Qui-Gon Jinn - Mini Busts

It escapes us how collector response to some of the most incredible looking Mini Bust likenesses fly under the radar. When the Qui-Gon Jinn Mini Bust was released in the summer of 2006, collectors purchased it without question, but it received very few accolades by those that did indeed purchase it. What impresses us the most is that the Mini Bust interpretation of Qui-Gon Jinn not only brings authenticity, but it also brings screen accuracy. You'll often find in the Mini Bust line that artistic license is take, up to an inlcuding anachronisms. But here, whether Qui-Gon Jinn is about to perform a Jedi mind trick on Watto, or Force push away a random and annoying Battle Droid, the Mini Bust is versatile enough to represent either scenario. This is in and of itself extremely amazing because Mini Busts are articulation free and typically interchangeability free. So we applaud Gentle Giant Ltd. for capturing the look and essence of Qui-Gon Jinn without issue. Color us impressed. We gear up getting excited for the alien characters in the Mini Bust line, but Qui-Gon Jinn is an exception.... and one fine collectible. It’s better than we expected.

Human likenesses are absolutely the hardest type of character to master in Mini Bust format. But there are always exceptions to this rule and Qui-Gon Jinn is definitely one of them. The face looks just like Liam Neeson. It’s actually creepy how exact they nailed his features in this Mini Bust. Everything from his eyes to the imperfections in his strong nose have been replicated. You really have to give Gentle Giant Ltd. props for mastering all of the details with impeccable exactness. As briefly mentioned earlier, Qui-Gon Jinn has his right hand up and in a gesturing manner. You'll have to decide what he’s doing. The mannerism is subtle, but it adds enough detail to prevent the sculpt from becoming boring. And Qui-Gon Jinn's feelings are quite apparent in the expression on his face. It’s just these little nuances that keep Gentle Giant Ltd. a step ahead of the rest. Qui-Gon Jinn is a very simple Mini Bust, so Gentle Giant Ltd. ensured that the details were taken to the next level. Keeping in mind that this is a human character, Qui-Gon Jinn should elicit some positive response from you too.

The paint job on Qui-Gon Jinn’s skin is every so slightly too pale. We’re reaching a bit too much to find fault, but we think a little bit of deeper color would have benefitted the overall look. On the other hand, where Qui-Gon Jinn may lack in paint he more than makes up for with details in the sculpt. Just take a look at the back of his head with his long hair and braids. It’s impressive to say the least. And then the folds of his robes additionally provide proof that not one detail was ignored. There is a lot to be happy about with the Qui-Gon Jinn Mini Bust. Gentle Giant treated this piece with an extraordinary amount of respect. The Qui-Gon Jinn Mini Busts may not appeal to everyone. Because he is a character from The Phantom Menace, he may have not needed the large 5000 edition size he received. But hopefully he will find favor and subsequent place in 5000 collectors’ homes. Qui-Gon Jinn is done very well. See why he’s a necessary addition for your collection.