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Spinosaurus (Furuta)

Posted on March 6, 2011 | 3 Comments

Ever since it starred in a certain film in 2001, Spinosaurus has found its way into the hearts and minds of the general public and fanboys. Featured killing a sub-adult Tyrannosaurus in the movie, Spinosaurus has gained a reputation of being ferocious and omnipotent. This is reflected in many figures of this dinosaur, such as the offerings by Carnegie and Sideshow, which feature the dinosaur in a very active or at least roaring pose. However, the Spinosaurus figure by Furuta is featured in a much calmer pose, with its jaws closed (the poor fellows need to close their mouths sometimes).

One of the first things that comes to mind when looking at this figure is its rather vibrant color scheme. Similar to the Kinto Soft Model Spinosaurus, the Furuta Spinosaurus is quite orange. However, this figure is less garishly colored, with the body being a light brown. A cream colored line outlined with black and red markings adorn the body and the distinctive sail. The eyes and claws are painted with good detail, something that most figures lack. Its bright color scheme makes this neat little Spinosaurus figure stand out in any collection.

In addition to its unique paint job, the Furuta Spinosaurus has a great sculpt of well. Since Spinosaurus is known from very few fossil remains, some liberty can be given about accuracy. From what is known of the dinosaur, this figure appears to be quite accurate. The proportions don’t appear to be inaccurate, and the fact that the figure stands on two legs (thanks to the help of a base) is always a nice touch. Also, there is the fact that this figure is not roaring. This is quite natural, as the average predator doesn’t have its jaws opened constantly. The detailing, while not absolutely exquisite, is still nice, with mainly wrinkles and some scales on the feet (it is likely that the scales wouldn’t be very visible on a figure of such a small scale anyways).

However, there are some faults to be found with this figure. First of all, the figure is a very thin depiction of Spinosaurus. Even the sail shows all bones in it. In real life, a large apex predator such as Spinosaurus would probably be more muscular. In addition, the shape of the skull is inaccurate. The distinctive subnarial gap, while somewhat present, is not at all prominent when it should be very prominent. Finally, the arms should be larger with larger fingers and claws. From what we know of other spinosaurid remains, Spinosaurus most likely had large muscular arms and large claws on its fingers.

Despite some inaccuracies, the Furuta Spinosaurus is still a neat little figure worth having. However, the figure is only available for sale in Japan (Furuta is a Japanese company). If you wish to acquire it, then eBay is your best bet, as it is occasionally on sale there for no more than $10. If you are a fan of spinosaurids or theropods in general, this figure is certainly worth acquiring.

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Posted in Furuta, theropod

Tagged furuta, Japan, spinosaur, spinosaurid

Kitadaniryu (Kaiyodo Animatales Series 6)

Posted on February 28, 2011 | 1 Comment

After the release of a certain film having to do with dinosaurs in 1993, dromaeosaurs have captured the public imagination. While some are famous, such as the notorious Velociraptor and Utahraptor, there are many more obscure species as well. Kitadaniryu is a very mysterious dinosaur, as there is very little information about it available. Most likely it is the English translation for the Japanese term for Kitadanisaurus, which is known only from a tooth, claw, and possible limb and jaw fragments and is possibly a synonym of Fukuiraptor (which is most likely an allosauroid). In addition, it is a nomen nudum, as it was never formally described. No matter what the taxonomic status of Kitadaniryu is, this figure of it, made by Kaiyodo, is a very nice figure worth having.

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Kaiyodo, a Japanese company famous for its Dinotales line of dinosaur figures, also produced several series of figures of Japanese animals, named Animatales. The Kitadaniryu is one of the three secret figures produced for the 6th series of Kaiyodo Animal Tales. So far, it is the only non-avian dinosaur in all of the Animatales series. Unlike the Dinotales figures, which usually come in 2 paint variations, the Kitadaniryu has 4 different paint styles. In addition to the one shown in this review, there are brown and green, red and black and purple, and white and yellow and black color schemes.

The brown and green version of the Kitadaniryu figure. Image kindly provided by forum member Radman.

As for the figure itself, it’s very nice. While there isn’t very much that can be said about accuracy, it still follows the basic dromaeosaur anatomy. The sickle claw is enlarged, the snout is narrow, and most importantly the figure has a nice full coat of feathers (except for the head and feet). The sculpt is very well done as well. While not as impressive as the detailing on some of the Dinotales figures, the Kitadaniryu is adorned with nice feather textures, skin folds, and musculature. The feather detailing on this figure is more similar to “true” feathers found on birds today then the protofeathers that are often found on figures of feathered dinosaurs. This creates a unique feel to the figure.

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While all of this figure’s different paint variations are nice in their own ways, the one featured in the review is probably the best. The body is a simple shade of black, and fades into white around the head and tail. A unique shade of pinkish orange colors the snout and feet, and the claws are painted dark grey. It’s simple yet very natural, and reminds one of an eagle of some sort.

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The Animatales Kitadaniryu is a nice figure that is certainly worth getting. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done. Like the Dinotales figures, Animatales figures were only sold in Japan. Since the Kitadaniryu was a secret figure, it is even rarer than most Animatales figures. The best bet to acquiring it is on eBay, but most sellers who sell the Kitadaniryu will often charge exorbitant prices for it (sometimes even around $100!). If you are lucky, you’ll find a lot of various Animatales or Kaiyodo figures that has the Kitadaniryu in it. This lovely little figure is definitely worth the possible hardships in acquiring it, and makes a great addition to any collection.