Takara Tomy is a millennial trade big of toy manufacturing, whose merchandise have in all probability discovered their manner into everybody’s properties at the very least as soon as. Naturally, my introduction to the model got here by their ANIA “Animal Journey” line of palm-sized motion figures that includes extant and extinct animal life. Starting within the early 2010s, Tomy launched the ANIA line primarily beneath small (AS) and huge (AL) classes, with the prehistoric animals largely populating the AL class. Most of those collectible figurines have been of dinosaurs, however no. 06 within the AL line featured the primary (extinct) non-dino: the ever-present pterosaur Pteranodon, which started arriving to retailers round November 2014.
Most likely everybody who can identify one dinosaur genus also can identify Pteranodon (offered they don’t by accident dub it “Pterodactyl”). Out of all pterosaurs, Pteranodon is definitely essentially the most well-known, immediately recognizable by its toothless invoice and single pointed crest. A lot of the early ANIA creature alternatives have been protected, easy-to-recognize decisions, so Pteranodon made for a no brainer within the line. Like all ANIA collectible figurines, the Pteranodon is available in a small inexperienced and white cardboard field, with a collapsible again hoop for hanging on a rung. The field is decked out with branding, toy info, and animal details, all in Japanese, complimented by an authentic illustration of the chosen animal on the again. Contained in the field, the determine (and its accent) are loosely wrapped in a plastic sleeve with further cardboard shelving to guard the figurine and hold it steady. Two truth playing cards are additionally included, one in Japanese and one in English.
As soon as faraway from the field, the Pteranodon figurine measures 6.5 cm (2.5 in) lengthy from beak to toe, and its wings stretch 16 cm (6.25 in) throughout. For an grownup male animal with a wingspan of 5.6 m (18 ft – though some specimens grew even bigger), the ANIA figurine matches completely in 1:35 scale – at the very least by primary dimensions. Toy producers typically underestimate the weird proportions of pterosaur anatomy, and whereas the wings are designed moderately for a 2010s reconstruction, the physique and head are out of whack. The proportions have been “normalized” and won’t look incorrect to an off-the-cuff purchaser, however male Pteranodons had HUGE skulls which (from beak to crest) outstretched the mixed lengths of their neck, torso, and hind legs. Admittedly, this may partially be an engineering challenge of constructing certain the toy matches inside its standardized field; the art work on the again seems far more correct to present science. Even so, I believe the scale of the torso and legs might nonetheless moderately be adjusted to match the fossil materials higher, with out compromising the general form.
The wing membranes do stretch down to only previous the knees, which is fairly near what’s thought of correct, and are appropriately formed as broad, slightly-crescented buildings in mid-flap. A touch of a membrane (patagium) can be evident between the legs and tail, and a skinny coating of hair/feathers/pycnofibres is sculpted onto the physique and higher arms. The overall form of the cranium is right, with a gently swooped invoice and an S-curved crest; nonetheless as talked about beforehand, each the invoice and the crest (however particularly the invoice) needs to be considerably longer. The face does endure from a little bit of shrinkwrapping, with sunken orbits and fenestrae that make the pterosaur look quite aged up shut.
ANIA collectible figurines are usually articulated to a minor extent, and Pteranodon has three factors of articulation: one within the beak, and two within the wings. Every wing has a swiveled hinge joint on the shoulder, permitting the pterosaur to flap up and down, or swing its wings crudely ahead or backward for a extra distinctive pose. The figurine doesn’t include any form of stand, so collectors who wish to show it might want to borrow a stand from elsewhere or simply stability the figurine between its wingtips and toes. The jaw has a primary hinge joint to open and shut the mouth; sadly my copy doesn’t seem to have its jaw correctly aligned and doesn’t shut utterly flush. The articulation pins are a tad noticeable, which can be disagreeable for some collectors; however have in mind that is nonetheless mainly a children’ motion determine retailing for the equal of 5-8 {dollars}.
Coloration is straightforward, however decently utilized to the Pteranodon: a gradient of caramel-brown and amber-yellow washes the figurine entrance to again, with some further darker highlights on the beak and crest. It’s a nice sufficient shade scheme that’s in all probability very financial for Takara Tomy. Nonetheless, pterosaurs could very nicely have been far more colourful creatures, and it appears like a missed alternative to at the very least beautify the crest just a little extra. Takara Tomy has reissued the figurine in different units with paint variations, and least one repaint does exist beneath the “Adventure Continent” subtitle which places just a little extra selection within the shade scheme.
One accent is included with the Pteranodon, within the type of a miniature coelacanth to suit contained in the pterosaur’s mouth. The tiny fish could be very properly sculpted for being simply 2.5 cm (1 in) lengthy, with distinct fatial options, rayed fins, and refined cross-hatching to suggest scale patterns. Silvery-grey speckles and eyeballs pop on the black base. As a minor criticism, the minifigure seems to be primarily based on the trendy genus Latimerius, which isn’t recognized to exist within the Mesozoic period in any respect; most consumers in all probability received’t discover or care, however it will have been neat if Takara Tomy put in just a little further effort to pair their Pteranodon with a genus of coelocanth (or another fish) that really coexisted with the pterosaur.
Now over a decade because it was first launched, Takara Tomy’s ANIA Pteranodon is just about a innocent children’ toy that will get the final image of the animal right, however is actually dated as a reconstruction. It’s not probably the greatest Pteranodons on the market, however for its measurement and playability, it’s not one of many worst both; and if you have already got any of the ANIA prehistoric line this pterosaur will praise them properly. You may nonetheless discover the Pteranodon in inventory and offered by numerous retailers, significantly Japan-based outlets like Passion Search and HobbyLink Japan.
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