Cyborg 009 - FRANCOISE ARNOUL (Cyborg 003)!

Cyborg 009 Action Soldier Figure 1 - Cyborg 003 Francoise Arnoul -Banpresto 2002

In 2002, there was a 52-episode anime series Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier. This was the third television series in the long-running Cyborg 009 franchise that began in 1967 with a manga that spanned 38 volumes until 1981 and spun off into seven films and several popular television shows. The series was created by Shotaro Ishinomori (the genius behind Power Rangers) and features nine cyborgs with unique powers that were created sequentially as new guinea pigs were kidnapped and experimented upon. The newest cyborg, Cyborg 009, is Joe Shimamura who wakes up with new powers, fractured memories, and soon leads a revolt with the previous eight cyborgs. The character design of the series has gone basically unchanged since the beginning, so when this new animated series started in 2002, it spawned a ton of toys that can represent all eras of the Cyborg 009 franchise. Cyborg 003 is the sole female, a French woman with enhanced vision and hearing. Let's check out Francoise below!

Cyborg 003 is part of the first wave of Banpresto figures in this line. The second wave completed the team and had slightly different packaging (the white and red packaging parts are swapped in Wave 2). There is also a green variant of Joe Shimamura Cyborg 009 in Wave 2. He is the only character who got a green variant in this line. The 6" Bandai line produced all the characters in both red and green costumes.

Francoise comes with a small unarticulated Cyborg 001 Ivan Whisky (the Psychic from Russia), Ivan's basket, and a gun (the gun is oversized and she is unable to hold it).

Her articulation is pretty simple with chunky hinges. Her elbows in particular feel delicate. Her knees have a really peculiar angled swivel. The boot portion can swivel around and up at a very unnatural angle. It's not useful for posing at all.

Here is her giant gun in her holster. You can see the scale here and how she is unable to wield it with her tiny hands.

Her cape can swivel for a more windblown look.

Time for some Group and Comparison Pics!

Here is Cyborg 003 with her Bandai (2002) figure.

Cheers!