Mega Jumbo Nesoberi Ayase Eli Snowhalation Version Review

Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale. Today, we will be reviewing Sega's Mega Jumbo Nesoberi Ayase Eli Snowhalation Version. For those of you who follow our Nesoberi content closely, would probably have noticed that Eli has been part of the family for quite some time. Going as far back as March of this year where I aptly purchased her from the snowy city of Sapporo. Having spent a great deal of time with this large plush Eli, how does it fare against other Nesoberi and more importantly, how different is it from the Pajamas version?

As with any of Sega's Mega Jumbo Nesoberi, the first thing you will notice is just how big they are. From head to toe, this large sized plush measure 40cm in length with a little bit of give and take depending on the character and design. One thing is for certain though, these Nesoberi(s) are notably large and boast almost no mobility whatsoever unlike their considerably smaller counterparts which can be used as bag charms. 

It is worth noting that the Mega Jumbo size is not even the largest size Nesoberi(s) that Sega makes. As these once huge plush have since been overtaken by the Hyper Jumbo and, frankly insane life-sized, Tera Jumbo Nesoberi. As far as mass production goes, these Hyper Jumbo are still the most commonly seen large sized plush that Sega makes. 

Despite Muse having made way for Aqours and Sunshine for a considerable period of time, the Snowhalation series of Nesoberi(s) are actually new releases from Sega having made their way onto the market with a staggered release from 2018-2019. It may seem normal now with Muse merchandise making somewhat of a resurgence in part to the Love Live Anniversary but, back in 2018 expecting new Love Live merchandise was rather unexpected to say the least. 

We have talked a lot about size thus far and aside from downright hug-ability, the larger size also means that these Nesoberi(s) tend to have much more detailed outfits. This is no exception with Eli as her Snowhalation idol outfit is carefully reproduced with various layers especially around the skirt. The fluffy bits on her stockings, sleeve and collar are also a very cute touch. 

Enthusiastic as ever, Eli looks great in Mega Jumbo Nesoberi sporting a charismatic smile that perfectly fits her personality. We have seen Eli's facial expression in her previous Nesoberi iterations and this one is basically identical. One interesting part worth mentioning is that, Eli's eyelashes and eyebrows actually use a dark gold thread as opposed to black because of her blonde hair.

Peppered throughout Eli's Nesoberi are various little details that come as a part of her Snowhalation outfit. These little details include the fluffy bits that I mentioned earlier and even the fluffy bit on her gloves. It is a pity that Sega could not reproduce her fluffy earring as well but, that is perfectly understandable considering the difficulty they would face in fitting such a detail on an already small part. 

Other details of Eli's Snowhalation outfit, have fortunately been maintained such as the floral hairpiece. Every member of Muse has a unique head accessory ranging from hats to hairpieces and they are all essential parts of their group's outfit. After all, Snowhalation is not one of Muse's greatest hits for no reason. 

Of course, we cannot forget Eli's signature ponytail which is present here in Nesoberi too. This time the scrunchy that she uses is the same fluffy white one we see present on the rest of her outfit. As with all other Eli Mega Jumbo Nesoberi(s), Eli's hairband is actually a semi-real one with it being an actual elastic band. 

Compared to the rest of the member's Snowhalation outfits, Eli's is probably the most sparse one of the nine. And that is not necessarily a bad thing, as her primarily white outfit really suits her cool personality. Where the other members have shawls or different colored skirts or tops, Eli's outfit is primarily white only interrupted by a few pink and yellow highlights. 

Overall then, I would say that Sega did a good job with the Snowhalation version of Ayase Eli. Aside from the wholly new outfit, Eli is a good mix of new and old that many have come to love with her Mega Jumbo Nesoberi. It is no wonder, she frequently holds her value so well in the re-seller's market. 

As a point of comparison, the only other Ayase Eli Nesoberi that I have is the Pajamas version. While they both fall under the Mega Jumbo Nesoberi designation, the pajamas version is notably more premium with a 4,500 Yen price tag to start with. At a glance, the two may look very much alike with the only difference lying in the outfit but, it is much more than just that. 

For starters, the fabric quality of the Pajamas version is significantly improved. Little details like the fit and finish also see a general improvement. And while this may be largely subjective, I feel that the pajamas version also have a better fluffy quality to them. And that is really no surprise when you consider that the Snowhalation version is designated as an arcade prize and can actually be bought in stores for just 1,000-1,200 Yen. The fact that they cost so little yet maintain such an amazing level of quality is value in and of itself. 

Just like Honoka, I have no qualms with strongly recommending the Snowhalation series of Muse Nesoberi(s) especially if you are new to collecting (Muse) Nesoberi(s). Not only is stock in abundance because of their recent release, prices are also very reasonable meaning that collecting all nine members is definitely a realistic option. My plan was to proceed with adding Nozomi and Rin to the collection but, space is starting to be a little bit of an issue. 

What Nesoberi will we be adding to the collection next? Well, stay tuned to Tiro Finale to find out. Until then, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!