Best and Worst Figure Brands

To say there are better and worse brands when it comes to figures is a bit of a broad statement. Are some of them higher quality? Sure, but they come at a much higher price. But are the cheaper ones worth collecting if they aren't any good? Probably not, unless you enjoy the hilarity of a creepy version of your favourite character that is. We are going to look into the pros and cons of the top merchandising companies to try and give you an idea of which brand is best for you.

SEGA

Firstly, we have the worldwide incorporation, Sega. I was very dubious with the first ever Sega figure I bought as I assumed it was a soulless effort on their part to try and get some extra cash flow. Thankfully though, I was very surprised with the quality and originality at the price they offered!

The figure in question is the 'Perching PVC Statue Zenitsu Agatsuma'. I was confused at first as to why Sega was producing Demon Slayer merchandise but at £14.99 (the price at the time) I wanted to see if it was worth adding to my small collection. 

Obviously, the first thing I noticed was the packaging. They had designed a colourful and glossy box featuring the sitting Zenitsu holding a rice ball with Ukogi perched on his head. Weirdly the image was printed horizontally rather than most figures that go for the vertical printing but I suppose this was to try and set themselves apart. 

The figure itself looked almost identical to the one on the box, which can be misleading with some brands! There were great details on every aspect of the figure in comparison to other figures at this price I had bought. I was honestly really happy with it until I noticed his foot... Unfortunately, one of his feet hadn't been glued on correctly and there wasn't really a way to fix it. I didn't really mind as it was a relatively cheap figure but it was still a bit of a shame as the rest of the figure was just as advertised.

This didn't put me off of Sega at all and I continued to buy products from them, including an Obanai Perched figure from the same collection which was perfect! I would recommend Sega figures, though the prices have gone up over the past few years, they are worth it for the most part.

Pros

• Good detail at a lower price than premium figures (Between £20 - £40)
• Creative designs that are advertised as they come
• Wide variety of collaborations

Cons

• Quality control can be missed (I have only experienced this once)
• Lots of fake versions online at much lower quality

 

Banpresto

Banpresto is a common figure brand that is now owned by Bandai. They have broadened their horizens over the years but mainly specialise in Shonen animes and manga. I started with Banprestos 'Rising Heroes' collection (My Hero Academia) a few years ago and ended up getting about 10 in total. 

Banpresto figures come in lots of little parts (often 4-5) that you need to assemble. They are relatively easy to put together and stand okay but it doesn't always bring the product you expected. I have found this improved over the years but some of the MHA figures clearly didn't have that much effort put into the design. With the sheer amount of figures they create, many of the same character can look similar in position and facial expression but they can come at a very low price!

But does the low price effect the quality? As much as I'd like to say these are high end products at super low prices, in this industry, you get what you pay for. When it comes you the extremely cheap Banpresto figures (around the £10 mark) they don't have the same personality as the higher end figures the brand make. I often find that the cheaper figures of less sought after characters all have the same generic anime face. It can be jarring to look at when you see a characters hair and outfit plonked onto a random featureless face.

Having said that, I have also got some cheaper figures from Banpresto that I love and are great quality! They seem to be very hit and miss with their lower budget figures but if you're willing to pay more around £20-25 they're generally a great addition to a collection.

Pros

• Cheap price wise
• Lots of options of characters and positions
  
• Creative stands on the slightly more expensive items

Cons

• Needs assembly (not necessarily a con but not ideal for everyone)
• Plain black display stands on cheaper items 
• Less individuality in budget items

 

FuRyu

FuRyu seems to be a lesser known brand of figures in the UK at least. I only have a few of them due to their price bracket but I've got to say they are some of my favourites.

My partner bought two FuRyu figures while in Camden a few years ago, a standing Sebastian Michaelis and a sitting Ciel Phantomhive from Black Butler. These figures were about £50 each (new from a private seller) which was one of our biggest purchases when it came to figures. We were unsure at first if it was a mistake but we knew the moment we opened them they were worth it!

These particular figures were able to be put on one stand together and be by themselves depending on how you wanted to display them. Both figures were identical to the image on the box, they were also amazing design and detail in the clothing and objects they are holding/sitting on. Even the chair Ciel rests on has indents moulded to him so he appears more like he's sitting on a cushioned chair rather than placed on it.

The only thing was I was slightly disappointed in them was the faces. As their faces are quite small it must have been hard to get the mouth and nose right but I would have liked them to read more as the characters we know. It's clear the face wasn't an afterthought though as the eyes are very detailed and perfect proportions.

FuRyu has a great selection of noodle stoppers and less expensive figures, expanding further than other brands and not just creating shonen characters. There is a lot to love in these more budget friendly versions if you are looking for just a simple sitting or standing figure of your favourite characters.

Pros

• Great quality for a decent price (£25-50)
• High increase in price if kept in good condition on the higher end products

Cons

• Lots of fakes and copies of the products (especially the noodle stoppers)
• Harder to find in the UK (not impossible but less likely)

 

Megahouse

If you're a fan of colleting, chances are you've seen a Megahouse figure that you fell in love with... Until you saw the price that is. Due to the price, we only have a few items from them including a large G.E.M. series figure of several water type Pokémon which is amazing! This cost around £75 which for Megahouse is relatively cheap compared to their extravagant figures worth hundreds.

In the UK the most popular figures from Megahouse is probably their 'Look Up' series, known for their cute chibi takes on characters. Though these aren't very detailed I would still class them as being in a higher price bracket as they can start from around £40 in the UK. 

Pros

• Extravagant designs and concepts
• Variety in price (though none of it is 'cheap')
• Great quality

Cons

• The prices can get silly for most people
• Not many options for budget figures

Obviously, these aren't the only figure brands that there is to choose from. I chose not to mention some of the brands I would like to do a more in depth review on like The Good Smile Company as they have so many different types of products!

At the end of the day, there is no one answer. Different brands are better for different people and types of collections, it all depends on your personal preference and budget. To avoid the gut wrenching disappointment of wasting your money on a fake or even a scam, make sure to use a trusted site and read as many reviews as you can to check they aren't bots.

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