In 2012, we saw the release of the first Perfect Cell figure by Tamashii Nations and Bandai for the S.H. Figuarts Dragon Ball collection, being the 9th overall.
As a Tamashii Web Exclusive, this figure enhanced articulation systems compared to its predecessors and stood out for including a Diorama/Ki Effect accessory, a unique addition that was never repeated in any other figure from the line.
The Perfect Cell figure, released in 2012, was an innovative piece in its articulation system, getting close to the 2.0 standard, though still classified as 1.5, with one particular feature: a double joint in the chest.
Its sculpting was impressive for the time, as each of the bio-android's spots were not only painted but also sculpted. Additionally, Tamashii Nations took advantage of the character's unusual shapes to integrate the articulations more naturally, making it one of the best figures in terms of hiding the joints.
The wings also featured articulation, and the paintwork was meticulously detailed. In theory, the colors are based on those used by Akira Toriyama in the manga, but the shading applied gave it a somewhat strange appearance.
The weakest points of the figure are its faces, as they didn’t fully capture Perfect Cell's expression, and its height, as it falls short in scale compared to other characters.
The strongest point of this figure is that it includes a stand for a Kamehameha Effect, which also doubles as a diorama to recreate this iconic attack.
If you want to see a detailed unboxing, I invite you to visit the RobertMan channel on YouTube.
Here you will see some of the more than 200 S.H. Figuarts releases that Tamashii Nations has brought us from Dragon Ball.