It really depends on the individual figure and the market conditions at the time. However, in general, yes, anime figures do have some potential to appreciate in value over time, especially if they are from a popular series and are in good condition.
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These types of figures can be purchased relatively cheap for around USD 30 (3000 Yen). These are a great starting point for anime figure collectors. They won’t hurt your wallet, and the majority look great displayed on a self.
The reasons behind collecting figures are as vast and unique as anime figures themselves. For many, it’s a way to surround your physical space with some of your favorite characters. For others, it’s a competition to build a collection that can rival those of even the most seasoned collectors.
There are several different anime figure types on the market with various prices and features. This post will help new collectors understand the difference between Prize, Scale, Nendoroid, Figma, and Pop anime figures or game figures.
However, to most avid anime fans, the chance to own a figure of their favorite character is perhaps the closest they will ever get to being a part of the worlds and stories they love—a chance too good to pass up on.
Some people buy figures as financial investments as the majority of figures historically increase in value over time. Others buy figures to show off their personality. It's not just about the anime they like, but also the style of the figures that reflects their personality, be it cutesy, shounen or edgy.
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
The anime's production company does smaller batches, so they know that they aren't going to waste money on unsold products. They know if they make limited run items, collectors will flock to the items and have them sell out every time.
Storing Your Action Figures. Keep the action figures away from direct sunlight. UV light can be extremely damaging for plastic toys and the packaging of most figures. Never place your figures in direct sunlight, and keep them away from windows when they're in storage.
It's considered art. And with any good art comes the cost to own it. With most of them being limited runs that means not everyone can have it so many want it. That in itself will drive a price up at times.
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.
Quality Pressing Japanese records that usually end up as collection pieces come from high-standard materials. Toyo Kasei, one of the best record manufacturers, is the maker of some Studio Ghibli vinyl. Obsessed with quality and being the most respected plant, their outputs are generally top-notch.
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.
This is because their studios have the budget to put the various characters into plastic or resin form, namely because of those series' success beforehand. That's why they have Funkos, action figures, statues, busts, FiGPiNs and all manner of other tie-in merchandise.
Yes, Unbox Your Figures Besides, even unboxed, anime figures don't lose much value as long as you keep them in good condition. My personal opinion is that you should always unbox them and that's because I buy figures as an avid collector.
Just Get Rid of Them There's no point in keeping the resale value high if you know you'll be holding on to it until your dying breath. For the figures you think you might sell in the future, I'd recommend keeping the boxes.
The only way hot weather could "ruin them" is months of direct hard sunlight yellowing the figures, or if they are standing on concrete an slowly melting away. I would just keep them out of "direct sunlight" to prevent warping. But even warping can be corrected easily.
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.
Even though it is relatively popular, anime is still not mainstream enough for there to be anime figures on the shelves of Wal-Mart and Target across the world. It would be a waste of money to produce that many.
The mold, the colors, and painting is just superior in every way. Yes, I know Overwatch is not an anime; however, Good Smile puts the same effort into their Overwatch figures as they do all of their other figures—many of which are related to various anime.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 ...
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, ...
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.
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.
Rem scale figure by Good Smile Company — Those who failed to preorder regretted it.
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.
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.
There are many companies that make excellent quality figures. But there are also bad companies that make poor quality 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.