This series of figures has released hundreds of different articulated action figures that often include various accessories as well. One of the most widely known lines of action figures is the figma brand, which is owned by Good Smile Company. Cosplayers and artists can also use these figures as a reference to create poses that a specific character would make. Rather than playing with them, though, those that buy these figures often use their flexibility to recreate iconic scenes and poses from whichever series the figure came from. Otaku merchandise labeled as “action figures” often have a great amount of articulation, particularly in the joints, allowing for a user to create a variety of different poses with the figure. Despite the notable difference in quality, however, these figures still function similarly to other action figures.
While many often think about cheap plastic toys designed for children when thinking about action figures, these figures are of much higher quality and are often much more expensive than what you would find in a child’s toy box. These figures are similar to what many in the Western world are familiar with, but are often taken to the next level when talking about otaku merchandise. Some of the more widely available types of figures are action figures, scale figures, and chibi figures. Several different styles of figures are also available that each have their own set of perks and drawbacks. As such, hundreds upon thousands of individual figures with iconic poses are available for purchase from many different vendors like physical stores and online shops. While figures for some television and video game series are also made, most Japanese figure manufacturers often focus on popular anime and manga characters.
PHILLIP KNIGHTLEY Journalist and author, including of The First Casualty
ROB JOHNSON Deputy Director of the Changing Character of War team and Lecturer in the History of War at the University of Oxford, UK OLIVER JOHNSON Research Associate in the Department of Russian and Slavonic Studies, the University of Sheffield, UK PHILIP HAMMOND Professor of Media and Communications, London South Bank University, UK STEFAN GOEBEL Senior Lecturer in Modern British History, the University of Kent, UK JO FOX Professor of Modern History, Durham University, UK CULL Professor of Public Diplomacy, the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA BREWER Professor of History, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, USA STEPHEN BADSEY Reader in Conflict Studies, the University of Wolverhampton, UK JAMES AULICH Professor in the Manchester Institute for Research and Innovation in Art and Design (MIRIAD), Manchester Metropolitan University, UK