Review: Shuriken Sentai Ninninger - Mini Pla Shurikenjin (Shurikenjin Dragon)

I was trying to hold off on reviewing this set, mainly because I'm not experienced with painting figures and I'm impatient and not very careful so I had to repaint them a couple times. Mini Pla makes really cool model kits based off of Sentai Mecha and they're very articulated. I had to get them and I did, from Buyee along with a couple other things but the shipping was too expensive... The main appeal of this version of Shurikenjin is that it has a good Shuriken Drago mode!

They're sold individually and you have to put them together. They also come with stickers that you need to apply but I decided to paint them, or at least attempt to paint them... They're in a similar scale to the Gashapon Otomonin but they're very different from each other. The deal with these are that they can combine into two modes that are articulated, not super articulated but it's something.

Otomonin Shinobimaru (オトモ忍シノビマル)

Shinobimaru comes with the Red Otomonin Shuriken to form the head.

He is composed of just red and white plastic that you put together. It does have a couple more bits of articulation, the waist can go side to side and the feet are independent from eachother.

He's also about the same size as the Gashapon Shinobimaru.

It makes for a good display piece, you still have the fist in between the legs though.

He might be a little off scale if you put him next to the 5" villains though.

The helmet is just red plastic with a molded on face for Shurikenjin. The underside of the Shuriken is hollow so you have to apply the sticker if you want it to look nice. The face folds out and swivels.

Otomonin Dragonmaru (オトモ忍ドラゴマル)

Dragonmaru comes with the Blue Otomonin Shuriken, it's nicely detailed although the back of the wings with the pegs doesn't look very good. The good thing about them is that they're articulated!

It's bigger than the Gashapon one and honestly it just looks a lot better. It's made with black and blue plastic. The giant peg on it's head seems out of place, but it does serve a purpose.

The head does go forward and back as well as the waist. The arms can rotate and wings move!

The Shuriken does look different with the teeth being more prominent. Eyes are also molded in, the different is with Shurikenjin's face, since it's not used in Drago mode the face isn't molded in so you have to apply a sticker as well as with the base. It's in scale with the 5" figures.

 Otomonin Dumpmaru (オトモ忍ダンプマル )

Dumpmaru is the same, molded with yellow and black plastic, the pedals are one piece unfortunately.

It does look better than the Gashapon one, it's far bigger too, the wheels however... aren't accurate.

This one, like Dragonmaru, it's in scale with the 5" figures, it's not too big or too small. Since the bucket is deeper you can sit either Shinobimaru inside it.

Otomonin Wanmaru (オトモ忍ワンマル)

Wanmaru is the simplest one that doesn't really serve a purpose in the mech.

Articulation is limited and the head is all black plastic while everything else is white for some reason.

It is bigger than the Gashapon but I was hoping it would at least have some jaw articulation. It doesn't just come with Wanmaru, it comes with half of Byunmaru where Wanmaru can sit if you fold the legs. It's made out of black plastic, Wanmaru clips in nicely.

It seems to be in scale with the 5" figures.

Otomonin Byunmaru (オトモ忍ビュンマル)

Byunmaru comes with everything minus the piece where Wanmaru sits.

The two pieces are different, Wanmaru's side is less detailed and doesn't have the Shuriken symbol.

Once you but them together it's complete.

It's also far larger than the Gashapon one. It's just made out of two plastics, red and black.

Shuriken Gattai Shurikenjin (手裏剣合体シュリケンジン)

Once you combine them, they look great! This a really nice representation of Shurikenjin, it's nicely articulated and the waist joint works! One of my complaints is no bicep swivels which is understandable. The swivel on the mask also allows it to "turn" it's head and face other directions. It's a little tall for the 5" villains though but doesn't look terrible.

Another complaint is that he elbow hinge on both arms are in different places so when you bend the arms it doesn't look right. Dragonmaru elbow joint doesn't have a lot of range either.

Still, with the articulation it does have it does it's job even if it's a little tall. It does look better than the Fighting Action Robo Shurikenjin since he is less streamlined and looks like the suit.

Unfortunately the Gashapon Shinobimaru cannot sit in the chair, it's mainly due to the shoulders.

Shuriken Gattai Shurikenjin Drago (シュリケンジンドラゴ)

This is why I wanted this set! Because of the Drago mode which looks so much better than the DX Ninja Steel Megazord one. Since there also isn't a figure like the FAR Shurikenjin to represent an articulated Drago mode this will do!

Unfortunately the claws aren't long for this mode, it would have been nice to have alternate hands.

And since it keeps most of the articulation from Shurikenjin, he's going to look good fighting your 5" villains. The proportions are a little off but it's going to happen, it's not perfect and it's not going to be since it can transform into two modes and 5 Otomonin.

Since the legs are bent it should be shorter but the neck makes him just as tall or taller.

I repainted this two days ago from today (7/12/18) and I'm glad I did because he just looks better. Bigger claws, wings and tail would make this perfect but it works and since he's light it won't he hard to display him flying on a stand. I'm glad I got him even if I did pay too much in shipping.