why anime figures are expensive

by Lacey Deckow 4 min read
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Why Are Anime Figures So Expensive?

  • Licensing. I’m jumping right into the meat of this. Licensing is one of the big reasons why anime figures have those...
  • Materials and Production. When it comes to the production of anime figures and figurines, the production process is...
  • Supply and Demand. Anime figures would not be as expensive as they are if there were not enough...

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.Jun 26, 2021

Full Answer

Are anime figurines worth £50 - £500?

If you’re not a collector, paying £50 - £500+ for figurines doesn’t make any sense. You’d rather buy a laptop or something more “practical”. But to someone who loves collecting things that have an expiration date, the cost is justified. Relatively speaking, most anime figures cost less than half of what you’d pay for an IPhone.

Why are Anime collectors so desperate to collect figures?

But unlike an IPhone, once most anime figures run out of stock… they’re gone for good. That’s why collectors are so desperate (and committed) to collecting anime figures, regardless of how much it costs. If you’re not a collector, paying £50 — £500+ for figurines doesn’t make any sense.

Is there a subreddit for anime figures?

A subreddit for figures from anime and related Japanese productions. Share your collections, post news, and ask questions about the hobby. 99.1k Members 405 Online Created Sep 22, 2011

Why are the Nendoroids so expensive?

Figures cost a lot because they cost a lot to make. There are "prize figures" made by Sega and other companies that go for 10-15 dollars (but some can get very expensive because the character is popular. Nendos are around 30-40 dollars and Figmas are 50 around dollars.

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Why are anime figures getting more expensive?

Said demand only grew higher with more people binging anime at home, meaning Gundam figures in particular have grown more popular than ever. Thus, in order to get these now much rarer items to their warehouses, buyers had to usually pay exorbitant fees.

What is the most expensive anime figurine?

When One Piece Gold was released, Tokuriki Honten introduced the world to the most expensive anime figure ever made: a gold figure of Monkey D. Luffy himself. It's not the most polished work of art, but it is made of solid gold, adding its uniqueness.

Why are anime figures so popular?

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.

Do anime figures increase in value?

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.

What is the largest anime figure?

Now we can see the “Evangelion Unit 01,” controlled by main character Shinji, up close and personal in China.EPICNESS! ... About 20 meters tall, located in Jing'an District in Shanghai. ... Certified as the largest anime figure by Guinness World Records. ... Is it going to go “berserk?”More items...•

What is the most expensive anime per episode?

Death Note – $1,000,000 Per Episode The cult classic anime series that has found mainstream success globally has a whopping 40 Million overall budget. That puts its per episode at more than 1 Million dollars. Not even a normal live action TV show would cost as much in Hollywood.

What is anime figure made of?

The molds are filled with the material the figure will be made of, usually PVC since it's a cheap and somewhat flexible plastic. If not PVC, the next most likely materials are vinyl, polystone, synthetic resin, or ABS. The cooled plastic (or resin) is removed from the molds.

What are figures called in Japan?

In Japan, the term "figure" can refer to dolls and other collectible figurines. Figures based on anime, manga and bishōjo game characters are often sold as dolls in Japan. Collecting them is a popular hobby amongst Otakus.

What are the anime figures called?

0:5911:04DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANIME FIGURES - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAs we all know anime figures are a luxury already but these bad boys are what you call creme de laMoreAs we all know anime figures are a luxury already but these bad boys are what you call creme de la creme. People also call these statues as gk or garage kits these are mostly enormous anime statues.

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.

How do you maintain anime figures?

WashingFill a container with lukewarm water. ... Optional: Disassemble your figurine. ... Soak your figurine (or figurine pieces) in the water for about 5 minutes. ... Squirt (or rub) soap on a new, soft-bristled toothbrush and begin gently brushing the figurine. ... Rinse all the soap off the figurine using warm water.More items...•

How do you keep anime figures?

Your figures should always be stored in a room temperature, dry space that is out of direct sunlight, and they should be dusted and cleaned regularly. For added protection, you can even purchase special action figure storage solutions.

Where are anime figures distributed?

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.

Is anime mainstream?

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.

Is Overwatch an anime?

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.

How much does Toei make?

Toei Animation didn’t specify how much each of their series earns in terms of licensing fees, but they reported income of over $291,000,000 (USD) from licensing alone in 2019. The 2005 film Guyver had licensing fees of $746,665, even though it’s a relatively unpopular film.

Is Astroboy merchandising?

By underselling broadcasting rights, a series could first build an audience who would be interested in paying for merch. It’s pretty natural to think that this Astroboy formula would have changed over the years, but, surprisingly, merchandising is still one of anime’s primary revenue streams.

Can prices jump and dip?

Because of this, prices can really jump and dip depending on the demand and availability in the aftermarket. There’s no one formula to dictate how much a figure’s value will translate to in the aftermarket — it’s not about the figure’s MSRP or how amazing it may be. It’s just the basic formula of supply and demand.

Is time a good friend in anime?

Much like an aged wine, time seems to be a good friend to the world of anime figures. Improvements within any industry are always expected (practice makes perfect, as they say). The world of anime figures is no exception and has definitely seen an explosion in quality improvements over the years, as well as a nice diversification of product offerings. ( • ̀ω•́ )✧

Is anime merchandising sparse?

Sadly, anime merchandising data is quite sparse and not nearly as abunda nt as data about broadcasting, which we were able to find some info about . However, something worth noting is the tale of how Astro Boy spearheaded anime’s reliance on merchandise to generate revenue.

Compare that to the average cost of Anime merchandise

The average product (like the device you’re reading this from) costs more than the average Anime merch.

2. Cost of Producing Anime

They say the average Anime episode costs $100,000 to produce. According to a 2015 post shared by Crunchyroll.

3. Nostalgia

a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.

5. Lack of Sales

Just as Goboiano stated in their Anime post, some Anime ‘s don’t make enough money at all.

1. Anime figures use high quality materials

If you’ve ever bought your own anime figure, or you know a friend who collects figures, then you know each figurine feels premium.

2. Supply and demand plays a big role in anime figure prices

The supply of anime figures is scarce. By definition they’re rare collectibles that usually don’t resell once they’re out of stock (unlike a commodity like a Vegetable or a mug for example).

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Licensing

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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 increase the amount you will pay fo…
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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…
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