Anime Figurines Beginners Guide The Basics

Anime Figurines Beginners Guide The Basics

Have you discovered Anime Figurines?

nendoroids anime figurines

Anime means animation so the characters appear in videos, television, computer type games, and movies.  Typically they come from the characters invented through manga, a type of Japanese comic book.  Only 5% of all anime is based on some real life person.  Anime has been around since the 1920′s but since the mid 80′s it is a cultural phenomen that has spread throughout the world.  You may have seen some of the characters through Akira, Speed Racer, Transformers, Astro Boy, and a thousand other animated features.

Anime figurines are produced as figures based on the manga characters.  This is not unusual as resin figurines in the Americas has been based on characters such as Star Wars, G I Joe, Superman and a hundred other american characters.  So we are familiar with the concept just not usually with the characters or type of figurines.

Who are the manufacturers?

Have you heard of the Good Smile Company, Max Factory, Alter, and Wave?  Of course you have heard of Marvel, Mattel, and Hasbro.  These are some of the anime figurine manufacturers.  However while Japanese anime figurines are similiar to toys or dolls, do not be confused.  Anime figurines typically sell for 40 to 150 dollars each.  Well about the typical toy price.  It is not unusual for collectors to have more than a hundread anime figurines each costing them 100 to 200 each.  Collecting anime figurines can be a fascinating and expensive hobby.

Typically the figurines are produced by using a PVC type resin.

Different Types of Anime Figurines

• Scaled PVC Figures (figurines)
• Cast Off PVC Figurines
• Figmas
• Nendoroids
• Vocaloids
• Garage Kits

Scaled PVC Figurines

These are your basic stationary figures that stand on a shelf.  They come in scales ranging from 1/10 to 1/4 with 1/6 or 1/7 being the most popular.  Most anime characters can be found as produced scaled PVC anime figurines.  The typical cost ranges from $40 to $140 for each figurine.

Cast Off PVC Figures

These appear similiar to scaled pvc figurines and come in the same size ranges.  However these figurines have replaceable parts.  You can replace clothes, hands, face, or the many accessories such as guns or swords.  They usually sell for $75 up to $300.

Figmas

Figmas anime figurines

Primarily produced by Max Factory these anime figurines have joints so the characters are moveable or poseable.  You can position them with interchangeable parts also.  They sell for $30 to $55.  The joints make the characters come alive into some of the positions similar to positions they have in the TV shows and movies.  Add various types of closes, swords, smiles or frowning faces and you have characters that are uniquely fun.

Neodoroids

These are produced by the Good Smile Company.  They are shorter in height and usually could fit in the plam of your hand.  The neodoroids have a big head and squat body.  They have moveable joints and can be posed.  They cost from $30 to $60. These are relatively new and are wildly popular around the world.

Vocaloids

I have included these anime figures as a separate type.  However they are really any of the other types with an added software chip that allows them to speak, sing, or make noices.  Vocaloids is a type of manufactured sound that appears in video games, dolls, or music.  Originally the concept was developed by Yamaha and has many uses through speech synthesis.  The speech comes in English, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean.

Imagine your favorite Figmas or Neodoroids that now can speak, sing, or make noices.  Remarkabley they sell for approximately the same amount as the original type of figurines.  Some of the most popular vocaloid characters are Kagamine Rin, Gumi, Megurine Lula, Kagamine Len, and Kaito.

While most figurines are made based on characters there is one character that has come to life.  Hatsune Miku is wildly popular.

Garage Kits

Ever think of making your own figurine.  Garage kits are resin kits that allow you to make your own.  They provide the mix, molds, and instructions.  It can be a great hands on type hobby.  However one of the most intricate areas is the painting of the figurine to match the manga or anime characters.  Many times hobbyists will make their figurine and have them hand painted by professionals.  Again these are not toys or a way to save money.  The painting typically will cost over $100 in addition to the cost of the kit.  Kits sell for about half the cost of a manufactured figurine.

My favorite type of anime figurine is the Figmas.  What is yours?

Hope this information helps you as you begin to explore the fascination with anime figurines.