Masamune Shirow Hyperpage

Very very good! :) If you thought the preview booklet was something, the actual book itself is an absolute masterpiece. Stunning graphics from Shirow Sensei and I think this time, he finally nailed the CG illustration game- the girls are well done, some monsters in the mix, and lots of little SD critters which I have not seen from Shirow for quite some time. I think he must be enjoying himself very much creating these artworks!

And the best touch is the fact that each piece is based around a folklore / mythology theme, with an accompanying essay and commentary. So its not just maximum mind-numbing sexy this time, but there's actually a story behind each picture. Magnificent! 6 stars out of 5!

Kokin Togihime Zohushi Shu
Shirow Masamune
Publisher: Seishinsha
ISBN-10: 4878923725
ISBN-13: 978-4878923722
Release Date: 2009/8/10
RRP: 2,075 Yen (Inclusive Tax)

Buy it from Amazon JP! You would definitely want this in your collection.

If you've seen the Seishinsha Shirow page, you'd have noticed 2 different covers for the newly published Togihime Zohushi artbook. It is in fact a limited edition, 16-page special booklet gift from Seishinsha / Shirow Sensei with an alternate cover to the artbook for those who ordered directly from the Seishinsha website.

The gift was sent out end of July and samplings of the booklet has already been reviewed by some Japanese blogs, ranobe.com being one of the best I've come across so far :)

Togihime 16-Page Special Cover

The contents, from what can be seen at the moment seems to be a mash-up of previous and new pictures in the heavy digital rendering of Shirow Sensei's recent style. And as predicted, the artbook will be based on supernatural, folklore and ancient Japanese theme. No Sci-Fi this time, oh well...!

There are also some additional details on the new book from the flyers enclosed with the mini-book: it will be 24 x 33cm size and 64 pages. In the meantime, have a sneak peek at some pages and see if they rock your boat :)

Spot anything new?

By the way, I'm getting my Togihime from Amazon JP instead of Seishinsha direct, so no special mini-book for my collection either. This is as close as it gets, unless I chance upon a copy in the future :) But anyhow, most importantly- enjoy the release of yet another Shirow artbook. Super!

Hey fellow Shirow cats! It's been awhile since anything newsworthy cropped up- in fact I myself almost missed the latest boat! The good folks over at Seishinsha have a new Shirow Sensei release!

Remember the Toguhime Zohushi stuff I talked about many moons back (its just the last post anyway) - well hey, they delivered!

Kokin Togihime Zohushi Shu
Shirow Masamune
Publisher: Seishinsha
ISBN-10: 4878923725
ISBN-13: 978-4878923722
Release Date: 2009/8/10
RRP: 2,075 Yen (Inclusive Tax)

It's looking like a first printing sellout, so secure your copy by pre-order if possible (not that there's many days to go with the release next Monday on 10th August)- you can book a copy through Seishinsha's website (not sure can be done outside Japan) or through Amazon.Jp (where I'm expecting my copy from). The Seishinsha order page have some nifty thing going on, seems like some kind of postcard book deal with the book order (not sure what they're on about either).

At this moment, I have no clue yet what the new Togihime is about. Not sure if its a poster collection, artbook, or just some prints. However, I'm guessing its going to be an artbook as there's reference made to Intron Depot in the product description- so fingers crossed. But anyway some Kimono-clad eye candies, and some samurai Shirow pretties are guaranteed so let's hope its more bang for the Yen than the Pieces release not too long ago (which I really love! :)

Oh, and if you haven't checked, pickup the gorgeous Togihime cover art from Seishinsha's website.

Thanks to HAYATO for the wake up call! :)

Finally picked up my Pieces 1 artbook today. Well, as feared there are lots of repeat pictures but personally I love it. The printing is good and... well... more about Pieces later in the review post (coming soon, I hope! Quite a lot to say, mainly good things...).

Anyway, inside Pieces I found this flyer on what looks like the next Togihime Zohushi installment. As with any announcement of this nature (no date, sparse details etc etc) it's best to assume that it won't be coming any time soon. But do watch Seishinsha's website closely. The fact that they are still putting out Shirow books is very positive!

Togihime Zohushi, The Next??

Oh, and while we're at it, head on over to the Seishinsha Shirow galleries and grab the magnificient Pieces "Fishfinder" cover art in high resolution :) Until the next post, cheers!

Pieces Cover Art at Shirow Galleries by Seishinsha

Just got an email from Hobbysearch that my Pieces artbook is now in-stock and getting ready for shipping :) Great news! I really hope I'm wrong but judging from the table of contents, seems like there's an awful lot of 'repeat' pictures to be expected.

But anyway, it's a new Shirow art book and I'm pretty excited! Can't wait for the book to arrive and I'll post more details then. Currently, seems to be sold out at all my online sources but I'm sure there will be stock soon or a second wave coming.

Shirow Masamune Premium Gallery PIECES 1
Release: Late February 09
ISBN: 9784878923630
Publisher: Seishinsha
RRP: 1440¥

Pieces cover artwork

Pieces Contents

Table of contents

Images sourced from Hobbysearch item order page
Keep checking, I'm sure it will re-stock soon once all the pre-order copies get sent out :)

Holy mother of Tachikoma! A Masamune Shirow illustration collection! Brand new unpublished material, Exon Depot 3, 88 pages, coming in January 2009! Thank you Seishinsha!

Shirow Masamune Pieces 1

Masamune Shirow Premium Gallery: Pieces 1
Publisher: Seishinsha
Size: A5
RRP: 1512 Yen

From the short summary text that Seishinsha put up, this seems to be a collection of rare, unpublished Shirow artworks on luxurious print, including an Exon Depot 3 comic. It does say 88 pages, or pieces. Not exactly sure if it's a book or illustration collection type. Yeah! This is what Shirow fans want and dream for years! Go Seishinsha! You the best! :)

And as usual calling it Pieces "1" kinda implies there is a Pieces "2"... damn you ambiguous publishers! Heh, but very very good news. Even trumped a much more feasible, material-ready Galgrease artbook collection. Well done.

Now I gotta find somewhere to order this... maybe 2 copies :P

First and foremost, very sorry for the lack of updates from myself for the past weeks. I'm just really swamped at the moment with work :( But no matter. What's important today is that we have news of the Intron Depot 4 Space Pirates! Yes, there will be 2 versions, and they will be Beagles. Due this October 07, with a price tag of around 5800 Yen per piece. And no, this time, no fancy limited editions. So feel free to place your pre-orders at your preferred Japanese toystores.

Intron Depot 4 Space Pirates
イントロンデポ#4 スペースパイレーツ
Manufacturer: Beagle
Scale: 1/8
Material: PVC
Release Date: Oct 2007
Regular Price: 5,800 yen

ID4 Space Pirates! Keep Out Tape Not Included ;)

Intron Depot 4 Space Pirates Red Ver.
イントロンデポ#4 スペースパイレーツ RED Ver.
Manufacturer: Beagle
Scale: 1/8
Material: PVC
Release Date: Oct 2007
Regular Price: 5,800 yen

The Sexy RED Version

I actually preferred the red version. But it doesn't matter cos' I'm getting both versions :) Not entirely sure if Red pirate has the "ahem" bust option, but its not really an issue is it? September for Motoko, October for the Pirate babes, and some Tachikoma in between. Its going to be a good year this 2007.

There's so many things to talk about- the new WHAM Batou Tachikoma, sneak peaks at the Shizuoka Hobby Show, my latest (Shirow box) aquisitions... hopefully I will have some free time to update everyone in the coming days. In the meantime, enjoy the Space Pirate babes :)

The latest issue of Hobby Japan (Feb 2007) had some Ghost In The Shell / Masamune Shirow related news.

Hobby Japan February 2007 Issue

GITS Solid State Society Visual Book
Advertised for release on 18th January 2007 :)

GITS SSS Visual Book in Jan 2007

Solid State Society Motoko Figure
The 1:8 Scale Solid State Society Motoko prototype from Vice x Beagle looks very very good! It would be the perfect companion for the Ninja Suit Motoko due this month. The SSS Motoko is scheduled for an April 2007 release.

Vice x Beagle SSS Motoko Kusanagi

Intron Depot 4 Space Pirate Figure
Also scheduled in April 2007 is another 1:8 Scale Intron Depot figure: The Space Pirate. And this time like in Shirow Sensei's artbook, there are going to be 2 versions of this pirate babe if I'm not mistaken.

Intron Depot Space Pirate

Also featured in this month's magazine is the RCBerg Motoko Kusanagi kit offered through last month's issue. And I still have no luck ordering one :(

Ever heard of the event Dream Party? Thanks to Jeff, now I know :) At the Dream Party 2006 Tokyo Autumn last month (October) it appears that Yamato Toys has set up a booth to showcase their latest products. Spot the Shirow:

Dream Party Tokyo Autumn 2006 Yamato Booth

Glorious! That's the Solid State Motoko coloured. She looks good even though it's quite a small picture. Should be great. But another more curious item... remember the Space Pirate ID figure I highlighted a few posts ago? Well, here she is again, but this version has blue hair... and a fancy removeable err... chest panel? ^_^ well, it's quite risque for the workplace, so I applied some self-censorship on this picture, but you all should get the idea... For the glorious 18SX picture, checkout the source: Moeyo Blog gallery.

Intron Depot Space Pirate Figure by Yamato. An alternate version?

Speaking of Intron Depot figures, the much-anticipated Starship Police girl was out Friday last week (17th November 06). I will do a separate post when I receive my order. She was out on a Friday, so I had to add another 2 days to the EMS shipping :( Hopefully the Police babe will be here by end of this week.

Already Out & Coming Soon!

Hi everyone! How does next year's budget look? Mine needs some major adjustments now... This Plamodel Radicon Show 2006 is deeper than I thought. The big Wham! started with WAVE's announcement of a bunch of new Tachikomas. And now its VICE's turn to reveal their upcoming 2007 GITS and Intron Depot figures, which can only be termed madness, in a very very good way. 2007 is going to be a super year for Shirow figure collectors!

The Big One:

Ghost In The Shell SAC Solid State Society Motoko Kusanagi
攻殻機動隊 S.A.C 3S 草薙素子
VICE X Alter X Beagle
Scheduled Release: March 2007
Price: 6090 Yen

O_O *whistles*

Even before the 2nd GIG Vice X Alter Motoko Kusanagi was even shipped, we have this delightful Solid State Society version to look forward to! Sweet! This unpainted prototype was displayed, with a planned relesase for March 2006. The scale would be the same as the 2nd Gig one. These 2 Motokos would look smashing displayed side by side.

The Coming of the Pirates

Masamune Shirow Intron Depot 4 Space Pirate
VICE X Yamato
Scheduled Release: July 2007
Price: To Be Announced

O_O Part 2!

Have you ever wondered what would a sexy babe like the Starship Police Girl (ID3 Figure) do for a living? Why to catch sexy Space Pirates of course ^_^. Another dream come true, but this one will be quite a wait until July 2007. Good news though! Fantastic!

The Others
Besides the 2 new figures above, VICE also exhibited their already announced, upcoming figures. The Vice X Alter 2nd Gig Motoko seems to have been pushed back to a January 2007 release (previously expected in December 2006). The piece exhibited is looking good though!

Vice x Alter X Beagle 2nd Gig Motoko Kusanagi


Vice x Yamato Intron Depot 3 SSAT Starship Police


Vice X Yamato MMI Aramaki Motoko

Link: Moeyo Blog- Plamodel Radicon Show 2006 Post
Images used for this post credited and attributed to above blog.

Thanks yet again, Jeff! ;)