Moe Moe Z-cune
Review by SentaiSeiya
Hikonin Sentai Akibaranger is the unofficial entry into the Super Sentai series that also serves as a spoof/homage to the long-running series. The Moe Moe Z-cune, MMZ01, is a mysterious device that is given to Yumeria, Nobuo, and Mitsuki. This device allows this motley crew of misfits to become the Akibarangers.
With just about every entry in the proper Super Sentai series, Bandai has released various toys from the series including: the henshin (transformation) device, the communicator, and weapons for the series. Akibaranger, although not a numbered entry into the franchise, also saw the release of the amalgam henshin/weapon/ communicator device from the series, which is the Moe Moe Z-cune.
Moe Moe Z-cune is a 1/1 scale toy (it says so on the box).
MMZ comes packaged in gun form. It also comes with two stands to help display the gun. In gun form, the MoeMoe Z-cune acts as the Akibaranger's main weapon.
This toy has a nice weight to it. My first thought when I took the MMZ out of its plastic trays was, “Man this thing has got some weight to it. I reckon that I could pistol-whip somebody pretty good with this thing, granted it would completely ruin the paint job on the gun."
The trigger of the gun makes a transformation sounds when it is pressed for the first time after turning the toy on. After that it makes a firing sound until the gun is turned off and tuned back on again, in which case it will make the transformation sounds once again.
The other sounds that are made by pressing the trigger require pressing and holding down the button on the rear of the gun first to create a charge-up sound that is released when the trigger is pressed..
The rear button also makes the "incoming call" sound when pressed, but not held.
Check out the video review at the bottom of the page to listen in on the sounds of this figure!
The black part of the gun's grip cleverly conceals the battery comparment for this gun, which is opened up by pressing the screw on the lower end, which unlucks the battery cover. All of the aformetnioned touches are a great step forward to making this a screen accurate toy, since there are no blatant on/off button with clearly labeled wording or symbols printed on the gun.
Unfortunately, from the top and bottom of the gun the seams are quite visible and detract from the look of the gun. I realize, however, that this is a necessary evil, as the gun has to transform into its other form.
The top, however, does not clasp shut all the way, leaving a bigger gap that I woud like.
Now it is my understanding that some of the CDX readers will probably not enjoy the other form of this toy. So contiue on if you want to check out some moe goodness!
The transformation between gun and figure form is pretty straightforward. Pop open the side panels of the gun. Pop up the barrel of the leg gun to make the feet the same size. Extend the other left leg out. Turn the hand around so it faces in forward and DONE!
The back of the box shows these simple instructions, although going from figure to gun form. This is how the process is show in the series as the Akibarangers begin with the MMZ in figure form, point the item forward, then yell " Juu Mosou" as they pull the trigger of the gun, which makes the shell of the MMZ cover the figure. Thus, converting the MMZ into the gun form. Unlike some of the other Super Sentai toys, which have features that allow the transformation device to change, this one requires the transformation to be done manually. This is a little disspointing, since it would have been cool to have a spring-loaded MMZ that transformed into the gun at the pull of the trigger. I can see why Bandai did not include this feature on this particular toy, as it would probably result in a lot scraping of the paint.
In figure form, the MMZ also functions as a communication device. As mentioned earlier, the button on the back of the gun, in this case the top of the head, is the button that elicits the transmission sounds. The sounds are not specific to the form, so the transmission noise can be made in either gun or figure form. It seems weird to be communicating through a gun (not that talking to a Moe figure is much better, I suppose).
Aoi-tan is beautifully painted in all of her moe glory. I personally do not like the genre of anime that she represents, but I can truly appreciate a piece with a gorgeous paint app.
For some reason I really dug the translucent crytal that is embedded into Aoi-tans left leg. It just goes to show how much thought and care Bandai put into recreating this figure.
Now, the fit of the gun’s shell and the Aoi-tan figure inside is very close. As such, my figure has traded some paint with the gun.I suspect that I will not be transforming this toy very often, to preserve the paint as best I can.
There is some articulation with the Aoi-tan. The head moves thanks to a nice, clicky ratchet joint.The sight/arm also moves around about 320 degrees, which needs to face forward in order to allow the head to be moved. As mentioned earlier, the left leg can move toward and away from the othe leg when needed for the transforamtion process. The left hand can also rotate 360 degrees at the wrist which is required for transforming the Moe Moe Z-cune. In gun form, hand is stored with the back of the hand facing the figures leg, which makes it look like she broke it in a crazy accident.
As a bonus, the the base of star-shaped stand that was used to prop up this toy in gun form also serves as stand for Aoi-tan. The leg that is composed of the barrel of the gun simply pop into the peg on the stand.
The Moe Moe Z-cune is a great adult/collectible role-play toy from a great, unique and quirky series. It is interesting to see Bandai test the waters in the adult collector's market by releasing a Super Sentai transformation device. If you love Akibaranger or weapons that transform into cute Moe girls, then you cannot go wrong with this aweseome figure from Bandai. The functionality of the sounds and the great design of this toy make it a pretty darn good replica /cosplay prop. Is there a Nobuo Akagi cosplay in my future? Could be!
Check out the video review if you would like to listen in on the sounds that this toy makes.
| Posted 3 December, 2012 - 17:04 by SentaiSeiya |
Comments
17 comments postedEven if it's one click to a sister site, my interest in reading the review died as soon as you posted that link. I don't know if that's supposed to be funny, or people really can't handle a transforming gun that turns into a figure or a girl,but I'm honestly kind of annoyed right now.
From what I have been told, the average CDX reader does not like girly figures, which is why the full review went up on the sister site.
I don't how how true that is, if the average reader is also the average poster, I think I can see a lot of evidence to go either way. Anyway, I don't know if that matters. Is this a Sentai-related figure? There seems to be plenty of coverage for that category here. It looks like a weird double standard that this is still an issue. Transforming lady robots are fine, but this isn't? Stuff that seems a lot less appropriate to the site has been posted before (diecast cars come to mind). This is a figure that doesn't have a lot of exact parallels to anything else out there, but does this set a precedent for split reviews in the future? All of this isn't meant to be directed at you, by the way
Seeing how I'm the only one apparently upset enough to comment about this, I guess I'm alone here, but I still think it sucks.
this is the "A Modest Proposal" of the CDX/OtakuDX schism
That pixelated shot of Aoi-tan nestled in her compartment makes the figure look much, much lewder than it actually is :y
SpaceRunaway- I see your point and I had even considered that there may be such a reaction to me posting only a partial review here on CDX. I had even considered posting the full review on both sites, but I decided,with Josh's approval, to go this route. I figure this way, if people are put off by girly figures, then they can read part of the review.
Thanks for voicing your opinion because it does really matter. If people do not like this format for this kind of content that is in the "gray area" of should it be on CDX or OCDX then we can try something different next time.
I appreciate that. Part of what made me upset was that I couldn't tell if it was done jokingly or not, in light of some of the threads that have happened in the past. Well, just one thread really. Furthermore, even though I knew that Collection DX wouldn't be the kind of site to do this, it looked a lot like splitting up content to get more page hits. Again, I knew that wasn't the case, but seeing that practice done so many places elsewhere just caused a really visceral reaction.
For the record, I don't even collect Sentai stuff or figurines, but I don't mind reading about either. :>
Recognizer- Sorry for sounding unlearned, but what is "A Modest Propoasl"?
Wow, that was really awkward. A review that actually turns into half of a review and then points to another site for full details.
I'm also very disappointed in this. This looks like a really fantastic design that can be appreciated by fans from both sides as well as something of a clever parody. There is nothing lewd or inappropriate about the design that should require this sort of treatment. This only serves to unnecessarily further alienate and divide toy fans. I understand the intent, but it doesn't change how it comes across to me. I agree completely with the others here.
Edit: That said, the reviews certainly were well written and as I've just begun to check out this series, it may well help me decide whether to buy one or not later, though the price tag is a little steep... I just hate seeing this kind of divisiveness between fans of the old and new (as a fan of both).
Edit 2: If this was just a joke, than well played, sir. Well played.
Points taken. This was supposed to be a bit of a tongue-in-cheek way of presenting this content. However, I have updated the review include Aoi-tan. If people want to read the whole review, then they can do so without having to head over to our sister site.
Yeah, I can appreciate it now...the Modest Proposal comparison earlier was spot on... but if it was confusing other readers, maybe this is for the best. Now everyone will wonder what we were complaining about instead... :) Anyway thanks for the great review. I'd been meaning to watch some Akibaranger for a while now so this motivated me to go do so.
Her face lacks depth at certain angles. Kind of a bummer for the price.
Bandai can't really do moe faces well. Look at the AGP Strike Witches vs the Figma versions of the same characters for example.
I don't know, isn't this how the figure prop looked in the show itself? It would deserve points for accuracy then...
Actually I kind of like the face, it looks very much like she is "meh" about being interpreted this way, and kind of disappointed in you somehow. Plenty of layers of meta there...
Wacky figure indeed
I do not see the contraversy but I live in the world of the Visual Fine Arts
What is the retail price for something like this?
I expected something nude or a sexual device or vibrator inside the Gun
Based on the pixeled and blurred pics
Now that would have been funny or a complete turn on/turn off
for the all freaks in the house.
Is this what a women means when she has a dirty little secret?
Thanks for sharing
Microby and Dkun- I looked into it further and Dkun is right. From the forehead to the cheek area, the Aoi-tan in the show has more depth.
ThePlasticRobot -Well the controversy was that the review ended after the mosaic picture, and was linked to the full review on the sister site. It was partially a way to give some CDX readers a review without a girly figure in it and also a jab at the division between collectors. I think the world would be a better place if we accept that other collectors are into stuff that we may not be into, but is cool in its own way.
As for the price, this goes for a little over 100 bucks, plus shipping I believe.