Anime figurines: To unbox or not to unbox?

This is a point of contention for all toy collectors and not just anime figure collectors. Should you unwrap your plastic waifu or husbando? It's like asking if the chicken came first before the egg. In this case, the correct answer is up to you. What's right for you may not be right for someone else.

Yes, unbox your figurines

Unbox your figurines because you can only appreciate their beauty and value if you display them. Some will say that you should keep the figures in their box in order to preserve their resale value, but that's a moot point if you never resell them. Plus, even without a box, anime figures don't lose much value as long as you keep them in good condition.

My personal opinion is that you should always unbox them, as I buy figures as an avid collector. When I choose to purchase a figure, I never intend to resell it for a profit. That's not to say I've never sold a figure before. In fact, I sold a lot of them. Like many anime figure collectors, I started this hobby by buying cheap figures. One figurine became three. Three became ten. Soon after I started pre-ordering scale figures, then ten became 50, 100 and now over 200.

I have now sold most of the prize figures in my collection and only a handful remain. I didn't sell them to make a profit. I sold them instead because I'm running out of space to display all these new figures that are arriving. And when the new figures arrive, I need to unbox them for display.

Reasons to unbox figures

If you're unsure whether or not to unbox your figure, there are plenty of reasons to do so.

Adhesion prevention
Have you ever bought an old figure sealed in its box only to realize it had become sticky? This has happened to me several times. This happens when the plasticizer used to sculpt the figure leaks. This happens naturally over time. When the plasticizer leaks out of the plastic material, it has nowhere to go since the figure is sealed in its box, and it becomes a sticky residue that can be difficult (but not impossible) to remove. Unpacking allows your figures to "breathe" so they don't retain plasticizer and become sticky.

You can admire your figurines

Anime figures look great, especially when you take them out of the box. Of course, some boxes may have large windows that allow you to see the figure even when it is in its box. However, the figures always look much better when taken out of their cardboard or plastic prisons. You can attach the accessories and put them in a display stand. You can even go further by creating a diorama for your precious figurine. Being able to admire your figurines in your display is the very essence of this hobby.

Inspect the figure for damage
If you pre-ordered a figure and it arrives, do you usually check it for any issues? If you don't unpack the figure, you probably won't be able to check it for damage. Although anime figure manufacturers have rigorous quality control in place, they can still make a mistake and send you something broken. Likewise, parts may be damaged during transport. By opening the box and inspecting the figure, you will be able to check for damage and obtain a refund or replacement parts if necessary.

Sure, some boxes have big windows, but you can only see the character's face. The view of the rest of the body will most likely be obscured by the protective plastic and blister packaging. You cannot inspect the accessories. You cannot see the back of the figure.

I remember the time I bought the Hitagi Senjougahara figurine by Good Smile Company in Mandarake. I opened it right away and was very glad I did. I wasn't happy that the figure had issues, but I was glad I found out about it right away so I could send it back and get a refund.

Looking out the window of the box, it looked like there was no problem. It was marked sealed and it arrived sealed. The duct tape was still there. However, when I opened the box, I had a nasty surprise. The figurine is normally presented with a view of its back. However, looking at the front, we see a deep gash on the uniform. This is not a minor scratch, but a deep cut, as if intentionally made with a sharp object. On top of that, one of the props was broken and about to fall off.



I had to send the figure back to Mandarake and they refunded me the entire amount I paid plus the amount I spent sending it back. If I had delayed opening the figure, it would have been virtually impossible to get a refund.

Looking at the window of the box, it seemed that there was no problem. It said it was sealed and it arrived sealed. The duct tape was still there. However, when I opened it, I had a nasty surprise. The figurine is normally presented with a view of its back. However, looking at the front, we see a deep gash on the uniform. This is not a minor scratch, but a deep cut, as if intentionally made with a sharp object. On top of that, one of the props was broken and about to fall off.

The dangers of unpacking

Although I am all for opening boxes, there are some risks associated with this practice. Remember that when you unbox an anime figure, there is always the risk of damaging it. Be very careful when unpacking. I always make sure to cut and file my nails before unboxing a figure. Your nails can actually damage the paint on the figures, especially when the figure requires some assembly. If you don't have a dust-proof display case, dust will accumulate on the figurine. If you simply display your figurines on a shelf or desk and you have cats, they risk dropping the figurine on the floor every day. You then end up with pieces of PVC plastic.

Of course, dogs can be a problem too, but you don't usually see them jumping on the shelves.

Cats and figurines don't go together
Nice figurine you have there. It would be a shame if someone knocked it over.

When not to unpack?

Do not unbox the figure if you wish to resell it for a profit.
I'm not a big fan of people who pre-order figures only to resell them for a big profit. While it cannot be denied that this helps some collectors who were unable to take advantage of pre-ordering, I still think this practice is predatory. If you are looking to resell a figure for a profit, it is important to keep it sealed. However, in most cases, a sealed figure is not much more valuable than an opened, unissued figure. At used figure stores, the difference between opened and sealed figures is only ¥1,000-2,000.

If you move

If you are moving soon, I advise you not to embark on the adventure of unboxing. You'll save yourself a lot of time and frustration if your figures stay in their box during the move.

Ultimately, it's up to you whether or not to unbox your figures. If you're happy to see your figures in their box, who am I to say otherwise? We collect figurines because it makes us happy or gives us satisfaction, so as long as you're happy with what you're doing, do whatever you want.