Shinra Kusakabe Fire Force Figures
Fire Force (sometimes referred to by its Japanese title, En’en no Shobotai) is a manga series that is written is illustrated by Atsushi Okubo, who is known for his previous work, Soul Eater. The manga was first published in Kodansha’s Weekly Shonen Magazine since 2015 and has been compiled into twenty-six tankobon volumes as of early 2021. The series eventually received an anime adaptation by David Production that aired in 2019. The world is set mainly in a post-apocalyptic Tokyo where its inhabitants are constantly living in fear of spontaneously combusting into flames and turning into “Infernals”. This phenomenon also led to the birth of people able to control and generate fire, with one such person being the protagonist, Shinra Kusakabe. As the franchise gained popularity among fans, the demand for merchandise did as well. Figures are one such type of merchandise, as they recreate fan-favorite characters into a tangible object they can display in a collection. Out of the few figures of Shinra, some of the most popular include the “Nendoroid Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe” and the “ArtFX Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe”.
Nendoroid Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe Figure
The Nendoroid line of figures from Orange Rouge - a collaborative brand by Good Smile Company and Max Factory - is widely known for its cute, chibi-style designs that still retain an impressive amount of articulation. This figure of Shinra is no different, as it takes his design and shrinks his body down while making his head larger to emphasize his eyes and mouth. He wears the standard field uniform of the Special Fire Force and comes complete with its iconic neon blue stripes. The extra parts included in this figure (several expressive faceplates, various flame effects, and the various pairs of hands), along with the articulation in the arms and legs, allow fans to recreate many different scenes from the manga.
- Product Name: Nendoroid Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe
- Series: Fire Force
- Product Line: Nendoroid
- Manufacturer: Orange Rouge
- Sculptor: Shichibee
- Specifications: Painted, articulated, non-scale ABS and PVC figure with extra parts and stand
- Height (Approx.): 100 mm
ArtFX J Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe Figure
This scale figure from Kotobukiya takes Shinra and attempts to recreate his design in 3D as accurately as possible. He is posed floating in the air with one knee raised to his chest and has his feet covered in bright orange and yellow flames. One particularly notable feature of this figure is his Special Fire Force uniform, which is perfectly recreated to show off its thick, bulky design. It also includes some of the finer details of the uniform, like its cross-shaped buttons and metal-plated gloves.
- Product Name: ArtFX J Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe
- Series: Fire Force
- Product Line: ArtFX J
- Manufacturer: Kotobukiya
- Sculptor: Tresco modeling x ZERO STUDIO
- Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, 1/8 scale ABS and phthalate-free PVC figure with stand
- Height (Approx.): 210 mm (including stand)
About Shinra Kusakabe
Shinra is a member of the Special Fire Force’s Company 8 and is the main protagonist of the series. Here are some more details of the character’s background and role in the story.
Background
As a young boy, Shinra lived with his infant brother and mother. On one unfortunate day, he woke up to see that his house had caught on fire and witnessed his mother being swallowed by the flames. His younger brother, Sho, was not found but was presumed dead, though Shinra continued to believe otherwise. From this moment on, Shinra developed a habit of giving a devilish grin whenever he was distressed. This habit, along with the mysteries surrounding his family’s house fire, caused others to think that Shinra was the one who set it ablaze, leading to a shunned childhood. As he grew up, Shinra kept his childhood dream of becoming a hero despite the devilish nature that he was labeled with many years ago.
Special Abilities
As a Third Generation victim of the spontaneous human combustion phenomenon, Shinra has the ability to create and control flames. His particular Third Generation ability allows him to create a jet-like stream of flames from his feet. This ability lets him fly at incredible speeds and deliver kicks with devastating amounts of force. Shinra also has an Adolla Burst, granting him even more abilities like the ability to accept Grace and Adolla Links. When under the effects of Grace, Shinra can faster the speed of light.
Other Important Fire Force Characters
Although Shinra interacts with many characters throughout the series, two of the most important are Tamaki Kotatsu and Sho Kusakabe.
Tamaki Kotatsu
Tamaki Kotatsu is a Third Generation member of the Special Fire Force that was originally placed into Company 1 but was transferred to Company 8 as disciplinary action due to her involvement with Rekka Hoshimiya. Before her transfer, she was exceptionally proud of her work at Company 8 and its members. That said, Tamaki is also equally clumsy, which often results in her ending up in embarrassing situations. Her Third Generation ability, “Nekomata”, surrounds her body in flames shaped like various cat features. These flames give her extra offense and can also be extended high into the sky to act as a signal.
Sho Kusakabe
Sho is Shinra’s younger brother who was declared dead after their house caught fire. Much like Shinra believed, Sho was, in fact, still alive, but was taken by the Evangelists and trained to be the leader of the Knights of the Ashen Flame. Since he was raised by the Evangelists, Sho has no feelings toward Shinra and even rejects their relationship at first. He also has little ambitions of his own, opting rather to simply follow the orders given to him instead. Like Shinra, Sho also has an Adolla Burst that, with the Grace of the Evangelist, allows him to slow the flow of time around him.
Links
Nendoroid Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe
ArtFX J Fire Force Shinra Kusakabe
Tamaki Kotatsu Figures
Fire Force Label
Shinra Kusakabe Label