Revoltech ARX-8 Laevatein

The Revoltech ARX-8 Laevatein is here! Well, almost here. August 15th seems to be the Japanese release date (Kaiyodo Online Store), and I will assume that September 30th is date most North American distributors get their hands on this (ToysLogic). As for costs, it’s ¥2590 (~$24.73 CAD) compared to $25.99 USD (~$26.31 CAD). Supposedly, the original price of the item from ToysLogic is $32.99 USD (it’s currently on sale, although how $26 for a 12cm toy which I can’t even build can be considered a sale is beyond me). Shipping from the States back to Canada is also quite expensive, but luckily purchases under $200 CAD do not require duties to be paid. Probably, buying directly from Japan will be the cheaper way. Plus, you get to have it earlier.

However, what strikes me as a lapse in judgement or an absence of mental capacity is the fact that the ARX-8 model will be released before it makes any appearance in the Full Metal Panic anime series. Of course, with Kyoto Animation chasing after the Clannad pseudo-harem tragedy-wannabe, it’s no surprise that anything decent has been shelved for the next four years. (I blame the fans of Haruhi and Clannad in part for this. Clearly, watching a half-hearted and insanely surreal romance followed by not-quite-so-gut-wrenching tragedy results in some sort of perverse gratification for a large majority of Japanese males and weeaboos.) I want GONZO back. I think most people will agree with me that a slight dip in animation quality is well worth the continuation of the Full Metal Panic series.

Moving on from the wall of text, here are some pictures conveniently taken from Kaiyodo’s ARX-8 page.

I want this. I want this badly. However, I do not like the current price tag.