Why Do These Anime Figures Cost so Different?

[@jettigger77]

There's also garage kits for those who want to paint their figures, but still cost as much.

[@Nakuke3]

Garage kit prices vary but tend to not be quite as expensive as high end scales if bought at wonder festival or directly from a circle. They’re fan produced, so the point isn’t profit so much as passion. However aftermarket they get extremely expensive as the stock is limited and scalpers are rampant. Just like with tickets. Most garage kit painters buy recasts made in Hong Kong which can be much cheaper than a scale figure. Of course paint and materials bring cost up a bit. But the purpose of garage kits is to make something yourself, and many times the best figures are garage kits, or a character might only have a garage kits. I have a video of my holy grail figure, Asuka Langley by Vispo on my channel; painting her took months but it is a unique piece, and my most prized figure.

[@jettigger77]

@@Nakuke3 For sure! The thing that makes them expensive is the 3rd party if you want to buy it from the circles sometimes in the aftermarket. The recast is nice for those who can't afford the authentic kits but still want to enjoy the hobby.

[@wermworma]

Haha they cost the same until the scalpers on yaj get their hands on em lmaoo

[@roxaskinghearts]

man you kids are funny alot more complicated he says wait till he learns what industrial 3d printers can do compared to the consumer

[@akaeka]

What I have is CSM and I am literally running out of space 🤣

[@sonshinegamers]

Very informative. I kept seeing figures go up in price and it didn't seem like just inflation. Those scales as well as the sculptor and paints makes sense. Thanks for the great info.

[@Nakuke3]

Inflation definitely plays a part. Japan was pretty immune to inflation until recently. However post pandemic the other part of it is the influx of influencers “getting into” figure collecting that has made aftermarket prices rocket. Manufacturers saw this and took the chance to inflate prices knowing that young people will pay anything to keep up with social media trends.

[@roxaskinghearts]

man you kids are funny alot more complicated he says wait till he learns what industrial 3d printers can do compared to the consumer

[@Bicth97]

They usually stop being produced after their first releases and this makes the aftermarket prices suck

[@Temereru]

the way I look at it, scale figures are the centerpieces of a collection, where most people will have 1 or 2, surrounded by many prize figures. what I like about prize figures is that there are a lot of great designs for the popular characters, so the collection doesn't feel boring

[@kizu-kurisu]

Nah i think he hits it right on the mark, you start by buying prize figures and then once you’re into the hobby of collecting figures you just buy scale figures. For example, after 6 years of collecting I have 3 prize figures, 32 scale figures, and 13 Nendoroids. And technically I have only bought one prize figure since the other 2 I got in arcades while in Japan

[@synthesizedjunk]

I definitely started collecting with prize figs before I went deep into scale fig hell. Sold most of my prize figs to make room and now I'm in it deep. Help.

[@SemekiIzuio]

Eventually youll get into a few Resins as well 😅

[@danck941]

@@kizu-kurisu I don't think that's true for everyone all I have in my collection are Scale figures and Nendroids, because I simply can't afford scale figures, and I've been collecting for years at this point.

[@ozzi9816]

Back in maaaahhh dayyyy, you only had the option between Expensive and Really Expensive. I’m glad that there’s more budget options like Pop Up Parade now for people that don’t wanna blow their life savings on a piece of plastic

[@TheDeceptiveHero]

Most important factor: Artificial scarcity. If it weren’t for the fear of missing out triggered by limited quantities and short pre-order periods, most people would think more than twice before spending hundreds of dollars on a single dust collector made of plastic. FOMO helps to keep the prices up.

[@oldhollywood_fanatic]

I swear, Taito figures is getting so much better!!!^^ they also have scale figures

[@JavatheCaveman]

Love seeing videos about the hobby from an official figure distributor! More of this please!

[@TakersKeep]

Wow! I’m blown away by this figure pricing breakdown! This is a great way to introduce newcomers into the hobby. I love to see companies putting out content around the products they sell. Great job team!

[@Elshiem]

You talk about prices but you didn't talk about the quality of the Materials. The prize figure are made from cheaper materials and are also lightweight compared to more premium figures. They also are almost all pieces casted in their colors with minimum paint. POP Parade figures are slighty better quality materials and more paint apps. Scale figures are premium materials and premium paint, and are normally sculpted by recognized sculptors who are working in the industry from a lot of time (many since the 90s)

[@jamestk656]

This is the real info I was looking for. What are cheaper materials and what are the expensive ones?

[@Elshiem]

@@jamestk656I'm not an expert in plastics, but i read a lot of info. Normally all the toys are made from PVC and ABS. PVC is a softer material, ABS is harder. The scale figures are usually from PVC with a mix of other chemicals. The better the figure, the better are the materials in the mix. You can identify that for the weight and the softness. The prize figues are very light and when you touch the materials it feels softer. The scale figures are heavier and feel sturdier.

[@Vluxuation]

@@jamestk656 I know this is 9 months old but figured I'd throw my two cents in too. Some of the higher end scale figures will have real fabric clothing that is either removeable (for degenerate reasons) or fixed in place that adds another layer of quality. Polystone statues will ALWAYS be insanely expensive and for good reason, they're incredibly durable and every figure/statue I've seen made of that material look immaculate. Figures that are "soft bodies" (usually a silicon based material) will generally be more expensive and have an internal skeleton that is poseable. I have a couple of 1/6th scale Court of the Dead series like this from Sideshow Collectibles and the more I learn the more I realize I got them for an absolute steal (about $180). When looking at figures they always list the materials they're made of, I usually look there and then look up the material to see what kind of issues I can expect or non-issues.

[@MoistPancakes]

Went to Japan in September. Had a blast playing ufo catchers. Sucked majorly at first, but got insanely good. I had a crowd of people watching me at one point. Won 25 anime statues. Had to take them out of the box and bubble wrap them to get them home 😂

[@nightie1stan913]

😎Winner pov life

[@SmediumL]

Underrated channel

[@Hephaestus_God]

0:01 I have that rem on the far left (the sporty one)... tbh I think it's the best rem figure and it's a prize figure of all things. The quality of it (even in this video) is just better than the really expensive ones.

[@woomp2004]

5:34 I just got this figure, and you're right but god to me it's so pretty 😊

[@Tokax]

been collecting since I was 12 now 18, learning so much about figures basically knowing prices just seeing the box of a figure is crazy how in depth anime fig collecting is now

[@scarlet7960]

what 12 year ol has money for anime figures

[@exiaR2x78]

I've been collecting since 2007/2008 back when trading figures were the big thing and generally the cheapest way people got into it. When I talk to people who are just getting into collecting I will always suggest prize figures > scales if the option is there for the character/outfit/pose you might want. Often prize figures are to the same scale as some scale figures (generally 1/7) so dont look out of place in collection/displays and the quality for the price is always worth it imo. Scales have increased in price quite a lot these last few years as well as nendoroids, my collection has gotten to the point where I have to been extremely picky with what I buy due to limited space to display now so I hadnt really been buying anything the last few years. I pre ordered my first nendoroid in 4 years last year and was very surprised with how much it was now

[@thaibinh1909]

I think SPM is also worth mention. Their quality has been going up quite well lately while remaining cheap (to buy)

[@Vluxuation]

Great video! I'm kind of new to figure collecting so this was very helpful seeing the different scales next to each other and seeing the sometimes subtle to very obvious differences in them. I've found that 1/6th scale is my preferred. Don't get me wrong, if I was rich I'd shop 1/4th all day long but I reserve those purchases for characters I REALLY like (which i only have 1 1/4th scale lol). I've personally found 1/6th gives the attention to detail I'm looking for while at the same time being easier on my wallet ($180-$250).

[@TenebrisTemporis]

All that money just to end up in a jar

[@Yuunarii]

4:12 I'm suddenly reminded of that 1:1 Nanachi scale figure that was released a few months ago

[@ansonchow2016]

As a figure collector for not mainly anime, my actual preference is collecting Nendroids. They are very consistent and got many franchises that usually can't get scale figures from these anime companies, like Mario, Transformers, even Mickey Mouse. I also collected a small amount of pop up parade just because my favourite character only get it through there. I would really like to collect a scale figure at some point.

[@brianwaterman8185]

Good intro into figure pricing. Let's go down the rabbit hole.

[@raiden5386]

This is such a cool channel, I'd really really love to see videos on production methods, differences between producers, how they're modeled/the artistic inspiration, uniquely intricate figurine detailing or painting, uniquely rare figurines, subbed and looking forward to more😊

[@MeowjinBoo]

tbf, solaris japan is an estore, this is just longform advertisement.

[@Mitsunee_]

I figured out most of this information myself with the few cheap figures I've bought over the years, but I wasn't aware that prize figures aren't to scale, which does explain some inconsistencies between my figures. I might also have 1 or 2 bootlegs, who knows, I'm not a serious collector, I just wanted something nice to put on my shelf :3

[@nate3315]

Honestly popup parade are just premium prize figures in terms of size and quality. They're main strength is the licencing power of Goodsmile so you'll see a huge variety of characters from different series including old or maybe odd cases where the series doesn't release much figures. Usually prize figures tend to be released around trending series.

[@WayneLLC]

Thanks for breaking down, very concise and helpful :)

[@kami_kuro_]

Yens to dollars conversion because it's not in the video and I don't understand the prices otherwise. Maybe it'll help other people too : - Popular prize figures : ~$13 - ~$26 - Premium prize figures : ~$33 - ~$40 - Mid-tier Popup Parades/Tenitol : ~$32 - ~$46 - Scales : ~$80 - $$$$$$

[@shoked99]

Appreciate the intro. Thankfully there are good figure pictures posted before you buy. Some of them look off.

[@billyshaw1996]

I collect nendoroids & have over 100 now. I don't think they're the best figures to collect, but they have the most consistent quality & at a lower price than other higher quality figures I can afford more. The downsides to nendoroids: they're sometimes incredibly difficult to put together. Although I think nendoroids overall capture the likeness of the characters very well that is not always the case; more serious characters like Guts from Berserk just look a little underwhelming. The worst thing about nendoroids is that just because you like a character doesn't mean it will ever get one, especially if it's not super popular. There's no One Piece nendoroids, which is quite fortunate because I would go bankrupt collecting them all 🤣

[@PorkShark]

Wow this has the production value of a Business Insider video. Bravo.

[@PorkShark]

I didn't need this information as I'm a veteran but it's a good video

[@masanobumaou]

I know all these thing after years of collecting, but I still enjoyed this video so much. Very easy to understand, on to the point and good visualization. GJ!

[@jupiter0103]

Meanwhile Nendoroids using a entire different price equation and costing a ton:

[@torctorctorc]

appreciate the honesty in critiquing companies

[@ariowirawan16]

Didn't expecting i need video to learn more about anime figure knowledge

[@kaze-xo]

Very informative, but I was surprised that you didn't bring up Alter, they make some of the highest quality figures out there!

[@patan93]

Manga is my main hobby so I'm happy with just a few prize figures/pop up parades of my favorite characters :)

[@Phantasmagorique]

You didn't mention the final tier, resins (or statues, as they aren't always strictly made of resin). Prime One, Tsume, Oniri, Taka Corp, Jimei Palace, Niren Studio, etc. The prices are usually kept between 500-1000€ but can reach into the multiple thousands.

[@1Shayz1]

I think there is one additional tier above scales, which is 50k+ yen that usually involve a base/background that is more intricate than the character (i.e. when the decorations use more plastic than the figure itself). A lot of these have additional lighting or feature additional characters/vehicles/elements obviously scales can get massive, but I just saw this video the other day of putting together a "masterline" figure and it blew my mind. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXWZiKiooK97n5Y

[@TheMightyMRP]

1:48 honestly, I have this Rem prize figure and its far better than even some scale figures I've got.

[@thedanath]

There is also Banpresto which I find to be decent price and quality. As their figures can go for anywhere between 30-70 dollars CAD.

[@Ergeniz]

Banpresto is amazing. They have good QC and large scale, which makes me wonder how they're so affordable.

[@Nyorane]

Well done, dude!

[@Galuxius]

Very well produced video, thanks will like and sub.

[@marvelrizky]

This is actually good information, i am actually planning to buy some figures in the future

[@edthecrazyboy]

Tbh I’m only setting in for the prize and once in a while pop up parade. I can’t just get myself to spend that much on scale figures since I have some other important factors to pay for

[@mr.2minutes161]

0:16 i would buy 1 of over the top type just for display if i got the money, treat it like painting around the house, id rather custom made 1:1 scale on sexdoll workshop though, they're surprisingly good

[@ikaros6633]

Yeah, I have good smile Madokami, she wasn't easy to put together but I still love her.

[@PatrickMelendres-d7m]

Great video! I really liked how you explained and simplified the tier list.

[@Toto-95]

best store ! I've bought around 5k worth by Solaris and i recommend the store a lot !

[@selpyar8230]

Really like your editing and presentation. It is also very informative. Keep going!

[@Jason-kw6mh]

very informative thank you

[@capitans12]

A damn good intro for beginners!👍

[@rikimarudonchelie1229]

Actually trading figures are a lot cheaper than prize figure, which sizes are from 4 - 5inches, though not popular & famous as prize outside Japan. I used to collect a lot of them way-back in 200s and they are sold per box or set as well and also available in different anime series with likes from maids, gundam, final fantasy, evangelion, even Fate rare released by Alter and many more.

[@budydubby2441]

love the video! now i know that popup parade is not some overprice figure because of its brand name (GSC)

[@Yubi_Yubi]

My favorite figure brand is F.Nex because they make REALLY good figures that are honestly nit that expensive(250-500$)

[@CrissCrossCA]

Ive never bought and probably will never buy a figurine but I still really enjoyed that video. Nice work

[@Jehdii]

Wish it went into more detail than size. Material cost, production numbers/method, moving parts, and of course the label/IP.

[@kg.9043]

What’s the spinning table you using? Looks great!

[@DerpyVenom]

popup parade are literally my go to as they're quite affordable

[@MinscS2]

Same. About to start collecting and about half of my "intended purchases" are Popup Parades...

[@Bos_Meong]

sadly they so small

[@Cloudily-oo9cv]

After finding our the prices, a jar is all I need now

[@torctorctorc]

in the end it comes down to design and so many expensive figures just arent really living up to their price anymore.

[@thsudy]

The only thing I’m not a fan of popup is the simple boxes, but hey the figures are nice

[@ajpewding4058]

As a new collector thankyou!

[@AnimeWill]

Great video. I have a couple of tenitol and definitely a line to look out for. Poor Union Creative lol

[@SemekiIzuio]

I am curious how the Tenitol figures look in quality... they look a bit superior coming from Furyu when imo Furyu doesnt do many good face sculpt figures. I wonder if the price justifies the figure

[@128gb2]

I started collecting scale figures in 2017. Then stop around 2020 when the pandemic hits. Because the price of scale figs got double along with the shipping fee. From time to time i only buy prize figure now.

[@ryanwinters9375]

Given the amount of Rem’s and Ram’s in this video, I have to say this guy has good taste

[@natsume001]

Newbie tip! Start with prize figures, then pop up. If you like the hobby, then nendos, figmas and scales!

[@Kalvinjj]

In my case my 1st one (on pre-order now) is a Pop-up of Himesaka Noa, since I absolutely love the character to death and it shocked me when I saw a price I could actually pay for (The more expensive ones wouldn't be a problem other than Brazil's stupid absurd taxing). I took the gamble as it would/will be my 1st figure, and glad this video seems to ease that lingering feeling of "Why are these priced so... not absurd in comparison to others?". Oh well, time to pre-order Hinata as well to complete the couple!

[@Sam_0108]

The editing is kinda🔥

[@TobynJacobs]

I’m so happy to see RCanime again.

[@facopse]

At least with most scale figures the money isn't gone. You will most likely be able to ask for the amount that you initially paid or even more once you resell them, even in used condition. They're collector's items after all. Even if I don't have any plans of reselling my precious figures, that point is important to me because I don't know if / when I'll stop collecting or will be in need of money.

[@ichibanbento]

Wow, I never would have thought the in depth differneces (oops spelled it worng) between figures, I just thought "Oh this is more expensive... eh"

[@KaijuKanojoClips]

I love the video! Im curious, what is the rotating stand you used for displaying the figures? I love the bottom lighting and would love to buy one.

[@burningphoneix]

What's so difficult about setting up scales? I'm into Military scale modelling, is it like that?

[@TexasCat99]

Think of BOX scale models of sci-fi kits, like Star Wars and Star Trek of the 1970s~1980s. Scale was a consideration. It's about price size to sell. So, for some figures or models, they want to sell a $30 product, but what if a character is small, then it'll be a small model. So scale it up. The AOT Titan Pop-Up figures are not to scale for sure. Also, depending on the base will effect scale. I just saw $400 figure, but 80% of the materials are the "action" base. Also, for being Anime/drawing-based, their size can be subjective. PS: I did spend $10 (sale) for the Invisible Girl figure from My Hero Academia. Considering she's just gloves and shoes, it costs as much as the other figures with actual bodies. I got it because it's ludicrous. I also realized it's an American-made figure and could have been done better by just being shoes and gloves. I'm going to modify the shoes so they are hollow.

[@Terrortrooper]

Most of this is not new to me. I still don't understand the 1/4-Scale pricing as these tend to not be as dynamic or highly detailed as others. They are just....big.

[@Bounty2223]

Where can I get my favourite Anime action figure "Kermit" smoking a blunt wielding two samurai swords?

[@vex452]

Expected to get a breakdown of what materials are used, what the making process is and such

[@325anime]

Question... I've seen some figures online that are done in pairs, soft and hard. What's the difference between them?? Can some explain.

[@alixsprallix]

great video

[@danck941]

You said that prize figures aren't in scale, but all of the prize figures I own are 1/7th scale.

[@Bicth97]

Please show us how scales are manufactured? I would love to see

[@Vexy93]

There's a new tier now. The Temu tier. I bought an Action figure of a generic anime girl for 4€ and I am super happy with it. The quality is as shitty as it can get, it feels like the hair might break by just touching it, but for that price and if you decide to just look and not touch, I am more than happy with it

[@ManhwaRecapRealm927]

I love your videos! I'm running a few manga recap channels and planning to sell anime figures and print-on-demand merch through Shopify. I admire how you've built your business and would appreciate any tips on sourcing figures or creating merch that anime fans love. If you’re open to sharing advice or even collaborating, that would be amazing!

[@n00bnetrum]

Lets just be honest here. Scales cost this much because I keep buying them. Sorry brehs, I can't help myself.

[@tliehfloyd9201]

i regret getting so many prize figures. save your money and get good few scales than many cheap prize ones. looks nicer

[@DisgruntledDoomer]

I tend to agree. Either go really big with your collectiong - which is costly and takes up a lot of space - or just focus on a handful of really fancy figures (of characters you know you'll love for years to come).

[@Jitliung]

agreed, while i really like most of my prize figure they look messy when u got so many and ur too lazy to sell them ( happen to me rn, i wanna sell them bcs of space issue)

[@SemekiIzuio]

Id say it depends on how much you love a character, people have shrines with multiple figures for a single character for example. If its an anime that you enjoy and like one specific character but not necessarily a favorite getting a 1 and done figures is fine and scale fits the bill.

[@Mirosuke.]

Can you tell me what rotary stand is that? It's gorgeous

[@MusicRainfield]

I guess Kuji figures are considered prize figures? I have seen some last one figures that are absolutely stunning and huge!

[@ying3966]

Ichibankuji is considered as prize mid-tier but generally harder to grab during the crane game, while Bandai lets there other company Banpresto handle the lower tier of prizes. Bandai isn't exactly great but they make amazing "I got to develop a fresh new character very quick, faster than other companies" mentality so if you need that figure badly, Banpresto/Ichiban/Bandai spirits is actually, the best way to go imo. (They also got other companies with them like Tamashii Nation - which normally they help with only the mid-tier prize likes. Tamashii nation is also like a secondary brother as they make metal gundam builds)

[@madelinebitts2766]

Kuji figurines are prize figures yeah, though some of the 1st prize figurines tip the scale into being mid tier figurines instead, since they're produced in a more limited quantity, the quality ends up being a lot better.

[@maxwu4145]

are banpresto figures considered prize or middle tier pop up

[@wheediesmanchild5229]

This really isn’t useful when you block all scales into the same group… being those are the main figures for collectors.

[@whizzingarrow6305]

Thank you!

[@lkjkhfggd]

Those KonoSuba figures look amazing. I also really like that Madoka Magika figure. It was a ton of fun walking about Akihabara and seeing all the different anime figurines for sale. I remember seeing some incredible One Piece ones which I absolutely would have bought if I had tons of disposable cash. I did waste around 3000-5000 yen winning one from a crane machine, which was bad value but still fun.

[@madelinebitts2766]

That Madoka one is a bit infamous for falling apart easily. I've had friends with that figure who've all universally had something break off the thing. Unfortunate because it is a really lovely figurine.

[@KurushimiVrishraka]

What is the most expensive figure right now?

[@Legojake94]

Love the choice in best girls

[@bmanpura]

I generally stay away from appraisal and just buy what I love to look at for the next 5-10 years. Arts are really hard to appraise and isn't an investment.

[@sameol6112]

What are the figure priced at 500¥ - 1000¥?

[@t4ketsuru]

Just dont buy prize figures in akihabara, they usually a tourist trap and charges you 3x the price. Look for places like the Manga Souko store in Kagoshima which sells pretty much everything at reasonable prices. if you must buy things from Akihabara look for reputable stores like Ami Ami, Lashinbang,surugaya specialty store, Mandarake, i find yellow submarine ok, yodabashi, BIC camera. Pretty much do your research

[@marufranco5281]

costs so different because of the fricking scalpers from solaris japan hunting all day for grails in other shops

[@GamingOB]

Figuarts ZERO is my sweet spot, lots of effects and posing but keep it under 10,000 yen

[@superredhulk1725]

Where would you place Figma figures at??

[@Jehdii]

Overpriced these days.

[@tongsam3555]

I complete know nothing about the figure industry so this video help 🙂

[@Nakuke3]

Thanks for the video, I am sure it is very helpful for new hobbyists to see the differences in quality and brand. I am an older school fan and had to figure this all out on my own when I was in middle and high school. MFC was pretty helpful in learning it all as well (too bad it’s become weeb twitter). Over time I learn which brands had better quality than others. And one of the first things I learned is that it’s better to save money for one good scale from a good manufacturer than to spend the same amount of money on three or four figures of lesser quality. While I’m really happy that the recent popularity and Figures collecting has made videos such as these more common on main stream website such as KZbin, do hate how the influx of new fans has brought about so much politics and social justice into the hobby. So many people are so focused on the politics of figures versus appreciating them for what they are which is pieces of art. If you’re new to figure collecting, please make sure you’re not one of those people jumping the art for politics or online drama Thanks Solaris, been following your store for many years and happy that you’re a part of this hobby.

[@HobbyistaDownUnder]

Dude! AMP's are the bomb!