Coinciding with the 20th Anniversary of Clamp’s Cardcaptor Sakura manga (and later anime) series, Good Smile Company have manufactured a 1/7 scale figure of the titular character, titled “Stars Bless You”. Based on a fantastic piece of artwork by series creators CLAMP, this is an impressive and incredibly detailed figure, which is an experience from the moment you hold the packaging in your hands.
The Unboxing Experience
If you are like me, one of the first things you will do once holding the box in your hands is admire how big it is. Although it was sold as being 450mm in heigh, it was nevertheless surprising when you consider that most 1/7 scale figures are typically around the high 100s / low 200s. As you unwrap the box, the second thing you will notice is that the box is a lot more elaborate than you would expect to find with figures, featuring a fold-out section which includes key artwork the figure is based on and a ‘Sakura Card’ based on it as well. Despite the limited space I currently have to store packaging, especially something as large as this, the design and build quality of this box convinced me that I need to find some way to keep it indefinitely.
The plastic holding the figure and its various components in-place pulls out from the cubby it is stored in, revealing an additional space which is great for dust-protective storage and (as you will see below) photographs.
Actually taking Sakura out of the packaging was not a simple process, but fortunately Good Smile Company opted to print their handling instructions in both Japanese and English. This was a smart move given the demand for this figure in both markets. Although I would argue the figure is still not simple to assemble, it did make attaching the various bits-and-bobs included with it much easier.
The main challenge I had with getting the figure apart from its packaging was the wires connecting it to the plastic. In my opinion, these were a little too discreet, and should have been highlighted in the manual. In addition, it was much harder than usual to remove the wires, taking me more than 10 minutes to untangle and remove them. Although I do complain about this, it was good to see that a good attempt was being made at keeping things from moving about / getting damaged during transit.
The Design and Concept
Manga authors/illustrators CLAMP have created a lot of artwork for the Card Captor Sakura series, and if you have the ability to do so, I would recommend picking up one of their artwork collections such as Cardcaptor Sakura 20th Anniversary Illustrations Collection to enjoy them. While there is a lot of good artwork, including more iconic designs, that could have been the basis for this figure, the chosen piece was in my opinion the right one to deliver both detail and value for its high price point.
Somewhat trophy-like in style, this figure features Sakura wearing an elaborate red, green and white outfit, surrounded by a planetarium like construct featuring a miniature solar system and many other details. Indicated by the gusts bellowing at her feet, it appears that she is in the middle of casting Windy, adding another touch to the figure. For a figure this big, the base feels sturdy, and I don’t personally have any reservations about my figure falling over anytime soon. That said, I was a little disappointed that the base itself wasn’t wooden as it may lead you to think at first glance.
There are a lot of little intricacies that make this figure special, such as the detail put into Sakura’s crown, the many layers to her outfit, and the individual stars adorning Sakura’s dress. That said, I imagine dusting this figure over time would be a trickier – especially since its size may preclude it from going into some display cabinets.
Build Quality
The overall build and paint quality of this figure is of a high standard. From the multiple elements which make up her outfit, to the extra accessories (wand and ribbon) which come in the box detached, there wasn’t much I could fault with this figure from a distance. Even when going up closer, the paintwork and sculpting continued to look consistently good, with only a few almost insignificant issues I picked up when looking close-up. To give you a closer look at the figure, I have included some photographs (taken by myself) below:
Final Thoughts on Sakura Kinomoto 1/7- Stars Bless You
Although it towers over every other figure I currently own, and I am even now still left wondering how I am going to store it, I can say that Sakura Kinomoto 1/7 – Stars Bless You is one of the highlights of the moderately-sized collection it sits apart from. The price tag may sway some from picking this up, as it doesn’t come cheap. But whats on offer is something featuring excellent paintwork and build quality, and some of the nicest packaging I have ever seen with a figure. Whether you are nostalgic for this 90s manga/anime or just after a cute and detailed figure, this is one worth considering.
