are anime figures sold in limited quantites

by Prof. Ashlee Fritsch 6 min read
image

In Addition – Many anime figures are made in limited quantities, which drives up demand and increases their value on the secondary market. So if you’re looking to get your hands on a rare or highly sought-after anime figure, be prepared to pay a premium price. Who Makes Them Another reason for the high cost of anime figures is who makes them.

Since figures are only produced at quantities required, they can quickly appreciate in value once they hit the market.Feb 7, 2020

Full Answer

Why are anime figures so expensive?

The simple answer is: supply and demand. Anime figures aren’t anything like ordinary products. Because it’s not something you can pick up from any shop. Only official anime retailers and distributors can sell anime figures after all. That’s what drives the prices up. There’s a limited supply which creates a high demand.

How much are Anime collectors worth?

Anime collectors will spare no expense for the perfect figure, but these 10 pieces are far beyond just about anyone's price range. The anime industry is worth, on average, around $19 billion annually. A significant portion of this is generated by the world of figurine collectors.

How much would you pay for a life-sized anime girlfriend?

In honor of the anime, Aniplex created a rare, life-sized figure of the popular "girlfriend" character. With only ten ever produced and standing at five feet tall, she takes a special place in the world of anime figures. With a price tag of $19,000, it would be a profoundly disappointing surprise if she were indeed boring.

Where can I buy the best anime figures?

Some American-based stores include: Big Bad Toy Store, Kid Nemo, Robert’s Anime Corner Store, and Toylet. For European-based stores, check out Nihonju and Archonia. If there’s a figure that you really want, there’s probably a good chance that a lot of people really want it too.

image

How much do anime figurines sell for?

Types of Anime FiguresTypes of Anime FiguresRetail CostGarage Kits$100 – $1000Figma / Action Figures$30 – $100Nendoroid$45 – $200Funko Pop Figures$5 – $504 more rows•Jun 24, 2022

How much is an average anime figure?

You can often see the same anime figures that cost anywhere from $50 to $100 US over in the United States inside Japanese claw machines. It's not just that some claw machines in Japan have nicer things, but it's because the cost of production is vastly lower when it is domestic.

Where are most anime figures made?

As you might have already known, most anime figures are made in China. Newbies often misunderstood that 'Made in China' means fake. That is not correct. In fact most of the original ones are made in China mainly because it is cheaper for the Japanese company to own a factory and production line there.

What is a good brand for anime figures?

The 7 Best Anime Figurine Brands for Consistently High QualityGood Smile Company. Amazon. The Good Smile Company is one of the most reputable anime figurine brands around. ... Aniplex. Amazon. ... Kotobukiya. Amazon. ... Bandai Namco. Amazon. ... Square Enix. Amazon. ... Alter. Amazon.

Why are Nendroids so expensive?

So, why are nendoroids so expensive? The simple answer is that you pay for what you get for. Nendoroids that are authentic and not bootleg are made with high quality. Prices for each nendoroid can greatly change due to supply and demand for a certain character.

Why are resin figures so expensive?

It's very heavy, giving collectibles a substantial, stone-like feel and balance. It allows of an intense amount of small surface and paint detail. As a general rule, resin collectibles are more pricey in their initial offering but also retain or even increase their value overtime.

Are anime figures 3D printed?

Many sites offer high-quality, authentic and creative anime characters you can 3D print at home. Many of these 3D printing anime figures accurately reflect the original character's look. There are many free anime 3D models to make. Other figurines are offered at reasonable pricing.

How do companies make anime figures?

The moulds are used by pouring the material from which the figure is made. For example, hot, molten PVC is poured on the moulds and then cooled so it can take the shape of the figure or the part. The figures are usually done with PVC (soft plastic) and ABS (hard plastic).

What do you call anime figures in Japan?

Figures based on anime, manga and bishōjo game characters are often sold as dolls in Japan. Collecting them is a popular hobby amongst Otakus. The term moe is otaku slang for the love of characters in video games, anime, or manga, whereas zoku is a post-World War II term for tribe, clan or family.

Where can I buy high quality animes?

The 5 Best Sites to Buy Authentic Anime FigurinesAmiAmi.Solaris Japan.Akiba Soul.Crunchyroll Store.HobbySearch.

What are the most popular anime figures?

-Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no YaibaTanjiro Figure.Nezuko Figure.Zenitsu Figure.Inosuke Figure.Giyu Figure.Shinobu Figure.Kanao Figure.Rengoku Figure.More items...•

Is Bandai a good brand?

Bandai. Bandai is one of the toy industry's biggest powerhouses, and for good reason. The company is among the best toy brands of all time, having been responsible for the Tamagotchi, countless video games, and a huge range of collectible action figures and scale model kits.

2. Smaller Production Runs

Smaller production runs can ensure that companies don’t waste money or resources.

3. Small Target Demographic

While anime has become vastly more popular worldwide, the number of people who watch anime isn’t as big as some demographics, like sports fans.

4. More Quality, More Money

Just like any other product, the higher the quality, the higher the price tag.

5. Licensing Nightmares

Merchandise companies that produce anime figures and other goodies, like any company, do not want to get sued over copyright.

6. Research & Development

The most powerful tool in any company’s arsenal when creating a product is its research and development team.

8. The Business Side Of Anime Figure Making

Anime figure designers and factory workers aren’t the only ones getting paid to work on a single type of merchandise such as anime figures.

10. The Cost Of Packaging

If you’ve ever gotten an anime figure from Japan, you may have noticed how high in quality the box and packaging were.

Types of Anime Figures

These figures are the cream of the crop of anime figures. Scale figures are done at a very high standard and can be very expensive. Scale figures are made at a certain scale comparative to the measurements of character. The most common scales are 1/7 and 1/8. Other scales like 1/6 and 1/4 are becoming more common though.

Where to Find Information on Anime Figures?

If you are looking for information on a figure, the go-to resource would be the MyFigureCollection database. You can also consult the manufacturer’s website although MFC’s database usually has more information. Do note however that MFC does not list any figures made by Chinese companies.

How to Order Anime Figures?

Rem scale figure by Good Smile Company — Those who failed to preorder regretted it.

Should I Buy a Bootleg?

While collecting anime figures is as expensive as it gets, it does not mean that you should go buy a bootleg just to save money. Bootlegs are of very low quality so even if you are paying less, most of the time, it still isn’t worth it. In general, bootlegs are harming the anime industry.

How to Spot a Bootleg?

You can check out our guide on how to spot a bootleg figure. Essentially, if the price is too good to be true, it usually is. This means that if you spot a figure being sold way below its fair market value, it is most likely a bootleg.

What Company Makes the Best Anime Figures?

There are many companies that make excellent quality figures. But there are also bad companies that make poor quality figures.

Hunting for the Exclusive and Limited Edition Figures

In some cases, limited and special edition figures are released. Exclusive and limited edition figures might only be sold at specific events or can only be shipped to a Japan address. Other limited figures are only sold at specific stores or have a limited production quantity.

How much is the anime industry worth?

The anime industry is worth, on average, around 19 billion USD annually . A significant portion of this is generated by the world of figurine collectors. To many, figure collecting can be abstract and distant, a confusing realm full of inaccessible content.

What is the most expensive anime figure?

When the movie One Piece Gold was released, Tokuriki Honten introduced the world to the most expensive anime figure ever made. It's not exactly the greatest work of art, but it is made of solid gold, which is pretty neat.

How much did Lala Deviluke get?

5 Lala Satalin Deviluke $27,000. Just like her sister Momo, Lala received the life-sized treatment a few years ago. To acquire one of a limited number of ten—as was the case with Momo—hopeful fans had to first enter a lottery for the chance to buy her.

How tall is Megumi?

With only ten ever produced and standing at five feet tall, Megumi takes a special place in the world of Anime figures. The title of the show translates to English as Saekano: How To Raise A Boring Girlfriend. With a price tag of $19,000, it would be a deeply disappointing surprise if she were indeed boring.

How much is Megumi Kato?

9 Megumi Kato $19,000. One of the main cast of characters from the Anime, Saenai Heroine no Sodatekata, Megumi Kato is also one of the most expensive figures ever crafted. Megumi was pulled into our world in the form of a rare and life-sized figure. With only ten ever produced and standing at five feet tall, Megumi takes a special place in ...

Is Tetsujin 28 a limited edition?

Most younger anime fans won't have a clue about Tetsujin 28, but, for the older fans and hardcore collectors, this is a must-have item. This is a first series, limited edition model, and, at the time of writing, the only authentic Gigantor tin toy available to buy on Earth.

Is Gigantor a tin toy?

Although not the most expensive figure on the list, this tin toy of Gigantor from Tetsujin 28 is one of the finest works of art. Partly due to old age along with wear and tear, it has a real sense of character that some newer figures are missing. Most younger anime fans won't have a clue about Tetsujin 28, but, ...

image

Licensing

Image
I’m jumping right into the meat of this. Licensing is one of the big reasons why anime figures have those hefty price tags. A toy manufacturing company cannot just make any character from any franchise that they want. They need to get permission from the Anime production companies to do it first, even if there is hig…
See more on collectorsheadquarters.com

Materials and Production

  • When it comes to the production of anime figures and figurines, the production process is likely similar to the production of action figures—I have a whole article dedicated to this here. To summarize, the steps to making these figures will go something like this: permissions, planning, design, prototyping, manufacturing, and then marketing. This is not a post about how anime figu…
See more on collectorsheadquarters.com

Supply and Demand

  • Anime figures would not be as expensive as they are if there were not enough people out there who are willing to pay those prices for the figures. When it comes to anime figures, mass appeal is not necessary to make a profit. As with anything, there just needs to be enough dedicated people out there—the rest don’t matter. Even though it is relatively popular, anime is still not mai…
See more on collectorsheadquarters.com

Distribution

  • Many anime figures are not distributed in the West. Some are only distributed in Japan and maybe South East Asian countries. If you lived in one of these countries, those figures could be significantly cheaper—sometimes half the price. If you purchase a figure from Japan or another foreign country, the cost of international shipping is going to inc...
See more on collectorsheadquarters.com

Conclusion

  • Supply and demand, the quantity and quality of the figures, licensing, and distribution are all major factors in determining the price of anime figures/figurines. In a nutshell, that sums things up. It’s difficult to determine the costs of licensing as most of those conversations take place “behind closed doors” and we are not privy to that information. If you would like more information on th…
See more on collectorsheadquarters.com