KITSUNE

Hi Everyone,

Here is my review of Alexandros Models of a 200 mm scale Kitsune bust. 

Please note this review is based on the product pictures for sculpted detail and historical accuracy. I did not purchase the bust, so there are no detailed and close-up shots of the resin parts.

Detail of the release

Title: Kitsune

Manufacturer: Alexandros Models

Scale: 200 mm

Sculptor: Anastasiya Podorozhna

Material: 8 grey resin

Box art: Alexandre Cortina

Price: €52,00 from Alexandros models website

The Kitsune half figure bust kit was showcased on Facebook on August 4, 2026 and was available for the Kulmbach show on August 7-9, 2026 and on Alexandros website.

The Kitsune bust depicted a woman in a kimono. She carries a traditional Kitsune mask on the side of her head. In her right hand, she is holding a hand fan (uchiwa 団扇).

What is a Kitsune?

Kitsune (狐, きつね) is a mythical fox spirit in Japanese folklore, sometimes able to shape-shift into a human. Kitsune can be either male or female, though Japanese folklore most frequently depicts them taking the shape of beautiful women. A lot of older myths and legends regarding Kitsune paint them as female, usually because they were portrayed as seducers and temptresses, or because they fell in love with a man.

It is believed that the longer a fox lives, the more tails it has. 八尾狐(Hachibiko) and 九尾狐(Kyubiko) are foxes that are said to have eight or nine tails, and as they are strong and powerful, they are said to be able to do strong harm to humans or become strong guardians.

Final thoughts:

The following quotation was from Alexandros’s Facebook page:

“I am personally proud of this piece because it is Anastasiya's first three-dimensional sculpture in seven years.”

But my personal view is quite different from the quotation. I think her hair needs more refinement and detail. The fingers on her right hand holding the uchiwa should also be improved to look more natural and anatomically realistic. It is a fantasy piece, and I believe the sculptor got much of her reference material from Pinterest. The facial features of the bust appear to be mostly copied from Pinterest images. Most Pinterest Kitsune images have a modern look, and some are AI-enhanced with heavy makeup, which does not reflect a natural, classic, or traditional style. The facial features of the bust do not look Japanese to me. The traditional hairstyles and hair ornaments (kanzashi) are also missing. The kimono could use more elaboration and additional traditional details.

These are some examples of Kitsune images from Pinterest.

Conclusion:

While this is a fantasy bust and historical accuracy isn’t the primary focus, the elements of hairstyle, kimono, and facial features typical of a Japanese woman still hold significance.

However, I find it quite frustrating and unacceptable that the box art features the painted bust superimposed over a Japanese woodblock print, specifically a Ukiyo-e, without proper understanding of its details. The original artwork being referenced is by the renowned artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川国芳). The title and descriptive text in the cartouche on the right side of the print is「三国妖狐図会」「華陽夫人老狐の本形を顕し東天に飛去る」, which translates to "Sangoku yoko zue: Lady Kayo resuming her true form as the nine-tailed fox and flies away to the eastern sky; King Hansoku runs along a palace balcony." It is evident that the person responsible for the box art lacked knowledge about the print’s title and descriptive text, which led to this glaring oversight, yet it somehow received approval from the company.

Thank you for looking!