Collectible figures of ancient fish made with soft material
A PVC figure of the arapaima, a “living fossil” known as one of the world’s largest freshwater fish. Its collectible size makes it enjoyable both for play and display.
Arapaima
Classification: Osteoglossiformes/Osteoglossidae/Heterotidinae
Size: Body lengthapproximately 3meters
Habitat: Amazon River basin, South America
Arapaima is known as one of the largest freshwater fish in the world and is often called a “living fossil” because its appearance has changed little over roughly 100 million years. Individuals once reached 4–5 m, but overfishing and changes to the Amazon River environment mean that specimens over 3 m are now rare. Its name means “red fish” in a local language, and its body becomes more intensely red as it grows. It has a large mouth and a tongue covered with many bony projections; it swallows prey whole and uses the rough tongue to process it.
Interview with Supervisor Kazuyuki Mori
- The Ancient Fish series is a new category added to Favorite’s lineup. First of all, what kind of creatures are “ancient fish”?
- The term “ancient fish” can be interpreted in several ways, but simply put, it refers to modern fish that have survived to the present while retaining primitive characteristics. In this series, the coelacanth is the most ancient in evolutionary terms, while the silver arowana appeared relatively more recently.
- Ancient fish, sometimes called “living fossils,” have survived on Earth from ancient times to the present day. What characteristics, ecology, and appeal can be found in their prehistoric forms?
- In the local language of Amazonian peoples, “pira” means fish and “rucu” means red. The greatest appeal of the arapaima is its status as one of the world’s largest freshwater fish. Its imposing body and deep red coloring across the rear half make it especially striking. Behind its relatively small head, the back rises dramatically, giving it a powerful, athletic appearance, while the rear body tapers toward the tail.
- You were responsible for sculpting and painting the prototypes. What concepts guided each model, and what details did you pay particular attention to during production?
- The main concept was to capture the impressive presence of one of the largest freshwater fish in the palm of your hand. To convey its presence, I carefully sculpted details on the head and individual scales. I also emphasized the distinctive raised back and the silhouette seen from above to suggest its great size. For the red markings, I studied reference images of around 100 individuals to determine an ideal pattern.
- We asked fish researcher Toshiaki Igarashi to supervise the series. What kinds of discussions did you have with him?
- We carefully refined the models based on feedback about both the overall impression and the accuracy of details. Because the presence and volume of a three-dimensional object cannot be conveyed through images alone, we discussed proportions, overall appearance, and the state of the fish being depicted. We also reviewed fine details and measurements, including scales and fin rays.
- Finally, please share your comments on the Ancient Fish series.
- The central concept is to capture the fish alive and swimming. We hope the models evoke a vivid scene, as if a moment of movement had been frozen in time. Pick one up and you can appreciate the details of the fish, from the sculpted head to the scales, as well as its satisfying volume. It is enjoyable both to display and to handle.
Supervisor Profile
Kazuyuki Mori(Kazuyuki Mori)
Natural history model artist.
His work is based on the concept of a “private tropical world.”sculpting、working across both three-dimensional and two-dimensional media,、and has held numerous solo and group exhibitions.。
He was responsible for the sculpting and Supervision of the Aqua Fish Mini Models.