Collecting anime, manga, and other figures is a popular pastime that allows avid fans to construct miniature worlds inhabited by their favorite characters. Figurines aren’t restricted just to the world of pop. They include famous architectural models popular foods, well-known structures, and famous models of trains, aircrafts, and various other types of transportation. For many, these collectibles provide an opportunity to get lost in a personal world.
Spitting Images
Figures and scale models are available in a range of wire models, which include characters from manga, anime and video games as well as specimens that are not part in pop culture. The two- and three-dimensional replicas are a perfect blend of imagination and realism. According to Miyawaki Shiichi, President of the manufacturer of figures Kaiyodo the perfect balance between manga and reality is what he refers to as “2.8 dimensions.”
Caramels and other sweets packaged are used to provide figures with special hidden prizes. These goods were purchased just as because of the thrill of finding the person who was waiting for the candy. Then, the tiny collectibles began to be used in promotional tools by the makers of soft drinks and were also used as fillers for Furuta’s popular choko eggs (chocolate eggs) series. According to data from the Yano Research Institute, in 2013 this had grown into an industry with a value of Y=30billion, comprising all sorts of creations.
Figure manufacturers typically specialize in certain genres in a particular genre, with the most popular scenes from films, manga, anime characters, celebrities famous architecture, styles of transport, and even food as the most popular genres. However, the variety of figures that are available in Japan and other countries covers through the spectrum of categories and style. The palm-sized figures are just barely a centimeter tall, as well as standard desktop sizes are also available, as are special-produced giant-sized replicas.
Figure makers like Good Smile Company, Kotobukiya, and Volks offer finished models and kits for DIY.
Figures are available directly online from manufacturer sites or other online retailers. But many collectors prefer to go to a shop and inspect items closely before purchasing them. Depending on the store, buyers can view figures within glass displays or pick them up to examine them more closely, with this option being more suited to collectors who insist on examining a piece’s amount of detail.
A favorite destination for fans of characters and other subcultures are Nakano Broadway, a four-story retail center located outside the north end in Nakano Station in western Tokyo. Nakano Broadway houses a range of shops that sell manga- and anime-related items. It also houses Bar Zingaro. It is a pop art-themed cafe founded by famous creator Murakami Takashi.
Another place to find characters is Tokyo’s Akihabara district, which has many specialty shops such as the Volks Akihabara Hobby Paradise, Kaiyodo Hobby Lobby Tokyo, and the long-running Kotobukiya Akihabara.
Hooked on Gacha
Vending machines are another great source for figures. For Y=100 to Y=200 these machines, referred to as gacha from the sound they make when dolling out their products, dispensate capsules with miniature figures or scale models. As customers are unable to decide which one they would like to purchase and obtaining a sought-after collectible will require several attempts. One solution to the issue is to trade unwanted or multiple items with your friends or look for rare pieces online. Internet.
According to Miyawaki’s theory, animals can “tell the story of.” Although collecting them is not for everyone, there is an appeal for people who are able to listen to the stories that the reproductions transmit.
The Influence Of Japanese Toys On Funko Collectibles
After World War II, Japan became one of the most important toy-producing countries in the world . The tale continues to this day.
The long-standing tradition that is the Japanese in the field of toy manufacturing has an influential influence upon Pop Culture, with its packaging and toys designs making up a significant part of it. No matter what we collect it is possible to make space for those amazing items in our collections.
At times, Funko offers in its catalog interesting items with the influence of the Japanese toy heritage. So, let’s go over these amazing items.
The debut of the Hikari series within the universe of Funko was made in 2014. The series is based off Sofubi toys. Sofubi is the portmanteau of sofuto biniiru , which means the soft (sofuto) and vinyl (biniiru). The manufacturing of this type of toy was first introduced in Japan in the 1950s to replace celluloid toys.
Since the late 60s we can find a long collection of characters, including Kaiju, Mechas, Monsters and Superheroes as well as Sofubi figures. Through the partnership of MindStyle, Funko released its Hikari figures in three sizes 4, 8, and 10 inches respectively. featuring Godzilla, the most famous sofubi figure, Astro Boy, Frankenstein, Megazord, TMNT and characters from Star Wars, DC Comics, and Marvel And let’s also not forget our beloved Freddy Funko too. While there are some exceptions, all of them are limited to pieces.
The years 2015-2016 the partnership between Funko and Super7 led to our Super Shogun series, which resurrected the style from these legendary figures of 24 inches, featuring three different versions that include Boba Fett and Shadowtrooper from the Star Wars franchise.
The large-sized toys have their beginnings in the 1970’s, in the early 70’s when Popy the subsidiary of Bandai launched the first Jumbo Machinder toys based on many animation and tokusatsu (live-action TV shows) featuring giant robots. The very initial Jumbo Machinder ever made was Mazinger Z. After Popy’s success with the Jumbo Machinder series, several other Japanese companies, like Takatoku, Nakajima and Clover began to make large-sized robots as well.
In the last 10 years, Mattel had the rights to some of these characters for the Shogun Warriors line, which was distributed across both the U.S. and Europe. All Funko X Super7 toys are limited editions that include one of them, the Boba Fett Prototype being the most exclusive, featuring 400 pieces.
Following the same shape but in a different scale eleven inches in size, Funko introduced in 2012 another amazing line named Vinyl Invaders. These gorgeous toys have an essence similar to the Shogun figures; however, these models don’t feature the spring-loaded launcher weapons.
The list is short and there are only The Kiss Demon Robot, common and chase, as well as Batman Robot in six variants. For those who are looking for treasure Three Technicolor Batman variants are loose but are restricted to just six pieces and are signed and number-signed by Brian Mariotti.
The acclaim of the 1966 Batman TV television series, which was a hit across the United States, brought us an avalanche of Batman-related toys that came out in the 1960s and the 1970s. The series was popular in Japan at that time too, releasing distinct and vibrant versions of the Caped Crusader.
So, it’s not unusual that Funko created items that were based on Japanese Batman models. Japanese Batman models. The most striking, according to its catalogue is the Batmobile as a Wacky Bobble Car Pop! Rides, Ridez and Action Figure Set versions, that bring back the classic style of Japanese Batman vintage toys of the ’60s and ’70s. The packaging of the Batmobile action figures shows numerous details that have an old-fashioned look and the images are breathtaking, further enhancing the tribute with Japanese typing.
It’s not clear the likelihood that Funko will surprise us with new characters inspired of The Land of the Rising Sun toy industry however, we do have a long list to go through, must-have sets of Funko collectibles that will bring the tradition of classic Japanese toys to our collection.
Menu