Here is my review for this grey orange transformer case:

http://robotninjamonsters.blogspot.com/2009/05/kokuyo-neocritz-transformer-pencil-case.html



The Kokuyo NeoCritz Transformer Pencil Case is compact, sleek looking, and functional. It is quite stable when standing upright as a pencil holder cup. Smoothly switches between travel pouch and pen holder mode. Fair carrying capacity.

After a year of moderate use, the stitching on this pencil case has held up fairly well and remains in good condition. It usually holds a selection of premium pencils (capped Mitsubishi Hi-Uni and Tombow Mono 100 graphite pencils) securely along with an elliptical Prismacolor pencil sharpener and a couple of erasers. I tend not to put anything in the velcro pocket to allow more room for the pencils, but it is big enough to comfortably hold a tube of Pentel Ain 0.5 mm graphite lead.

I like to use pencil caps on all my pencils to protect their sharp points and maximize the useful life of the interior lining. The one minor disappointment with this case was that the interior tag revealed that it had been made in China while I was under the mistaken impression that it was a Japanese product from its description. I should have known since all of my pencil cases (Faber-Castell, Buffalo, Mead Five Star, Kokuyo) have turned out to be "Made in China" after close inspection.

Thanks for the review!

Thanks for the review. I've had a NeoCritz for a few months and, like you, I'm quite impressed. I like the look of those pencils - do they come capped like in the pic BTW? If so I might have to invest in some.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only person who uses the Mead Five Star pencil case. I really like mine and recently reviewed it over at Future; Nostalgic. I'd be interested to hear what you think of them.

Love your Prismacolor pencil sharpener - I've not seen one like that before. Any chance of you reviewing it?

Cheers,
Sam

You are quite welcomed Sam. Good eye on the pencils, for they are probably the top pencils in Japan: the Mitsubishi Hi-Uni and the Tombow Mono 100. The former are available at Jet Pens http://www.jetpens.com/index.php/cPath/620_621.

They did not come capped. I got the plastic caps here: http://www.dickblick.com/products/generals-pencil-sav-a-point/
and they also carry the elliptical sharpener:
http://www.dickblick.com/products/prismacolor-colored-pencil-sharpener/

These are KUM German made sharpeners, so they should be easier to find over in the UK:
http://www.pencilthings.com/ellipse-office-container-metal-pencil-sharpener-flexible-unbreakable-1-hole.html
http://www.pencilthings.com/ellipse-office-container-metal-pencil-sharpener-flexible-unbreakable-1-hole-magnesium-alloy-sharpener.html

Just edited and posted the full review for the Prismacolor sharpener.
http://robotninjamonsters.blogspot.com/2009/06/prismacolor-colored-pencil-sharpener.html

Thanks for the info., links and reviews - great stuff! :) Now I know what I'm looking for I may well go ahead and order some pencils. The caps are a great idea which, predictably, we can't get in the UK AFAIK.

Thanks also for the KUM sharpener links - I've found a UK stockist for them:

http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/KUM_Ellipse_Pearl_Sharpener.html

Cheers,
Sam

You are quite welcomed. I always enjoy looking through the informative product descriptions in the Cult Pens site from time for time. For example I noticed they feature this neat Faber-Castell Grip 2001 Eraser Cap - http://www.cultpens.com/acatalog/Faber_Castell_Grip_2001.html#a359 . Looks like it would do the job nicely in protecting pencil points. At least for triangular shaped pencils like the Uni-ball Penmanship Writing Wooden Pencil - Triangular Body - http://www.jetpens.com/product_info.php/cPath/620_800/products_id/4332. Haven't seen this eraser caps in this side of the pond though.

Now they are a good idea! 8) Thanks for the link.

Cheers,
Sam

Hey - that five star pencil case looks like a Kokuyo (sp?) Caddy case.

Do they still sell those?

^__^

How much did you pay for it?

They sure do. Check school supplies section of big office supplies stores like Office Depot or Staples. Sometimes branded as "Scholastic" and retailing for about $4.99. Frankly I have a hard time paying almost double for the Kokuyo branded version since they are all made in China anyway.