why are anime figures expensive

by Prof. Jenifer Runte 7 min read
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Why Are Anime Figures so Expensive?

  • Who Makes Them. Another reason for the high cost of anime figures is who makes them. Anime figures are usually made by...
  • Smaller Production Runs. Anime figures are often produced in smaller production runs than other collectibles, such as...
  • Higher Costs of Manufacturing. The manufacturing process for anime figures is also more...

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

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.

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 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.

What are anime figurines called?

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.

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.

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.

What is the rarest Hatsune Miku figure?

The rarest Nendoroid of them all is undoubtedly the legendary GSC version of Hatsune Miku, who's decked out in the company's signature orange color scheme. While there are countless Miku Nendoroids and figurines in the market, what makes this one special is that, reportedly, there's only one in existence.

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 the most expensive anime episode?

"One Piece" is believed to be one of the most expensive anime shows produced, with a budget of around 10.75 million yen (or $100,000) per episode.

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.

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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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