Sanya V. Litvyak flies the night skies, often alone, for the 501st aerial division. She soars between a ceiling of stars and a carpet of moonlit clouds, while tuning in the radio transmissions of the world.
I’ve done a bit of a 180 on Strike Witches. Just a few months ago I would have told you that I found them gross. Cat-girls or any of the animal eared girl things are not my thing at all. Outside of the Strike Witches, I still feel the same way about cat-girls or any other type of animal eared girl. I avoid things like Spice and Wolf. The dog-fights in Strike Witches turned me around as when they do it, the witches look pretty cool, so I can overlook the animal ears.
Photographing this figure of Sanya has led to a greater appreciation of her character. She spends a lot of time alone, so she’s often not with the other girls so she is kind of a hidden character and can be forgotten. I think she represents solitude in a way that some can relate to pretty well. How many of us are still awake long after the rest of the world has fallen asleep?
It’s a beautiful sculpt. Otsuyama Houjin captures Sanya through her facial expression and body language. Very sweet from the front and blatantly ecchi in the rear view. I’m of two minds on that, but it is Strike Witches after all.
Not being much of a mechamasume fan was another thing that kept me away from Strike Witches, but seeing the witches in action did a lot to make leg obscuring striker units visually acceptable. However, her striker unit looks slick. You can also swap out the propellers between the default spinning mode or have it so you see the individual propeller blades. The texture on the striker units looks very good in normal room light, not just in the photos.
The one I bought is very clean. It takes a macro lens to find the two paint boogers on the figure.
I was all done taking shots, but then thought to myself, even though Sanya is nocturnal, Strike Witches fly through these blue skies. Slipped a sheet of pink paper underneath to color the highlights pink for some sense of early morning light or something, which is more noticeable on the first two blue sky shots.
Went with a wider aperture than I normally do for the blue sky shots. The super shallow depth of field gets over used, but then I probably don’t use a shallow depth of field often enough as a consequence of holding that opinion. Every now and then it’s a good idea to tell yourself you’re wrong.
Foo-bar-baz has a comprehensive 360 view of Sanya.
I’m a little surprised that we haven’t seen more Strike Witches figures, after all from what I gather this show is a big hit amongst the types of people who buy figures. Of course, there’s likely a number of other factors involved keeping a flood at bay, or they’re not as popular as I assume. If Alter released one of each witch, I’d likely buy most, if not all of them. I still haven’t bought Yoshika Miyafuji, but that was due to her being released at a time where I wasn’t a fan of Strike Witches.
Great pics, I like the second morning light image.
I don’t remember if Alter announced a figure for Eila but I would definitely get her as well. Sanya without Eila just doesn’t feel right.
Did the paint on the rocket launcher handle transfer over to her hand on yours like it did with mine?
I also noticed that there was a thin piece that came loose between the handle and the shoulder rest and for the life of me I don’t know if she uses that in the show or if that just happens to be a defect that should have been glued properly.
Aside from those two, I don’t spot any thing else on mine.
Ha, I guess I didn’t even notice it since it wasn’t in the directions. I found the piece. Not sure what it’s for and don’t remember seeing it. As the piece isn’t even on the “assembly” guide, I’m guessing an oversight that they felt wasn’t worth a delay to correct — but I’m just guessing.
The paint on mine was very clean and I don’t think I got any transferred or if it did, it’s on the inside of her hand and you can’t see it. Seeing as there’s a threat of transfer I won’t move it just to take a look.
Loving the “night” shots — they instantly remind me of this illustration that I’ve used for my desktop a while ago!
While the pose isn’t the most exciting one out of the dozen of Strike Witches figures out there, I have to agree that this one suits suits her quiet personality perfectly. When Kotobukiya tried to get fancy with their Sanya, it came out really awkward and wrong.
I wonder what gave Sanya the privilege of getting to wear a skirt. I’m guessing the character designer really couldn’t think of a way to have a Russian character go bare-legged, ha!
.-= Chag´s last blog: Weekly Highlights- Armchair Figure Marketing =-.
From the looks of it, the figure is probably based off that illustration. The pose and mood is so very close.
The Koto one does not feel as much like Sanya. It seems like one of the stereotypes of Russians in anime is being reserved and introverted, so having the cover of a skirt I think fits.
I’d like to see her with a more flying like pose and with her radar antennae on, but this one probably is the best Sanya we will get. Mine is on the way from AmiAmi already.
.-= Kamugin´s last blog: Taiga Aisaka Miss Contest ver review =-.
A radar antenna would have been sweet. This one captures Sanya’s personality, so I’m pretty satisfied with it as the definitive Sanya figure. I seriously dislike the Koto Sanya. I do like their Barkhorn. Alter hasn’t been putting SW figures out that quickly, so I might get the Koto Barkhorn and some of the others if I ever want to assemble the 501st.
Koto’s Sanya is disgusting. This one being the definitive Sanya is true perhaps. I’m worried about the possibility of her weight breaking her base since she is supported by just one metal rod like that.
I already got Alter’s Miyafuji and Kotobukiya’s Lynette and Eila. I’ll get Lucchini and Perrine by AmiAmi, the remaining ones I’ll see which maker do better and get them.
.-= Kamugin´s last blog: Taiga Aisaka Miss Contest ver review =-.
I just looked at the Koto Eila today and it looks very nice, for a Koto figure, better than I expected. Unfortunately, the dealer at Otakon was waaaay overcharging for it, so I didn’t pick Eila up.
I really dislike animal ears and tails on girls but I think I can make an exception for the Strike Witches. I like how Sanya has such a peaceful expression while hauling a quad rocket launcher (which is an awesome weapon, by the way. I was just a little kid the last time I watched Commando and I don’t recall much of the movie, but I vividly remember when the heroine busted the governor free with a quad rocket launcher).
Think I’m guilty as anyone of abusing those low f-numbers XD You get a fast lens, it’s so hard to resist the temptation to jack it wide open and go to town with that razor-thin depth of field. It’s one of those bad habits that I’ll grow out of, one of these days.
.-= Tier´s last blog: Revy from Black Lagoon =-.
Commando was awesome at least I remember it as awesome, but I was a kid when I saw it and standards aren’t all that high at that age. I get that way with processing too, forcing myself not to use any filters. I can only abstain for about one set before I’m back to using a standard filter routine.
Such a shame to hear that you are skipping out on Spicy Wolf.
It took me a while to get into Strike Witches. I couldn’t get over the no pants and girls with animal ears and tails flying with chunks of WW2 ear fighters on their legs thing. It all seem to ridiculous for me, I’m glad I did as Sanya is probably my favorite Strike Witch out of the bunch.
As for Sanya I like this figure, a more reasonable pose than Koto’s helps. I also like her design the most out all the girls. Above all though, I like her face in my opinion it portrays Sanya’s quiet and demure personality.
I had no problem with the no pants. My view from the beginning on it was, a stroke of genius. Just kidding. As I said in the post, this review has caused Sanya to grow on me.
Ah Sanya, the most timid girl has the biggest weapon XD
This Sanya figure looks very good much better than the one from Kotobukiya
even though they did a good job with their Lynette.
Again very nice pictures,the dawn effect with the pink sheet of paper looks great.
Im not that interested in the figures of Strike Witches, but when Alter is planning to make Lucchini I will order her
.-= Fabienne´s last blog: Review- Marisa Kirisame by Kotobukiya =-.
Yes, the boldness of the big weapon is a great contrast to her personality.
I’m sitting here trying to think if there’s a witch that I wouldn’t get, it would probably be Lynne, but that would be it, so I’d collect her too to complete the 501st. I think in order of which witches I’d want to get most from Alter:
Shirley
Lucchini
Barkhorn
Sakamoto
Hartman
Minna
Eila
Perrinne
Miyafuji
Lynne
I’ve taken an unexpected to me liking of the witches.
Wow im simply suprised at how good the quality is!
She looks very nice =) and the photos you took of her is great!
Thanks, Fabrice.
I like how the tie gives to this figure a sense of motion.
great pics you took!
.-= phossil´s last blog: Wonder Festival 2010 and giveaway winner =-.
The tie is a great detail on the figure and to the costume design of the character. Glad you picked that out. It does describe the character’s movement.
Ah! Another one like Tier, hating on things because of animal ears! Horo is great in Spice & Wolf. But I can totally see where you’re coming from. I personally avoid shows with women who have large breasts, for no other reason than they have large breasts and I find that unappealing. On that note, I hate how the most ‘adult’ women in anime have the largest breasts (generalization).
Having watched Strike Witches because of your two posts on the series I’ve gained an interest in the figures that have been released. I think so far Sanya’s my favourite, but I think I’d like to get a figure of many of the witches. Though it seems unlike many, I don’t mind Koto’s adaptation and blatant fanservice. But Alter’s looks superior regardless.
I share that view on the breast size of adult anime women that are supposed to be sexy. Most of them have absurdly sized ones, but I guess that’s what floats the boat of those who love their office ladies. I mean, I find the bizarre proportions of many anime girls faces to be cute.
Nice photos, that Sanya figure does look lovely.
Perhaps the reason there’s not more figures of these girls around is that several different figure makers are just doing one or two each, and none like Alter or so has really committed to doing the full 501st line up?
.-= Smithy´s last blog: Yoko and Shizuko in the garden =-.
They should coordinate, which would bring me joy.
If I could, I’d get all Alter’s Strike Whiches figures. But I guess reason overwhelmed passion. I definitely don’t have space to welcome those lovely ladies.
I am completely fan of your pictures. Perfect mood which suits well Sanya character. And as you said, the figure is a good representation of this lonely girl.
If Alter said they’d make them all, I’d make the space.
Sanya-chan ^^. It’s a very attractive figure that’s for sure. I only recently got into Strike Witches so I have not been collecting any of the figures. I could be tempted by a good Luchini figure though
I understand not caring much for animal ears but you should give Spice and Wolf a chance if you haven’t already. The novels are quite good and the anime is pretty decent. There’s much less focus on Horo having ears and a tail and more on her and Lawrence’s relationship throughout their travels. Quite entertaining! ^^
.-= anonymous_object´s last blog: Gwendolyn & Mercedes by Alter =-.
I know, people tell me the show itself is pretty good.
Ah now this is how Sanya should be in figure form. I somewhat regret having bought the Kotobukiya version after the way the base turned out not wanting to hold her up very well. If only I didn’t but that one I’d surely get this. It’s a shame that Strike Witches is over-sexualized by certain fans because I really do love them for their obvious non-ecchi qualities.
.-= Persocom´s last blog: Ioryogi Plush Doll by Chara-Ani =-.
There’s definitely a lot to like about Strike Witches beyond the ecchi stuff, but it is kind of hard to avoid that aspect, but yeah, sometimes people put even more of it than is there. Me, I love it when they’re flying and the little bits they throw in there about the characters where you can kind of miss it if you blink, but if you catch it it’s pretty sweet.