New Item of NTC - Yangtze (updated 2023.12.28)

Thanks x2.

I recall the giant panda silhouette but didn't think this looked like it. Plus there was also an ibis in that silhouette graphic and that doesn't appear in the photo here.

Well, that sturgeon is awesome!

I should have asked--what is that other fish supposed to be? It doesn't look like a normal carp.

I think it's actually a sucker: the Chinese high-fin banded shark Myxocyprinus asiaticus. If so that is a super cool inclusion.

halichoeres wrote:

I think it's actually a sucker: the Chinese high-fin banded shark Myxocyprinus asiaticus. If so that is a super cool inclusion.

I certainly hope you are right! They were such a thing in my aquarium stores days!

And expensive, they could be almost...$25!  Says a guy that just dropped over $200 on two fish this last weekend!

For those not familiar--I think I want this almost more than the sturgeon now! (almost)

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Nice, it's on my wishlist now!

I guess the Chinese high-fin banded shark's paint is adult color, like this picture.
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Either way would be good, it's never been made!

I agree, the proportions look a lot more consistent with a large adult.

Today updated new pictures about South China Tiger and Siberian White Crane.

South China Tiger/Panthera tigris Amoyensis
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Siberian White Crane/Grus leucogeranus
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Right now the Siberian crane and high-fin banded shark are on my list!

Dang. That tiger looks impressive as heck.

Love all of these except the monkey which somehow looks mall gift-shoppy to me. Funny how things hit you.

But all the others...extraordinary.

Brettnj wrote:

Dang. That tiger looks impressive as heck.

Love all of these except the monkey which somehow looks mall gift-shoppy to me. Funny how things hit you.

But all the others...extraordinary.

If Kaiyodo won't do it anymore, someone has to!

I have less than ten--maybe less than five--non-Kaiyodo figures in my collection and exactly one Nature-Technicolour figure--the (extraordinary) zebra. I have the wildebeests coming in my next order from E, but not sure I'll keep it.

I like some of the existing ones to an extent but none really strike me as having the accuracy (and smaller size) or artistry the way the zebra or Kaiyodos do.

But these prototypes and the Australian ones are, unless they don't translate when (if, egad...) actually produced, destined for my shelves.

Brettnj wrote:

I have less than ten--maybe less than five--non-Kaiyodo figures in my collection and exactly one Nature-Technicolour figure--the (extraordinary) zebra. I have the wildebeests coming in my next order from E, but not sure I'll keep it.

I like some of the existing ones to an extent but none really strike me as having the accuracy (and smaller size) or artistry the way the zebra or Kaiyodos do.

But these prototypes and the Australian ones are, unless they don't translate when (if, egad...) actually produced, destined for my shelves.

I don't think there is any way to quantify the accuracy of Kitan Club/Ikimon over Kaiyodo. For the species they have both produced, KC/Ikimon might actually be better, although Kaiyodo's post-ChocoQ figures are so good, it's hard to compare.

I think I could debate that (Lots of direct species comparisons, style, even size issues come rushing to mind.)--not necessarily that I'd win though--but I wouldn't since in the end, to a great extent, it comes down to how a work strikes you.

I do, btw, only buy the Kaiyodos that strike me as successful, and that precludes virtually all of the earlier Animatales and many of the Dinotales, some of the latter due to the paint alone.

But I join you in thinking these prototypes are as good as Kaiyodo.

And though the larger sizes allow for more detail which makes for a slightly unfair comparison, even better in some cases...

Regarding the comparison of Kitan Club/Ikimon and Kaiyodo figures, this also appears frequently in the Chinese Forum and discussion group.

I was initially attracted by Kitan Club figures and started collecting Jpanese figures. Later I collected a lot of Kaiyodo figures. I think Kitan Club figures paint is better than Kaiyodo (especially Kitan Club the base series, it is simply the peak), but Kaiyodo has more romantic charm, it takes time and patience to feel (sorry about I can't express this meaning accurately in English).

I wish I could read those posts. I find the topic/how different people respond differently and the concrete and not so concrete reasons why very interesting--if, as you noted and I agree--sometimes difficult to express.

I'm not sure what you mean by the base series? Do you mean the sculpted bases on which the animal subjects sit--like the rocks, leaves, ice, water, etc.--or do you mean the first set issued (If so, which one is that?).

I view Kaiyodo figures less as toys, more like models. I display them in a more elevated way than I would toys. I like the accuracy, naturalism. I like the smaller size and uniformity of that size but that's mostly separate from the issue of quality.

To some extent I see the NTC's as more decorative, less naturalistic. Some figures--even within the same sets--strike me as extraordinary and some not remotely so. For instance the zebra sculpt v the elephant.

Once Kaiyodo evolved into its current level of excellence, except for some odd sculpts--especially some in some aquarium sets which I still don't understand since they are so stylistically different from most others--I think its quality is (mostly unmatched and) extremely consistent.

i hope the same will be true (to me) for the NTCs...

I think, I am like Dirk ... I really really like Kaiyodo . But Kitan Club figures , I love !

And this new tiger is beauuuuutiful !

Brettnj wrote:

I'm not sure what you mean by the base series? Do you mean the sculpted bases on which the animal subjects sit--like the rocks, leaves, ice, water, etc.--or do you mean the first set issued (If so, which one is that?).

The base series refers to the series with imitation wooden base. The base series includes The Ocean I, Savanna, The Turtles In Japan and so on.

The sculpted bases on which the animal subjects sit--like the rocks, leaves, ice, water, etc, I call these platforms.

Brettnj wrote:

I like the accuracy, naturalism. I like the smaller size and uniformity of that size but that's mostly separate from the issue of quality.

I absolutely agree with you. This is also one of the reasons why I collect Japanese figures.

I hope NTC can produce quickly produce new products.

Today updated new picture, the secret in this set is Chinese Pangolin - Manis pentadactyla

The news form Junya Sato, he is the manager of Ikimon. He said that these figures may not be released in Japan because the market conditions in Japan are not so good.  So this set will sell in China only.

His twitter: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

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I expect pangolin figures to be more popular during the next years and here is already one.
Pity it is a secret figure, probably not so easy to find individually and being it only available in China, it may not help either. However, thanks once more for info Dirk, I am taking note of this figure, maybe someday I can add it to my collection.

Lovely little pangolin