Portrait of Pirates

Portrait of Pirates (sometimes referred to by fans as One Piece: P.O.P.) is a figurine series based on various One Piece characters.

Product Information
Portrait of Pirates figures are produced by Megahouse of Japan and have high quality detailing as they're part of their Excellent Model brandline. The figure stands about 22cm/9in tall (1/8 scale) and comes with a base for support. The figures do not have any articulation, and the main purpose is for collecting or displaying. Each figure was issued with additional removable weapons and accessories. Amongst One Piece fans, they are highly sought after and often considered the best One Piece related figurines.

The series has been re-issued with the name "Neo" attached to it. The Neo series are identical to their original counterparts, however they feature some minor changes. Among the "Neo" series are also brand new models never seen before.

The "MILD" series has begun to be issued after Neo series 4. It's also referred as "CB" series, perhaps an acronym for Chibi (little in Japanese). As its name implies, this series is focused on childhood rendition of characters.

The "DX" series will start on May 2009 with the release of Aokiji and Mihawk. It seems to indicate the end of both "Neo" and "MILD" lines. DX stands for Deluxe.

Original series
It spanned through 4 parts, series 3 and 4 being noticeably better than series 1 and 2. It's comprised of 12 distinct characters, with Nami having 2 versions, and Usopp and Chopper released on the same box, for a total of 13 distinct figures spanned through 12 released boxes. Despite the improvements in the Neo series, the original run of figures are usually more sought after than their Neo counterparts.

Series 1
Released on late April 2004 at 3,990¥ each (3,800 and VAT of 5%)
 * Luffy
 * Nami
 * Zoro
 * 8 and 3/4 in, 21.5 cm

Series 2
Released on October 2004 at 3,990¥ each (3,800 and VAT of 5%)
 * Sanji
 * Usopp and Chopper
 * Chopper's not in scale (smaller than his actual size at 1/8)
 * Nico Robin

Series 3
Released on March 2005 at 3,990¥ each (3,800 and VAT of 5%)
 * Ace
 * 8 and 3/4 in, 21.5 cm
 * Tashigi
 * Vivi

Series 4
Released on late December 2005 at 3,990¥ each (3,800 and VAT of 5%)
 * Nami (2nd version)
 * 7 and 3/4 in, 19 cm
 * Bellemere
 * Smoker

"Neo" series
It's currently spanned through 6 parts and 2 extensions. Each part, up to series 5, has new improved versions of figures from the original series. The improvements are really remarkable for the ones originally issued in series 1 and 2 (more robust, more faithful to the manga counterpart, more detailed), but less noticeable for the ones from original series 3 and 4. It's comprised of 15 distinct characters, with Nami having 2 versions, for a total of 16 distinct figures.

"Neo" series 1
Released on late September 2007 at 4,200¥ each (4,000 and VAT of 5%)
 * Luffy
 * 2nd run of previous model
 * Nami
 * 2nd run of previous model

"Neo" series 2
Released on late October 2007
 * Ace
 * 2nd run of previous model
 * 4,200¥ (4,000 and VAT of 5%)
 * 8 and 3/4 in, 21.5 cm
 * Vivi
 * 2nd run of previous model
 * 4,200¥ (4,000 and VAT of 5%)
 * Franky
 * 4,725¥ (4,500 and VAT of 5%)
 * 9 and 1/4 in, 23 cm
 * Not in scale (he should be taller)

"Neo" series 3
Released on late January 2008
 * Zoro
 * 2nd run of previous model
 * 4,200¥ (4,000 and VAT of 5%)
 * 8 and 3/4 in, 21.5 cm
 * Mr. 2 Bon Clay
 * 4,725¥ (4,500 and VAT of 5%)

"Neo" series EX
Released on mid February 2008 at 1,890¥ (1,800 and VAT of 5%)
 * Chopper
 * 3 and 3/4 in, 9 cm

"Neo" series 4
Released on mid May 2008
 * Sanji
 * 2nd run of previous model
 * 4,200¥ (4,000 and VAT of 5%)
 * Nami (2nd Version)
 * 2nd run of previous model
 * 4,200¥ (4,000 and VAT of 5%)
 * 7 and 3/4 in, 19 cm
 * Shanks
 * 4,725¥ (4,500 and VAT of 5%)

"Neo" series 5
Released on mid July 2008
 * Sogeking (Usopp)
 * 5,040¥ (4,800 and VAT of 5%)
 * 8 and 1/4 in, 20 cm
 * Robin
 * 2nd run of previous model
 * 4,410¥ (4,200 and VAT of 5%)

"Neo" series 6
Released on mid December 2008, 23.5~25 cm tall
 * Brook
 * 5,250¥ (5,000 and VAT of 5%)
 * Not in scale (Brook should be twice the size of Luffy whereas the figure rendition is barely taller than Robin)
 * Rob Lucci
 * 5,040¥ (4,800 and VAT of 5%)

"Neo" series EX 2
To be released on late March 2009 at 5,040¥ (4,800 and VAT of 5%), 18 cm / 7 in tall
 * Carue

"MILD" series
It's currently spanned through 3 parts and 1 extension. It's comprised of 10 distinct characters and distinct figures. Their height is about 12cm/5in tall.

"MILD" series 1
Released on mid June 2008 at 1,890¥ each (1,800 and VAT of 5%), 12 cm / 5 in tall
 * Kid Luffy
 * Kid Sanji
 * Kid Robin

"MILD" series 2
Released on mid October 2008 at 1,890¥ each (1,800 and VAT of 5%)
 * Kid Nami
 * 12.5 cm
 * Kid Zoro
 * 10.5 cm, 4 and 1/4 in
 * Kid Nojiko
 * 12.5 cm

"MILD" series EX
Released on mid November 2008 at 1,890¥ (1,800 and VAT of 5%), 10.5 cm tall
 * Chopperman

"MILD" series 3
Released on mid January 2009 at 1,890¥ each (1,800 and VAT of 5%), 12.5 cm tall
 * Kid Vivi
 * Kid Franky
 * Kid Usopp

"DX" series
To be released on late May 2009 at 5,985¥ each (5,700 and VAT of 5%)
 * Aokiji
 * 27 cm, 10.5 in
 * Not in scale (though he's still the tallest POP)
 * Mihawk
 * 23.5 cm, 9 in

Re-released figures
Megahouse figures aren't marked as limited releases but they are usually produced with a fixed amount of units. So, Megahouse didn't do any re-release of the original series.

In spite of this, Megahouse still has regularly re-issued figures from the Neo line. The reasons for re-issuing is quite easy to understand:
 * Among figures dedicated to One Piece, the ones from the POP line are the most acclaimed as, for a long time, all other figure lines were worse in quality. This situation changed in 2008 when Banpresto has begun to release OP high quality figures for its Ichiban Kuji lottery.
 * Because original series figures were one shot releases and the demand curve didn't slow down that much, tag prices in specialized shops and auction sites quickly skyrocketed. This has proved that, despite not being in the classical successful figure categories (namely, mecha/robots and shoujo/pretty girls), the POP line can sustain consumer needs and call for regular re-issues.

Mild figures didn't meet a comparable success, so they may not be re-issued at all.

Known re-issue dates follows: It seems like Smoker and Bellemere from Series IV have been re-issued in November 2008, although Megahouse didn't make an official announcement.
 * Ace Neo 2 and Zoro Neo 3 were re-released on mid November 2008.
 * Chopper Neo EX and Robin Neo 5 were re-released on mid February 2009.
 * Luffy Neo 1 and Franky Neo 2 will be re-released on late June 2009.

Monkey D. Luffy

 * The leaning post from series I is gone, replaced by some pegs on the base for the feet to attach to.
 * The painting job has improved, this is particularly visible with his skin color.
 * His head has been completely revamped:
 * Now, Luffy's face really looks like his manga counterpart.
 * His hair doesn't have this "going through the wind" feeling anymore.
 * His hat has been equally revamped:
 * Its border doesn't have the enlacing straw pattern anymore.
 * The overall circular pattern, simulating straw composing the hat, has been replaced by a more complex weaving pattern.
 * The hat string is shorter. So although that was not needed before, now you must pop Luffy's head off before to be able to put the string around his neck (in series 1 version, you can't remove the head and both arms).

Nami

 * The leaning post from series I is gone, replaced by some pegs on the base for the feet to attach to.
 * The painting job saw on overhaul revamp: her short trousers color goes from light purple to dark brown, and her skin and her hair look more natural.
 * Her face expression slightly changed.
 * Her bikini breastband has a more complex and detailed pattern.

Roronoa Zoro

 * The leaning post from series I is gone, replaced by some pegs on the base for the feet to attach to.
 * His initial pose on his base has been tweaked with a global rotation of about 30° to his left for a better effect.
 * On the original series, he was looking straight forward, now on the Neo run, he's looking to his right.
 * The painting job saw on overhaul revamp:
 * His hair color changed for a darker green.
 * His skin looks less rosy, with some shadowing, and more natural.
 * His goggles changed from pure white parts to silver ones.
 * His red sword saw his hilt going from a vivid red enlacing pattern to a dark purple one.

Sanji

 * The leaning post from series II is gone, replaced by some pegs on the base for the feet to attach to.
 * The painting job saw on overhaul revamp: clothing colors are darker and more classy, skin looks more natural.
 * His face expression slightly changed to more closely match Sanji's character.
 * His shoes are now shiny.

Nico Robin

 * The leaning post from series II is gone, replaced by some pegs on the base for the feet to attach to.
 * Her initial pose on her base has been tweaked with a global rotation of about 30° to her left for a better effect.
 * The painting job changed for the better, Robin's skin looks more natural.
 * Her shoes are now shiny.
 * Her eyes have been reworked to match Oda style more closely.
 * Her Neo rendition saw the addition of a slight bit of ass crack under her trousers (just look at her at the top and from behind).

Portgas D. Ace

 * His skin color is a little more rosy, and so more natural-looking.
 * His right arm is further away from his torso.
 * The strap end loose of his bag on his left leg has an increased effect of depth.

Nefertari Vivi

 * Her dress is more translucent, so her underlying skirt becomes more outstanding, and her skin coloring has slightly improved.
 * There are more pleats on her cape.
 * Her Neo rendition is looking up compared to the original run version, she's not lowering her head anymore.

Nami v2

 * The position of her head and her eyes have slightly been changed: while, in the original series, she's lowering her head and looking down forward, in the Neo re-release, her head is straight forward and she's looking to her left.
 * She now has nailpolish.
 * Her right hand touches her right leg, in the original series, it doesn't.
 * The area of the chest between Nami's neck and breasts has been lengthened.

Instructions For Use
POPs are often packaged with accessories and special features. As they aren't any instruction paper within figure boxes, this section is focused on what can be done with them.

Luffy
Accessories: His famous straw hat. Features (Neo version only):
 * He can pop his head off to let his hat string go around his neck.
 * His arms can pop off, along with his head, to allow removal of his vest.

Nami
Accessories: Her Clima Tact.

Usopp and Chopper
Accessories: Usopp comes with his hammer and his slingshot. Features: Usopp can move his right hand around his wrist, to easily let him take hold of his hammer.

Bellemere
Accessories: Her shotgun, a cigarette and an orange. Features: She can chew her cigarette as a hole at the right side of her mouth can hold it.

Tashigi
Accessories: Her glasses, her sword and its case. Features: Her glasses can remain just above her eyes as 2 holes were made to hold them.

Smoker
Accessories: His large jutte and a "double" cigarette. Features: He can chew his cigarettes, as a hole at the left side of his mouth can hold them.

Ace
Accessories: His hat, his necklace and a "spark" of flame. Features: He can pop his head off to let him wear his necklace.

Vivi
Nothing to mention

Franky
Accessories: His sunglasses, 2 bottles of cola and a necklace. Features:
 * He can pop his head off to let him wear his necklace.
 * He can pop both of his arms off for his shirt to be easily worn out.
 * To remove his shirt, unsnap the right side of his necklace from it, then pull it off.
 * His right forearm can be split into 2 to let see the chain linking the 2 parts.
 * To make the right forearm back into one piece, just slide back the chain inside the hole of the non-moveable part and snap the 2 parts together.
 * He can pop his left hand off to let see his embedded gun.

Zoro
Accessories: Some goggles and his 3 swords. Features:
 * He can pop his head off to let his goggles go around his neck.
 * He can snap 2 of his swords on his right hip.

Mr. 2 Bon Kurei
Accessories: 2 cygnus heads and a 2nd head with an alternative face. Features:
 * He can pop his head off. This way, he can swap between his 2 faces.
 * His waist and his 2 hands can turn around vertical axes.
 * The cygnus heads can be put on his back or his tiptoes (you have to split off the toes before).

Chopper
Nothing to mention

Sanji
Accessories: One of his cigarettes

Nami v2
Features: She can be split on 2 at her waist to easily remove her skirt and let see her panties.

Shanks
Features: His cape can be worn off to let see his missing arm. Just first pull it off from his right shoulder and the remaining will follow.

Sogeking
Accessories: His Kabuto, a bag and 2 masks. Features:
 * He can pop his head off to easily remove his cape and let him wear his bag.
 * To put his mask on, you have to remove his goggles first (just pop off each lens separately), then be careful to let his nose go through the mask hole.

Robin
Accessories: Her hat.

Lucci
Accessories: His hat, a mask and Hattori.

Brook
Accessories: His cane, a tea cup, his Tone Dial and his hat. Features:
 * He can pop his head off.
 * His hands and his head can turn around.
 * The lower part of his cane can be pull off to put in place a blade.
 * Brook can open his mouth, just slide his lower jawbone up or down.
 * He can pop open his skull to put anything inside his cranium, like his tone dial.

CB Luffy
Accessories: A fork, a knife, a piece of meat and an alternative face. Features:
 * The fork can pick on the piece of meat with the help of 3 little holes on the piece.
 * His head can turn around.
 * To swap faces, pop his head off, split off his hair into 2 pieces following his face axis, remove the face, and then put all back together with the other face.

CB Sanji
Accessories: a knife and an alternative face. Features:
 * His head can turn around.
 * To swap faces, pop his head off, split off his hair into 2 pieces following his face axis, remove the face, and then put all back together with the other face.

CB Robin
Accessories: an alternative face. Features:
 * Her head can turn around.
 * To swap faces, pop her head off, split off her hair into 2 pieces following her face axis, remove the face, and then put all back together with the other face.
 * Her legs can be separated from her body to let see her panties.

Chopperman
Features:
 * To remove his cape, first pop his head off.
 * His head can turn around.

CB Nami
Accessories: an orange and an alternative face. Features:
 * Her head can turn around.
 * To swap faces, pop her head off, split off her hair into 2 pieces following her face axis, remove the face, and then put all back together with the other face.
 * Her legs can be separated from her body to let see her panties.

CB Nojiko
Accessories: an alternative arm and an alternative face. Features:
 * To make her hold Nami's hand, pull her right arm off at the section with the right suspender of her dress, and put in place her alternative arm.
 * Her arms can both turn around and pop off at the section with her shirt.
 * Her head can turn around.
 * To swap faces, pop her head off, split off her hair into 2 pieces following her face axis, remove the face, and then put all back together with the other face.
 * Her legs can be separated from her body to let see her panties.

CB Zoro
Accessories: 2 shinai and an alternative head. Features:
 * His arms can both turn around his shoulder axis.
 * His head can turn around.
 * To swap heads, just pop the first off and replace it with the 2nd one.

Bootlegs and the Toei Official Sticker
A lot of bootlegs are produced mainly by Chinese/HK counterfeiters. The only reliable way to recognize official products is by spotting the little Toei sticker put on the figure box. Sometimes, stickers show a number on their top right corner. It may be an indication of the rarity of the figure: the highest number, the rarest figure.

Those stickers come into 2 flavors:
 * A golden sticker shows that the figure was originally designed for the Japanese domestic market.
 * A silver sticker indicates that the figure has been exported by Bandai for international market (be it for remaining Asia, Europe or America).

Although both stickers are put on official products, collectors prefer to search for figures with golden ones.

Aside from the Toei sticker, other differences may include differences in the box, lack in overall detail and taint/hue/depth in the paint on the figure itself. The bootlegs may be priced at the same price of the original figures or priced as a cheap counterfeit version for fans. Occasionally they are sought by collectors despite being fake. The most notable way to tell a fake straight off is usually in the face as bootlegs are often less defined/detailed. One Piece P.O.P. also carry the Korean One Piece logo the One Piece logo over a black flag, as they are intended for a wide target audience, a common sight on non-Japanese produced products. On the Bootlegs, this logo may appear but often is poorly reproduced, along with th other logos on the box.

Known Bootleg Versions

 * Chopper - The bootleg comes in a light blue packaging and the base stand is yellow in colour. Original Chopper comes in light brown packaging and the base stand is transparent.


 * Zoro - The bootleg doesn't has a base stand.


 * Nami and Shanks The figures themselves were very poor quality. The plastic had visible lines and holes where it was cast incorrectly. Also, the printing on the figures (painting) was off in places. The Nami figure was cast so poorly that she can't even fit on her stand right because her legs are so bent. One leg is longer than the other. Just over-all really poor quality on top of being fakes.

The boxes were made of really weak cardboard, barely even posterboar quality. The offical item sticker was also missing from the box. The images on the boxes were blurry and skewed and obviously had been scanned in and reprinted on their own boxes.

Trivia

 * From promotional photographs it seems the Excellent Model "MILD" figures of Nami and Nojiko were designed to go alongside the Bellemere model from the original series run.
 * From promotional photographs it seems the Excellent Model "MILD" figure of Luffy was designed to go alongside the Shanks model from the "Neo" series run.
 * From promotional photographs it seems the Excellent Model "MILD" figure of Carue was designed to go alongside Vivi.
 * Figures doesn't have any mention about being from the original or the Neo lineup. But it's quite easy to put them apart as both lineups have different packagings. Moreover, the disclaimer "Megahouse 200x" on the bottom left of boxes achieves to assure figure's version: if the year gives 2004 or 2005, the figure is from the original line, otherwise it's from the Neo one.
 * The poses for each figure are often re-used for other merchandise, for example the One Piece Locations Trading Figures Nami has an almost identical pose to her first figure pose, although it is mirrored.
 * Although Chopperman is part of Megahouse "MILD" brandline, it's still referred as NEO-EX in Megahouse item catalogue and not as CB-EX.
 * It seems like Megahouse used the same official pictures for the original release and re-release of Ace and Vivi in their NEO form.