I was browsing the net early this year and bumped into some pictures of a garage kit by Reflect of Rei Ayanami as imagined by Shunya Yamashita. While I hadn't launched into full-fledged Yamashita obsession at that time, seeing this kit was probably a key factor in turning me into the drooling obsessee you see before you today.

When I saw the Yamato PVC adaption of this piece, I still wanted it but was disappointed with some of the small changes that were made (loss of the bandage, hidden eyebrow arch). Due to this, I held off on buying the PVC for a while after its initial release, despite fairly solid reviews. It was only stumbling across the piece in one of Entertainment Earth's insane sales that made me finally give in and purchase her, and I've been happy that I did ever since.

Hit the jump for more Rei!

I love this figure, but I feel like I should preface anything I say about it by clarifying that I was not already a fan of Evangelion or Rei Ayanami. Of course, I was familiar with her image, but having had no attachment to her previously was a major point in being able to enjoy this statue for what it is. I know if I had seen a vastly re-imagined figure of a beloved character of mine (Love Hina's Shinobu comes instantly to mind), it would probably be a bit hard for me to swallow.

When I look at this piece, I see pure Yamashita through and through. As much as I love the look of some of his newer pieces, I've made no secret that I prefer subtle eroticism to leaking tits and camel toe. Every inch of this statue is all about the former, from the curve of her hip to the arms held just above her head.

To me Rei stands out from the pack because she isn't the usual anime schoolgirl. The figure has a quiet, dignified beauty that I feel is often absent from the PVC genre. I love owning a piece that has the guts to be unique, and this one definitely has it -- even down the fact that she is not castoffable, a fact that had a lot of fans unhappy. Call me nuts, but I'd rather imagine how she looks under there for a change!

I'm proud to have Rei as a part of my collection, and if you share my love of classy-less-than-assy figurines, this may be a winner for you too. If you want your own, J-List, Kid Nemo and Hobby Search have her in stock for varying prices. Don't blame me if you can't seem to help yourself!