Anime Glossary

Anime Collectibles Glossary

Welcome to our comprehensive guide to anime collectibles! Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting, understanding the terminology used in the anime statue and figurine world will help you navigate this exciting hobby. Here’s a breakdown of key terms and concepts related to anime statues, figurines, and action figures.

Action Figure – A poseable toy figure, often featuring articulation points that allow for movement. Unlike anime statues, action figures are meant for play and dynamic posing rather than static display.
Anime (アニメ) – A style of animation that originated in Japan, characterized by colorful artwork, fantastical themes, and vibrant characters. Many anime series have associated merchandise, including statues, figurines, and action figures.
Articulation – The ability of a figure or action figure to move at different joints, allowing for dynamic poses.
Accessories – Additional parts included with figures, such as extra hands, faceplates, weapons, or props.
Acrylic Standee – A flat, printed acrylic representation of an anime character, often used as a budget-friendly collectible.
Anime Convention Exclusives – Limited edition or unique items sold at anime conventions, typically only available at those events.
Artbook – A book containing art, designs, and illustrations from an anime, often including behind-the-scenes content and character concepts.
Alter – A well-known Japanese figure manufacturer that produces high-quality, detailed anime figures.
Anime Goods – Collectibles, merchandise, and products based on anime properties, including figures, keychains, posters, and more.
Anime Plush – Soft, stuffed toys based on anime characters, often designed for display or as cuddle companions.

Bishoujo (美少女, “Beautiful Girl”) – A style of anime and figures that focus on attractive female characters, often depicted in elegant or alluring poses.
Bishounen (美少年, “Beautiful Boy”) – Male equivalent of bishoujo, focusing on attractive and stylish male characters.
Bootleg – Unauthorized and counterfeit figures made to imitate official anime statues and figurines. Bootlegs often have lower quality, poor paintwork, and lack official branding.
Blind Box – A type of collectible where the buyer does not know which figure they will receive until the box is opened.
Base – The stand or platform that supports a figure, sometimes decorated with logos or themed designs.
Booster Pack – A pack of collectible cards, figures, or other items, usually part of a set where collectors try to complete the series.
Bust – A collectible figure that features only the upper part of a character, often from the chest up, focusing on their face and expression.

Cast-Off Figures – Figures designed with removable clothing or accessories, typically found in more mature or adult-themed anime collectibles.
Chibi (ちび) – A super-deformed (SD) or miniaturized version of an anime character, often with exaggeratedly large heads and small bodies.
Cold Cast – A high-quality material used in premium statues, typically made by mixing resin with metal powder for a heavy and detailed finish.
Collector’s Edition – A limited-edition version of a statue or figure, often featuring exclusive accessories, alternate faceplates, or premium packaging.
Cel (Celluloid) – A hand-painted frame of animation used in older anime production; sometimes sold as collector’s items.
Clear Files – Thin plastic folders featuring anime artwork, commonly used for organizing documents and as collectibles.
Clutch Figure – A small, collectible figure, typically keychain-sized, that is often part of a blind box or set.
Comic-Con Exclusive – A collectible item released exclusively at Comic-Con or similar conventions, often limited in quantity.
Custom Figure – A figure that has been modified or hand-painted by a collector or artist to create a unique version of a character.

Diorama – A scene or setting that includes multiple characters or elements to create a complete display. Some high-end anime statues are dioramas featuring intricate backgrounds and effects.
Die-Cast – Figures or parts of figures made from metal, adding durability and weight.
Doujinshi (同人誌) – Self-published fan-made manga or books that sometimes inspire unofficial figures.
Display Case – A protective case used to showcase and protect figures from dust and damage.
Dynamic Pose – A sculpting style that captures movement and action in a figure, making it appear more lifelike.
Double Chance – An extra opportunity to win a rare item or prize, usually given after an Ichiban Kuji lottery by using a special code.

Exclusive – A collectible that is only available through specific channels, such as conventions, limited-time events, or direct from manufacturers. Exclusives are often rare and can be highly coveted.
Escalator Figure – A collectible figure designed to appear as though it is part of a series or larger scene when arranged with others.
Etched Glass Art – Collectible glass items featuring anime designs that are etched or engraved into the surface for a unique visual effect.

Figure – A general term for non-poseable or minimally poseable anime collectibles, typically made of PVC, ABS, or resin.
Figurine – A smaller, often simpler, and more affordable version of a figure. These are usually non-poseable and can be mass-produced, often found in blind boxes or as promotional items.
Figma – A line of articulated action figures produced by Max Factory, known for their high quality, multiple accessories, and interchangeable parts.
Funko Pop! – A stylized collectible vinyl figure series featuring various pop culture characters, including anime characters, with oversized heads and simplified features.
Foil Stamping – A decorative printing technique using metallic foil on figure packaging.
Flocked Figure – A figure with a soft, velvety texture achieved through the application of fine fibers, often used for exclusive or limited-edition items.
Figure Base – A stand or base used to secure a figure in place for display.
Full-Body Figure – A figure that represents the character in their entirety, from head to toe, as opposed to busts or smaller portions.

Garage Kit (GK) – A resin model kit that requires assembly and painting, often produced in limited quantities and targeted at experienced collectors.
Gachapon (ガチャポン) – Capsule toys dispensed from vending machines, often featuring mini figures.
Grail Figure – A highly desired figure that is rare, expensive, or difficult to obtain.
Gloss Finish – A shiny paint finish used on some figures for an enhanced appearance.
Graffiti Art – Collectible art pieces based on anime characters or scenes that are created using graffiti or street art styles.
Graffiti Figures – A variation of figures where characters are depicted in a unique, stylized art form that imitates street art or graffiti designs.

Hikkikomori (引きこもり) – A term for individuals who withdraw from society, often associated with anime and figure-collecting subcultures.
Holofoil – A holographic effect used on packaging or figure parts.
Hyper Detail – A term referring to figures with intricate sculpting and high attention to detail.
Hobbyist Figure – A figure created for the dedicated anime collector or enthusiast, often focusing on high-quality materials, detailed sculpting, and paintwork.
High-End Figure – Expensive, top-tier collectible figures typically made from premium materials like resin, with exceptional craftsmanship and attention to detail.
Hyper Detail – A figure that is no longer in production or is extremely rare and difficult to locate on the secondary market.

Ichiban Kuji (一番くじ) – A lottery system where participants draw tickets for a chance to win rare figures.
In-Between Version – A variant of a figure that is released between a standard version and an exclusive version, often with subtle changes like alternate colors or additional accessories.

Joints – The articulated parts of action figures that allow movement and posing.
Jumbo Figure – A large-scale figure, usually above 1/4 scale.
Japanese Import – A product that has been imported from Japan, often with higher value or rarity in other countries.
Jump Figures – Figures based on characters from Shonen Jump magazines and series, such as One Piece, Naruto, and Dragon Ball.

Kaiju (怪獣) – A genre of giant monster figures inspired by Japanese films like Godzilla.
Keychain – A small, often cute, collectible attached to a keyring, commonly made from PVC, rubber, or acrylic. These keychains feature popular anime characters and are typically affordable and easy to collect.
Kitsch – Collectibles that have a quirky or overly nostalgic aesthetic, often mass-produced and targeted toward casual collectors.

Last One Prize – A special collectible awarded to the buyer of the last ticket in an Ichiban Kuji lottery. It is often an exclusive or variant version of a regular prize, making it rarer and highly sought after by collectors.
Limited Edition (LE) – A collectible with a restricted production run, making it rarer and more valuable over time.
LPM (Limited Premium Figure) – High-quality figures produced in smaller runs, often found in Japanese arcades or prize lotteries.
Licensed Figure – A figure that has been officially licensed by the anime production company or franchise, ensuring it is authentic and not a bootleg.

Manga (漫画) – Japanese comic books or graphic novels, often the source material for anime series and their associated merchandise.
Mecha – A genre of anime featuring giant robots, often inspiring detailed and intricate collectible figures.
Metal Build – A high-end figure series featuring die-cast metal parts for added weight and durability, commonly seen in mecha figures.
MIB (Mint in Box) – A term for figures that are still in their original packaging.
Mod Kit – A custom modification made to an existing figure.
Mobile Figures – Figures designed for portability or display on mobile devices like smartphones or tablets.

Nendoroid – A popular line of chibi-style figures produced by Good Smile Company with interchangeable parts and accessories.
NSFW Figures – Figures featuring adult or explicit themes.
Non-Scale Figure – A figure that is not based on any specific scale, usually offering an alternative design or style from the original series.

Original Character (OC) – A figure based on an artist’s or company’s unique design rather than an existing anime.
Overseas Exclusive – Figures available only in certain international markets.

PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) – A common material used for making anime figurines and statues, known for being lightweight, durable, and cost-effective.
POP UP PARADE – A budget-friendly figure line by Good Smile Company that offers high-quality anime figures at an affordable price.
Prize Figures – Figures often found in Japanese arcade crane games, typically more affordable and slightly lower in quality than premium collectibles.
Prize Pool – The collection of items or prizes available for winning in an Ichiban Kuji or similar lottery event. It typically includes several tiers of prizes, ranging from common items to rare collectibles.
Puchi Figure – A small, often chibi-style, figure designed for mass production and sold at lower prices. These are typically part of trading figure sets or blind boxes.
Pre-order Bonus – A collectible item or exclusive accessory offered as an incentive for pre-ordering a figure or product.

Q-Posket – A line of chibi-style, small collectible figures produced by Banpresto, known for their cute and colorful designs.
Quality Control (QC) – The process by which collectibles are inspected for defects or inconsistencies before they are sold to consumers.

Resin – A premium material used for high-end statues, offering better detail than PVC but being more fragile and expensive.
Revoltech – A brand of highly articulated action figures using a unique joint system for dynamic posing.
Repaint – A variant of an existing figure where the paint or color scheme is altered. Repaints are often released as limited editions or special versions, making them sought after by collectors.
Rare Figure – A figure that is difficult to find, often due to limited production or discontinuation, making it highly valuable among collectors.

Scale Figures – Figures that are created in a specific size ratio relative to the character’s actual height (e.g., 1/8 scale means the figure is one-eighth the size of the original character).
Statue – A highly detailed and often larger representation of a character, typically made of resin or high-quality PVC. Statues are often non-poseable and intended for display as an art piece.
Strap – A small collectible that can be attached to items like phone cases or bags, often featuring anime characters.

Touhou Project – A popular indie bullet-hell game series that has inspired numerous anime-style figures.
Trading Figures – Small, blind-boxed figures sold in sets, making collecting full series a challenge.
Toy – A broader term for any collectible item designed for play or display, including figures, plushies, and action toys.

UFO Catcher Prize – A prize won from Japanese claw machines (UFO Catchers), typically consisting of smaller anime merchandise like plushies, figures, or keychains.
Ultra Rare – A designation for a highly limited or difficult-to-find collectible, often used for special editions or exclusive figures.

Vignette – A small-scale scene or figure set that represents a specific moment or theme from an anime. It may involve multiple characters or accessories arranged in a detailed scene.
Vinyl Figure – A figure made from vinyl, a lighter and often more affordable material compared to PVC. These figures are typically simpler in design and often mass-produced.

WCF (World Collectable Figure) – A line of small collectible figures produced by Banpresto, known for their detailed designs and pocket-size form.
Whimsical Figure – A collectible figure with a playful or fantasy-inspired design, often featuring exaggerated or imaginative elements.

X-clusive – A term used to describe highly limited, exclusive, or rare collectible figures, often used for special releases.

Yuru-chara – A type of cute, mascot-like figure that represents regional, cultural, or corporate characters, often made into collectibles.

Zero Edition – A term used to describe the very first run of a collectible or figure, which is often seen as more valuable.