Hello everyone and welcome back to Tiro Finale. Today, we will be taking a look at Aquamarine's plush Chino Alice Version from the popular series, Is the Order a Rabbit? (GochiUsa). We have done our fair share of characters plush toys on Tiro Finale ranging from the larger Mega Jumbo Nesoberi all the way to the smaller plush mascots that are made to be hung on bags. But, this would be the first time we will be reviewing a "premium" plush of sorts. Why do I say that? Well, that is largely because of the rather steep 4,000 Yen sticker price back in 2018 when she was released.
So the question that certainly has to be answered is, is it worth the 4,000 Yen? Before we get into that, here is some quick information about this adorable Chino plush. Released in May 2018, this Chino plush dressed in an Alice in the Wonderland-esque outfit was manufactured by Aquamarine. Yes, that Aquamarine which are best known for making figures rather than plush toys. Height wise, Chino sits at roughly 32 cm in height and, as mentioned earlier, retailed for 4,000 Yen upon release. Her price has dropped a little since release and can be found in the re-seller's market at a much lower price.
Taking an overall look at the plush, it is clear that Aquamarine has decided to go with a deformed/chibi style proportions for Chino. While I do find the proportions and shape of the face to be a little odd at first glance, it does slowly grow upon you. Coupled with a detailed frilly outfit, I would say the overall package is certainly well done.
The material used for Chino's hair is not unlike the ones used for the hair on many other plush toys. One in particular comes to mind which are Sega's Nesoberi series. The velvet-like texture of this fabric is a good choice for plush hair. It retains its form without feeling too rough or stiff, all very good properties to have for a plush toy's hair. No complaints there.
Speaking of stiffness, some of you would have probably already noticed Chino's bunny ears and how it stands upright at attention. Initially, I thought it was some form of rigid plastic holding the ears upright. But it turns out, that Aquamarine actually included a flexible wire surrounding the perimeter of the bunny ears. In turn, this allows the ears to be bent, shaped and molded in a reasonable fashion. She may come out of the box with a pair of upright ears but;
You decide how you would like to ears to be shaped. It is also worth pointing out that the ears are very well seated allowing for stable placement without falling or drooping over. This is partly aided by the fact that these ears are actually hollow making them as light as possible.
Aside from Chino's ears, there are also various other interesting details throughout this Alice plush that is worth pointing out. So, let us go through them one at a time starting from the top all the way to the bottom.
Starting with the facial details, there is not much to fault here. Chino's eyes are positively huge and, fortunately, they are well colored with various shades of blue in them. A light smile and gentle eyebrows help to round off her entire facial expression. One detail of note that I do like is the integrated blush into her cheeks. I do not know if it will fade over time but, it certainly looks better than a stuck on one.
For the price you are paying, you do get a very detailed and well stitched outfit for Chino. Every little bit from the frilly edges to the various ribbons have been carefully tailored and gives Chino's Alice outfit a very elaborate look.
There is a large bow on the back of Chino's outfit which is normally obstructed by her hair.
Accompanying the bow, are various ribbons placed all throughout the outfit. If you peer close enough, you can actually notice that Chino's outfit has a collar where her ribbon is positioned.
Ribbons on her sleeves are a nice touch accompanying the cuffs which have also been carefully detailed with two yellow buttons/ cuff links.
The base of her feet are another very interesting touch with a glossy, almost leather-like material, being used. It adds a nice flare of quality to the entire plush which you do not see in most arcade prize plush toys.
And if you were wondering how it stacks up against arcade prize plush toys, I would say it certainly is a clear step up. It would not be apparent immediately or at first glance. But upon closer inspection, things such as the better material, stitching and overall engineering just give Chino a noticeable improvement in quality over the prize plush toys.
This particular Chino plush that I reviewed still had its tag in place which, as those of you who collect character plush toys would know, is an important part of its value. In fact, the one that I reviewed was still carefully wrapped in the original plastic that came with it. If only I was this meticulous about my plush toys.
Overall then, Aquamarine's Chino Alice Version comes out as being a bit of a mixed bag. On one hand, the quality and materials are certainly of high quality. On the other hand, the design and price may leave something to be desired. If you are able to find Chino at a reasonable price and are a fan of the series then, I would certainly recommend getting her. Because otherwise, I unfortunately do not see these plush toys appreciating in value anytime soon.
With that, we come to the end of our review of Aquamarine's Chino Alice Version character plush. If you have any questions about the plush or review, do not hesitate to leave them in the comments section below. Make sure to join us for our next installment as we will be reviewing a Jean Alter plush next week. Until then, thank you so much for reading and have yourself a wonderful day ahead!
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