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REVIEW: Upotte!! Episodes 1-6 Streaming

This might help sell a lot of figurines, but it sure doesn't help in telling characters apart.

The one thing viewers can be sure about in Upotte!! is that it isn't trying to make some kind of statement about the dangers of gun violence and its impact on innocent youth.

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This might help sell a lot of figurines, but it sure doesn't help in telling characters apart.

I resent that this tends to be the first thought that pops up.

Gun violence is hardly an epidemic is Japan, or even existent unless you're Yakuza and smuggled a handgun into the country. Perhaps that complete lack of gun violence makes the public view complacent or even ignorant of firearms or firearm culture. Hell, the mangaka had to ruin some perfectly good rifles by having them deactivated so he could bring them home. He owns the main cast, Galil, G3, and FAL, according to some extra manga pages. Gun ownership, legally, is beyond restrictive, and I have the feeling most Japanese gun nuts might only see them as toys or collectables and not real tools.

It's hard to admit, but it probably is quite true. I like Puella Magi, for example, and figurine sales for that were a major factor in its monetary success. This despite the fact that I find Japanese figurines to be more or less tasteless and degrading to most of the characters they portray (not like some of them need much help in this department though).

It's hard to admit, but it probably is quite true. I like Puella Magi, for example, and figurine sales for that were a major factor in its monetary success. This despite the fact that I find Japanese figurines to be more or less tasteless and degrading to most of the characters they portray (not like some of them need much help in this department though).

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This might help sell a lot of figurines, but it sure doesn't help in telling characters apart.

I resent that this tends to be the first thought that pops up. You know who sells the most figures? Saber; we all now how much people gush over F/SN, critically too. Just because there are cute girls is no no indication they'll get scaled PVCs. Ladies Versus Butlers, another XEBEC show with Akio Takami character designs, only received one pitiful SD trading figure set, not even a measly SEGA prize figure or a Wave Beach Queens.

walw6pK4Alo wrote:

Quote: This might help sell a lot of figurines, but it sure doesn't help in telling characters apart. I resent that this tends to be the first thought that pops up. You know who sells the most figures? Saber; we all now how much people gush over F/SN, critically too. Just because there are cute girls is no no indication they'll get scaled PVCs. Ladies Versus Butlers, another XEBEC show with Akio Takami character designs, only received one pitiful SD trading figure set, not even a measly SEGA prize figure or a Wave Beach Queens.

So what you're saying is that isn't even a venal excuse for the lazy character design?

Something like Upotte!! with its short-skirted little girls with guns WILL sell figurines; as much as Fate/Zero or Puella Magi, never in a million years. But for something like this that lacks the ability to rake in loads of money, making the characters more similar (and hence figure production easier) will save them money so they'll get more bang for their buck on whatever they produce. I'm assuming that this is what the author was originally getting at and it makes perfect sense for the type of series he's discussing.

Something like Upotte!! with its short-skirted little girls with guns WILL sell figurines;

amagee wrote:

Something like Upotte!! with its short-skirted little girls with guns WILL sell figurines;

walw6pK4Alo gave a good example with Ladies vs. Butlers. Maken-ki hasn't really gotten too much merchandise either (it's slowly getting more stuff) - especially figures. You would think a show that features multitudes of pretty busty females would be ripe for figure making, but nope...only like three figures have been made.

I can sit here and list off shows for a long time that either got no figures, or what they did get was terrible.

Qwaser's only good figure was by Hobby Japan, while the rest are fairly ugly and made by Taki.

amagee wrote:

Something like Upotte!! with its short-skirted little girls with guns WILL sell figurines; as much as Fate/Zero or Puella Magi, never in a million years. But for something like this that lacks the ability to rake in loads of money, making the characters more similar (and hence figure production easier) will save them money so they'll get more bang for their buck on whatever they produce. I'm assuming that this is what the author was originally getting at and it makes perfect sense for the type of series he's discussing.

You want to to take some bets on that?

A Yamada from B Gata H Kei would be nice as well.