Should some articulation be sacrificed to make a figure more aestheticly pleasing

[DinoLast]

After seeing the Medicom Han, I was blown away by how good he looks. One of the things that spoilt it for me were the ugly wrist joints. This got me thinking so I thought I would ask you guys the question above.

 

[Doomhammer]

No, you might as well buy statues or premium formats then. Trying to hide the joints is one of the fun parts in assembling and posing a figure imo.

 

[Customikey]

For me, it really depends on the character. Some characters simply need a lot of articulation, such as Spider-Man and Gollum. If I got a SPider-Man figure and he could barely move, I'd feel really gipped. The benefit of SPider-Man is that he's totally covered, so you can put in all the joints you want without spoiling the aesthetic.

Gollum is harder, since he's basically naked. But he's no less in need of articulation. This is where I think some companies could be very clever, and instead of giving us a multi-jointed figure, we could have one with interchangeable limbs. Perhaps some of those limbs could be highly articulated for those of us who don't mind exposed joints, and the rest could be pre-sculpted pieces that can intermix for variation on an other-wise aesthetically pleasing "statue."

In most things, I think a compromise can be reached.

For my part, I do not mind exposed joints, but I see the argument for those who do.
It's a "have your cake and eat it too" problem.

 

[ONEYE]

Yes! I hate ugly articulation. I believe that articulation can be given to a figure without ruining the sculpt lines or being ugly. It's the area that many companies spend little time on. Articulation should not have to be ugly.

 

[EVILFACE]

NO

If people don't want joints, they need to buy statues.

 

[a-dev]

Most 1/6th figures have clothing that hides the majority of joints so I don't think its so much of an issue in that scale. There have been some where arms are exposed like Sideshow's Sarah connor or Hot toys Aliens USCMs and yeah I think all of those really should have utilised the rubber body ala Drake (obviously a smaller female specific one on female figures). The basic naked body of a 1/6ther is very ugly and generic and I do think its a pity that companies usually won't go the extra way in cases where it looks to be required.


On figures of smaller scale, where the clothes themselves are sculpted, bad looking joints really bother me - such as far too many figures in Hasbros 30th anniversary Star wars 3 3/4"line.

And if heads with ball/socket joints at the base of the skull (as opposed to base of neck) ever creep into 1/6th figures I may just stop buying them. They're the norm on Star Wars figures these days and they are damn ugly.

 

[galactiboy]

I think that companies can have better looking articulation (Medicom wrist Vs Hot Toys wrists) but there is always going to be some part visible... and thats just part of owning figures instead of statues.

But Medicom really should address their wrist joints... they work well, but having a metal rivet and hole is kinda silly. Especially since it hasn't changed in at least 7 years.

 

[EVILFACE]

Those Medi wrists look like the very early Mego wrists. And even Mego changed em to much better looking ones.

THe wrists on Bruce Lee are nice though.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

I also think it depends on the figure. The Rocky and Rambo figures look awesome and even though they have somewhat limited articulation I could just imagine how bad they'd look on normal bodies with exposed joints. On most figures it isn't a big deal but on some I think it is.

 

[creecher]

The wrists on the Medicom Bruce Lee are no different. A huge metal rivet hole straight through the wrist join. They could easily improve it by putting a plastic pin there instead. At least they wont have problems with anyone stealing their design, the way it is.

Exposed joints on figures look ugly. It is a part of the medium, but the impact can be lessened. Take the arms of the Zombie Babysitter. Rigid fixed arms, that hamper posing. They could lessen the impact of the exposed joints by using retrograde designs. No cut joint and one elbow/knee joint. Still noticeable but not as ugly.

 

[Lord Aykroyd]

Gollum is harder, since he's basically naked. But he's no less in need of articulation. This is where I think some companies could be very clever, and instead of giving us a multi-jointed figure, we could have one with interchangeable limbs. Perhaps some of those limbs could be highly articulated for those of us who don't mind exposed joints, and the rest could be pre-sculpted pieces that can intermix for variation on an other-wise aesthetically pleasing "statue."

What about covering the figure with a fake skin? Would it work?

 

[Entropy]

What about covering the figure with a fake skin? Would it work?

Yes and no. As a custom I think it's totally possible, but for a mass produced figure like the Jason VII body suit they cast the rubber so thick, presumably so it won't tear or degrade over time, that it impairs the articulation of the figure.

 

[EVILFACE]

Rubber skin will degrade. And as good as the HT muscle bodies look, you can't pose em a lot or else the wire strips inside them break.

 

[Lord Aykroyd]

hmmm... Seems to me some entrepreneurial thought may be needed here...

 

[Cowboy76]

This is an interesting question because of the product that Enterbay is putting out. I have the GOD Bruce Lee and I think they have married the two ideas without completely sacrificing articulation or aesthetics. You have a higher wrist joint and less stomach/waist articulation. On the flip side, there are a wealth of hands included and the eye sockets are to the dynamic look of the sculpt.

As far as the Medicom Han goes, it becomes a fundamental question of Medicom being willing to change their 301 body the way Sideshow did when they transferred to Prometheus.

 

[Entropy]

Rubber skin will degrade. And as good as the HT muscle bodies look, you can't pose em a lot or else the wire strips inside them break.

Not all rubber degrades at the same rate however. Whatever was used on the Toybiz Troll degraded and fell apart very quickly. Other professional rubber I've seen such as those used on audioanimatronics in amusement parks lasts years and years through hours of repetitive motion each day.

 

[lerath666]

The recent subject 1025 dead figure is a prime Example, i love the figure, but i HATE her unarticulated arms. I'm considering cutting her arms up and adding joints.
I agree with Evilface, you don't want joints? go buy a statue.

 

[JustinLuck]

The EVO/EVA bodies are a perfect example of articulation done in a very aesthetically pleasing way.

 

[Buttmunch]

If the body is created with aesthetics in mind, like the body above, then articulation can be built into the sculpt and not look ugly, and as far as I know, not hinder the articulation.

I don't mind the joints, but on certain figures, like the Dead Babysitter, I don't mind the static arms for the sake of more detail. If it looks good, I'm happy with it.

 

[minivader]

The EVO/EVA bodies are a perfect example of articulation done in a very aesthetically pleasing way.

are these available? saw these pictures for awhile now but haven't seen anyone use these.

As to the question. No, I don't think articulation should be sacrificed.