So You Want to Be a Figure Collector?

[OriginalRen]

List of Bishoujo 美少女 Figure Company Recommendations:

 

 

Did the giant loli get your attention? Want to be a figure collector? Here is a list of bishoujo 美少女 figure companies from Japan that I personally recommend when building your collection. For those of you who are interested in getting into this kind of hobby, here are some useful websites that are great for figure orders and figure management:

 

Figure Database: http://myfigurecollection.net

 

A great site that allows you to find details about figures, pictures, their prices, the company that makes them, and what other users in the community think. Sometimes you may find sellers who are willing to part with their purchases. Registering for the site allows you to build and manage your own collection as well.

 

AmiAmi: http://amiami.com

 

An excellent site for ordering figurines. This is their English website and is very easy to understand. I have personally ordered from them many times, and they are very reliable in the long run. I often times use AmiAmi when I know a figure may be difficult to find in stores. They ship all over the world (including domestically in Japan) and accept both PayPal and credit card payments.

 

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With that, here we go! In no particular order:

 

1. Alter:

 

Alter makes good figurines. The quality of PVC they use in constructing the girls is high quality. They are most known for creating figures scaled at around 1/8 - 1/7 in size. Often times, most of these characters are found in static poses, and they don't have a lot of moveable or removable parts to them. While some figures require a little more effort to construct for display, most of the time they are very easy to assemble. Still, while they may be good quality, Alter likes to charge an arm and a leg for most of their figurines, and as such you won't find many below the 8,000 yen ($80.00) price range. In fact, most figures by Alter step into the 10,000 yen range ($100).

 

Be careful when buying something from Alter. They may make good figures, but sometimes there are a few mishaps in the bunch. Since the price difference isn't as noticeable, make sure you know exactly what you are buying before you make a poor decision. Alter is a good company to start using when you are serious about collecting and your hobby has taken a step forward.

 

2. Good Smile Company:

 

Good Smile Company is by far the most known company in the figure making business. They are the ones responsible for the Nendoroid series, and often times make figures from many popular anime, visual novels, and movies in the Disney franchise. They are often seen collaborating with other companies in the business to make high quality figurines. Since obtaining licenses seems to be easy for them, you'll find a figure of almost everything from the company. While their quality isn't always the best, they are the most efficient at production. Figure sizes can range anywhere from 1/8 - 1/4 in size, but most figures fall in the 1/7 range. They are usually static, though some have changeable parts such as face plates and the like. Price wise, figures can range anywhere from 6,000 - 12,000 yen ($60 - $120). Nendoroids fall in the 3,000 - 4,000 yen ($30 - $40) price range.

 

Overall, GSC is a good company for figure collectors who are just starting off. They have a wide range of choices available and most of the time they don't put a huge damper on your wallet. It's a good company to get exposed to the business and what collecting really means.

 

3. Kotobukiya:

 

Kotobukiya is popular all over the world. Their main business is in bishoujo figures, however they also delve into Marvel/DC and Sci-Fi production. Most figures are static in pose, and you won't find many changeable parts. They can range anywhere from 1/8 - 1/2 scale in size, though the latter is much rarer and is only for select figures. Quality wise, they do a very good job with their figures, though depending on the sculptor, you may find some pieces to be far superior than others. Prices range anywhere from 6,000 - 12,000 yen ($60 - $120), though you may find some lower than that. Kotobukiya has its own English website, though it doesn't have a lot of the bishoujo figures listed on it. They also have their own store in Akihabara with all of the latest releases. In addition to selling figurines, Kotobukiya also sells figure display cases and other hobby items from popular shows and movies in the animation industry.

 

Overall, Kotobukiya is another good company for those who are just starting off. It differs from Good Smile Company in that you won't find a lot of mini figurines (chibis), but you will generally find superior crafting work.

 

4. Orchid Seed:

 

Orchid seed is exactly like Alter in both price and figure quality. As for scaling, you may find a few more 1/6 and 1/5 sizes than their counterpart. Their main focus is on mascot characters, which include Super Sonico and others. They like to make figurines from popular video games and anime shows as well.

 

Orchid Seed is a newer company I started looking into. They make amazing figures, but their price can be a little steep. They are a little better than Alter in terms of "price to size" comparison, but sometimes that isn't always the case. If you are looking for a figure that has a little more quality and are done "starting out," this company might be for you.

 

5. Max Factory:

 

Max Factory makes amazing figurines. Their detail to attention is incredible and they often times make intricate background pieces for all of their products. Sometimes, the figure doesn't even feel like the main focus of the entire piece! Price wise, they can be quite expensive and range anywhere from 10,000 yen ($100) up, however you will find that the price might be worth it depending on the base and background used for the figure. They are best known for 1/8 - 1/6 scaled works, though you'll find a few odd ones in the bunch. Figures are often static in pose, but require a lot of assembly before displaying them. The PVC material used in the figure isn't always as high of quality as other companies, but they make up for this with their superior craftsmanship.

 

Overall, I love Max Factory. They are the company that makes a lot of Kancolle fleet girls, and with all of my purchases, I haven't been disappointed yet. If you are looking for awesome figures with amazing backgrounds and want to go all the way, Max Factory is the way to go.

 

6. Figma:

 

Figma is a company that functions much like the Nendoroid series. Each of their releases has a figure number that helps identify what character it is. Price wise, Figma can range anywhere from 4,000 - 10,000 yen ($40 - $100) or more. They have a lot of removable parts with interchangeable faces and weapons. They are often times bendable to fit different poses should you choose to do so. Quality wise they aren't anything special, but they do match character designs quite well. As opposed to other companies, Figma makes more male characters and focuses less on bishoujo figurines.

 

Overall, Figma is for those of you who enjoy action figures more than static poses. They have a lot of variety in their lineup, though a lot of the time they don't make anything that stands out. Choose this company if you like being bold and trying something new, while still maintaining a decent price range.

 

7. Prize Companies (Sega, FuRyu, Jamma):

 

If you are looking for cheap figurines that are cute and occasionally have decent quality, prize figures are for you. Companies like Sega and FuRyu are best known for their prize figure collections. Sizes are often times no larger than 1/8 or 1/7, but some exceptions do exist. They often feature characters with static poses. As for their quality, they don't make the best figures, and sometimes you might get a "miss" in your purchase. Figure discoloration, easily breakable parts, and bad PVC molding are often times very common in these figures. Still, finding them is easy as there are a lot made. As such, they range anywhere from 1,000 - 3,000 yen ($10 - $30). Since they are so cheap, you will find these figures in user display cases in Akihabara for you to purchase. Often times you can find an amazing piece for a very low price, so look around!

 

Overall, prize figurines are an excellent way to build your collection with characters you love while still feeling like you are getting something authentic and worthwhile. They are great for starting out, and are also good "in between" figures after purchasing such an expensive work.

[firecat]

if only, i can buy it

 

[LinovaA]

I actually used this as a guide today as a reference for buying something. 

You could say I found some extra cash in the lining of my couch today. heh heh.

 

Thanks for this! Gonna bookmark this so I can use it as a reference again in the future.