UlasanAnime.com – The world of figure collecting often reveals a person’s deepest desires, acting as a crucible for their impulses. It’s a financially demanding hobby that, once one moves beyond casual interest, presents a multitude of challenges. However, as the saying goes, “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
For those who are curious, a look at my collection on MyFigureCollection.net can serve as a reference point. Through years of dedicated figure collecting, I’ve identified certain recurring traits in my favorite anime character designs.
These traits include: long, blond hair styled in twintails, a preference for thigh-high socks, and the presence of ribbons. Blue eyes are also a frequent characteristic. This assessment is quite accurate.
It’s also evident that I have a strong affinity for characters and series from the Type-Moon universe, a fact that is likely well-known. Furthermore, my preferred figure manufacturers, in order of ownership, are Good Smile Company (GSC), Alter, Kotobukiya, and Max Factory.
While Saber holds the top spot as the character I own the most figures of, the next four most represented characters in my collection are Rin Tohsaka, Miku Hatsune, Ciel (from Tsukihime), and Rinko Kobayakawa. This is not entirely surprising, but I am particularly curious about how I ended up with so many Ciel figures. My collection of Rinko figures could also be more extensive, though the available options are somewhat limited. It’s worth noting that all but one of my Arcu figures are actually from the Phantasmoon series.
Interestingly, I own more figures with flat chests than those with larger busts. This might be partly due to Miku’s physique, which falls somewhere in the middle, making her classification ambiguous.
I also noticed the absence of a “cast-off” tag in my collection, suggesting I might not own a substantial number of figures that feature this particular characteristic.
As previously discussed, figures that depict suggestive or revealing content, often referred to as “naughty figures,” represent a rapidly expanding segment of the fixed-pose PVC figure market. This trend could potentially extend to the action figure market as well, including lines like figma and Nendoroid.
Historically, the quality of figures targeted towards adult entertainment was often subpar. These figures typically focused on explicit content and were priced at over 10,000 yen, with questionable build quality. While this still occurs, a new category of figures featuring revealing elements is emerging. These are often presented as artistically appealing limited editions, such as Native’s special order figures, or characters from popular fanservice titles like Tama-nee, Ikkitousen, and Queen’s Blade.
Depending on the level of explicitness, certain parts of these figures can be removed or replaced to achieve a more revealing appearance. Although they remain relatively expensive, partly due to their increased complexity, the craftsmanship has seen significant improvement.
This development reflects market realities, as “sex sells.” The emergence of this new market for suggestive figures should come as no surprise. Furthermore, advancements in 3D printing technology and improved VR capabilities may also contribute to this direction.
While this trend may have begun a few years ago, the “cast-off” concept is now gaining significant momentum, perhaps even entering its third phase. Even figures based on blatant eroge titles are now being produced with improved quality, though they can still be considered mediocre. The appeal of these “cast-off” figures has evolved to the point where the primary driving force behind a purchase is the figure’s concept and sculpt quality, rather than just the ability to undress it. Of course, one could argue that any figure can be “undressed” in a metaphorical sense.
The “dirty laundry” of the otaku world may not always be pleasant, but there are options for airing it out. Even the most socially awkward otaku have choices available to them.
Year in Review 2013 Index:
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