Figma
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese action figure
line produced by Max Factory and distributed by Good Smile Company
. A large number of the figures are based on bishōjo
anime
characters, and are available with various accessories, such as exchangeable faces. Occasionally figma figures are created based on other subjects such as characters from the Japanese voice synthesizing software, Vocaloid
, from a well-known bullet hell game Touhou, the subject of a popular Japanese internet meme, Billy Herrington
, and a figure of Michael Jackson
from his "Thriller" music video..
Rob Bricken, reviewing a Lelouch Figma figurine for Anime News Network
, described it as "the perfect marriage of accuracy and poseability". He later described the Figma line in general as "[one] of the most prolific (and reasonably priced) anime toylines around". In 2008, three Figma dolls were among the top ten 'toy and hobby' items sold on Amazon Japan
.
based on and bundled with the PS2 game, Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi. It was released on January 31, 2008 with the product code SP001. Since then, figmas have been produced in three different formats:
Action figure
An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and male collectors...
line produced by Max Factory and distributed by Good Smile Company
Good Smile Company
Good Smile Company is a Japanese manufacturer of hobby products, such as scale figures and the Nendoroid and figma product lines. In addition to manufacturing, its business includes figure design and marketing...
. A large number of the figures are based on bishōjo
Bishojo
is a Japanese term used to refer to young and pretty girls, usually below university age. Bishōjo is not listed as a word in the prominent Japanese dictionary Kōjien...
anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
characters, and are available with various accessories, such as exchangeable faces. Occasionally figma figures are created based on other subjects such as characters from the Japanese voice synthesizing software, Vocaloid
Vocaloid
is a singing synthesizer application, with its signal processing part developed through a joint research project between the Pompeu Fabra University in Spain and Japan's Yamaha Corporation, who backed the development financially—and later developed the software into the commercial product...
, from a well-known bullet hell game Touhou, the subject of a popular Japanese internet meme, Billy Herrington
Billy Herrington
Billy Herrington is a bisexual American actor best known for his work in gay pornography.-Biography:Herrington grew up in Long Island learning karate from his father, a sensei...
, and a figure of Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
from his "Thriller" music video..
Rob Bricken, reviewing a Lelouch Figma figurine for Anime News Network
Anime News Network
Anime News Network is an anime industry news website that reports on the status of anime, manga, Japanese popular music and other otaku-related culture within North America, Australia and Japan. Additionally, it sometimes features similar happenings throughout the Anglosphere and elsewhere in the...
, described it as "the perfect marriage of accuracy and poseability". He later described the Figma line in general as "[one] of the most prolific (and reasonably priced) anime toylines around". In 2008, three Figma dolls were among the top ten 'toy and hobby' items sold on Amazon Japan
Amazon.com
Amazon.com, Inc. is a multinational electronic commerce company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, United States. It is the world's largest online retailer. Amazon has separate websites for the following countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, and...
.
History
The first figma was a special edition Haruhi SuzumiyaHaruhi Suzumiya
is the general name for a series of light novels written by Nagaru Tanigawa and illustrated by Noizi Ito which were subsequently adapted into other media. The story follows the title character Haruhi Suzumiya, a high school girl who can unconsciously change reality, and her strange antics with her...
based on and bundled with the PS2 game, Suzumiya Haruhi no Tomadoi. It was released on January 31, 2008 with the product code SP001. Since then, figmas have been produced in three different formats:
- normal edition with three-digit product codes, such as 001
- special edition with three-digit product codes preceded by SP, such as SP001. These figmas usually come bundled with a video game, manga or DVD
- limited edition with three-digit product codes preceded by EX, such as EX001. These figmas are sold exclusively at events, such as Wonder FestivalWonder FestivalThe Tokyo , or for short, is a bi-annual event to display and sell "garage kits", which are sculptures that usually replicate anime and game characters, but also popular mecha/sci-fi characters and creatures. These models are extremely detail oriented, and many of these sculptures appear in very...
, a semi-annual event hosted by Good Smile Company.