Neutron Jammer: POP Sailing Again

The second addition to my POP collection, the fighting chef of the Straw Hat Pirates - "Black Leg Sanji". This figure is a part of the "Sailing Again" series of the Portrait of Pirates product line. And as all the characters under "Sailing Again", Sanji is depicted in his appearance after the two-year timeskip.

Sanji is the fifth member and the chef of the Straw Hat Pirates. He is also known as one of the so-called "Monster Trio" along with Luffy and Zoro because of his fighting abilities (more on Sanji here).

There isn't too much changes in Sanji's appearance after the two-year time-skip aside from some minor details. His hair now covers his right eye (previously covers his left eye). It is now revealed that his two eyebrow curls are non-symmetrical since both are curled on the right side. He also grows some goatee and become more muscular as compared to his body built before. He is wearing a black suit as usual but this time with yellow long-sleeve shirt.

Continuing my plans to collect all the POP Sailing Again releases, I had to hunt down all that were already released. I wasn't too worried since I believe that all these Sailing Again POP's will be re-released at least once. But nothing beats the satisfaction of owning the first releases and relaxing knowing that whatever happens, you already have it.

Around February 2012, after I acquired my POP Sailing Again - Nami, I continued hunting down the previously released Sailing Again POP's that I missed. Those are Luffy, Chopper, and Zoro. Sanji isn't released yet at that time (March 2012 release) but preorders we're already closed and I couldn't find any other store offering preorders. I was about to give up and wait for my chance on the actual release date (and the possibility of the re-release), but while I am browsing my Facebook news feed, Animarket (an Australian based online store) announces preorders again for just a few POP SA Sanji. I didn't waste a second and grabbed that opportunity.

This figure was released late March for 6,090 yen (tax included) under the Excellent Model series. It was then announced for a November re-release along with POP Sailing Again - Tony Tony Chopper (Kung Fu Point). I received my copy from Animarket by third of April, quite fast and in a very strong packaging so it is totally free from shipping damage.

This figure is scaled 1/8 and it stands about 230 mm. That makes Sanji's actual height is 184 cm. But according to Eiichiro Oda, he is only 177 cm. Kinda huge difference if only to include the heels of his shoes. Anyway, I am just pointing that out since scaling can't be perfect for these figures and it doesn't matter that much anyway as long as the measurements are close enough.

Sanji is taller than POP Sailing Again - Nami. See the size comparison below.

POP Sailing Again - Nami and POP Sailing Again - Sanji

These are just my first two POP's, both are from Sailing Again series.

Box Art and Contents

The box size isn't so huge, about 170mm x 110mm x 280mm, and is as simple as POP SA Nami's box, just a bit taller since Sanji is just in simple standing pose.

Just like as Nami's box, it is windowed on the front, top and both sides. It has a silver Toei foil sticker of authenticity, indicating that it is an international release.

The box design has a red/brown theme. Photos of two different face expression is shown on either side of the box and on the back are the figure's photos in different angles and expression.

This figure comes with an alternate head, the other head is the one with silly face with heart shaped left eye. An alternate hands that shows thumbs up to be paired with the alternate head. And MegaHouse is kind enough to include two pieces of cigarettes, one will serve as a spare, that's because these cigarettes are too small and easy to lose.

Personal Impressions

Sanji is looking good in this figure. I'm not sure if this is best POP of Sanji as I did not have any other POP Sanji.

His pose is just what would you expect from Sanji. Always looking cool by having one his hands on his pocket and the other holding a cigarette. His default facial expression is relaxed with subtle smile. Though he isn't in his battle ready pose, Sanji is known to be light headed even before he enters into a fight so this pose and expression works for me.

But then again, I wanted to have some more dynamic pose like that of the upcoming Sailing Again - Usopp. Sanji could also use some effect parts like optional flaming legs for his "Diable Jambe" attack (similar to the Figuarts ZERO Battle ver.). Well, that just one of my wish so I'm hoping MegaHouse would do it their future Sanji releases.

The face details looks very nice for me. It captured every details of Sanji's distinct features like the eyebrow. I like how they put the stubble above the upper lip, very uniformly placed. The goatee also looks nice. The right eye while covered in this angle can be partly seen from below.

Sanji's skin are exposed only on the head part and two hands so there isn't any reason not to make it look perfect. And MegaHouse did it very well in terms of paint shading.

I'm just wondering, what is the subtle blue paint on the eyes? Anyway, the face looks absolutely perfect and no paint issues.

The black suit doesn't have many details. What makes it stand out are the slight paint shading which are perfectly done here. The yellow long-sleeve shirt is also done very well as it looked like its is actually underneath the black suit. The gold buttons are also painted nicely.

I can't seem to figure out the color of the neck-tie. I looks like a brown with yellow/orange shading. But anyway, still looks very nice.

Another feature that makes the black suit looks nice are the cloth wrinkles, it really looks natural. Amazing sculpting and again no paint issues.

As I have said, they did perfect on the painting of the hands. The fingernails are painted but not noticeable since the color is very close to that of the skin. You will only notice the shiny finish. The cigarette is also looking fine, but I think it is lacking in details like some red paint on the tip to make it look like it is burning.

Another problem with the cigarette is that though it can easily be inserted between the fingers, it can also be removed easily. That explains the space cigarette. But anyway, as long as you don't move the figure too often it will stay in place.

The other hand that is in his pocket. You can see how it is nicely sculpted. I really love the paint shading and wrinkles on the black suit specially on the part where his arms coincide with the bottom edge of the upper suit.

There is one issue that I didn't like in this figure, it is the seam of the two halves of the hair. While it isn't noticeable when you're looking at the front, it is annoying on this angle.

Really nice paint shading here.

The back part of the suit. And you will also notice that there is some black shading on the edges of the hair.

The right side details, still looking awesome.

Nothing else to say here as the black pants is painted just as nice as the suit.

Sanji's base is blue, maybe because he is currently looking for "All Blue". It is the same size as of POP SA Nami's base and as well as all the embossed information written, except of course for the name, Sanji.

The shoes are also painted in black but you can see the material separation here between the pants and the shoes. The latter is painted in shiny black and looks just like a real shiny shoes. The soles are also painted in black but this time it is a semi-matte black and looks like a rubber. Absolutely nice painting techniques.

One disappointment about this figure is that it can't stand by itself without the base. As you can see, the pose of the feet isn't flat on the ground so it wouldn't stand properly. You can balance the figure but it will always fall. I wouldn't risk taking photos without the base as I might break an expensive figure.

A whole shot of the legs and feet. Really amazing.

Here are shot of the option parts. One alternate head and one alternate hands, the other head and hand are the default ones. And as I have said, the other cigarette is only a spare.

This is Sanji after losing his hands and being decapitated - creepy.

And this is Sanji's silly face. It is totally different but the same can be said about the details, still looks nice. It just happen to have some slight issue with the teeth, I'm not sure if it is only in my figure or it's the same on the rest. Anyway, not a big issue.

The heart eyes is actually a separate mold. This time you cannot peek to look into the right eye.

It's really nice to have this alternate head as Sanji always do this facial expression whenever he is looking into nice ladies like Nami and Robin.

This is the alternate hands. It only supposed to be paired with this alternate head. It will look odd to have a silly face and then holding a cigarette and vice-versa (it may not be if you're not a fan).

This figure is simple yet MegaHouse had made it stand out. They might have made some not so nice figures in the past, but these new Sailing Again POP's are looking absolutely amazing. From sculpting to paint detailing, not to mention the close resemblance to the characters themselves. I'm really glad that I have started this collection and will be picking up the rest of the Sailing Again releases as well as other POP's.

I currently have POP Sailing Again Shirahoshi, some DX, Mild and Limited POP's in my collection and I will be featuring all of them here in my blog. I didn't have that much time but rest assure I will post them here very soon.

Final words for POP Sailing Again - Sanji... Thumbs up!! :)

Thanks for reading and please enjoy the photo gallery below.