Yoyoyo says the Sega star not only has gotta go fast, he’s gotta be Arita-yaki too.
Sonic the Hedgehog’s whole thing is being in motion. From his “Gotta go fast” motto to being one of the first big-name video game characters with idle animations (one of which was him impatiently tapping his foot), Sonic does not like to stand still.
Capturing Sonic’s personality in a stationary figure is, therefore, already a tall task, and the idea of trying to convey his characteristic kinetic energy in something as difficult to work with as traditional Japanese ceramics might seem foolish…but it’s actually awesome, as long as you have the right artists working on the project.
This amazing Sonic figurine is made using Arita-yaki/Arita ware techniques. In the 16th century, Arita, located in present-day Saga Prefecture, became the first places in Japan where porcelain art was made, and to this day Arita’s kilns produce some of the finest ceramics in Japan.
For the Sonic the Hedgehog Infinite Blue figurine, Japanese ceramics brand Yoyoyo enlisted no fewer than three Arita artist organizations. 224porcelain handled the molding, utilizing a mix of traditional and digital methods to recreate the complex contours of Sonic’s body and quills.
Things get even more intricate for the 21.3-centimeter (8.4-inch) tall figurine’s lower half, where instead of individual legs, the artists took inspiration from the blur formed by Sonic’s feet in the games when he reaches his top running speed. Not only is the infinity symbol-shaped construction incredibly detailed, the thickness of the clay had to be carefully adjusted to prevent distortion or cracking during the firing process, both of which are more likely to occur the longer or thinner a section is.
▼ The entire figurine is made up of just two parts, meaning everything you see here is one continuous piece.
After the first firing, the work-in-progress Sonic is turned over to Arita’s Riso Porcelain for glazing.
Here, again, the mix of curves and sharp angles that give Sonic his unique cute-but-edgy vibe present a serious challenge, especially since Riso Porcelain is hand-painting such traditional Japanese motifs as seigaiha (ocean waves), shippo (circles with interlocking four-pointed stars at their centers), and yagasuri (arrow feather) patterns.
The coolest thing about the coloring is the use of Arata pigment producer Fukami Shoten’s cobalt blue glaze. By delicately adjusting brush pressure and pigment concentration, Riso Porcelain lets the figure catch the light in ways that streak across Sonic’s quills, making it look like he’s sprinting with lightning speed even while the piece is standing still.
▼ Video showing the production process of the Arita ware Sonic
▼ If this is reminding you of the opening to the Ghost in the Shell anime movie, Yoyoyo also has a Japanese ceramics tie-up with that franchise.
So with all this high-class craftsmanship involved, you’ve probably already guessed that the Arita ware Sonic the Hedgehog is going to cost considerably more than the typical video game figure, and also be harder to come by. Only 50 units total will be produced and sales will be done through a lottery system, with a price of one million yen (approximately US$6,300), inclusive of tax and shipping, for buyers located in Japan. For purchasers in the U.S. Canada, England, Australia, Singapore, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, the E.U., Norway, and Switzerland, Yoyoyo lists a price of US$7,000, with taxes and shipping fees to be calculated separately.
Five already-made figurines will also be on display at the Sonic the Exhibition-Across Generations event being held at the Ikebukuro Parco department store in Tokyo from October 9 to November 1.
Purchase applications can be made between now and October 18 (Japan time) through Yoyoyo’s website here. Delivery is estimated to take up to 10 months from the time of order, but that just gives prospective buyers more time to enjoy looking at their gold Pokémon statues.
Related: Sonic the Exhibition-Across Generations
Source: PR Times
Top image: PR Times
Insert images: YouTube/YOYOYO | Behind the Craft, PR Times
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