Action Figure Tutorial: Jess Learns to Pose

Yesterday, we gave you a look at what a big difference posing makes when dealing with complex, articulated collectibles. Today, we're back with another look at posing figures, courtesy of Square Enix and master poser Kanji Takashi (and co-starring IGN's own fangirl extreme, Jessica Chobot). Kanji takes her through the steps and helps her get the best pose out of her Balthier figure.

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Even if you're a beginner, it's easy to make a convincing pose. I know that Jess is a huge fan of figures (especially ours!), but she never properly learned to pose the figures. Let's take a look at how anybody can get the most out of our figures.


Since he's a big hit with the ladies, we decided to use Balthier for this tutorial. Like I mentioned in the previous tutorial, before you can pose your character, you need to determine the attitude and personality of the character. Balthier is a strong and arrogant character who is filled to the brim with confidence. As such, we decided to put him in a "come get some" pose that he uses to taunt his enemies.

For starters, we snap Balthier's gun into the indent on his palm, so that he will have a firm grip on his weapon. This way, when we sling the gun over his shoulder, the grip will keep it firmly in place.


Once the weapon is in place, it's time to adjust his left arm so that he can taunt his enemies. We elevate his arm so that the taunt is clearly visible, making a strong impact in the pose. We'll be adding the finishing touches later on, so for now, don't worry too much about the details and focus on simply getting the arm in place.


Now it's time to adjust the waist and legs. Since the left arm is extended in this pose, you should bring the right foot forward to maintain the balance. Twist his waist to the right as well so the pose looks natural.


Next up are the knees and feet! Who would have thought that there were so many joints to consider? Adjust the right foot so it faces forward, and the left foot in the back so that it is facing slightly outward. Turn the knees accordingly and give them a slight bend so that he can shift his weight equally to both feet.


And now we work on the finishing details. The wrists on this figure don't bend inward, so in order to create the illusion that Balthier is beckoning toward an enemy, adjust his shoulders and elbows. It is important to check the entire posing of the figure from the front on a flat surface, to make sure that Baltheir actually look like he's actually challenging you. Keep working on it until you find the right angle for the look. You know you've got it right when you suddenly feel the urge to drop everything and go get him!


The pose is complete! Feel free to admire your work, make minor adjustments or mimic your body of work.


Look at that! Can you tell the difference between the Master and Jess' work? I think not, my work here is done!