May Haul: Part 2

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale for part 2 of our massive May haul. In case you have yet to read it, do check out the first part of our May haul where we cover clear files, trinkets and even a bath towel! Focused almost entirely on Tomoe Mami merchandise, our second part of this haul post will cover the meatier bits of our latest shipment. Namely, two bags, a lovely tapestry and a brand new figure. I hope that did not spoil too much for this part as we should dive right into what remains of our May haul. Shall we?

First up, we have this lovely Madoka Magica tote bag which I only managed to find after a spending a considerable amount of time digging through Mandarake's online listing. Featuring illustrations of the core five Magical Girls from the series, the tote bag is made of canvas which should ensure that it is durable enough to withstand the rigors of everyday use. Though, I have yet to put it through its paces yet thus far.

Regarding the history of this particular tote bag, I cannot admit to knowing much about it. Either online or off, I had never stumbled across this particular tote bag before. As such, it does make it rather difficult for me to gauge the rarity of this particular Madoka Magica memorabilia. On the bright side, the bag does only cost 600 Yen which does put my soul a little more at ease regarding the thought of using it on a regular basis. 

Speaking of bags, here is one that I bought with the primary intention of being used regularly. Recently, I have been on the look out for a small sized pouch but, wanted something a little more unique compared to the regular departmental store offerings. This led me to make a quick search on Mandarake which, subsequently spiraled out of control into this large haul that you see before you. Nevertheless, my primary goal was still established as I came across this lovely navy blue pouch which looked to be just the perfect size for what I needed.

From the front, it certainly looks like any other simple canvas pouch/bag. Only when you flip it to the back, is there a small giveaway to the unique nature of this product. Look closely at the light brown tags and a very familiar logo starts to make an appearance.

Still unable to decipher it? Well, perhaps this protective outer bag would give it away even more? Jokes aside, I do find it rather amusing how a bag came with another bag. Of course for those who value their collectibles/memorabilia, this outer protective bag must certainly be a great addition. Otherwise, you could think of it as two separate bags. Either way, it is a win-win situation. 

At 2,500 Yen, this was the most expensive item in this entire haul, believe it or not. But I consider it a small price to pay for what, in my opinion, is a very well made. From the stitching to the thick canvas, the entire bag feels very well put together. Almost as if it is a nod to the series' military theme. While I have yet to put it through its paces, I do look forward to seeing how well it will hold up in daily use. 

The next item on the list is one that we do not see quite as often here on Tiro Finale. Madoka Magica tapestry is probably one of the rarer items in my collection for several reasons. Aside from the fact that they tend to cost a very pretty penny, I also do not have much wall space to hang them up. That was until I stumbled upon this beautiful tapestry of Sayaka, Kyouko and Mami selling for just 800 Yen. As far as I could gather, this tapestry was a B Prize from a lottery hosted by Animate. Aside from the beautiful formal dresses and elaborate hair pieces the girls had on, it was far too hard for me to pass up on a tapestry with Mami positioned in the center of it all.

Saving the best for last, you probably already expected to see this brand new Mami figure as part of this haul To be honest, Mami figure releases have been terribly slow as of late. So, you could imagine my excitement when Banpresto finally announced that they would be releasing a line of figures from the Madoka Magica series as part of their new EXQ series of prize figures. 

Since there had already been countless figures made for the magical girls of the Madoka Magica series, Banpresto had to look for a new approach in design for the new EXQ figures. Their answer was to pick up the very first generation of swimsuit designs for the girls. In Mami's case, it would be slightly controversial white two piece that perhaps reveals a little too much for a middle school Magical Girl. Now, with the addition of a pink volleyball (with Charlotte on it too!!!). Oh, and if the design looks awfully familiar to you, that is because Wave had already done a Beach Queens figure of Mami in the exact same swimsuit way back in 2012. If anything, Banpresto's EXQ version is significantly less risque compared to the original. Want proof? Just check out our review of Wave's Beach Queens Tomoe Mami. 

While I did have mixed feelings about Banpresto's EXQ Mami especially since they certainly could have gone with a completely original design, the asking price of 1,200 Yen was just too hard for me to pass up. After all, it is my duty to collect every Mami figure in existence. Or at least I try to. Since Banpresto has already adopted the swimsuit designs, I wonder if they will be adapting the second swimsuit designs as well for another EXQ release. Or perhaps they would finally release the Magiccraft Part 2 designs? Or even Idol Mami! One can certainly hope right?

With that, that is the entirety of our haul for the month of May. Not only is this the first major haul for me in the year of 2019, this is also my first Mami-centric haul in a long, long time. And I am certainly very glad to get some many new additions to the collection be it new or old releases. Old releases will always be valued for their rarity while the new ones reassure me that flame of the series still lives on. When Season 2 finally comes out, rest assured that the flame will be lit anew once more. 

Until that day, I am more than satisfied with the intermittent merchandise release which is not only easier for me to keep track of but, also easier on my wallet too. If you have any questions about the merchandise in this particular haul of about the collection in general, do not hesitate to ask me in the comments section below. Until the next time, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!