Great Ninja Figure War Contest's Tsunade Is On Her Way! SYNONYM Placed a Sculpting Bet on This Legendary Kunoichi!

A new interview with one of the five sculptors who entered in BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM's Great Ninja Figure War!

The Great Ninja Figure War was a fierce battle between figure sculptors in honor of the Naruto TV anime's 20th anniversary!
Five skilled competitors each chose a character to portray, and roughly 20,000 votes from all over the world crowned the victor.

This time, we'll be interviewing sculptor SYNONYM, who entered with a figure of Tsunade!

—What led to you becoming a sculptor?

SYNONYM: When I was in school I participated in a sculpting event, and the people I met there helped me get started and find work, which gradually led me to where I am now.

—Can you tell us why you chose Tsunade?

SYNONYM: I wanted to try sculpting a cool female character, and I thought Tsunade showing off her taijutsu skills would be the perfect choice. I usually scupt male characters, so I think I was ready for a change of pace.

—While sculpting, did you take Kishimoto's art style into consideration?

SYNONYM: I wanted my work to reflect how the manga's linework is refined and free of extraneous details. I also thought a lot about which frame of her action sequences to use for the pose and how to make it so that the flow of the whole attack could be felt from the one frozen moment recreated by my figure.

—What parts of your figure would you like people to pay special attention to?

SYNONYM: The twist in her body as she spin kicks.
I hope people can look at the figure and feel how the kick would flow into the moment of impact.

—What stands out to you about the Naruto series and its characters?

SYNONYM: Although the expressions and physicality of the characters are drawn quite realisitically, it is easy to maintain their 2D characteristics when translating them into 3D figures.

I think what stands out the most is how the art for both battle and everyday life scenes just pulls you in. It really makes me want to try replicating it with my sculpting.

—On the other hand, was there anything about the sculpting process this time that was particularly difficult?

SYNONYM: The simpler a character’s clothes and accessories are, the more obvious any mistakes will be, so that was something I worried about.

—If a second Great Ninja Figure War was held and you entered again, which character and scene would you like to create?

SYNONYM: I think I'd like to try sculpting a ninja paired with a large creature, like Orochimaru and Manda or a Jinchuriki with their Tailed Beast.

More figures from BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM's Great Ninja Figure War are on their way! Up next is Rock Lee, so stay tuned!

■Check out the interviews of the other Naruto figure sculptors!
Naruto Figure Claims Special Award in the Great Ninja Figure War Contest! Sculptor Shuzo Araki Shares His Perspective!
The Jiraiya Figure from the Great Ninja Figure War Contest Bursts Onto the Stage! Find Out Sculptor Shintaro Egashira's "Figure-Sculpting Way"!

■BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM's Great Ninja Figure War Product Page
NARUTO BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM UZUMAKI NARUTO | Product Info | BANPRESTO Navi Site
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM JIRAIYA | Product Info | BANPRESTO Navi Site
NARUTO BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM TSUNADE | Product Info | BANPRESTO Navi Site
NARUTO BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM ROCK LEE | Product Info | BANPRESTO Navi Site
NARUTO SHIPPUDEN BANPRESTO FIGURE COLOSSEUM HATAKE KAKASHI | Product Info | BANPRESTO Navi Site

■Naruto Series Product List
Naruto Series | Series Info | BANPRESTO Navi Site