Metal Build Evangelion Figures
Neon Genesis Evangelion was one of the most popular mecha robot anime series of the 1990s. The human-like Evangelion Units became iconic robots in a time flooded with robot-based animes. To celebrate the release of the Evangelion movies that followed the TV anime series, Ikuto Yamashita, the designer of the Evangelion mecha partnered with Bandai to create a new line of Metal Build Evangelion figures.
Evangelion Anime Series
The Evangelion anime series is a story about Shinji Ikari a young boy that is the pilot of Evangelion Unit 01. Using these humanoid robots, Shinji and other pilots defend the world against the attacks of extremely powerful and mysterious Angels. Hideaki Anno created the series with references from other famous robot series like ‘Gundam’ and ‘Super Robot Wars’ and completely refined the mecha genre. The purple colored Evangelion Unit 01 quickly became an iconic figure in the robot world.
Metal Build Figures
The Metal Build toy figure range is made with die-cast metal that focuses mainly on mecha robots. They have a highly detailed and aesthetic look. This series was created by Bandai Spirits, a manufacturing company established in 2018 that specializes in high-end figures made of die-cast metal for a more adult audience. Compared to its sister company, ‘Bandai’ they provide more refined and stylish toys.
In the Metal Build toy range, mecha figures are split into two primary categories. One is stylized beasts and the other is designed by Kanetaka Ebikawa, who has designed a lot from the anime ‘Gundam 00’. Apart from the Evangelion Metal Build, there is an extensive lineup of robots from the ‘Gundam’ franchise, also designs from ‘Mazinger Z’ and ‘Full Metal Panic!’. Evangelion is a very recent release.
The Metal Build series are sturdy, and highly poseable figures that include a high amount of diecast metal. This metal helps to strengthen the joints but also makes stabilizing the figure when creating poses easier compared to other more plastic based figures.
Metal Build Design – Evangelion Unit 01
The first in the lineup of Evangelion Metal Build edition figures is Evangelion Unit 01 released on February 23, 2019. The robot designer of Evangelion, Ikuto Yamashita partnered with Bandai to create this refined and extremely detailed figure. Created with more visual decals than the original in the TV series, it is a redesign from the original designer of the mecha, Ikuto Yamashita. It comes with a multi-texture finish, including matt, gloss, flat, metallic, and semi-gloss.
The Eva-01 comes with a new design in which the shoulder blades are attached to the back. The detailing on the figure is also fabulous and coloring is also new and improved.
In addition to the figure itself comes a variety of accessories and classic weapons from the series. It comes with the ‘Progressive knife’, an Evangelion fan favorite weapon and a power cable unique to an Evangelion robot that can attach and dock to the rear of the figure. A stand is also included to store all the various weapons and accessories.
The Metal Build Evangelion Eva-01 is quite a big toy figure. Standing at 8.6 inches, it is very sturdy and quite heavy, owing to the metal die-cast used in its design.
The Evangelion Unit 01 figure was priced around the $300 mark. At the time of launch, there was such a high demand for the figure that it was quick to be in shortage of stock. The already expensive figure became even more expensive due to its popularity and high demand.
Meta Build Evangelion Unit 01: Additional information
21.85 cm tall.
Chrome plating with a luxurious finish.
Extremely light and poseable.
The figure comes with:
- 4 pairs of changeable hands
- Progressive knife
- Pallet rifle
- Handgun
- Magoroku exterminate sword
- Umbilical Cable
- Head with goggles
- Support rod
- Shin armor
- Pallet knife full option
- Mounting joint
- Display stand with cage
Metal Build Design – Evangelion Unit 02
The second release of the Metal Build Evangelion series was Evangelion Unit 02 and went for sale on November 30, 2019. Similar to Unit 01, this red Evangelion Unit 02 piloted by Asuka Langley Soryu in the anime was created in collaboration with Evangelion designer Ikuto Yamashita.
Evangelion Unit 02 comes with a variety of different weapons to the first Evangelion Unit 01, such as a ‘Shoulder needle gun’ and ‘Folding progressive knives’. Also, this figure has the feature of the head of the Evangelion to open, portraying a ‘Berserk’ state that was seen in the anime.
Meta Build Evangelion Unit 02: Additional information
22 cm tall.
Chrome plating with a luxurious finish.
Extremely light and poseable.
- Alternative hand part (left, right x4 types each)
- Palette rifle
- Thigh pylon
- Thunder spear
- Progressive knife x2
- Progressive knife sheath x2
- Folding progressive knife (stored)
- Folding progressive knife (out)
- Headset with goggles
- Headset
- Shoulder needle gun (left/right)
- Joint set
- Umbilical cable set
- Base set
- Display pole
Metal Build Design – Future Designs
Currently there has not been any news or information of the next figure in the series, as Evangelion fans wait and hope for the release of Evangelion Unit 00 piloted by Rei Ayanami.
Links
Bandai Tamashii Official: Eva-01
Bandai Tamashii Official: Eva-02