Show and Tell: Shunya Yamashita's CoCoNa

2:20 PM on 08.13.2008   |   Colette Bennett

Discovering one has a fetish for the artwork of Shunya Yamashita has one of two effects: if you aren't a toy collector, you buy one of his superlative artbooks and call it a day, or if you are a collector, you realize that you have a vast backcatalog of his PVC works to collect in addition to all the new offerings and feel a little bit like you might lose your mind. I'll bet you can guess which of these two reactions I suffer from, can't you?

With these thoughts in mind, finding CoCoNa as a part of Entertainment Earth's recent blowout sale was of great excitement to me, not to mention her $36 price tag. As she still retails at other sites for over $50, I thought it would be a grand time for me to add her to my collection (as if there is ever a bad time to buy toys). Despite some mixed reviews about her quality, I decided to take the plunge. Hit the jump to see what it is about this lovely lady that makes me proud to have her in my collection.

So you have a basis for comparison, here is the art that this figure is based on:

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Before I get into my love of the figure in general, I have to say it: the face of the original and the face on this figure definitely differ. Both are pretty. However, there is some soft innocence on the face of the original that the PVC does not possess. Yamashita's CoCoNa looks incredibly soft despite her showy armor, whereas the sculpted CoCoNa looks like she knows she's hot shit. Neither are a bad thing, but if you are a fan of the art and consider buying the figure, you should definitely be aware of this.

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As I mentioned before, reviews of her mention that she has flaws. They are right -- she has a tiny mold line running across her scalp like a little headband, and there are a few spots on her legs where the paint is slightly imperfect. Regardless, I love her, and not just because she is based on Yamashita's work (although it helps). I love the femininity of her armor, the slightly coy expression on her face, and of course, her tremendous sword. Chicks with swords are the best.

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I find most of Yamashita's girls beautiful, but they have to rock a certain style to make it to my toy shelf. CoCoNa definitely has that style going on, and I really love the feel that Ishida Eiich brought out in the sculpt. Best of all, when I look at her, she makes me feel happy. Her beauty, her air of bravery, her unapologetic femininity -- all of it adds up to something that makes this figure very special to me. Not to mention, she looks pretty hot next to my Yamashita Rei Ayanami ... but I'll save that one for a future Show and Tell!