Star Wars Figure of the Day: Day 3,181: Osha Aniseya (The Vintage Collection)

OSHA ANISEYA Debut! And probably only release
The Vintage Collection 3 3/4-Inch Action Figure
Item No.: Asst. E7763 No. F9789
Manufacturer: Hasbro
Number: #327
Includes: Backpack, blaster, holster, droid buddy Pip
Action Feature: Backpack and holster are removable
Retail: $16.99
Availability: September 2024
Appearances: The Acolyte

Bio: Set at the end of theHigh Republic, a former Padawan reunites with her Jedi Master to investigate a series of crimes, but the forces they confront turn out to be far more sinister and personal than anticipated. (Taken from the figure's cardback.)

Image: Adam's photo lab.

Availability: Click here to buy it at Entertainment Earth now!

Click here to buy it at Amazon now!

Click here to buy it at eBay now!

Commentary: For better and for better than that, Osha Aniseya is a figure I could've reviewed without opening her. She's pretty much perfect. I assume that this is going to be a figure that, in the years to come, fans get angry that she was packed one per case, that they missed her, and that future fans will probably really like The Acolyte. Mostly because it got cut short. But today? She's at Walmart, and not selling - maybe she'll go to clearance, and you should buy her if you like a nice figure. She can hold all of her gear, her joints are all smooth, and the sculpting is excellent. What's not to like? I'm being semi-facetious, because while this is one of Hasbro's very best figures, it comes from a show that long-term collectors by and large did not bother to watch. The design was all over the map, with characters like Osha looking like she could be in the Rebellion, but she was flanked by prequel-esque Jedi designs that are not exactly something I find exciting. High Republic Jedi are usually shown with jewelry or armor bits, something to set them apart - but it's Osha's day, and she is not a violation of your collection's quality control.

If Hasbro can make more figures of this quality, the $16.99 price point isn't something I'd complain about as much. R2-D2, I'll complain, because that was a build-a-droid mold from 2008. Osha is all-new, with a separately molded vest, a backpack with straps that work - no peg/hole here - an optional blaster holster, plus a pouch for Pip her droid assistant, that sits on her hip. The detail is good, with steel-toed boots (you can see the steel) as well as painted straps on her droid pouch. Her belt buckle is painted, there's a patch on her vest, the eyes and face are all printed nicely, and the separately-molded wig has good detail too. I don't care what you feel about the show, the Hasbro and Lucasfilm/Disney people who sculpted this did an excellent job.

Articulation is on par with the current best figures, as she's relatively easy to pose and the joints are soft enough to allow for subtle movement changes, letting the figure look like she's thinking, walking, or working. If you were given this figure before the show came out, you'd say "I love this, this is amazing." (I feel you can convince fans to like a movie or show if you give them the toys first. We're literally invested in it.) But as a wise man once said, what's better than a perfect toy? A perfect toy with one tiny flaw we can pick at all night - and that's her wrists. The high swivels are great, the hips aren't restricted, the rocker ankles are good, the elbows are great, but the wrists? Swivel-only. Bend-and-swivel would be preferred, so she can work, or shoot, or maybe grab a lightsaber one day. But alas, she cannot, and that annoys me. (Given most collectors never open their toys, does it even matter? No, but I play with these things so it matters to me.)

Her accessories are good too. The holster and backpack are molded in color, with a gold bottle painted on the side of the backpack. The blaster is a single color, and looks great. Pip is what impresses the most - the plastic pal who's fun to be with has more paint than some entire figures, with an orange body with black stripes. And silver eyes. And other black details. It's tiny, and a great amount of attention was given to something that will sit in her hand, or in a holster. I can't complain. This is really good for its size, and of course raises expectations for future toys.

If your relationship with Star Wars toys allows you to let Osha hang out in a Cantina or Jabba's Palace as some cool spacer, you should get her. I personally found the show's pacing to be dreadful, but as future fans can binge it, they may find it snappy and fun. I really like the way she turned out, and I can't fault her overall quality. She's better than a lot of other figures, with nifty pants and great leg joints that let her look like she's doing more than standing, praying she doesn't topple forward. Hasbro: nice job. It is unfortunate the reception of the show will not drive a lot of fans to buy what may be some of your very best work. And now we wait to see if Yord Fandar and The Stranger were far enough in development that we get them next year.

Collector's Notes: I got mine from Entertainment Earth.

--Adam Pawlus

Day 3,181: October 17, 2024