Willow Figure Reviews

[CMK1887]

As stated by some forum members, a place for reviews of the Willow figures is wanted. So, here you go.

This thread is for actual reviews of each figure. When doing a review, please specifiy which Willow figure you are reviewing.

If you have a post to contribute, please make it worth everyone's time, and include strong information, and not short posts. For example, don't just say "I agree/disagree." Be elaborate and explain WHY you agree or disagree.

When you contribute your reviews, try to include everything you need to. If you forget something, edit your post. Please do not make a separate post just to add a small tidbit that you forgot to add before.

I will be linking to this thread from the "Series Five - Phase One" section at BtVS Figs, as to have more variety among the opinions of the Willow figures, too.

I encourage everyone to give their opinions about the Willow figures, good or bad.

I hope that this thread works out. If it does well, I'd like to make others, so that everyone can have their say about each figure previously produced, or figures that will be produced in the future.

Happy reviewing!

-CMK

[Willfan]

Normal Willow

Sculpt: I really really like the sculpt. The clothes are done really well, and even with the overshirt, you can twist her at the waist. Short hair looks great, and allows neck articulation. I really like the hands- they look pretty relaxed, unlike Buffy 2's and Xanders, but she can still hold her accesories. Plus she stands! She might seem short, until you measure her up to the other figures...I'm pretty sure she's taller than Buffy II.

Paint Job: You can kind of compare this Willow to Xander, as they have the same type of clothes. The black wash brings the brightness down a bit, but the purple wash on the pink shirt kind of makes it look dirty. But I LOVE the jean effect, it really looks nice. The real trouble is trying to find the Willow with the perfect face. The ones at the store I looked at had uneven eyes, or funky mouth. But I was able to find one that was pretty much perfect, and she has a great likeness, and doesn't look too Disney-ish.

Articulation: Though she lacks the old elbow and thigh swivels, as well as the ankle pivots, she still has the usual MAC amount that allows movement but doesn't hurt the look of the figure. I kind of wish she had these, but I think she looks and feels more like a cool retro series 1 figure, so I can go with it.

Accesories : Yeah, she doesn't come with as much stuff as the more recent figures, the four things she gets are awsome. The books fit in perfectly with the already exsiting BTVSFig library, and can easily be tucked under her arm. The little bottle is neat, and you can kind of see the effect of some liquid at the bottom. The pouch is really cool, too. Both fit perfectly in her hands.

Base : A little boring, but cool for what it is. The planks have a nice wooden paint effect, you can see it better on the bottom. But the best thing about this is that you can fit up to 3 figures on it at one time. I have Xander, Buffy II, and Willow on it right now.

Overall : A fantastic figure, but with a few drawbacks (messy paint job on shirt, lack of articulation, boring base), the figure is definately not perfect. I give it:

4/5


Transformation Willow

Sculpt: Same as Willow, but with current season 6/7 hair style. Looks great, not exactly correct for that scene, but close enough. Also theres no overshirt, just one long-sleeved sweater. Looks fine, but the torso doesn't match up very well at the waist, where the pants and top meet.

Paint Job: Shoes are black, not brown. The pants are a darker denim clolor, and look great with the light highlights. From pictures, I thought the shirt effect looked horrible and messy, but in actuality, the effect is great. Very neat! The hair has great tones and shadows, extremely well done. the face is another issue, though. Everything but the eyes is perfect (hey-anyone know why S5 willow's face is all shiny, but the others aren't?). The shape of them is totally off, and on all the figures I saw, the black wasn't very neatly kept in the eyes, and they're just plain hugemoungous.

Articulation: Same as normal Will, but no neck swivel because of the longer hair. Poopies.

Accesories: Same as normal Will.

Base: Same sculpt as the normal Will one, but different paint job. The wooden slats are black, and painted on top is a star inside a circle. We've discussed what it means, compared to the dark willow one, but i got kinda lost...I'm sure someone else will mention it. But it looks totally awsome, the detail in the silver makes it look like it was actually painted on the ground.

Overall: Though not the most dramatic exclusive look-wise compared to the normal figure, DST still went further than MAC would have. Pretty great, but being the only figure with scary black eyes, it sucks even more that they are too big.

BEWARE: she IS shorpacked, but not by much! Comic shops might try to tug the price on her up to five dolllars or more compared to the normal figure. DON'T pay too much for her, she's pretty easy to find for 15 or less.
For this drugged-up version of Willow, I give:

3/5

Dopplegengland (forgive my spelling) Willow

Sculpt: Wow! Its fantastic to see that DST and MAC went as far as they did for these exclusives, they look spot on, and so different from the normal figure. Doppl. Willow is pretty much a combonation of two of the exclusives (vamp and dark head). The new sculp of the bustier is beyond perfect. The new arms look great, I really like how the sleeves are thin at the end, making it actually look like cloth. The new curled fingers are fantastic, and can still hold her accesories. The head is the same one as Dark and Transformation, and isn't especially perfect for this specific character, but it works well enough. The pants are the same as all the other figures, and work perfectly.

Paint Job: I'm glad they didn't go with a glossy black for the leather, it just looks great the way it is. The sleeves are beautiful with the black wash. The paint on the button things of the bustier are exact. But on the frills, theres a strange black line that doesn't match up with the two pink colors. The skin is perfectly pale, unilke the early vamp figures. Like Trans willow, the hair is great, but darker. The face...everythings just a little off. I think the eyebrows set the whole thing off, they just seem to low. But yay! The light green eyeshadow is still there, very subtle, but very perfect.

Articulation: Same as trans Will.

Accesories: Shares the same ones as Vamp will. Totally great, and different from Normal Willow's. A fantastic matchbox is detailed with a scratch on the side. A full- length whip and shackles both look authentic, and totally round out the Dominatrix-ness.

Base: Same sculpt as all the others, but with a slightly darker wood-stain look than the normal willow's. Nice.

Overall: Would be seen as an extraordinary exclusive if had not come after Vamp willow. Kind of just a conglomeration, but a really really good one. The face is offputting, and the fact that some of them had scratches on their chest really sucks. I give her a:

3.5/5

[BtVSFigs Admin]

Just a quick review of my FIRST Willow! Dopplegangland (thanks Bearbegr)

The scale is smaller then the preproduction Willlow, that was the first thing I noticed. I also noticed, as a customizer, some other things. Not only is the hair removable, but the frilly pink thing also is a separate piece. The hands are not the typical hand joints, but the hands on a clear peg which itself then goes into the wrist (accidentally broke it off, thats how I figured that out hehe). The material is obviously different and the base, unlike most of MAC's bases, isnt solid, but 2 pieces snapped together. I was very surprised with the amount of detail put into this. The multiple skin tones are very excellent and I like the attention to detail put under the sleeves and to the hair. Only thing i didnt expect was her torso is a little bent back. But its still a great figure with awesome detail. PICK IT UP!

4.5/5

[CowboyGuy]

Dark Witch Willow:

The sculpt is very good. I like the detail that has been put into it. There are small silver buttons sculpted onto the shirt, and even little folds and wrinkles that enhance the figures small details. I love the face, although it is the same mold as many other Willows the paint makes it look so unique and cool! The pants are absolutly perfect, and the same goes for her arms.

The paintjob is great too. Sort of boring, but considering that it looks exactly like the show, makes this figure even better. Her accesories are good, but she cant really hold all of them. I like the blue flame, but I think it should have been red/yellow like the one she used to track down the members of the gang.

The removable hair will make it great for customizing, and the pants are great because they can be used for many female characters.

[Dawn]

Vampire Willow
Sculpt: The sculpt is perfect, down to every detail, i love it and cant see any fault at all. The cloths are identical to those from the characters and over all look great.

Paint Job: This is also great but not perfect. I think they went a little over board with the green make up and im not a huge fan of the vans on her head, but still is very good.

Articulation: Is good but i do miss the old bicep and leg articulation, and that i feel like if i move her waist her top starts bending.

Accesories: Doesnt come with much, but the ones she does have are great, i espiesally love the wip, and the hand cuffs look good displaed laying on her base.

Base: Great detail, i love it.

Overall: A fantastic figure that i would recommend to anyone and give it two thumbs up.

4.5/5

[abcfan]

hey guys im new here but i thought i would review trabsformation willow

sculpt=i do really like the sculpt and i fell it closely resembles alyson hannigan for that episode. the clothes are very good

paint job=the paint job is also very good from the detail on the clothes to the multi skin tones

articulation=the articulation isnt bad at all. she can move in all the places u want her too and she is one of the only figures who atood up perfectly on her base

accesories=these are just the same as normal willows but as already mentioned they fit perfectly

base= the pentagram is very cool

overall=a must have figure

score =5/5

[NewtonDKC]

Oddly, though I love the new figures, I do think the first Willow captured Alyson Hannigan's likeness more so than the recent Willow's. That said tho, I absolutely love the new ones! I still have to find Vamp WIllow and White Witch WIllow, but the others are great.

I have a weird question (and no, I'm not a freak who thinks I have possessed action figures or anything <grin>) -: on Dark Witch and Transformation Willows, if you look very carefully at the eyes from certain angles, they have a really cool "shimmer" effect. At first I thought the eyes were actually little holes with a mirrored surface behind them, but realized this would b extremely difficult to manufacture, and the effect is far too subtle for it. Has anyone else noticed this? Or maybe I was exposed to too many paint fumes trying to customize? :-)
If anyone is interested in trying to see what I mean, do this (and seriously, this is not an April Fool's joke, so give it a try and post if you see it): Using Dark With or Transformation Willows (that's the only 2 I see it on), hold the figure about 8 inches slightly down and out from your face, with Willow horizontal (i.e. lying flat on her back) with her head away from you and feet toward you (make sure there's a fairly bright light behind you so they can reflect). Now, gently begin pivoting her center so her feet begin lowering and her head begins coming up (i.e. as if you were moving her into a standing position very slowly watching her eyes). Does anyone else see this? At a certain point you can see a glint/reflective look, sort of like cat eyes but more mirrorish. This is a really cool effect but I can't figure out how they did it (but it is very cool and kudos to DST for doing it!). Gyrate her very slowly to find the best angle for it. Very cool!
I hate that my first post is something that sounds so bizarre on April 1st - I really am serious though and want to see if anyone else can see it and explain how it's done (an no,it's not just the clearn covering over the paint reflecting (or maybe it is) but it looks deeper.
Anyway, dorky-sounding post aside, check it out - it's cool! :-)

[Chaos]

SEASON 5 WILLOW
Likeness: WONDERFUL!
Sculpt: Great job of making plastic look like fabric, the hair is wonderful too!
Paint Job: The multiple skin tones are simply amazing. The jeans are just pefrect! The colors on the shirt look slightly more realistic from the nice purple washes(light purple on pink, DARK purple on the purple).
Acessories: I LOVE the books. The brown book is almost boring, but the green tome(which is a repainted MAC Buffy Vampyr Book) has so much character and looks just great! The bottle is neat in the it has some dark at the bottom like "spooky sand" or liquid. The pouch is kinda meh but look great next to the bottle.
Base: The base is painted and sculpted to looks exactly like wood its amazing!!!

TRANSFORMATION WILLOW
Likeness: The likeness is greatly improved with the enormous black eyes, A+ definately. Although the hair is not exactly like it was in wrecked, the eyes definately make up for it!
Sculpt: Great job of making plastic look like fabric. The hair is wonderful too!
Paint Job: The multiple skin tones are simply amazing. The jeans are just pefrect! The warped shirt looks awsome, it goes so well with the black eyes!Accessories: I LOVE the books. The brown book is almost boring, but the green tome(which is a repainted MAC Buffy Vampyr Book) has so much character and looks just great! The bottle is neat in the it has some dark at the bottom like "spooky sand" or liquid. The pouch is kinda meh but look great next to the bottle. I display the books stacked on one side with the bottle standing up(put a little bit of tack under it) on the other side and the pouch lying in front of it(to hide thee tack).
Base: The base is painted and sculpted to looks exactly like wood its amazing. The black white(silver) pentacle against the black floor gives a PERFECT contrast of Willow being drawn into darkness.

DARK WITCH WILLOW
Likeness: The likeness is great it looks just like Willow in all her evil glory.
Sculpt: Great job of making plastic look like fabric. The hair is wonderful too! The sleeves flair looks so neat!
Paint Job: The veins are practically black if not black. The shirt is black with blue airbrush highlights which make it looks so cool.
Accessories: The dark energy ball is so cool. Its several different shades of blue and looks awsome. The sucked book is painted so nicely and adds a great effect when displayed near Dark Willow. The larger bottle and larger puch show a grow in power since becoming Dark Willow.
Base: The base is painted and sculpted to looks exactly like wood its amazing. The red pentagram looks almost like splattered blood casue there are much more little loose dots of it than on Transformations base. The red also contrasts the blue shirt.

VAMPIRE WILLOW
Likeness: The evil smiling-snarling-hissing look is so cool and gives it a lot of character. The likeness is so awsome!
Sculpt: Great job of making plastic look like fabric. The hair is wonderful too! The sleeves flair looks so neat! The ruffle and cleavage add a nice effect to her skanky-vampireness!
Paint job: Shes mainly leather but the ruffles and sleeves have a great maroon and black wash on them plus they actually painted the inside of the sleeves yellow, just like they were on Buffy!
Accessories: The whip and manacles look perfect in her hands in all her...leather-cladness. The matches add a nice effect lying in the blood of the base. The funny thing is the macthes are obviously diamond brand(how funny) but the match box in the wish werent Diamond brand.
Base: The base is painted and sculpted to looks exactly like wood its amazing. WOWZERS thats a lot of blood! it looks like a darker red with a lighter red on top, almost like its drier on the edges.

DOPPLEGANGLAND WILLOW
Likeness: Good likeness.
Sculpt: Great job of making plastic look like fabric. The hair is wonderful too! The sleeves flair looks so neat! The ruffle and cleavage add a nice effect to her skanky-vampireness!
Paint job: Shes mainly leather but the ruffles and sleeves have a great maroon and black wash on them plus they actually painted the inside of the sleeves yellow, just like they were on Buffy!
Accessories: The whip and manacles look perfect in her hands in all her...leather-cladness. The matches add a nice effect lying on the base. The funny thing is the macthes are obviously diamond brand(how funny) but the match box in the wish werent Diamond brand.
Base: The base is painted and sculpted to looks exactly like wood its amazing.

WHITE WITCH WILLOW(Spellbook)
coming soon!

[Dawn]

White Whicth Willow

Sculpt: The sculpt is great, likeness to Alyson is great

Paint job: Good/Bad, what I mean by that is that the cloths are great, great work on the top, Love it. But the head, not to good, I know it's because of the pre production thing, but mine came with a chip of paint missing from the end of her nose and it's really bugging me. And also there is very bad bits that have been missed in the hair.

Articulation: The lack of movemont is the one thing that really lets this down, but makes the box set twice as good and I cannot wait for that.

Accesories: I love the sytche so much, and it really compliments Buffy 2 when posed with her.

Base: Is great, but I did need to strech her legs abit so she could get both feet to reach the pegs at the same time.

Overall: Great figure, I know that the chosen Willow in the box set will be my favortie Buffy figure to date, so the only thing that lets it down really is the articullation.

3 out of 5

[The Second Evil]

White Witch Willow (carded)

(likeness and paint)::

The likeness to Alyson is amazing, but the paint job on the face and hair is terrible. There are patches showing through and there is no paint on the end of her nose.

(accessories)::

The Scythe and stone styled base with the letter B on it.

(articulation)::

4 (shoulders and thigh)

(Best Part)::

The scythe, this is probably the best acessory ever made, It also alows Buffy 2 and Faith to hold it aswell.

(worst part)::

The paint job and packaging. Its annoying that nearly every white Witch Willow has a chipped nose (down to flimsy packaging) and has hair that hasn't been fully painted. Also the lack of articulation is annoying.

(real-scan?)::

Yes, I think so. Though the face is just a repaint of dark Witch Willow.

(based-on)::

Her outfit and hair from the Season Seven Finale "Chosen". It features white hair, as Willow overcomes the dark inside her and looks up to the heavens.

(rating)::

8/10 = B+

(varients)::

Is a varient of Regular Willow