While browsing Facebook Marketplace, I stumbled upon this, the Pop Up Parade version of Saber Lily: Second Ascension. This particular statue intrigued me not because it is from Fate, but rather because I had found one dirt cheap on Facebook months ago only to be denied a purchase because the seller had neglected to change the status on their ad. This one isn't quite as cheap, but it's still better than ordering it from Japan, especially since the aftermarket price is kind of high for this.
No fancy box shot for this one - there was no inserts and quite honestly for items like this, those shots are more for completion sake. Saber Lily is sculpted in a graceful, twirling pose with the feet, dress, and hair conveying that sense of motion. One thing you may notice immediately is that she's not packing her trademark weaponry. I'm chocking that one up to reduced price point, though I have seen some Fate characters with weapons.
Unlike Chun Li and Cammy, Saber Lily does actually have official artwork to reference to with regards to her overall look, specifically her face. The paint and hair detailing isn't on par with her more expensive cousins, but it's definitely recognizable as Saber Lily, including the trademark Ahoge and those blue/green eyes.
Sculpting on the rest of her body is good, and is more Scale than Prize Figure. There's some decent musculature on her expose back, and the detailing on her leggings/undergarments is acceptable, but the star of the show is definitely all the fabric details in the outfit, coupled with the fact the sculpt isn't just some random geometric mess, but rather flows like you'd expect fabric to.
Paint and Build Quality are as expected, being generally well done. There's some spots of rough paint work, not exactly surprising given the number of fine lines on this statue. Similarly, there's some rough finishes here and there. But overall, the release delivers admirably given the price point.
Some quick points before I finish up here. Now, Saber Lily was one of the first releases in the Pop Up Parade lineup, and Cammy came out in January 2023. Since 2020, the price of a statue has gone up from 3,900 Yen to 4,800 Yen, a not so modest increase considering it's only been 2 years. You'll notice that Saber Lily is a giant compared to Cammy. You'll also notice that Cammy has that generic black base, as does Chun Li.
So is this cost cutting, or is the Street Fighter line that much more expensive to make? Guess I'm going to need to buy more to find out.
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