GSC Office Tour
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68)
Wed 2008/03/12 13:53
Been owing you a tour of the Good Smile offices for a while now and a post on the official Good Smile blog yesterday prompted me to make time to put this together sooner rather than later.
Today we are going to look at the Good Smile offices and tomorrow we will take a look at the Max Factory offices.
Today we are going to look at the Good Smile offices and tomorrow we will take a look at the Max Factory offices.
For folks who don't know, Good Smile Company (also known as GSC) is a distributor and figure maker based in Matsudo Tokyo.
First off we take a look at the sculpting studio. Here you see Lala from To Love Ru being worked on.
Lala-chan kawaii! This figure is not castoffable but you can see plenty of her in birthday suit in the To Love Ru manga.
Awesomely cute.
The box on the right sucks in the paint from an airbrush and ends up in a cup of water. At the end of the day, the employees do junken and the looser drinks it.
More fans, lighting, sculpting tools and paint.
Painting booth.
Another sculptor working on nosebleed figures.
Some of these figures take months to sculpt.
And a lookie at the offices.
The quality control area. Samples come back from the factory in China and go through repeated steps of adjusting paint colors, position and size.
The web production and design area.
Desk overflowing with figures!
Nice eyes.
My fave room at GSC - the stock room ^^;
The man who sculpted the Nendoroid Melissa.
And we take a look at the figma Saber - still in production. The photos that you saw of the color version is the actual one that was sculpted. That is then used to produce this test copy.
The facial expression is not final.
Different parts of Saber come in varying softness of plastic.
Another great figure to fidget about with during meetings.
While standard figures are still popular, the last Wonfes saw a ton of articulated figures and looks like this area is going to be more n more popular. You is prefer standard non-articulated figures or articulated figures?
cant wait till shes out!
After the Max Factory office tour, I will upload the video tour so you can get a better feel of the office/studio environment. The video covers much more than these pics and looks at the 3D casting machine, molding process and much more.
If you are new here, you may want to keep up with more of the same via RSS or Danny's other networks. (dont show again)
So up until now we talked about places that you can shop at like Tokyo Mi...(more)
Tue 03/11 13:45 comments (85)
Next up is the goodies at the Good Smile booth.
...(more)
Mon 02/25 14:52 comments (77)
i see a mirai figure in the works ^__^
(ID #154582) Posted on 2008/03/11 23:34
Polytechnic Senior, Bronze Lifesaving Trainee, Mech Designer, Pokemon Indexer.
LOL at "the loser gets to drink it"... just like in AirGear. For some reason, in my mind Junken and "loser drinks it" leads to that... I'm torn between articulated and non-articulated. One can fiddle with articulated ones(Maybe play Dungeons & Dragons with the Saber?), but if you're looking for works of art to decorate your desk, I suppose non-articulated ones would be a mile better...
(ID #154584) Posted on 2008/03/11 23:39
lolz Danny what are those Mirai marks for? :| Are you trying to hide a Mirai Figurine in the making or some NSFW figurines of yourself?
(ID #154589) Posted on 2008/03/11 23:49
Policy & Research Officer
What an awesome tour. I'm so envious of you being to go places we would could only dream of going.
(ID #154600) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:01
i guess i have to expect articulated figures from the west, like my DC and Marvel action figures. but with anime figures from Japan, i'm ok with them being non-articulated. most of them r so detailed and their poses r often so beautiful that i'm fine with them being non-articulated.
(ID #154604) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:06
anime/cosplay events organizer
Danny, it is either those with the Mirai marks are classified figures that are not suppose to be shown to public yet or are you telling us something? =3 *looks @ Mirai artwork in some of the picts* you are telling us something aren't you? ^_~ lulz i choose both articulated and non-articulated figures. both are equally eye candy goodness ^________^
(ID #154607) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:13
I really do prefer non-articulated figures, think they look alot better. Not a big fan of the hollows in articulated figures. Though when the character got clothes that cover them they can be quite nice, but then they show to little skin! :]
(ID #154608) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:15
Finally!!! ^^ Wow, the sculpting studio desks sure looks like your typical Gunpla/Figure painter/collector hehe ^^ I spotted Figma Konata at the stock room!! *drool* Definitely looking forward to Lala and Hatsune Miku PVC (Not shown >_< ) Really cant wait for the videos!! ( ^ _ ^ )/
(ID #154610) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:18
Oh and forgot to add. The one in the wedding dress, I think it's from Idolmaster ^^ Forgot her name though >_<;
(ID #154614) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:23
Thanks for the tour. Man I wish i could work in GSC but i have no skills to offer them. :( Maybe "condensed milk engineer"? LOL! Can't wait for the Hatsune Miku pvc!
(ID #154616) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:24
Software Developer
Looking forward the video as well ^^ I do prefer non-articulated figures, but I think I am going to fall for this Saber Figma. That Azusa in wedding dress is too beautiful, want one T_T
(ID #154617) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:24
Heh, I sense a future Mirai-chan figure as well! Wow, a a figure preview, and figma Saber, no less! (Still I prefer non-articulated figures) And some big LOL for the "Loser of Janken drinks toxic water" part. I'm sure they do great work after that. ^^;
(ID #154618) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:31
五〇一軍团 TK8316 Singapore Garrison Public Relations Officer
i much much prefer tandard non-articulated figures. me look forward to a mirai figure soon. ^^;
(ID #154620) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:36
Administrative Assistant
For me, it depends on the quality of the figure. Some articulate figs do not impress me as much. Though I do love my Yotsuba one.
(ID #154626) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:45
Web Developer/ウェブデベロッパー, Photographer/写真や
Much more interested in Mirai in the background. ^^;
(ID #154632) Posted on 2008/03/12 00:54
Student
Articulated figures don't look nice enough for me, and I'm not into playing with my figures a lot (though the Figma line might change that) so I'm more for non-articulated stuff.
(ID #154649) Posted on 2008/03/12 02:22
I want mirai figure to be made....special edition ^^
(ID #154651) Posted on 2008/03/12 02:31
Student, Otaku, She-Geek(Sheek lol)
I like the odd articulated figure, but mostly I like my non-articulate, prettier that way. :grin:
(ID #154654) Posted on 2008/03/12 02:38
I'm gonna go for a middle-way and say I like both. Which I do. Standard non-articulated figures are nice and pretty whilst articulated figures are fun to play with. Everyone's a winner, especially now that articulated figures are looking better and better!
(ID #154655) Posted on 2008/03/12 02:47
Animation Student
A lot of figures~ *drools* I'm new to the figure collecting... So.. What is the difference between Articulated figures and the Non-articulated figures? xD Anyway looking forward for the Max Factory Tour with the video ^^
(ID #154661) Posted on 2008/03/12 03:04
I would love to work there! Well probrably my figures would look like crap, but hey I could learn it...
(ID #154666) Posted on 2008/03/12 03:23
University Student.
Looks like lots of people are requesting a Mirai figure, and I'm one of them too! Quick demand one!
(ID #154669) Posted on 2008/03/12 03:35
part time illustrationist, doll clothing seamstress
if they're able to hide the articulation naturally I don't mind ^^ and Mirai figure pleaseee LOL
(ID #154671) Posted on 2008/03/12 03:43
Non- Articulated figures for me cos I'm bad at posing figs. One more request for a Mirai figure here Danny!
(ID #154673) Posted on 2008/03/12 03:55
I'm somewhere in the middle as well. While I like non-articulate figures, I also like pose -able figures so long as the articulation is done well. The figmas are very well done in this respect.
(ID #154678) Posted on 2008/03/12 04:04
Part trooper, part -timer, 100% loser...
Those who wants Mirai figure, say I! I!
(ID #154680) Posted on 2008/03/12 04:09
I take it you were joking when you said that the loser has to drink the paint. :)
(ID #154699) Posted on 2008/03/12 05:49
@number1guy: Cheers!
(ID #154720) Posted on 2008/03/12 06:18
i don't like to pose my figures because i figure that their just gonna sit on/by my desk and i'll eventually forget about it, so i rather not deal with posing it. Another vote for Mirai figure!
(ID #154733) Posted on 2008/03/12 06:46
オタク all day long
Don't really like the Articulated figures. I have both Revoltech Ayanami and Rin. Only play with them a bit when I open the box then I never touch them again. Now they're standing stead in my display box. (-____-.
(ID #154747) Posted on 2008/03/12 07:04
I don't really like how joints look in figures. No matter how small or hidden they are, I still think they bulge out. And I like my figures just stationary...looking at them is just fine ^_^
(ID #154759) Posted on 2008/03/12 07:36
I PREFER ARTICULATED FUGURES
(ID #154785) Posted on 2008/03/12 09:15
A while back you had an article on a Wendy from GunXSword that had a shirt that stretched. Why can't they use that material to make the skin? That way they could have joints and have the skin stretch over them. The biggest problem I have with them is how bad they look on figures
(ID #154790) Posted on 2008/03/12 09:19
Student, Spiral Warrior
Haven't got much into figures yet (girlfriend won't let me), but from what I've seen, non-articulated ones do tend to just look better. On the other hand, I loved playing with action figures when I was a boy, and nowadays one of my favorite things about Gunpla modeling is the possibility of different poses. I'm looking forward to an ever-changing display of the battle between the Revoltech Gurren Lagann and Lazengann, for instance. Perhaps it comes to this: giant robots - best poseable; girls - no need. Also: Three cheers for a Mirai figure.
(ID #154792) Posted on 2008/03/12 09:26
I'd like to see a time-lapse video of their scupltures, if they would allow it.
(ID #154800) Posted on 2008/03/12 09:55
Software Engineer
Thats a seriously busy desk he's got going on there!
(ID #154803) Posted on 2008/03/12 09:59
NEET (no, student, AND employed min. wage)
wait, they do not color these individually, right???
(ID #154807) Posted on 2008/03/12 10:06
Student Otaku (ITM Student) and ACG NA Staff
I so want to see whats inside GoodSmile!!!!!!!! Your a lucky guy Danny!!!!!!!!!!
(ID #154815) Posted on 2008/03/12 10:33
Is it just me or does Lala-chan's face look like Akari's from ARIA lol?
(ID #154825) Posted on 2008/03/12 11:15
Student and Miku Guardian
I prefer a non-articulated since I don't bother with making different poses of them.. I will wait till a Mirai fig is made.. Another vote for Mirai..
(ID #154843) Posted on 2008/03/12 11:54
Leisure Consultant, Writer, Webmaster
Nice office man. You need to get some babes in there though!
(ID #154859) Posted on 2008/03/12 12:25
suneo (Registered on 2007/12/17 20:54)
nice tour. Love gettin these inside looks. Thanks!
(ID #154867) Posted on 2008/03/12 12:35
Failure
I saw a tall can of Mt. Dew, I'm happy now. :D
(ID #154886) Posted on 2008/03/12 13:15
.NET/Web Developer
I'd choose non-articulated figures mostly because of the detail and their lovely pose. But I'm open to both cause it would really depend on how well the figure is made. ^^ What are those mirai marks for anyway? A possible mirai figure in the works perhaps? You are such a teaser. hahah! c'mon...tell us. XD
(ID #154897) Posted on 2008/03/12 13:45
Web Designer
non-articulated don't like to see joints in my figures >.< I'm looking forward to Mirai figures
(ID #154927) Posted on 2008/03/12 14:16
That sculptor has some of the McFarlane Dragons over his desk. Is it rare to see American figures like that over in Japan? Did he have to import those like I have to import my Japanese ones?
(ID #154993) Posted on 2008/03/12 17:23
Dog of the Country
you have forgotten to write this at the end of the post: "Btw, it's just a joke that at the end of the day, the employees do junken and the looser drinks it." Well, unless it's true.. >.< Or else, underage readers will be going @_@.."Chi Chi"....
(ID #154995) Posted on 2008/03/12 17:26
Graphic Design student | Receptionist | Otaku
Non-articulate for me.. can't stand those hideous (IMHO) joints... I'd love to know the process and materials needed for figure making.. perhaps I am out-of-touch but, I haven't seen much information around it.. safe Pinky modding. Thank you for this informative post, I love studio tours XD Mirai fig FTW!
(ID #155029) Posted on 2008/03/12 17:59
ひきこもり/Hikikomori. Suits my current state more than a 大学生/University Student. ^^
I see many gunpla in this picture http://www.dannychoo.com/slide/eng/gscmax/18808/photo/GSC+Office+Tour/ Someone in GSC must like gunpla. ^^
(ID #155035) Posted on 2008/03/12 18:12
Pianist, Writer, Teacher
Thumbs down for articulated, even if it's Saber.
(ID #155043) Posted on 2008/03/12 18:20
Web Developer (i.e. Otaku)
Wow, so much for their clear desk policy :-O
(ID #155051) Posted on 2008/03/12 18:33
I guess Saber on top of Mirai drawings is just a happy coincidence? Haha.
(ID #155065) Posted on 2008/03/12 19:24
Service desk support
While I do like articulated figures, Fixed pose ones win in terms of aesthetics, hands down. No articulated figures can effectively hide the joints on the build. even the fraulein revoltechs have that problem at certain angles (mostly from behind)
(ID #155145) Posted on 2008/03/12 22:52
wow nice studio to work in ;D BTW danny do you know what kind of clay are they using? I've been trying to sculpt gravity defining details with a few types of clays and they don't really work that well >.<" hope to grasp some trade secret from them ;P
(ID #155242) Posted on 2008/03/13 02:41
can't wait for Figma Saber to be released!~ X3 I so want to look through the process of figu making ^^
(ID #155570) Posted on 2008/03/13 16:42
Dropping computers, starting all over again at Journalism
Can't help but also wonder what the Mirai marks were hiding there... :P Anyways, GSC is great! They have tons of figures I want in my collection... interesting to see their Office too.
(ID #155759) Posted on 2008/03/14 02:08
I Would like to learn how to sculpt~ Where can i find materials and tutorials?
(ID #156133) Posted on 2008/03/14 16:53
Klaudio2099 (Registered on 2008/02/11 08:20)
Very Nice report! I liked to see where and how they Work to produce all those cool Figures! I would like to see a report like this of the most important companies like Megahouse and Alter XD would be interesting. Thanks Again
(ID #156497) Posted on 2008/03/15 07:19
pixels & photography
figures sculptors are so talented. it's amazing. gold fingers.
(ID #156789) Posted on 2008/03/15 22:31
Servicing National Services
Thanks for the tour. Danny. Would like to have the Lala figure. Too sad it is not cast off enabled. But will get it when it come out^^
(ID #156827) Posted on 2008/03/16 00:58
yeah i prefer the Non-articulated figures cuz well..... i think they look more PRO but on the other hand having articulated figures are cool too cuz u can make 'em pose the way u want
(ID #157253) Posted on 2008/03/17 01:29
I am always curious about the making of figures. Not any more...Thanks Danny!
(ID #182185) Posted on 2008/05/06 10:45
Nice tour. I'm more with the non-articulated ones, but if the articulated figures look good, such as figma, then they're on my "to buy" list.
(ID #218646) Posted on 2008/06/21 16:47
Ahh I wonder what they are made of..
(ID #461290) Posted on 2009/01/25 10:13
What I'd do to get into a work environment like this...
(ID #513510) Posted on 2009/03/08 16:51
Commission artist/programmer
I really like these office tours. Makes me want to tour one someday. The process for the making of these figures is amazing.
(ID #519740) Posted on 2009/03/13 09:56
Otaku Programmer/Gamer/Artist/Photographer
Painting those figure must have been crazy! XD T__T let alone sculpted
(ID #556467) Posted on 2009/04/10 05:43
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