Company: Benelic, Studio Ghibli
Release date: 2017+
Size: +/- 5 cm
Main distribution: Japan
This is a little blind box series of various characters from Ghibli movies made by Benelic.
Several series have been made so far, each focussing on a different Ghibli film.
Vol 1 – My Neighbour Totoro – Catbus (Nekobasu)
Release date: August 2017
Barcode: 4990593256259
The first volume is based on My Neighbour Totoro and focusses on the Catbus. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; yellow with a screenshot of the Catbus running.
I have 0/6.
Vol 2 – My Neighbour Totoro – Totoro
The second volume is also based on My Neighbour Totoro and focusses on Totoro. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; green with a screenshot of the girls and Totoro at the busstop.
I have 0/6.
Vol 3 – Spirited Away – No Face
The third volume is based on Spirited Away and focusses on No Face. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; purple with a screenshot of No Face on the bridge.
I have 0/6.
Vol 4 – Porco Rosso
The fourth volume is based on Porco Rosso. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; red with a screenshot of Marco Pagot on the phone.
I have 0/6.
Vol 5 – Kiki’s Delivery Service – Jiji
The fifth volume is based on Kiki’s Delivery Service and focusses on Jiji. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; pink with a screenshot of Jiji pointing to a cat mug.
I have 0/6.
Vol 6 – My Neighbour Totoro – Totoro
The sixth volume is also based on My Neighbour Totoro and again focusses on Totoro. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; dark green with a screenshot of Mei Kusakabe laying on Totoro.
I have 0/6.
Vol 7 – Spirited Away – Plentiful Gods
The seventh volume is based on Spirited Away and focusses on the spirits / gods. There’s 8 figures in total; 7 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; yellow with a screenshot of Chihiro Ogino next to the Radish Spirit (Oshira-sama).
I have 0/8.
Vol 8 – Whisper of the Heart
The eight volume is based on Whisper of the Heart and focusses on the cat figures. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; mint with a screenshot of Baron Humbert von Gikkingen next to Louise.
I have 0/6.
Vol 9 – Laputa: Castle in the Sky – Fox Squirrel (Kitsune-Risu)
Barcode: 4990593400287
The ninth volume is based on Laputa: Castle in the Sky and focusses on the Fox Squirrel. There’s 6 figures in total; 5 and 1 secret.
It comes in a blindbox; dark blue with a screenshot of the Fox Squirrels running over the robot. It shows the different figures on the sides (but doesn’t reveal the secret one).
I have 2/6.
Sit
This Squirrel Fox is in a sitting position. It looks curiously, with a slight head tilt, perky ears and casually has its right front paw slightly more forward than its left, with a curled upwards tail. The proportions are spot on, as well as the colouring. It has minimum marking, on its bottom it reads in raised font © Studio Ghibli.
Curled up sleeping
This Squirrel Fox is curled up, sleeping. It looks cozy, with its tailed curled around and its paws tucked in. The proportions are spot on, as well as the colouring. It has minimum marking, on its bottom it reads in raised font © Studio Ghibli.
Vol 10 – My Neighbour Totoro – Mei Kusakabe
Release Date: December 2023
The tenth volume is based on My Neighbour Totoro and focusses on Mei Kusakabe. There’s 6 figures in total.
It comes in a blindbox.
I have 0/6.
Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind is my favourite Ghibli film of all time. And Teto is one of my favourite Chibli characters. There isn’t a whole lot of merchandise of him, or the film for that matter, and I find it hard to distinguish bootleg Ghibli merchandise from legit. So whenever I find a good Squirrel Fox I must have it.
Finding a whole set of them is amazing! Granted, it’s branded again for Laputa: Castle in the Sky, where the Fox Squirrels make a cameo, but I’ll take it. I love how they are not on stands like some others in this series. And every single one of them is posed so adorably. He looks so cute on my shelf, like he lives there.
I would love to have the whole set of vol. 9, but they are quite expensive! And it’s a blind box! I do think though that you won’t find a dupe in a full box. My shop only had 1 full box out, and 2 were already missing, so I’ll unlikely get a full set. I’m also not fussed about the secret one (I know what it looks like). However, I think whenever I’m there I’ll get another. Maybe I’ll look out for them online too.
I hadn’t really paid much attention to this series. I had seen Volume 1 and 2 a while back, but there’s so much Totoro stuff I hadn’t really followed it further. However, there’s some cool characters out now. My other half loves No Face, and a Baron or Marco would be cool too. Jiji of course is nice, and Mei looks cute too. However, Teto is my -need-.
If you like Ghibli, you’ll love these figures. They are a decent size, quite detailed, and have some unique characters who don’t often get merchandise, let alone figures. Keep in mind though, that like all things Ghibli, they are expensive.
If you like larger statues, or simply don’t like Ghibli, these won’t be for you.
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own the same figures? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!