier Soryu
IJN Destroyer Shikinami
JMSDF Submarine SS-501 Soryu
You can buy one figure, buy many figures, of the same character, from the same modeller, from the same series, the possibilities are endless.
The world of figures is wide and vast. And so is Evangelion. I'd like to learn more about both!
Well then, let's take care of another week ahead of us, shall we?
-Tominon