Merchandise
Despite what the overview on Fate/Zero’s official site may suggest, there is a lot of Fate/Zero merchandise in existence — it is Fate, after all. (For those not in the know, there are hundreds of different Saber figures, not counting the infamous Saber look-a-likes. This count is only surpassed by very few characters, namely select male Shounen Jump protagonists and the Neon Genesis Evangelion girls.)
Although Irisviel is by no means a well-known face in the larger anime, manga and video game industry, an ample amount of Irisviel merchandise has been released. In stark contrast to most female characters belonging to the Fate verse, however, few figures exist of Irisviel. Most of them are so-called trading figures, i.e. very small figures on the cheap side in terms of quality and price, often in a chibi or super deformed format and commonly sold as part of blind box sets. (Hence “trading” figures: Unless you purchase an entire set, you don’t know which figure will pop out of a single box.)
The following is a selection of items I enjoy, which happens to touch on almost all of her figures. Nearly all of these are a part of my own collection — which is, just like this shrine, dedicated to Irisviel and Saber as a duo. ❤ For a comprehensive overview and more information, images and photos of the respective items, refer to the linked myfigurecollection.net (MFC) database entries.
In addition, I have compiled a figure photo gallery from my bookmarks of member-submitted photos on MFC. I strongly recommend having a look at these beautiful dedications. ❤
Alter Non-Scale Set
Alter, prized for the supreme quality of their figures, has crafted a pair of explicitly non-scale figures: Saber and Irisviel, interestingly sculpted by different people, are sold as a set in the same box. Despite not being so-called scale figures, they are estimated to be around 1/10 or 1/11 in scale, making them larger than figma action figures. It is remarkable that these two were released as a set, which seems rare in the industry, compared to figures that merely belong to the same line, or matching figures that can be acquired and displayed separately, with the option to connect them. An example of the latter are Max Factory’s handsome Saber and Kiritsugu 1/8 scales. In contrast, neither a set nor matching figures exist for the pair of Irisviel and Kiritsugu.
(As there are no official images of these figures in high quality, refer to the photo links above for close-ups.)
This set was released shortly before the conclusion of the (self-published) light novel, more specifically between the releases of the third and fourth volumes, which is to say well before the anime was created. As a result, this is the only Irisviel figure to be based on her light novel design: Note her round(er) features characteristic of Takashi Takeuchi’s art (TYPE-MOON’s co-founder and primary illustrator), the adornments and shape of the collar, the cuff buttons and, most of all, the puffiness of her sleeves. x) I also feel compelled to tell you that Irisviel’s skirt can be taken off, which makes it seem as though she’s wearing riding pants.
I’m admittedly not the biggest fan of the round features, and the figures’ bases are not only plain, but a tad too big for my taste, which prevents Irisviel and Saber from standing too close to each other. That seems like a waste, considering more recent releases of sets or matching figures (as mentioned above) have come with bases or alternate pieces to display the figures together or on their own if you so choose. (Examples that come to mind are Alter’s Haruka and Makoto, Bandai’s newer Neptune and Uranus and older Neptune and Uranus.) Still, Irisviel and Saber as a set, Irisviel’s original design and Alter’s delicateness in combination with the incredibly low price made this a must-purchase for me — not to mention Saber pulling on her tie. The box’ design that prominently features the pair is a bonus. These are the figures that come closest to the qualities of scales. (Curiously, these figures are not listed on Alter’s official site. Why?!)
Incidentally, if you are looking for a set of Irisviel and Saber figures from the same figure line, trading figures excluded, you only have three options: this set, the figmas (though those are action figures; we’ll get to them next) and Banpresto’s DX figures released in June 2012. The DX figures are based on the anime design and 3 cm (0.7 in) taller. Being prize figures, which are usually distributed through arcade games, lotteries etc., their quality is presumably lower. I firmly decided against the DX figures as Irisviel’s looks very stiff, her hair flat and boring, and her face seriously off. Saber’s DX figure seems alright, but there are better figures of her in her Fate/Zero attire to get if a matching Irisviel figure is not an issue. It’s regrettable, especially as Banpresto released a line of Sailor Moon prize figures years later that I like a lot.
Figma #132 and #126
Figmas are a prominent figure line produced by Max Factory and distributed by the well-known Good Smile Company. Being action figures, they have articulated joints and an articulated stand that allow them to assume different poses, making them a popular choice for (re)enacting scenes. Figmas come with many accessories, usually exchangeable faces and hands as well as notable items or other extras. Depending on the height of the character, the figures usually range around 13–16 cm in height.
I consider this the most beautiful Irisviel figure of all: graceful, serene or fierce, and capable. It is faithful to her anime design and comes with three facial expressions and several poses that, albeit not iconic, reflect the character. To top it off, it includes the wire-mesh eagle she conjures with her Magecraft, which can also be postured in various ways. Saber’s figma is alright, a tad boring perhaps, and there’s a Kiritsugu figma to finish off the duo or trio. These are the most suitable figures for role-playing!
The thing is, I haven’t been able to warm up to figmas (with one exception); I owned Irisviel and Persona 5’s Joker and had to sell both of them eventually. Though they are always well-crafted, detailed and faithful to the character designs, I am not fond of the protruding joints. (On the other hand, I greatly enjoy Nendoroids, which are distributed by the same company, with joints less conspicuous.) More importantly, I seem to have an issue with the figures’ size. Perhaps they would be fine on their own, but next to scale figures and Nendoroids (of which I own a good amount), figmas look too frail and thin. The worst part about the Irisviel figma is that the bird is extremely delicate, and will fall apart easily, making it a rather frustrating figure.
I didn’t bother getting Saber’s figma, as my love for Irisviel’s character design was the only thing that made me buy a figma in the first place. For the record, it comes with three expressions, interchangeable bangs, Excalibur, Avalon and a sword fighting effect. In addition, a matching Saber Motored Cuirassier figma can be purchased for extra coolness. :v
Nendoroid Petites
- Manufacturer Good Smile Company
- Release 25 February 2013
- Original price JPY 476 each
- Height 6.5 cm / 2.5 in
- Ownership since 28 November 2016, MFC, CHF 10 total (Irisviel), since 24 November 2016, MFC, CHF 7 total (Saber)
- Further info Irisviel MFC entry, Saber MFC entry, GSC page
Nendoroid Petites are Good Smile Company’s take on trading figures. As the name implies, they are based on the cute, deformed style of GSC’s signature Nendoroid line. They even have a minor amount of articulation. To commemorate ten years of TYPE-MOON, the Nendoroid Petite: TYPE-MOON Collection set comprising twelve figures features favourite heroines from various works.
LISTEN. I LOVE NENDOROID PETITES TO DEATH, THEY’RE PERFECT. HIGH QUALITY TRADING FIGURES BY GSC ITSELF! FAITHFUL AND DETAILED! SMOL. AFFORDABLE. IDEAL FOR DESK DECORATION. I DON’T EVEN GO HERE. Aside from Fate, more specifically this very set, none of the Petite subjects are of any concern to me, with the exception of Trails in the Sky’s Estelle Bright Petite. (I own it and prefer it to the infinitely frustrating Estelle Nendoroid.) Unfortunately, Petites were only produced from around 2007 to 2019, and there haven’t been any since. What a loss.
Anyway, I own Irisviel, Saber and even Rin from this set, and out of all the figures out there, these are my favourite figures of Irisviel and Rin* respectively. Irisviel’s comes with her lil’ eagle (whose peg might require slight sanding), Saber’s with her enhanced motorbike. They look adorbs together. If you like this style, there’a also a full-blown Saber Nendoroid, by the way.
* (Trust me, I’ve had my eye on Rin figures forever, and although there are 155 out there as of writing this, none of them quite do it. :| Either they’re sexualized, ooooold and thus not so pretty, or in a pose so weird that it doesn’t look good from any angle. [YOU HAD IT ALL!! Why couldn’t you be good! I owned it, but had to sell it because of the angle.] Or it’s a figma, I guess. Or a garage kit, but I’m a mortal. Maybe one day, I’ll own the Y-style scale and be happy, even though it lacks Rin’s signature attires. Until then, the only non-chibi Rin figure I like enough to own is Alter’s FA4, though it is pretty unexciting. /offtopic rant)
Capsule Q Fräulein
- Manufacturer Kaiyodo
- Release 20 January 2013
- Original price JPY 381 each
- Height 11 cm / 4.3 in
- Ownership since 19 January 2017, Ebay, CHF 27 total (both)
- Further info Irisviel MFC entry, Saber MFC entry
Judging from the company and name of the product line, I assume these to be capsule toys, which are sold in small coin-operated vending machines better known as Gashapon. The Capsule Q Fräulein Fate/Zero set comprising five figures features the entire Einzbern camp in all its stylishness, which includes the only Maiya figure to date. And no, I have no idea why Kiritsugu seems to be, according to the MFC database, the sole male character in a product line named “young lady”.
The quality is about what can be expected of trading figures. I appreciate that they look as close to the characters’ designs as possible, rather than being chibified, and that the bases are so small that Irisviel and Saber can stand very close to each other, as in the image from Fate/Zero Animation Visual Guide 2 that might have served as inspiration. In a way, this can be considered the most photogenic set of the duo. If you love Irisviel’s full outdoor attire as much as I do, this is also one out of only two non-chibi figures to get.
Megahouse Chess Piece
- Manufacturer Megahouse
- Release March 2013
- Original price JPY 950 each
- Height 9 cm / 3.5 in
- Ownership wishlist (low priority)
- Further info Irisviel MFC entry, Megahouse page
Megahouse’s Chess Piece Collection R Fate/Zero set comprising six trading figures features Saber alongside four other Servants (which confirms that no one gives a damn about Assassin and Caster — a wise decision) and, for some reason, Irisviel. True to chess pieces, the figures can be acquired with either black or white bases.
I had my eye on these for a while as I am fond of Irisviel’s all-white attire and her pose. Two things kept me from making the acquisition: I had either not made up my mind what colour I want for the base or could not find the right one, and the quality of the figures seems to differ enough between the official image and photos that I can’t easily discern whether the large amount of offers on Ebay back then were bootlegs or not. (I don’t know whether bootlegs of trading figures, which are already cheap, are even profitable enough to be produced.) Seems like by now, all of the listings have disappeared from the platform.
es series nino Rubber Straps
- Manufacturer Kotobukiya
- Release October 2012 (standard), 9 August and November 2012 (es Fest 02 exclusive)
- Original price JPY 450 each (standard), JPY 1950 (exclusive set)
- Height 5 cm / 2 in
- Ownership since 7 March 2018, Suruga-ya, CHF 4 (Irisviel), since 4 June 2018, MFC Suruga-ya group order, CHF 5 (Saber), wishlist (Irisviel exclusive)
- Further info Irisviel MFC entry, Irisviel MFC entry 2, Saber MFC entry, Kotobukiya page
es series nino is Kotobukiya’s most prominent rubber strap product line. Released in two batches, Rubber Strap Collection Fate/Zero Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, and comprising twenty straps in total, this series features all of Fate/Zero’s key figures, with two different straps to account for Saber’s attires. Four additional straps featuring characters in alternative attires, among them Irisviel and one more Saber, were released as es Fest 02 exclusives (most likely a Japan-only event).
This must be my favourite rubber strap line next to Nitotan because they are so so so cute. I own Irisviel, Saber and, once more, (young) Rin. :v I want that exclusive Irisviel!!!
Ichiban Kuji Rubber Strap
- Manufacturer Banpresto
- Release 13 September 2014
- Original price JPY 833
- Height 6.5 cm / 2.5 in
- Ownership since 22 August 2017, Suruga-ya group order, CHF 4
- Further info MFC entry, Ichiban Kuji campaign
Ichiban Kuji is a monthly lottery hosted by Banpresto that primarily focuses on subjects from anime, manga and video games. The prizes are divided by letters into tiers corresponding to the value and rarity of the respective items. Tickets can be purchased from participating stores, with every ticket guaranteeing a limited-edition prize from the drawn tier. The prizes can generally also be purchased directly shortly after the lottery’s conclusion.
For Fate’s tenth anniversary, the second lottery, Saber Special, revolved all around Saber. Among the various prize categories, the six rubber straps feature the various Sabers with their respective Masters across Fate’s different installments. Somehwat surprisingly, Fate/Zero’s Saber is depicted with Kiritsugu in one strap and with Irisviel in another — a sweet sentiment, considering that Irisviel is a proxy Master only.
The strap is designed in the art style of Banpresto’s line of super deformed figures Chibi Kyun-Chara. I rather dislike the style for its angular stiffness and proportions, which is why I passed on the two Chibi Kyun-Chara figures of Irisviel (one in her coat, the other in her blouse). It looks way better as a strap though, and I like that there’s a strap of a duo, which I may not have seen before! Now that I know the Master and Servant concept behind the set, I appreciate this particular strap even more.
S.O.F.T Desk Mat
- Manufacturer S.O.F.T
- Release 28 April 2012
- Original price JPY 1000
- Height 42 x 30 cm / 16.4 x 11.6 in
- Ownership since 7 March 2018, Suruga-ya, CHF 8
- Further info MFC entry
I don’t collect desk mats and have no use for them. Why is this item on this list then?, you may ask. Well, I was ordering a small amount of things from Suruga-ya and, while checking whether there were any other Irisviel items that catch my interest aside from the es series nino strap, I happened to see this, which utilizes an image from Fate/Zero Animation Visual Guide 2. Assuming it to be around the size of a small clear file, I threw it into the cart, thinking it might make a nice backdrop to my Irisviel and Saber collection or so. It turned out to be HUGE. There wasn’t anywhere to put it, especially with that stark blue, never mind placing it on a shelf. I hid it somewhere and try not to think about it. (Had it been this more royal and more subdued mat, perhaps I would have tried to find a spot for it.)
SABER SABER SABER
