God has already given us a destiny, the destiny of encounter. S.H.Figuarts A new lineup is now available in the Berserk series! ISIDRO", the boy who chases after Guts' back, will be released in December, and "SCHIERKE", the forest witch who travels with Guts, is currently on sale. In addition, PREMIUM BANDAI is currently accepting orders for "NOSFERATU ZODD," Zodd's human body, which is the largest in the series at approximately 200mm in height. What is consistent in the series is the attention to detail and love for the work that is incorporated throughout. We asked Hibiki Nagashio, who is in charge of prototyping the series, and the planning and development staff to talk about the appeal of the new lineup, as well as their outlook for the future. S.H.Figuarts What meaning will this new meeting of the Berserk series bring forth? Interview Articles We will find out!

■Decor and expression "S.H.Figuarts ISIDRO"

--Please tell us about ISIDRO is scheduled to be released in December.

Nagashio:I was quite surprised when I heard that it would be commercialized. However, it was a character I wanted to create, and I don't often have the opportunity to work on boys, so I was very happy. As a sculptor, I want to work on characters of various ages.

--As a boy, was there anything in terms of design that you were conscious of?

Nagashio:There is a certain shape of the forehead that is called "decopachi". This is a skeletal feature that causes the forehead to recede as an adult. So ISIDRO 's dekoppachi is not a character, but is expressed as a boy. It was a bit of a discovery for me that by firmly controlling the shape of the forehead, it naturally came out as a boyish figure.

--SHINKOCCHOU SEIHOU Like the series, S.H.Figuarts I understand that the Berserk series is sculpted from bone, but is there any difference between a boy and a normal-headed character?

Nagashio:Although the head is larger, I don't think the bone structure itself has changed much. However, the flesh is different. The thinness of the muscles and other aspects are faithful to the characters drawn by Miura sensei in the comics.

--The facial expressions use Tamashii Digital Coloring Technology, which is rare for anime and comic book figures.

Nagashio:I think that is the S.H.Figuarts point of success and quality of the Berserk series. ISIDRO is an important character that gives Guts a human touch as the story progresses, and how to make this expressive character comical was a fun part of the sculpting process.

▲ In addition to the standard facial expression that comes with ISIDRO, four interchangeable facial expressions are included.

Planning staff:ISIDRO has a great expression, like a laughing monkey. It's not an expression that appears often in the play, but it's a comical expression that is so typical of ISIDRO, so I definitely wanted to recreate it.

--It also comes with hand parts for posing that go with the monkey-like expression.

Nagashio:Actually, the hand parts aren't specifically for that pose. They're actually hand parts for holding optional explosive bullets. However, when I used them, it just looked like he was scratching his head. That wasn't what I was aiming for, of course (laughs). As for facial expressions, I like the screaming face seen from below. It may sound like I'm bragging, but I think the atmosphere of the original is captured because I was very conscious of the bone structure when sculpting it.

▲Isidro, nicknamed "Monkichi" by Puck, has a ISIDRO-like expression. The hand part scratching his head is a reused handle from an explosive bullet.

What about the mobility?

Nagashio:In the original work, there are many scenes where Isidro attacks from below, taking advantage of his small stature. The figure also has a range of motion that allows for this. The abdomen has a wide range of motion, and he can bend forward properly. This doesn't have much to do with the figure, but speaking of ISIDRO, there is a scene in volume 24 of the comic where ISIDRO who is worried about whether his improvised swordsmanship will work, is asked by Guts, "Are you going to train for decades and become a master before going to the battlefield?" I think this is true for everything, but I think it's difficult to take the first step when you try to do something on your own for the first time. I think that after you go out into the field and grow, you often think, "Oh, I didn't need to think too deeply about it," but it's hard to understand that. This really hit me at the time. It really hit me hard. So when I talked to the photographer who takes the product images for this series about this story, he said, "I know!" and I thought this is something that creators often experience (laughs).

▲ S.H.Figuarts Despite its small size, the figure has a wide range of motion. The abdomen also flexes forward, allowing for poses such as crouching, with an eye toward lower-level attacks.

■"Magical Girl" "S.H.Figuarts SCHIERKE"

--Now, let's talk about SCHIERKE which was released in September.

Nagashio:Since SCHIERKE is one of the heroines, I was conscious of making her cute. In a sense, she is a "magical girl" (laughs). It's a very realistic direction, and very orthodox. I'm happy in a way that I was able to work on a magical girl figure in the figure genre. I probably couldn't make a normal anime-style magical girl, so I was very happy to be able to work on SCHIERKE. As a female character, I thought that SCHIERKE was a good addition to the lineup at an early stage.

Planning staff:SCHIERKE is a strong-willed character with a strong, strong character, but she also has cute scenes where she gets embarrassed in front of Guts, and I wanted to recreate that contrast. I requested Nagashio to recreate not only her embarrassed expression, but also the pose where she holds down her hat with one hand.

Nagashio:It's easier to make it if you hear that story from the beginning. I'm sure there are some users who already have it, but SCHIERKE is designed to be quite playable, including options. The spirit SCHIERKE is also cute.

Planning staff:The clear blue base is painted with white paint to give it the appearance of a spiritual being.

Nagashio:It's a luxurious specification. Furthermore, in conjunction with "S.H.Figuarts GUTS (BERSERKER ARMOR) -HEAT OF PASSION-", it can be placed on Guts. There is a magnetic plate inside the spirit SCHIERKE, and the specification is to attach an iron plate (auxiliary parts for the spirit SCHIERKE) so that the cloak of Guts is sandwiched between them. The key point is that this iron plate is engraved.

▲ SCHIERKE of the spirit body that comes with SCHIERKE is an option that works with "S.H.Figuarts GUTS (BERSERKER ARMOR) -HEAT OF PASSION-". It can be used in combination with Guts to reproduce scenes from the play.

Planning staff:The plate has a weathering-like texture on the surface. This is a scratch that occurs during the mass production process, but we were talking about how it looks like "Berserk" in a way, and the person in charge of production gave us the idea to add a "brand" to make it look more "Berserk-like", so we made it happen. Everyone involved in the product shares their opinions and ideas to create one product.

▲ The spirit form of SCHIERKE can be attached to Guts using a metal plate. Normally, the metal plate would be hidden inside the cloak, but by adding a "brand" to it, it gives off a Berserk feel.

Nagashio:It's great that all the staff can enjoy developing it, including those small details, and make something even better. Also, the golem was a request from the person in charge, so I really wanted to add it.

Planning staff:Then Nagashio-san said she wanted the arms to be movable. So we said, "Okay, let's make them move." (laughs)

Nagashio:If you make it a separate part, it's like "just putting in an axis," and even just being able to move it a little bit makes a difference, right? If you put the arms forward, it will be in a pose like the one in the original, where he is chasing you.

▲The golem that protects the Sacred Tree Forest is one of the optional parts that comes with SCHIERKE. The arms can move back and forth, allowing for a certain amount of posing. You can also imagine the scene in the original where she hugs ISIDRO from behind.

--Speaking of options, ISIDRO comes with Kripac and Ivarella.

Planning staff:Kripac is like ISIDRO 's partner and mentor, so I feel like we have to be together.

Nagashio:ISIDRO comes with both Kripac and Ivarella, so it would be interesting to combine him with SCHIERKE and see the two of them grow in a juvenile way.

--The pillars of Kripac and Ivarella are different from the usual shape.

Nagashio:A simple support pillar just seemed boring, so I came up with the image of a wind trail. The wings on the back were so long that they needed to be separate parts, so I extended them and settled on the current design.

▲ The support (mount) for the Kuripack and Ivarella is designed to resemble the trajectory of the wind, and also acts as an effect part. The Kuripack is blue, while the Ivarella is pink, with a gradation of colors that are also carefully designed.

The largest size in the series "S.H.Figuarts NOSFERATU ZODD"

-- How about "S.H.Figuarts NOSFERATU ZODD" which is on order at PREMIUM BANDAI?

Nagashio:Zodd's human form has not been made into a 3D figure by many other companies, so I'm happy to be able to release it at the beginning of the series. Basically, I love Zodd, and I like making both "old men" and "muscles". I think it's quite rare to have a figure series that has such a large volume of about 20cm in height and a sense of scale. However, since "Berserk" is a series, it would be impossible for Zodd not to be large, and I think the fact that there are small characters like SCHIERKE and ISIDRO also helped to create a worldview in terms of size.

--You're exploring a variety of materials for the new lineup.

Nagashio:In order to recreate the worldview of "Berserk," I ordered materials that matched each character as much as possible. The use of fabric is a really good fit for this series.

Planning staff:S.H.Figuarts Since the Berserk series is commercialized from the original comics, the concept is to reproduce the overwhelming power of Kentaro Miura's drawings and depth of expression through the use of different materials. For this reason, we always discuss with Mr. Nagashio about being conscious of the texture and gloss of the materials during development.

Nagashio:ISIDRO This is a rare attempt for S.H.Figuarts to make even the part of the scarf that goes around the neck a fabric material. The scarf is wired so it can be fluttered and moved.

Planning staff:The scarf fabric was chosen to be closest to the image of the original, and we were also conscious of the difference in texture from the coat.

▲ SCHIERKE 's cape and ISIDRO 's scarf are made of cloth. Each has wires inside, so you can create different shapes to suit your pose.

Nagashio:Coats are not the easiest costumes to move around in, but when I tried it, I was surprised at how easily I could move them. SCHIERKE is also wearing a witch-like costume, so at first glance it may seem difficult to move her, but by making the top cloak out of cloth, even if you add a fairly bold shoulder joint, it will be hidden, so you can pose her without worrying about gaps. Poses where you raise your arms high when casting a spell or using magic can also be recreated quite naturally, as the shoulders are hidden by the cloak.

-What about Zod's fur?

Nagashio:Fur was a request from the developers, right?

Planning staff:We talked about how we wanted to use some kind of fabric, but we absolutely didn't want it to be flimsy. Very early on, Nagashio-san came up with the idea of using fake fur material, and we had the factory check a sample to see if it was OK to commercialize it.

▲The Zod's fur is reproduced using fake fur material. It has a texture that does not detract from the sense of scale, enhancing the Zod's presence.

Nagashio:It feels like you have successfully ...... productized it, doesn't it? Maybe as S.H.Figuarts we have never employed fur material before. The fur also has animal hands on it. I don't know what kind of animal it is (laughs). (laughs) We have also made Nikkyu. When I asked the development staff what to do, they said, "Let's do it," so we did it.

Planning staff:It even has claws (laughs).

Nagashio:Normally you don't reproduce this level of detail.

▲ At the front of the fur, on the animal's paws, claws and paw pads are reproduced by molding. It is designed to look as "realistic" as possible. The fur also has wires inside, so it can hold the shape in place.

-How did you choose the faux fur material?

Nagashio:With regards to the fabrics of the costumes, I was assisted by Mayumi Yamamoto, a puppet animation artist who was in charge of Guts' cape last time (she has worked on Netflix's "Rilakkuma" and "Pokémon Concierge"). She gave me advice on everything from choosing fake fur that won't shed easily to how to cut it, so there were a few things I was able to decide on without much hesitation.

--Even the sculpted parts, such as the boots, are made with extremely fine detail.

Nagashio:We make all the final adjustments digitally, but our sculpting method is to start by hand sculpting a clay prototype, so I think this works well with the original work (laughs).

■Particularly S.H.Figuarts Berserk Series

--Guts, starting with Griffith S.H.Figuarts Please tell us about the appeal of the Berserk series.

Nagashio:I would say "faithful to the original work. Supervision of the original work is a very valuable opportunity, and I believe that the closer we can communicate with the original creator, the better the figure will be. S.H.Figuarts The Berserk series is supervised by Studio Ganga, which was established by Kentaro Miura and is still in charge of the artwork today. It is an enjoyable supervision with a lot of learning each time.

--Is there anything you focus on during development?

Nagashio:Every time I work on a character, I check all the scenes in the comics where he appears. When I do that, my editor makes a thick document compiling everything. It's really helpful. I've never heard of anyone who makes documents filled with so much love.

▲Some of the development materials. S.H.Figuarts Berserk series is developed by carefully examining specifications such as facial expressions and posing from over 200 documents.

Planning staff:Each time we decide on product specifications, we cut out all the scenes in which the figure appears, pick out the necessary facial expressions, and adjust them from there to discuss the optimal product specifications. Also, for the S.H.Figuarts Berserk series, all development members, including prototype designer Nagashio, as well as design and production, meet at the initial planning stage to discuss the specifications. As a series, how to clear concerns is discussed from the beginning, and the entire team works together to create a single product.

Nagashio:The production team has some very talented people, and it's different when each section comes together. It's really a joint development. It's not a top-down approach, but rather each person is thinking independently and doing their best. We do quite a few unprecedented things, such as how to use materials, and each time we do something, they think about how to make it happen and give us feedback at an early stage, so I think that's what leads to the results.

- Did you intend to make it into a series from the beginning?

Nagashio:When I was talking about Guts, I had talked about wanting to continue it for a long time, but I didn't expect it to continue that way. However, thanks to the positive reception of Guts, I felt that it was a good idea to add it to the future lineup.

-- With SCHIERKE, ISIDRO, and Zodd, it seems like a pretty unexpected lineup.

Nagashio:That's up to the person in charge (laughs).

Planning staff:With Guts and Griffith now together, I personally feel like I want to surprise users with their expectations of what character will be next. I really wanted to make the lineup not just about size, so that users would think, "They're releasing this character too!" and give users a sense of depth to the characters and excitement for the series right from the start of the series. Personally, I love the members who travel with Guts. When we commercialized it, I was overwhelmed with thoughts about what kind of expressions I wanted them to have when playing, what options would be good, and so on, so I immediately consulted with Nagashio-san.

--Even so, the Zod is quite a challenging item for the early stages of the game.

Planning staff:Zod's human form is a character that is rarely depicted in 3D, so I believed it would have a big impact. I also wanted to have him fight Guts, and I thought that users would enjoy creating images of the two of them fighting, so I thought of Zod as a must-have item. I think I was in an environment where the people around me fully supported my desire to make it a reality.

Nagashio:At first, you should act with that passion. Cherishing your passion and working freely will definitely produce something better. This series is exactly that.
Planning and Development Manager: Since the enemy apostles in Berserk tend to grow to gigantic sizes, I'm sure users would imagine that we wouldn't release something that big, so it made a lot of sense to release a large Zodd early on.

--Please tell us about your plans for the future lineup.

Planning staff:We've also heard from users that they are looking forward to the Golden Age arc.

Nagashio:I'd love to make it so that it connects to that. Also, in this lineup, there is a party of three: Guts, ISIDRO, and SCHIERKE. There is a visual of the three of them walking side by side on the beach, and my ambition is to have them join in one by one.

▲ Visuals to match the lineup of ISIDRO and SCHIERKE. We look forward to seeing more parties in the future!

Planning staff:Personally, from a fan's perspective, I want Mozgus the most (laughs).

Nagashio:Another amazing thing. However, since Zod's human form has been commercialized this time, Zod's angel form is also one of the issues to be addressed.

Planning staff:I want to recreate the sense of scale as much as possible, and I want to continue the series and explore how far I can go while watching the reactions of users. As a planner, I always think about the lineup while thinking, "There are still a lot of attractive characters." I'm wondering how many years I intend to continue the series (laughs).

Nagashio:In terms of the market, being able to think on an overseas scale is also a strength.

Planning staff:It all depends on your support, but from the perspective of the planning and development team, this lineup is just the prologue. We have no intention of ending it here. There are many variations of Guts that have not yet been commercialized, so please look forward to those as well and look forward to future developments.

──Thank you very much.

> Tamashii web shop" S.H.Figuarts NOSFERATU ZODD" order page

＞S.H.Figuarts ISIDRO" product details page, scheduled to be available in stores in December 2024.

＞S.H.Figuarts SCHIERKE" product details page

> TAMASHII WEB "Berserk" series special page

©Kentaro Miura/Studio Gaga/Hakusensha

*Each of the S.H.Figuarts products mentioned in the article are sold separately.