Johny Imanuel
The figures stand at approximately 220mm, or roughly 8.66 inches, placing them in the upper tier of the Pop Up Parade category. Unlike the standard Pop Up Parade line, which typically features figures around 170mm to 180mm, the L-size variants provide a more substantial presence for display. According to official specifications released by Good Smile Company, both figures are static, non-articulated PVC and ABS models, meticulously sculpted to reflect the character designs established in the modern Evangelion films.
Product Specifications and Design Philosophy
The Asuka Shikinami Langley figure features the character in a vibrant red bikini, a color long associated with her "Second Child" designation and her Unit-02 Evangelion. The pose is described as confident yet casual, with the character looking directly at the viewer. In contrast, the Rei Ayanami figure is depicted in a white one-piece swimsuit, mirroring the stoic and ethereal nature of the "First Child." The white color palette serves as a direct reference to her plugsuit and her connection to the moon and clinical environments within the series’ lore.
The Pop Up Parade L-size series was developed by Good Smile Company to bridge the gap between "prize figures"—lower-quality items often found in Japanese arcade cranes—and high-end "scale figures" that can retail for hundreds of dollars. By maintaining a height of nearly nine inches, these Beach Queens figures offer the visual impact of a 1/7 scale model while utilizing manufacturing efficiencies to keep the price under the $60 threshold for international markets.
Regional Pricing and Release Schedule
Good Smile Company has established a staggered release window for the two figures, catering to both the domestic Japanese market and the international collector community. In Japan, each figure is priced at ¥8,800 (including tax). The domestic launch is currently scheduled for January 2027.
For the North American and European markets, the figures are priced at $57.99 each through the Good Smile Online Shop and authorized retailers. The worldwide release is slated for the second quarter of 2027, accounting for the logistics and shipping time required to move inventory from manufacturing hubs to overseas warehouses. Notably, Good Smile Company has confirmed that there will be no discounted bundle option for collectors wishing to purchase both Asuka and Rei simultaneously; each figure must be acquired as an individual unit.
The pre-order window for these collectibles is relatively brief considering the distant release date. Orders are scheduled to close on August 26, 2026. This long lead time—nearly two years from the announcement to the final release—is becoming increasingly common in the high-end hobby industry as manufacturers navigate complex production schedules and global supply chain stability.
Chronology of Evangelion Beach Queens Figures
The "Beach Queens" branding has a long history within the anime figure industry, originally popularized by the manufacturer Wave. Over the last decade, the concept of depicting Evangelion characters in swimwear has remained a staple of the merchandise market.
- 2016: Wave released 1/10 scale variants of Asuka and Rei under the original Beach Queens line. These were smaller, standing at approximately 160mm.
- August 2025: Good Smile Company released an earlier set of Pop Up Parade L-size swimsuit figures for Asuka and Rei. Those models featured different poses and swimsuit designs compared to the newly announced 2027 versions.
- June 2026 (Announcement): The current set of "One-Piece Style" Rei and "Bikini Style" Asuka figures were unveiled, marking a continuation of the summer-themed series.
- January 2027: Scheduled Japanese release.
- Q2 2027: Scheduled international release.
This timeline illustrates the enduring commercial viability of the Evangelion intellectual property. Despite the film series concluding with Evangelion: 3.0+1.0 Thrice Upon a Time in 2021, the demand for high-quality merchandise remains high, prompting manufacturers to iterate on popular themes.
The Rebuild of Evangelion Context
The figures are specifically branded under the Rebuild of Evangelion (Shin Evangelion) banner. This is a crucial distinction for collectors, as the character designs and even the names of the protagonists differ from the original 1995 Neon Genesis Evangelion television series.
In the Rebuild continuity, Asuka’s surname was changed from "Soryu" to "Shikinami," and her personality was adjusted to fit the updated narrative arc of the four-film cycle. Rei Ayanami also undergoes significant character shifts throughout the films, particularly in the final entry. The "Beach Queens" figures utilize the updated "Shikinami" and "Rebuild Rei" facial sculpts, which are generally characterized by softer lines and more modern animation aesthetics compared to the 90s era designs.
The films—Evangelion: 1.11 You Are (Not) Alone, 2.22 You Can (Not) Advance, 3.33 You Can (Not) Redo, and 3.0+1.01 Thrice Upon a Time—have been central to the franchise’s resurgence. Their availability on major streaming platforms like Amazon Prime Video has ensured a global audience, further driving the international demand for merchandise in North America and Europe.
Market Analysis: The Pop Up Parade Strategy
The announcement of these 9-inch figures reflects a broader shift in the hobby industry. As inflation and production costs have driven the price of traditional 1/7 scale figures from an average of $120 in 2018 to over $200 in 2024, many collectors have been priced out of the market.
Good Smile Company’s Pop Up Parade line, specifically the "L" and "XL" sizes, serves as a strategic response to this economic shift. By focusing on a fixed price point ($57.99 for L-size), the company captures a demographic of fans who desire large, shelf-dominating figures but are unwilling or unable to pay premium "scale" prices. The "Beach Queens" theme is particularly effective for this strategy because the designs require less complex molding than intricate plugsuits or mechanical Evangelion units, allowing for higher quality in the skin tones and facial painting.
Industry analysts note that Evangelion merchandise acts as a "blue chip" asset in the anime hobby world. Figures of Rei and Asuka tend to hold their value well on the secondary market, and the constant demand allows companies like Good Smile to experiment with different sizes and styles without significant financial risk.
Official Responses and Manufacturing Standards
While Studio Khara, the production studio founded by Hideaki Anno, does not typically issue statements on individual merchandise releases, the studio is known for its rigorous oversight of the Evangelion license. Every figure produced under the Khara brand must undergo a strict approval process to ensure character likeness and color accuracy.
The use of ABS and PVC materials in these figures is standard for the industry, ensuring durability and the ability to hold fine detail in the hair and clothing folds. Collectors have noted that the "L-size" series has seen improvements in paint application over the last two years, addressing earlier criticisms of the standard Pop Up Parade line regarding visible seam lines and flat colors.
Broader Impact on the Hobby Community
The release of these figures reinforces the "evergreen" status of the Evangelion franchise. While many anime series see a sharp decline in merchandise sales once the broadcast ends, Evangelion has maintained a consistent presence in retail for nearly thirty years.
For collectors, the introduction of the 220mm Beach Queens versions provides an opportunity to create a cohesive display. Many enthusiasts collect "pairs" of Rei and Asuka, and the matching heights and themes of these new releases are specifically designed to encourage dual purchases, despite the lack of a formal bundle.
As the pre-order deadline of August 26, 2026, approaches, retailers expect a high volume of reservations. The combination of the "Beach Queens" legacy, the popularity of the L-size format, and the global reach of the Rebuild of Evangelion films positions these figures as a significant release for the 2027 hobby calendar.
Fans interested in securing these models can find them listed on the Good Smile Company official website, as well as major hobby retailers such as AmiAmi, Tokyo Otaku Mode, and BigBadToyStore. With the anime currently streaming on Netflix and the Rebuild films available on Amazon, the accessibility of the source material continues to cultivate new generations of fans, ensuring that figures like these remain a cornerstone of the global anime merchandise market.
