Figurine Collection 101 What you need to know

Have you just made your first action figure purchase and were amazed at how amazing an anime figure looks in real life? I understand you perfectly. Your first figurine purchase will always be special. It can be the gateway to a life of happiness and instant ramen. But before you delve deeper into the hobby of anime figure collecting, you need to learn the ropes so you can make informed purchases. After all, unless your last name is Bezos, money is a limited resource.

First of all, let's get to know the different types of anime figures.

Types of Anime Figures

Types of Anime Figures

Scale Figures: Scale

These figures are the crème de la crème of anime figures. Scale figures are made to a very high standard and can be very expensive. Scale figures are made at a certain scale in relation to the dimensions of the character. The most common scales are 1/7 and 1/8. Other scales like 1/6 and 1/4 are becoming more common.

I'm not saying all scale figures are good. Some companies produce poor quality scale figures and you should avoid them.

Rebuild of Evangelion Asuka Langley 1/7

Prize figures
Prize figurines are usually won as prizes in crane and lottery games, which is why they are called prize figurines. The price figures are cheap. I wouldn't say that prize figures are low quality, but the quality of scale figures tends to be significantly better.

Out-of-scale or distorted figures
Out of scale figures include any figures that do not follow a certain scale. In this sense, Prize figures, Nendoroids, Figma, Figuarts, Pop-up Parade line are all considered out of scale/distorted figures.

A Nendoroid is the first line of deformed figures. Nendoroid trademarks are their oversized heads and cute expressions.

Action figures
Action figures include any figures that have movable articulation or joints that allow you to pose them however you like. This includes Nendoroids, Figmas and the Figuarts line.


Cast-Off/Hentai Figures
Cast-off figures simply mean that the character's clothing can be removed to reveal the character's private parts. These figurines are generally classified as hentai figurines.

Censored hentai figure
Sorry, no hentai images here. This blog is intended for children under 13 years old.
Resin figurines
Resin figures are made of special resin. This includes any figurine made from cold cast resin, polyester resin, epoxy resin and any other type of resin. Resin is generally a fragile material that is easily damaged during transportation. When purchasing resin figures, make sure they are packaged with enough padding. Otherwise, they will most likely arrive in pieces.

roon muse azur lane resin figurine
Azur Lane Roon Muse Resin Figure

Model kits
Model kits are figures to build. They arrive in individual parts and will have to be built by the user. This includes the GunPlas and Frame Arms Girl lines.

strike freedom metal build
Strike Freedom Metal Build - Model Kit
Garage Kits
Garage kits are unfinished, unpainted figures, usually made by independent groups and circles. They are usually sold at conventions. Garage kits come in pieces and must be constructed and painted by the buyer. The quality of garage kits is generally not very good, but there are garage kits that end up becoming a Grail figure.

holo garage kit
Where can I find information on animated figurines?
If you are looking for information on a figure, the best resource is the MyFigureCollection database. You can also check the manufacturer's website, although MFC's database usually has more information. Note, however, that MFC does not list figures made by Chinese companies. For figures made by Chinese companies, I usually check MyAnimeShelf.com.

How to order anime figures?
Rem Good Smile Company
Good Smile Company Rem Scale Figure - Those who didn't pre-order regretted it.
If you are a new figurine collector, you may not be familiar with the figurine ordering process.

Pre-orders
Manufacturers don't just produce figures and send them to retailers. The animated figures are going through a pre-order process. This means that companies open a pre-order window for a figure and you need to secure a pre-order slot to get the figure on the scheduled release date. For the manufacturer, this means that it will only produce as much as is demanded.

Pay now or pay later?
Depending on where you pre-order anime figures, you will have several payment options. Some retailers require full payment for pre-orders. Others only charge you the amount when the figures are released and ready to ship. Still others only require a deposit to secure a pre-order slot. Normally I recommend only paying when the figure is in stock. It's easier to get a chargeback when the payment was sent recently. If you receive a damaged figurine in the mail, it will be difficult to obtain a refund for a transaction that is more than a year old. But if you want to pay right away, that's also possible.

Which shipping method should I choose?
There are different shipping methods for purchasing anime figures. The most common shipping methods are:

shipping options for animated red blood cell figures
SAL (Small Packet or Parcel) not registered
Unregistered SAL shipping is cheap but not recommended as it does not offer tracking or insurance. Shipping usually takes 2-4 weeks.

Registered SAL (small packet or parcel)
Registered SAL shipments are tracked and insured. Shipping time is also 2-4 weeks. Insurance coverage is up to ¥6,000. The small package is cheaper than the parcel, but it is limited to 2 kilos and must respect a volume limit. SAL is, in my opinion, the best option. Slightly more expensive than unregistered SAL, but with tracking and insurance.

Note: All SAL shipments have been suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of this writing, we still do not know when SAL shipments will resume.

Air (small packets or parcels)
Air shipping is more expensive than SAL shipping. It benefits from tracking and is insured up to ¥20,000. Shipping time is 1-2 weeks. This has been my preferred shipping method since the pandemic hit.

EMS
EMS or Express Mail is the preferred choice if you want to receive your packages quickly. EMS usually arrives in 5 working days.

In my case, I don't use EMS because customs officers sometimes require you to pick up packages from their office saying the contents need to be inspected. And sometimes they open packages to inspect them even if you're not there. You will know it has been opened because it has a ribbon indicating it has been opened for inspection. EMS is also more likely to be charged customs duties. This may not necessarily be the case for you, as policies vary by country.

DHL/FedEx
Fast and hassle-free, but you pay full price for DHL or FedEx. Is it worth it? Probably not.

Surface mail
Few anime figure retailers offer ground shipping because it is very slow and does not allow packages to be tracked. Many packages get lost in ground shipments. Delivery can take up to three months. I've even heard of people receiving their packages well over a year after the shipping date.

Do I have to pay customs duties?
Whether you need to pay customs duties or not depends on your country's laws and, to some extent, the leniency of customs officials. In some countries, SAL and Air are not controlled and therefore are not subject to customs taxes. If your package is inspected by customs officials, you will also be required to pay your country's sales tax.

I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the regulations in force in your country so that you are not forced to pay more than necessary. Most customs services are plagued by corruption.

Why is it taking so long for my anime figures to ship?
Release dates are sometimes delayed. If you are wondering why the store is taking too long to ship your order, you can check if the release date has been postponed. Manufacturing delays are common for anime figures, but you can track shipping dates on MFC. I recommend creating an account and adding figures to your collection so you can easily track your pre-orders.

What happens if I miss the pre-order period for a figure I want?
While it is possible to buy used figures on the secondary market, you will usually have to pay a markup that can sometimes double or even triple the pre-order price. Pre-ordering is therefore the preferred method of acquiring anime figurines.

Where can I find good, cheap anime figures?
Cheap anime figures are a myth. The only figures you'll get cheaply are the ones no one really wants - the figures in the bargain bin aren't there for nothing. If you find a figure you really want in the bargain bin, you've been very lucky. Collecting anime figures is an expensive hobby. I don't want to sound mean, but this isn't a hobby you should get into if you're often strapped for cash. However, companies are making anime figure collecting more accessible to everyone by introducing less expensive figure lines.

Should I buy a bootleg?
sader bootleg
Sader - The epitome of all bootlegs
Even though collecting anime figures is very expensive, that doesn't mean you should buy a bootleg just to save money. Bootlegs are very poor quality and even if you pay less, most of the time it's not worth it. In general, bootlegs hurt the animation industry. Not to mention that bootleg makers may use lead-based paint, which is very toxic, especially to children. If you want to get started with figurine collecting without your wallet taking a hit, opt for premium figurines or less expensive figurine lines like Pop-Up Parade and ConoFig.

How to spot a bootleg?
You can check out our guide on how to spot a pirate figurine. Basically, if the price is too good to be true, it usually is. This means that if you spot a figure selling well below its fair market value, it is most likely a bootleg. Some retailers call it "Chinese version", so if you see a figure sold as "Chinese version", it's a bootleg. Not to be confused with anime figures wearing a qipao. I don't recommend buying anime figures from Ebay, Amazon, Taobao and Alibaba. Amazon JP is an exception because it sells many legitimate anime figures. Just check seller reviews before making your purchase.

Which company makes the best anime figures?
There are many companies that make excellent quality figurines. But there are also bad companies that make low quality figures.

Here is a list of good figurine manufacturers:

Good Smile Company
Alter
Max Factory
Phat Company
Kotobukiya
Revolve
Amakuni
Kadokawa
MegaHouse
Myethos
Aniplex
wing
Wave
Wings Inc.
FREEING
Alphamax

And here are the bad ones:

FOTS Japan
PULCHRA
B'Full
Apricot flower
Insight
Griffon Enterprises
Union Creative
The above list is not exhaustive. So I recommend checking out a company's previous releases to make sure you're buying a good quality figure.

The hunt for exclusive and limited edition figurines
In some cases, limited or special edition figures are released. Exclusive and limited edition figures may only be sold during specific events or may only be shipped to a Japanese address. Other limited edition figures are only sold in select stores or have a limited production quantity. In some cases, a certain figurine is only distributed as a prize in a competition or lottery. Figures that cannot be sold outside of Japan are easy to address. You just need to find a good proxy shipping company. If you have a friend in Japan, you can ask them to order for you and have it delivered to you.

ai hayasaka amakuni amiami
This Ai Hayasaka figurine was sold exclusively at Amiami.
mai white bunny exclusive aniplex
This Mai Sakurajima figure in the form of a white rabbit was only sold at a convention.
Caring for Anime Figures
We already know that anime figures are expensive, so unless your wallet is a bottomless pit, it makes sense to take care of your anime figures.

Brush for cleaning anime figures
Makeup brushes are perfect for cleaning anime figures.
Keep anime figures away from heat and sunlight
Heat and sunlight are the enemies of PVC plastic, so keep your figures away from heat and sunlight. Heat can cause issues with figures tilting and bending. Sunlight, which is also a source of heat, causes the paint on your figurines to fade and weaken.

How to clean an animated figurine?
hestia amakuni how to get rid of stickiness on anime figures
This Hestia figurine by Amakuni became sticky on its legs and dust kept sticking to it.
When you display a figurine, especially in the open air without protection, it can collect dust. Cleaning anime figures is not that difficult. You just need a soft brush to remove the dust that has accumulated. A makeup brush is the best solution because it is soft enough not to scratch the figure. A regular paintbrush may have stiff bristles that may leave light scratch marks on the figure.

If you encounter a stain that is difficult to remove, you can use water and a microfiber cloth to wipe the stain. Never use hot water, as the PVC may become soft and warp. The microfiber cloth is soft enough not to scratch your animated figures. Do not air dry, as water can leave ugly water spots. You can use another microfiber cloth to dry your figurines. You can check out this article for a detailed guide on cleaning anime figures.

In some cases, you may find that some of your figures develop a sticky film that is difficult to remove. Cleaning this film is much more difficult, but not impossible.

Cleaning Sticky Film from Anime Figures
Anime figures are becoming sticky due to plasticizer leaking into the PVC. The plasticizer is used to soften the PVC to allow the figurine to be molded. When plasticizer leaks over time, it may adhere to the surface of the figure in the form of a sticky film. It can be removed by washing the figurine with dishwashing liquid. Dishwashing liquid will actually allow you to scrape off that sticky residue. You can check out my article on how to remove stickiness from anime figures for a detailed guide.

I hope this guide helps you. If you have any questions that I couldn't answer by looking at our other Blog articles , you can let me know in the comments.