November Mami Haul

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale! Earlier this month, we went through the various figures, trinkets and gifts got as part of the Early November Haul. Unfortunately then, we did not have the time to get into the details of each and every one of the items I got especially, the smaller Mami trinkets. Well then, as promised, today we have one dedicated post just for the various new Mami trinkets I got in the previous haul!

Four items in total, we start of with the newest Tomoe Mami clear folder in the market. Released as part of the Magia Record campaign earlier this year in participating Sega Arcades, these clear files could not be purchased from stores. Rather you would have to spend a certain amount in arcades to redeem one of these clear files for free and, if memory serves me right, that figure usually sits around the 500 Yen mark. 

As part of the campaign to promote the Magia Record mobile game, there are clear files of the other Magical Girls in the series too. In fact, Homura, Madoka, Yachiyo and Iroha all have special illustration and outfits for this particular campaign. Meanwhile, the rest of the other magical girls are presented in their normal battle outfits. 

Despite being a rather simple clear file in appearance, it is nice to see that Sega has decided to use the in-game art for Mami rather than stick with the older concept art (which has seen its presence in numerous clear files already by now). The file itself costs 200 Yen, or the standard price you would expect for any non-limited clear file in Mandarake, and can still be found fairly commonly in Mandarake stores all around Japan. 

The second item is a bit of a rare find and one that I knew I just had to get despite not having any prior knowledge of. While it may look like a warning sign or mini-poster, this creative piece of artwork is actually a water transfer decal. Known for their quirky and creative decals, this particular piece was printed by a company known as Genrei-Koubou. Besides Mami, they have also released several other interesting comic-relief decals too. 

Next up, we have a familiar looking Mami piece by Broccoli this time in the form of a rubber strap. Those of you familiar with Mami trinkets would recognize this as a common illustration/design that Broccoli uses for its Mami merchandise whether it be metal charms or rubber straps. Sold in the early days of Madoka Magica's release, these trinkets can still be found popping up in stores every now and then and often at a very good price. 

With an original retail price of 700 Yen (excluding tax), this Broccoli-made Tomoe Mami strap can be found in Mandarake for just 200 Yen. That also happens to be the exact same price I paid for both the new Mami clear file and decal, bringing the total to 600 Yen so far.

Despite its cheap aftermarket value, you should not take that as a negative point pertaining to the quality of Broccoli's good. As evident from an earlier metal charm that I got from Brocolli, still holding up extremely well despite being used as a key holder.

The fourth and final item on the list is indeed a case of saving the best for last. What exactly is it? Well, I could not really elaborate on it much even if I wanted to as I too had not come across this series of Madoka Magica trading figures in all my years collecting Mami merchandise. It is hard to believe that things like this still happen but, it is definitely a pleasant surprise when it does.

Looking at the box's surrounding description and illustration, there was no mistaking that this was a blind box trading figure released in the early days of Madoka Magica. Due to the lack of better explanation, the figures within are best described as bottle-cap figures owing to their considerably large base. While trading figures are no stranger in the Madoka Magica merchandise universe, one such as this was certainly a rare sight to behold. 

Officially designated "Supikotto" trading figures, the actual Mami figure inside turned out to be much larger than I had expected! While the level of detailing and finishing does not come close to what you would expect from a Nendoroid Petit, the overall look is actually not too bad.

While there are some clear concessions made to the overall design, I was pleasantly surprised with the overall package. Especially with Mandarake only asking for 400 Yen for it, I was hard pressed to deny this opportunity to satiate my curiosity on the subject matter. Now the only question is, would I be opening it as, believe it or not, the figure itself is still sealed in its original plastic!

Not shown here is the larger than normal base I mentioned earlier which houses a small speaker system that plays Mami's signature lines at the press of a button. With the final piece of the puzzle in place, the total bill for this month's Mami haul comes up to 1,000 Yen or the price of a bowl of ramen with the works. Money well spent if you ask me.

We may be at the end of this Mami haul but, fret not, as another is right around the corner with December coming around. This time, it will be for a much larger prize that I had been waiting for a long time. What exactly is it that I am talking about? Well, you will have to stay tuned to Tiro Finale to find out. Alternatively, you can follow us on our official Twitter page to stay up to date with all our latest updates. Until then, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!