Studio Ghibli 1/20

Flaptter

Kit Review

Straight build + Seals

1/20 Flaptter - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

1/20 Flaptter - Various angles (1/5) 1/20 Flaptter - Various angles (2/5) 1/20 Flaptter - Various angles (3/5) 1/20 Flaptter - Various angles (4/5) 1/20 Flaptter - Various angles (5/5)

Various angles

1/20 Flaptter - Figure riding close-up shots (1/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Figure riding close-up shots (2/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Figure riding close-up shots (3/3)

Figure riding close-up shots

1/20 Flaptter - The four wings are so transparent that they really only show up against a dark background

The four wings are so transparent that they really only show up against a dark background

1/20 Flaptter - Flaptter body close-up shots (1/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Flaptter body close-up shots (2/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Flaptter body close-up shots (3/3)

Flaptter body close-up shots

1/20 Flaptter - Underside view

Underside view

1/20 Flaptter - Articulation gimmick on the underside

Articulation gimmick on the underside

1/20 Flaptter - The stand hole cover on the bottom of the body can be stored in the base of the stand.

The stand hole cover on the bottom of the body can be stored in the base of the stand.

1/20 Flaptter - Wings moving up, down, left, and right (wings that only good people can see... ;;) (1/2) 1/20 Flaptter - Wings moving up, down, left, and right (wings that only good people can see... ;;) (2/2)

Wings moving up, down, left, and right
(Wings that only good people can see... ;;)

1/20 Flaptter - Pazu figure close-up shots (1/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Pazu figure close-up shots (2/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Pazu figure close-up shots (3/3)

Pazu figure close-up shots

1/20 Flaptter - Sheeta figure close-up shots (1/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Sheeta figure close-up shots (2/3) 1/20 Flaptter - Sheeta figure close-up shots (3/3)

Sheeta figure close-up shots

1/20 Flaptter - Flaptter wings arranged as if flapping up and down (1/2) 1/20 Flaptter - Flaptter wings arranged as if flapping up and down (2/2)

Flaptter wings arranged as if flapping up and down

1/20 Flaptter - Group shot of all 5 Studio Ghibli series kits (1/2) 1/20 Flaptter - Group shot of all 5 Studio Ghibli series kits (2/2)

Group shot of all 5 Studio Ghibli series kits

The 5th Studio Ghibli plastic model release is the Flaptter from "Castle in the Sky." The previous four kits were all from Nausicaä, so it's great to finally see another anime represented. The scene where Pazu rides the Flaptter to rescue Sheeta is one of the most iconic moments in the film, and this time the kit comes with figures of both Sheeta and Pazu.

First off, the Flaptter came out bigger and more three-dimensional than I expected, which is great — but the four wings are so transparent that they're barely visible in photos, which is a bit of a letdown. In person, light reflection makes them somewhat visible, but shooting them under bright lighting makes it really hard to capture them properly.

The four transparent wings move freely in all directions on ball joints, though there's some concern they could loosen up with too much posing. Beyond that, like the Mehve, there's an opening gimmick on the underside of the body, and the two figures are molded in a single flat skin tone, just like the previous releases.

Anyway, it's a bit of a shame that the wings are so transparent that the kit loses some of its presence — but for fans, just being able to build the Flaptter from Laputa in your own hands is sure to be an emotional experience. :-)

1/20 Flaptter | 2004. 8 | ¥2,300

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.