Review – Real X Head Jinja R Mini
Manufacturer: Real X Head * Year: 2008
This morning it’s time for a look at another toy from Real X Head (website, Real X Head USA blog). This Jinja R Mini fits in perfectly with the warped and distorted Chaosman Mini (review here) and Rilleco Chaos (review here) already in my collection, but the first thing I have to admit is that this design isn’t as much fun as those other two toys.
How Mini is Mini?
At just over 3-inches tall, the Jinja R Mini is representational of all of the Real X Head mini figures. So why are these figures so tiny? The Encyclopedia of Kaiju (Super7 store) says:
The mini figures increased the number of fans, so to appeal to more people, that’s the size we chose.
I’m not sure if it’s the cute designs or the price point that “increased the number of fans,” but the one thing I am sure of is that these Real X Head mini figures look better in a group than they do individually. As a single piece the Jinja R Mini is a cute, weird creature, but when he’s with his buddies he becomes another color and shape in a collection of bizarre beings.
What is that Face?
Again referring to Encyclopedia of Kaiju (Super7 store) we find that the Jinja R is a combination of ginger root and mutant DNA. Ginger root? A Google image search for ginger root didn’t help me connect the toy to the root, but I guess it’s best if I just try to enjoy the design and not think too hard about where the idea came from. But I can’t decide if that face is four weird eyes of some sort of twisted and disgusting mouth and teeth.
Stinger Hands?
I would have positioned the toy with its arms raised to give you a better look at the hands, but as with most Real X Head minis the only articulation on this guy is the head which twists left and right (and all the way around if you want it to). Anyway, the toy has no actual hands and instead appears to have weird stingers at the end of each arm. Why? I don’t know, but it’s just one more detail that makes this stand out as something you’re unlikely to ever see in Wal-Mart or Target.
Closing Thoughts
If you’ve been interested in getting into the toys of Real X Head then the minis are a great place to start, but I can’t recommend the Jinja R Mini as your first piece. Why? Because the design doesn’t leap out as much at me as pieces like this Mini Akro at Lulubell Toys and this TMNT Mini Mutant Bigaro at MyPlasticHeart. The Jinja R Mini is pretty good, but it’s not nearly as startling as some others . . . and that’s basically what makes me say this is good for Real X Head fans but not an incredible introductory piece.
Philip Reed kinda wishes he could find a massive supply of Real X Head minis so that he could experiment with painting them up. But he would need the time to do it, so it’s probably best that these aren’t easy to find at low prices.