Part One of the Lootaku One Piece subscription box series was way back in May, so it’s exciting to see what they’ve come up with for Part 2!
Quick bit of blurb:
Lootaku is a premium monthly subscription based service to fulfill everybody’s geeky addictions. Our box features full figure statues and Asia exclusives that you will not find in any other subscription box. We promise no filler or promotional items, and our values are always based on current cheapest prices on Amazon.
Prices and values on the Lootaku website are given US dollars.
A one month subscription is $44.99 (three and six month subscriptions are cheaper). At current exchange rates this is £33.29.
UK Shipping is $17.66 (£13.07). It’s a little on the pricey side, but this is a premium box and it’s coming a long way.
1-month subscription total: £46.36
The boxes for September, October, and November have been dominated by figures, though July and August had a real variety of items.
Not that you can tell from the picture, but the size of the shipping box has increased a little.
This one arrived in perfect condition (unlike last month’s, which was a little bashed!)
Trafalgar Lew’s Den Den Mushi.
Den Den Mushi are funny little creatures! They are snails that can communicate telepathically via radio waves.
They are used as communication devices in the One Piece world, which is why this one has a telephone attachment on its shell.
It’s quite a heavy item, and it actually is in two pieces, the head and the body.
This guy is one of two possible options, the other one being Doflamingo’s Den Den Mushi.
Mini Blocks are are very like Lego, except the pieces are teeny tiny!
This set is Mini Blocks One Piece Pirate Ship.
Again, this was one of two possible options. This one is Trafalgar Law’s Submarine, and comes with a building plate and stickers.
This Banpresto Glitter & Glamours Dressrosa Style Nico Robin is the first of the two large figures.
It comes in two pieces plus a stabilization piece.
Wowzers.
This is one of a new Banpresto line of ‘fashion figures‘, which showcase the One Piece Heroines in their battle clothing.
This is one of two possible versions in this box.
More sideboob than a starlet on the red carpet.
This extraordinary figure is a Banpresto One Piece Long Zoukei Figure Luffy Gum Gum Pistol.
It comes in four pieces.
That’s some pretty awesome detailing. The pole that stabilizes the foot isn’t technically necessary, it does stand without it, but it’s rather precarious without.
Finally, the menu card.
I’ll start straight in, as I always do, at the value according to prices I can find online. If I can’t find prices in GBP I use an online currency converter so they’re correct at time of writing. I can’t always take into account shipping costs of individual items, but I do my best to be fair.
Often I can find things on Amazon, but some of the items in Lootaku boxes are nigh on impossible to source in the UK, so sometimes I have to guesstimate. I also don’t use eBay as reference, as I find prices are not reliable or realistic.
We saw at the top that the monthly subscription is £46.36.
Den Den Mushi: A set of two cost $25.87 on AliExpress, so taking conversion into account, £9.57 for one.
Mini Blocks: I could only find these as a set of four for $18.90, again on AliExpress, so say £3.50 for one.
Banpresto Glitter & Glamours figure: I found this on Japan Craft for £32 + £3.50 shipping.
Banpresto Luffy figure: This was on Amazon for £31.77.
Total: £80.34
So, no arguments with the value.
I think the Luffy figure is amazing, I’ve never seen anything like it! It’s incredibly original, and it captures the idea of movement and impact incredibly well.
I’m less keen on the Glitter & Glamours figure. I don’t really enjoy the soft-porn look of these female anime characters, though I totally understand there will be an awful lot of people who will heartily disagree! I think it’s great they are finally showcasing some female figures, because, sideboob and improbable proportions notwithstanding, there are some pretty badass women in anime! However, while I’ve spared you an upskirt picture of this figure, I’m kind of creeped out by the attention to detail of her knickers. Is that really necessary? (OK, I know some people are nodding enthusiastically.)
The Den Den Mushi are cute, though not particularly exciting.
The Mini Blocks are pretty cool, not least because I adore Lego (I got Lego for Christmas!) and I don’t mind building fiddly things at all. It looks like it’s going to be a nice little model when it’s finished!
Once again, I’m (mostly) impressed with everything in the box, but I REALLY want to see something other than figures! Yes, I know the mini blocks aren’t exactly figures, but when you put ’em together they become a figure, so same difference.
Lootaku is excellent at sourcing premium figures, and I can’t quibble with the value, but I find I get far more out of the boxes when they have some variety. Lootaku boxes have had some beautiful and unusual practical items (check out August and July for two epic collections) and I really love it when they show that kind of creativity. I know there are plenty of people out there who are all about the figures, and Lootaku do them brilliantly, but I’m really hoping that I’ll see the odd fabulously geeky and cool thing which isn’t a figure!
A different version of this review was first published on allsubscriptionboxes.co.uk.
