Product Line / Revoltech Yamaguchi
Scale & Class / Non-Scale Collectible Figure
Manufacturer / Kaiyodo
Release Date / 2006
Appearances / Neon Genesis Evangelion
Mecha as a hobby is dominated by model kits. Unfortunately, not everyone has time to build them, let alone paint and detail. That’s why nowadays, there’s also an abundance of pre-painted and poseable figures. But flashback to 2006 and things were different. Outside of Bandai’s Gundam Fix Figuration line, which are technically movable statues, not much is on the market. Then Kaiyodo introduced the Revoltech line, powered by the aptly named joint system and with the promise of desktop figures having great articulation from various series. 2006 also was the 10th anniversary of Evangelion, making it almost mandatory to include at least one figure in the initial wave of releases. Hence, the first in a plethora of Evangelion figures that would eventually come out of the line and its other incarnations, is Evangelion Unit-01 from Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Evangelion Unit-01 (or EVA-01) has a very humanoid silhouette and benefits from the poseability provided by the Revoltech joints of different shapes and sizes used all over the figure. These provide good articulation as each joint is both a swivel and a ratchet hinge. Well, except for the hip assembly which is a combination of standard swivels and hinges and limits the articulation a bit. That aside, my only minor nitpick is actually getting the figure in a neutral stance. Overall proportion is a little stylized and while the Revoltech joints can break the silhouette, the look matches the TV series version. The sculpt is also okay though Revoltech figures tend to have softer details when compared to other figures. Revoltech EVA-01 comes with its standard set of weapons and accessories. Notables include a sword exclusive to this release, the umbilical cord made from flexible wire, and an extra berserk head.
