Action Figure Presentation

In America, action figures are mostly thought of as children’s toys. A vast majority of them are produced to be durable and have gimmicks to appeal to children. However, in Japan, there is a robust market for action figures for adults. These figures, unlike the cheap American toys, are aimed at high-end enthusiasts, typically strong fans of certain characters or franchises.
	Among the largest producers of these figures are Bandai, Good Smile Company, Max Factory, Kaiyodo, and Takara Tomy. Each of these figures target a specific audience, rather than being general merchandise. For example, Bandai’s The Robot Spirits line is for fans of Gundam who want figures of their favorite mecha, but don’t want to have to assemble and paint a model kit. Good Smile Company (in cooperation with Max Factory) produce the Figma line of figures, for fans of popular anime and video games. Amongst their most popular figures are those from the Fate/Grand Order series. Kaiyodo has their Revoltech and Amazing Yamaguchi lines of figures, featuring popular mecha and comic book characters with exaggerated designs evoking intensity and “wow” factor. Takara Tomy produces high-end versions of their world-famous Transformer figures, known as the Transformers Masterpiece line. These figures are specifically made to be as close to the Transformers TV shows, in both appearance, and features.
	It is these features that are a main selling point for these figures. Not only is their accuracy and detail far above figures made for children, but they also have accessories or functions that allow one to re-create iconic scenes. For example, the Transformers Masterpiece Optimus Prime [Japanese name: Convoy] has his Matrix of Leadership, which was a key plot device in the 1980s Transformers: The Movie. The Nendoroid Meta Knight has a part that makes it look like he’s swinging his sword. The Figma D.va includes her cell phone, allowing her to re-create her famous “selfie” pose. The Play Arts Kai Master Chief includes both his iconic Assault Rifle and Pistol.
	The way adults “play” with their figures can vary greatly. Some like to make dioramas re-creating their favorite moments from games or anime. Others like to take high quality photographs, imagining new and inventive scenarios for beloved characters. Many simply display them on shelves. The possibilities are endless, and the only limitation is one’s imagination.
	Just like how anime has spread to the west, collecting action figures as a grown-up hobby has come to America as well. Enthusiast communities have formed online, sharing photographs, discussing opinions on new and upcoming releases, and writing figure reviews. Some have made stunning re-creations of iconic scenes from anime and movies, or have used stop-motion animation to make original videos. American company Hasbro has even joined in and made new lines of their action figures aimed at adults, such as their Star Wars: The Black Series and their Marvel Legends line of figures. While it may always remain a niche hobby, it is a market that is on the rise around the world.