This Banpresto figurine depicts Hatsune, an original character created by the Japanese illustrator rurudo, as part of the ESPRESTO – Monster Motions collection. Standing approximately 16 cm tall, it emphasises the character’s silhouette and feline demeanour, with a particularly expressive kneeling pose.
Hatsune is depicted with her long pink hair, tied back in a high ponytail, and her blue eyes. Her hairstyle is complemented by large white cat ears edged with small ruffles. A cross-shaped plaster adorns her cheek, whilst a black collar featuring a golden bell encircles her neck – two distinctive elements of her design.
Her white outfit consists of a light ensemble adorned with ruffles and small bows, accompanied by matching cuffs. A white band also wraps around one of her thighs. The long cat-like tail visible behind her completes this look, whilst the position of her hands, raised like paws, reinforces the character’s animal theme. The sculpture also captures the movement of the hair and tail to lend greater dynamism to the composition.
Technical specifications
• Manufacturer: Banpresto / Bandai Spirits
• Range / Collection: ESPRESTO – Monster Motions
• Universe: rurudo Original Characters
• Character: Hatsune
• Character designer: rurudo
• Type: pre-painted collectable figurine
• Height: approx. 16 cm
• Pose: kneeling
• Special features: cat-like ears and tail, collar with bell, white ruffled outfit
• EAN: 4580886903597
Character background and lore
Hatsune is one of rurudo’s original characters and has a particularly close relationship with Noah, a vampire also created by the illustrator. During an interview about the PLAYROOM exhibition, rurudo explained that, in her personal universe, Hatsune is Noah’s ‘food’. The accompanying illustration highlighted several elements that have become characteristic of the character, such as bite marks, plasters and the collar.
Hatsune and Noah were subsequently incorporated into the narrative universe of Carneades, a project conceived by rurudo and written by Kei Ayasato. This universe brings together different races such as angels, demons, vampires, humans and beast-men. The second volume places Noah and Hatsune squarely at the heart of the plot: Noah is presented as a vampire princess, whilst Hatsune is described as her ‘pet’ and finds herself under threat when a hunter specialising in the elimination of vampires attacks those around them.
The ESPRESTO – Monster Motions figurine thus incorporates several visual elements historically associated with Hatsune: her pink hair, her feline accessories, her necklace, her plasters and her deliberately sweet aesthetic, which contrasts with the darker side of her relationship with Noah. Displayed alongside the Noah figurine from the same collection, it brings together in three dimensions one of the recurring duos from rurudo’s artistic universe.
