How do "original characters" compete in the world of movable bishojo figures?　Interview with Kanshi Tonna of Rin-Rin-Rin-Tei! Hobby Industry Inside Vol. 49

The hobby industry has seen "movable bishojo figures" (girls plastic models) such as Frame Arms Girl and Megami Device become a hit. Amidst a succession of new entrants from manufacturers who have remained quiet about the industry, there is one person in the garage kit world who has been releasing movable bishojo figures made of resin castings without any hesitation. Kanshi Tonna, who runs the garage kit dealer "Rin-Rin-Tei," is active as a professional prototype maker and also produces and sells his original fully movable bishojo figure "BikiniStyle" as a three-color resin kit.
Why color resin?　Why are fully movable bishojo figures selling so well?　We asked Ms. Tona.

Why use color resin and color-code the parts at each stage?

─ ─ In the past, you worked for a toy and figure manufacturer, didn't you?

Enna: I was an office worker for a total of six years. At the company, I made prototypes for Gachacha Gacha and Shokugan.

───Why did you decide to leave the company?

Ona: At that time, the only kind of large figures available were garage kits, so at work I made small figures such as Shokugan and capsule figures, and on a private basis I exhibited at the Wonder Festival (hereinafter referred to as "One Festival") and made large figures. However, I was only able to release one figure a year or so. Then, MegaHouse started releasing 1/8 scale figures of "Sailor Moon" and "One Piece," and I had the opportunity to make large figures for my work. In addition, my desire to actively release original characters on an individual basis grew, so I left the company and became a freelance prototype sculptor.
I had been getting along well with clients while I was a salaried worker, so I did not have any trouble when I left the company. It was also good that I was able to build a network of contacts by participating in onefestivals.

─ So you have commercial prototype work now?

Tona: Yes, I mainly do commercial prototypes now. I don't make many copyrighted garage kits at events anymore, so I don't make much profit.

─ Looking at the website of Rin-Rin-Rin-Tei, it seems that you have many original characters?

Tonna: Recently, we have been focusing on original characters. I enjoy being able to control everything from planning to sales, and I am very happy when people buy my original characters. It's tough to keep going, but I think it's a "sixth industry" that prototype designers can do, and I think it's something I can do as a freelancer, I had released a garage kit of my original sci-fi slot car "RRT (2RT)" about three years ago. It could be built as a display model, but it could also run if a commercially available motor was installed.


─ Did you design the car as well?

No, I only did the planning and figure prototyping. I asked my friend Nao Kadoguchi to do the design, and KuWa (FRAMEOUT MODELS), a prototype sculptor who specializes in mechanical parts, to do the car. My friends and I decided that we would definitely continue this project for three years, and we also linked it with the fanzine drawn by Ms. Kadoguchi. After three years, we are now looking for a chance to resume the project. I hope I can make a plastic model of it.

─ Was this slot car your first original kit?

Tona: No. In 2005, my second year as a freelance artist, I started producing a character called "Puni Color 23," which was a personification of the 23 wards of Tokyo. This was the first time I used colored resin. 5 colors per character meant that 5 molds were needed. It was cost-prohibitive to make five molds for each character, so we first made prototypes for each of the five characters, and then made molds for each of the five characters in terms of the colors they shared, such as putting their lips and pink clothes in the same mold if they were pink. This method makes it possible to mold multiple colors while keeping the unit cost of the kit low. The disadvantage, however, was that the kits were always made in sets of five, making it difficult to resell the kits when the popularity of each character began to vary.


───This year, you re-released only one character (Puni Color 23, Suno), right?

Tona: Only Suno's body and clothes were sculpted separately, so I had to make a new mold only for Suno's clothes. When I was shown it, it produced beautiful gradations, so I used it in a previous "Monster Hunter" event kit. You can enjoy beautiful gradation without painting in the unassembled state. We are using the same technique for the re-release of the Snow.

─ ─ Even the eyes are finely color-coded without the user having to paint them at all, aren't they? Why did you aim for a color-coded kit?

Tona: People often say that garage kits and plastic models are "stuffed in the closet," and I think it is not a happy situation for me or the person who bought them if they are left unassembled after spending nearly 10,000 yen to buy them. I don't think it is a happy situation for me or the person who bought it. Also, for first-time buyers, "setting up the environment to build" is a huge hurdle to overcome. That's why I wanted to lower the hurdle for assembling garage kits. For the "Ayanami Rei Super Plug Suit ver.", we also eliminated the need to drill the axes.
I also like the prototype sculptor Maki Asai, who, together with RC Berg, has created an environment that allows private dealers to mold in colored resin. So, I decided to use colored resin, both because of Ms. Asai's influence and to relieve my own stress. I don't really like the process of assembling garage kits molded in white, painting them, and then sending them to ....... I also dislike masking. I also dislike masking, so I prefer to use colored resin if I assemble it myself.
Also, I use colored resin in part because of the original character. If you want people to buy and assemble original characters, I think it will be tough unless you mold them in color ....... Because they are original characters, I thought they needed a weapon or a highlight as a kit that copyrighted characters don't have, so I challenged myself to make a color resin kit with finely divided colors. I want people to feel free to build garage kits as if they were plastic models.