Sunday, June 14, 2015

Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure Review II

continued from previous post...

More pictures taken of this awesome Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure, now seen with both his sword and Tanegashima (Japanese matchlock), designed to look like the BlasTech E-11 blaster rifle which is the standard rifle carried by the Imperial Stormtroopers in the Star Wars films (episodes IV to VI). Everything about this figure is well thought out and cleverly interpreted , redesigned to look like a foot soldier (Ashigaru) employed by the samurai class of feudal Japan.

The Star Wars Stormtroopers have been getting more attention lately, especially since the newer ones will be coming out in the latest instalment of the Star Wars franchise, Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens which will be released in December this year. Hot Toys has released their 1:6 scale version of the Stormtroopers (best 12-inch version by far IMHO) with more variations to come. Square Enix will also be releasing a Play Arts Kai Star Wars Variant 1:7 scale Stormtrooper action figure (previewed on my toy blog HERE) and then there's this Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure which I really dig :)


Considering the fact that early drafts of the artwork and film script for Star Wars actually have swordplay as being fairly common, with laser swords carried by nearly every character, this Ashigaru Stormtrooper having a sword doesn't seem that far fetched at all. If one was to drop one of these troopers into the midst of a battle in the past that is feudal Japan, he might just fit right in. That's how authentic he looks. Did you know that early in the production of the original Star Wars film, George Lucas considered doing the whole film in Japanese with subtitles. The Japanese influences found in Star Wars are just too many to list.

Scroll down to see the rest of the pictures.
Click on them for bigger and better views.



Here's the Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure with his Tanegashima raised in a firing position. Tanegashima (Japanese matchlock) were introduced to Japan in the 1543 through Portuguese trade. Tanegashima were produced on a large scale by Japanese gunsmiths, enabling warlords to raise and train armies from masses of peasants. The new weapons were highly effective, their ease of use and deadly effectiveness led to the tanegashima becoming the weapon of choice over the yumi (bow). By the end of the 16th century, there were more firearms in Japan than in many European nations.


Check out the close-up pictures of Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure with his gun / Tanegashima.


Here's the Bandai Star Wars Movie Realization 7-inch tall Ashigaru Stormtrooper action figure wielding his sword. The Star Wars Stormtroopers didn't have light sabers but this Ashigaru Stormtrooper has a sword in keeping with the times past which called for a lot of sword fighting and duels with swords. Scroll down to see the turnaround views.


Related posts:
March 23, 2008 – Marmit 1/6 scale Star Wars Stormtrooper figure pictures HERE
March 23, 2008 – Medicom Toys 1/6 scale Star Wars Stormtrooper figure posted HERE
April 25, 2009 – Sideshow Star Wars Imperial Stormtrooper Review HERE and HERE
April 27, 2009 – 1/6 scale Imperial Stormtroopers with Darth Vader (pictures HERE)
April 28, 2009 – Comparison pictures of 1/6 scale Stormtrooper figures released by Sideshow vs Marmit vs Medicom posted on my toy blog HERE
July 31, 2009 – Sideshow Collectibles Darth Vader with Sideshow Stormtroopers posted HERE
January 1, 2010 – 2009 Top Ten Fave Toys Countdown 3: Lots and lots of 1/6 scale Stormtroopers pictures HERE
August 30, 2012 – Sideshow Collectibles 1/6th scale Boba Fett, Han in Carbonite and 12-inch Stormtrooper escorts posted HERE
April 9, 2015 – Review of Hot Toys MMS267 "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" 1/6 Stormtrooper 12-inch Figure posted HERE and HERE
April 15, 2015 – Comparison pictures of different 1:6 Star Wars Stormtroopers by Hot Toys, Sideshow, Medicom and Marmit posted HERE

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