UlasanAnime.com – This post summarizes key takeaways from a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session with representatives from Good Smile Company (GSC). The article highlights particularly interesting questions and answers, offering insights into the company’s operations and the figure collecting market.
One of the most discussed topics was the nature of Mikatan’s translated blog posts. Mikatan, an employee at GSC, regularly posts “reviews” of new figures, which are essentially PR pieces featuring product photos and insider information. While her blog is in Japanese, it’s translated into English, often with a slight delay. Some recent entries have been noted for their “fanservicey” content, which the author finds amusing, especially given Mikatan’s direct approach (“One of us”). The author suggests that some of the perceived “pervy” nature might be due to translation nuances.
Another significant point raised was regarding import restrictions and pricing discrepancies. The AMA touched upon price discrimination between Japanese and overseas releases, as well as the time lag for product availability. While the price differences aren’t always substantial, larger Japanese online retailers like HLJ, Hobby Search, and AmiAmi do a significant business selling internationally. The author notes that official overseas distribution setups face more hurdles, including licensing issues, which disadvantage local retailers. Historically, some Japanese distributors have asked Japanese retailers not to sell to overseas buyers, though this practice lacks legal enforcement. The author points out that most international buyers pay the same price for figures imported from Japan, making local shops the primary beneficiaries of slightly lower prices, albeit with a delay.
An intriguing prospect mentioned was GSC’s potential plan to hold tryouts for figure sculptors in the USA, indicating a move towards global talent acquisition.
The future of 3D printing, including advancements in painting technology, was also a subject of discussion, a topic that had previously gained traction in Japanese news cycles.
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Sales patterns between the US and Japan were also analyzed, with the findings largely aligning with expectations.
Moving to broader themes, the demand for more Vocaloid figures, particularly those not featuring Crypton characters, was emphasized. The author specifically mentioned IA as a potential candidate for future figure production.
It appears that GSC aims to produce figures based on popular franchises, suggesting a strategy of capitalizing on existing demand.
The article reiterates that figure collecting remains a niche market. However, as DQ noted, it possesses a “very wide bottom,” with a concentrated spike representing the passionate core of the community, including readers of the blog and members of sites like MyFigureCollection.
The author expresses a positive view of GSC, commending their marketing strategies and suggesting that attendees of events like Acen or AX should visit their booths for an enjoyable experience.
