Show and Tell: Organic's pink Chun-Li, or, why I became a figure photographer

7:00 PM on 03.09.2009   |   Topher Cantler

While most of us consider all of our toys to be pretty special in some way or another, I think it's safe to say that we all have those precious few which fit that bill for an important reason. Maybe it's because of who they were given to us by, or the circumstances under which they came to be part of our collection. In the case of Organic Hobby's pink Chun-Li, the story starts long before I would ever so much as place the order.

You might have seen her hanging around the kotatsu, when I mentioned that we had a history together which in part led to the creation of this very site. If you'll follow me after the jump, I'll tell you that story.

It was about a year and a half ago when I first discovered her. While searching the internet for Street Fighter wallpapers, Capcom nerd that I am, I stumbled upon this particular photo on Flckr, taken by user Katsuboy. If you're by some chance reading this, I should probably thank you.

While I'd been a figure collector for many years prior, it had never occurred to me to take my toys outside and photograph them as if they were real people; you know ... doin' stuff. The sum beauty of the figure and her surroundings in the photo inspired me, and I loved how natural she looked, sitting there by the water. It wasn't very long afterward that I began experimenting with this sort of thing, and six months later I brought that passion along to help Colette found Tomopop as you know it today.

I've taken a lot of photos of a lot of figures since then, but I never forgot about that sad Chun-Li who ignited the flame. I looked for her here and there without much luck in terms of availability or reasonable pricing. There was a standard blue version, and more recently a very limited black colorway, but I had to have the pink one I'd fallen in love with back when. Finally, when Toylet had their crazy sale a few weeks ago and I saw her on the list for less than $20, I didn't waste a second. I would finally have my muse.

Soon after, this was delivered to my door. The box is glossy and black, with a beautiful golden dragon design on it. I'm sure it looks especially lovely with the limited black version of this figure, though it also serves to make this pink one stand out in a nice contraast.

Altogether beautiful, as expected. She stands about 4.5" tall, roughly 1/7 scale.

The back of her dress is accented with swirling gold patterns that are repeated thoughout the design. The proportions are great, and the overall sculpt manages to be gorgeous in its simplicity.

The gold accents line the seams and edges of her dress; true to her original character design but all the more pleasing to see in this sparkly paint. Her dress also has a shine to it that suggests it's made of silk.

Her hair buns also have a pearly look about them, and the color choices in general really make all the difference. It could have been glossy pink, white and yellow, but the decision to use these metallic or irridescent paints make what could have been a plain and ordinary figure into something very special and pretty.

Not also the way her hair is parted, and the soft folds and curves of the bows. It's really a fantastic sculpt -- not overly-realistic, but not cartoony, either.

The same paint used to give her buns a silky look also work well to achieve realism in her pearl earrings.

Her boots have been given just enough attention to remain consistent with the "real but not too real" feeling of the figure, with a hint of grey wash along the seams to accentuate the lines and add that extra look of detail.

But it is of course her expression that really makes me love this piece.

"Sad Chun-Li" as I've always called her, she seems in thought; longing for something or reflecting on some precious memory. Not miserable, but just sullen enough that you might want to offer her a hug.

Perhaps she laments the near-extinction of the arcade, and pines for somewhere to spend her tokens. I know I do.

I think it's partly the mouth that makes her expression so powerful. Just a whisper of a frown, and sculpted just enough that it's prominent without looking stupid.

Taking in the whole pose and expression as one stirs up just the right amount of emotion.

Cloudy days won't last forever.

It'll be okay.

You'll see.

The package includes a glossy black base, which I neither bothered to photograph nor even unwrap, as I think it takes away from the organic nature of the figure.

When she looks so natural and lifelike wherever she's placed, I think the base stands in the way of that magic. I prefer to both photograph and display her without it.

Because as far as your imagination is concerned, Chun-Li is really sitting there amid the dawn of a new Spring.

She's simultaneously very easy and very difficult to photograph. She looks great no matter the angle or distance, but it's hard to convey in pictures how beautiful I think this figure really is. I hope that I have helped you to understand to some degree why she's so special to me. If it weren't for her, I might not be doing what it is I do.

Here's to you and what you've grown.