Rin Tohsaka Plush

Product Information/Specifications

Introduction

I managed to get this Fate/stay night Rin plush from eBay after a long time of searching & purchasing a bootlegged one.  It was a bit more expensive than the original Japanese retail price, but what other options did I have since I'm not in Asia or know anyone there that can get it for me.  Plus, the purchase of the bootlegged one increased my spending more.

The Fate/stay night Rin plush was virtually sold out during its first week of release.  It was later re-released with the Sakura Matou plush when it was released.

Some of the pictures aren't clear & good.  If I have time, I'll redo the bad ones & repost them.

The Review

Rin Tohsaka plush from different sides in packaging

The packaging of Rin is the same as the Saber plush one & it's quite cheap.  She comes in a re-sealable clear plastic bag.  It really makes the product look cheap & easy for bootleg companies to copy.  Ways to distinguish them from the packaging is the bottom right product sticker & the TYPE-MOON hologram sticker at the back.  Also, the product tag is around Rin's back on the waist.  Also, the original one has a cigarette while the bootleg doesn't.  That's the biggest giveaway.

Speaking of the cigarette, it's packaged individually in a bag.  Because it has a Velcro at the mouthpiece, you can stick it anywhere on Rin's face.  Whether it be on the side or the front.  Heck, you can stick it on her forehead if you want.  Since I haven't played around with Rin yet, I don't know how strong the Velcro is.

As you can probably see, Rin is pretty much flat.  Probably the flattest of all the Fate plushes.  For some reason, almost all character plushes from Japan that are in a standing position are flat & can't stand on their own two feet.  I'm not sure how you would display them like that.  Even when you try to, her body sort of bends a bit.  Mainly reason is the weight of her head.  It affects the legs. 

Rin is made for fabric mostly & different kinds of it.  The clothing is normal cloth & the hair is felt fabric.  The ribbon on her hair is an actual ribbon.  The cigarette is made of something else.  I'm not sure what it is, but it's not fabric for sure.

The stitching job isn't too bad, but it isn't too good in some places.  You can find some loose strings at some places.  You would probably need some scissors to trim them out.  But the biggest problem is the face around the chin area.  The stitching makes it too noticeable.

I like the look that Rin has when you have a cigarette put on her.  It gives her that bad girl impression, even with those scribbled line eyes.  The facial features aren't stitched.  They are pressed.

Overall Conclusion

The Fate/stay night Rin plush is really based on opinion.  Some may find it to look funny & cute or some may think it's ugly due to the face.  I personally like it since it's pretty funny.  Currently, I have her in her packaging.  It's a pain to clean plushes from dirt & dust really.

I give the Fate/stay night Rin plush an eight.  The stitching job isn't bad, but it could have been better if they cleaned up the loose strings in some areas.  Also, I love her facial expression.  It's pretty funny.  Plus, the cigarette makes Rin a toughie.

TYPE-MOON & Fate fans would probably scramble to get this.  But if you want a huggable plush of Rin, then this may not be a plush you should pick up.  Although the head is big, the plush is too flat to be hugged.

Getting this plush will be a problem.  I haven't found any stores carrying this for a long time.  Personally, I don't think there will be a huge price increase on this as plushes are becoming a less popular item to collect due to the limitation of production & selection from toy companies.

Photos were taken using Sony DSC-F828 digital still camera.

Last updated on February 19, 2008