SEED volume five is the last in a series of Banpresto keyring figure series dedicated to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED although there are also a couple of spin-off sets that followed. Each standard volume contains five figures and mainly focuses on the centerpiece Gundams of the show.
Being keyring figures they are pre-ruined at the factory by having a screw inserted into their skull. The metal ring is then attached to a folded info-card using plastic coated straps. This is the last you will see of these in the review as I always get rid of them.
This set appeared in 2003 and has the Banpresto short code [31777]. I purchased the full set at Mandarake for ¥1500, so the figures aren't very expensive in Japan but appear to be quite popular as they typically sell out quickly.
ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam w/METEOR
The Freedom Gundam appears twice in this keyring series. In this second variant it has been shrunk down and geared up with the METEOR weapons platform. This makes the figure very back-heavy and since it was not designed to stand up on its own you will have to prop it up either like I did here or attach it to some kind of base. As you can see, the paint scheme is quite ambitious with a lot of detail. The figures are made of softer plastic and so will typically be slightly deformed.
The scale of the keyring figures in this set is all over the place. The two METEOR equipped Gundams are the tiniest and slot in somewhere in size between the classic SD Full Color era figures (left) and the first modern era Gashapon Warrior NEXT family (right).
ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam w/METEOR
We have a METEOR-equipped Justice in the set as well, you can find a pair of basic Freedom and Justice figure in volume four. The face paint of the figures in this set is especially good and the Justice really looks like it means business.
GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam (Phase Shift Down)
The Aegis is usually an overlooked suit but someone on the Banpresto design team must have a soft spot for it because this is its third appearance in the series. After an initial release in volume one it returned in volume three wielding two of its beam sabers. Here it is back with the original beam rifle + shield configuration but in the colourless Phase Shift down mode after its energy reserves have been depleted. I don't get why Phase Shift Down is not more common for SEED figures, the gray colour schemes are usually quite good looking, as can be seen here.
Largest of this lot, the Aegis figure is almost big enough to play with the suits from the Gashapon Senshi Forte range.
MBF-M1 M1 Astray
On the topic of rarely seen suits, no SEED suit is more overlooked than the mass production type Astray. I have a really soft spot for this mobile suit although this keyring variant feels a bit anemic. I prefer SD figures to be a bit sturdier looking than this one, but the colouring and attention to detail is great. Trying to army build this figure is doomed to fail, since they are really scarce.
The Astray is about the right size for the Gashapon Warrior NEXT range. Interestingly, as far as I know neither the Strike Rouge or the Akatsuki made it into the keyring series, leaving it all alone to fend for the sovereignty of the Orb Union.
GAT-X370 Raider Gundam
The last figure completes the O.M.N.I.'s second generation trio, the Forbidden and Calamity having been released in volume four. The Raider is about the same scale as the METEOR equipped Gundams making it rather tiny when placed next to the other keyring figures, which is a bit sad. Note that the right wing is a loose component and is a candidate for disappearing. I have brought one such figure home before only to discover it was missing one of its wings.
Conclusion
I really like Banpresto keyring figures of all types and sizes. They are usually painted to a good standard and are made of soft and durable plastic. The SEED Keyholder range is also great for filling gaps in Gashapon NEXT and DASH collections, with several interesting suit types. The main drawback is that they are quite hard to come by.
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