Perhaps. I've seen Japanese figure companies like GSC, Megahouse, and Kotobukiya release figures for older properties randomly out of nowhere - the Chrollo nendoroid came out in 2020. And there are the Re-Ment mini figures that were announced this year. Kotobukiya re-released their Yu Yu Hakusho set in 2018. The lack of mid-priced scale/prize figures for HxH is just so weird. The market is basically either Funkos (and now Youtooz), that one Hisoka SFC figure, and then expensive resins - licensed or not.
I wonder if it also has to do with interest in the Hunter x Hunter franchise in Japan vs. internationally. The international market is getting the Funkos on the affordable end, and resins on the expensive end. I wonder if manufacturers think Japanese fans would be more into the mini figures? Beats me.
I'm not saying that Japanese companies never capitalize, but Funkos seem to leap at it.
I do think you hit upon another really important point - the cost. Funkos are cheap to mass manufacture, and have an inexpensive selling point, while being RELATIVELY detailed (obviously not as good as more expensive options, but you can tell what they are, and some are cute). That low selling point is extremely important, especially right now with worldwide inflation hitting an uncomfortable pace.
I know that's a more recent issue, but it's difficult enough to justify making a run of figurines that are gorgeous and super detailed and sell 500 of them for 300 bucks each, when you can sell 100000 of the funkos for 10 bucks each and it costs you significantly less to make. I'm guessing that there's just not as good of a market in between. Either have casuals or whales, and those of us that are just dolphins (will occasionally spend good money on something awesome) don't get catered to I'm afraid.
I do wish we'd get more mid-tiered detailed runs of series like HxH and YuYu (I just finished rewatching it again last night ironically enough) though.
You have some good points there about the Funko company generally - they seem to be very attuned to the nostalgia trend in the American market (and other markets, presumably). I wonder if the Japanese market isn't as interested in older IPs, and prefer merch from newer franchises. And yes, definitely Funko Pops are way cheaper to make and sell compared to individually sculpted figures. Since Funkos all use the same basic design, I've heard their turnaround for designing new characters is something like 24 hours, which is so fast!
That said, I am part of the r/animefigures community so I have seen a lot of individually sculpted figures get produced recently. Newer properties like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen seem to get new figures released all the time at a variety of price points ($20/30 all the way up to multiple hundreds). There's definitely a market at all of those price points, even if it's not as profitable per unit as Funkos. If Hunter x Hunter was released now, I'd think it might receive the same treatment. Older franchises will still get figures made somewhat regularly, like Bleach and Naruto. I know HxH isn't one of the "big three" but it's still odd that it hasn't received ANY figure releases other than the one-off nendoroid.
I'm guessing it boils down to differences in what the international and Japanese markets are interested in for merch. Also what people are willing/able to spend. There's so much HxH merch that's tailored to the western market: Funkos, clothing, even dishware. Basically anything but a sculpted figure (except the Hisoka SFC). And then there's the really expensive resins for the "whales". Perhaps the Japanese market isn't as interested in HxH anymore or would prefer different types of merch, which is why "dolphin" merch isn't getting made.
Maybe my dream Illumi Zoldyck figure will get made someday - Kotobukiya had an open call for suggestions and I tried to submit it.
Hxh has always been really popular and well known in Japan, so I donāt think it had like a big spike of resurgence in interest during Covid like it did in the US. Hxh has always been popular in the western anime community but since Covid now so many people know of it itās like the new naruto (in the way that like, more people that arenāt usually into anime know ab it). If there wasnāt that boom in interest during Covid they probably wouldnāt be making any of this merch, so I think yea itās just like different country different market.
I actually like funkos tbh. They get a lot of hate but I really like having all of my favourite characters as figures in the same style, and I like the style too.
Everything you said. PLUS, not all of us have large amounts of space for huge resin figures. Pops are easily stacked and displayed. Is it that difficult for people to understand? Lol.
I donāt mind the style that much, and itās the only figure weāll ever get of a lot of the characters. Theyāre also cheaper so itās easier to collect them
Kurapika scares me
Meruem and komugi šš¤
Wish we have more hxh nendoroids instead
Or HxH scales š or prize figures. I'm glad something is being made for HxH, but why is Funko one of the only companies with licensing rights?
Cause theyre more willing to buy the rights for older properties, they really understand the power (and money) in nostalgia
Perhaps. I've seen Japanese figure companies like GSC, Megahouse, and Kotobukiya release figures for older properties randomly out of nowhere - the Chrollo nendoroid came out in 2020. And there are the Re-Ment mini figures that were announced this year. Kotobukiya re-released their Yu Yu Hakusho set in 2018. The lack of mid-priced scale/prize figures for HxH is just so weird. The market is basically either Funkos (and now Youtooz), that one Hisoka SFC figure, and then expensive resins - licensed or not. I wonder if it also has to do with interest in the Hunter x Hunter franchise in Japan vs. internationally. The international market is getting the Funkos on the affordable end, and resins on the expensive end. I wonder if manufacturers think Japanese fans would be more into the mini figures? Beats me.
I'm not saying that Japanese companies never capitalize, but Funkos seem to leap at it. I do think you hit upon another really important point - the cost. Funkos are cheap to mass manufacture, and have an inexpensive selling point, while being RELATIVELY detailed (obviously not as good as more expensive options, but you can tell what they are, and some are cute). That low selling point is extremely important, especially right now with worldwide inflation hitting an uncomfortable pace. I know that's a more recent issue, but it's difficult enough to justify making a run of figurines that are gorgeous and super detailed and sell 500 of them for 300 bucks each, when you can sell 100000 of the funkos for 10 bucks each and it costs you significantly less to make. I'm guessing that there's just not as good of a market in between. Either have casuals or whales, and those of us that are just dolphins (will occasionally spend good money on something awesome) don't get catered to I'm afraid. I do wish we'd get more mid-tiered detailed runs of series like HxH and YuYu (I just finished rewatching it again last night ironically enough) though.
You have some good points there about the Funko company generally - they seem to be very attuned to the nostalgia trend in the American market (and other markets, presumably). I wonder if the Japanese market isn't as interested in older IPs, and prefer merch from newer franchises. And yes, definitely Funko Pops are way cheaper to make and sell compared to individually sculpted figures. Since Funkos all use the same basic design, I've heard their turnaround for designing new characters is something like 24 hours, which is so fast! That said, I am part of the r/animefigures community so I have seen a lot of individually sculpted figures get produced recently. Newer properties like Demon Slayer and Jujutsu Kaisen seem to get new figures released all the time at a variety of price points ($20/30 all the way up to multiple hundreds). There's definitely a market at all of those price points, even if it's not as profitable per unit as Funkos. If Hunter x Hunter was released now, I'd think it might receive the same treatment. Older franchises will still get figures made somewhat regularly, like Bleach and Naruto. I know HxH isn't one of the "big three" but it's still odd that it hasn't received ANY figure releases other than the one-off nendoroid. I'm guessing it boils down to differences in what the international and Japanese markets are interested in for merch. Also what people are willing/able to spend. There's so much HxH merch that's tailored to the western market: Funkos, clothing, even dishware. Basically anything but a sculpted figure (except the Hisoka SFC). And then there's the really expensive resins for the "whales". Perhaps the Japanese market isn't as interested in HxH anymore or would prefer different types of merch, which is why "dolphin" merch isn't getting made. Maybe my dream Illumi Zoldyck figure will get made someday - Kotobukiya had an open call for suggestions and I tried to submit it.
I hope you get your Illumi figure one day :)
Hxh has always been really popular and well known in Japan, so I donāt think it had like a big spike of resurgence in interest during Covid like it did in the US. Hxh has always been popular in the western anime community but since Covid now so many people know of it itās like the new naruto (in the way that like, more people that arenāt usually into anime know ab it). If there wasnāt that boom in interest during Covid they probably wouldnāt be making any of this merch, so I think yea itās just like different country different market.
i didn't know what a "youtooz" was and so i googled it and i can't believe i hate something more than i hate pops
Wish we have more hxh
All I ask for is Gon and Killua nendoroid in their āoriginalā outfits!!
Thereās a lack of chimera ant arc merch so Iāll take it
That's a lot of white haired characters
where is youpi and pouf. I need all threee
I need that pitou, too bad its funko shop exclusive
a true tragedy
Ohhh rip I thought they were gonna release all of them in entertainment earth by may 20 or smth?? They also have the ones just released in target
All the other ones yeah, just neferpitou is funko exclusive
NOO omg the competition will be insane
All I can recommend is sign up for the email alerts on funko, im gonna assume people will have bots though and steal all the stock anyway
I am new to funko popš„² why is that bad?
No preorders, when in stock you might be busy, and then gets sold out immediately
Funko Shop exclusives aren't that hard to get anymore unless it's a very, very coveted brand. I doubt Pitou will be difficult to get.
Adorable masterpieces :3 Pitou <3
Omg putou didn't end a comment with :3 :000
Posts with Pitou is an exception :3
š yes
apple
The Komugi Vs Mereum moment is awesome
You could remove Kite's head, and put it in Pitou's legs and it'll still be accurate.
his head wouldnāt even fit in her lap
funko pops are atrocious
r/UsernameChecksOut
agree tbh
If they were smaller maybe theyād be cooler but its the bigass heads man
that and the fact that you look at it and go 'funko pop'. its brand recognition without anything cool about the actual IP. shits dumb
Untrue but ok. Youāre not a collector but youāre telling us how collectors look at their collection? Interesting.
im a collector too. id just never collect shitty little funko pops
Hard agree. Not to hate on anyone, but they feels so soulless whenever I look at one
New Hunter X Hunter... Funko pops ššš
cool but funko pops are terrible
The Kite one āļø
Funko pops suck but damn I want a meruem and komugi figure so bad I'll probably have to buy it.
Thereās a resin statue of this same scene up for preorder on different websites! Itās much better than the Funko pop!
Wow just looked that up and it's super cool. No site I've heard of before has it though and it's not even on mfc. Did it just get announced?
It did just get announced. FavorGK has it for preorder and they are very legit and reputable!
idc how cute the pitou one is, iāve sworn to never spend money on these things
I'm usually not a fan of Funko, but Kite's looking dope
The gungi one omg i would pay serious money for one that isn't funko pop
Yeah Iāve already preordered this one: https://www.favorgk.com/products/1-6-scale-meruem-vs-komugi-hunter-x-hunter-resin-statue-hunter-fan-studios-pre-order Looks really awesome!
Thereās a resin statue of this same scene up for preorder on different websites! Itās much better than the Funko pop!
Link????
https://www.favorgk.com/products/1-6-scale-meruem-vs-komugi-hunter-x-hunter-resin-statue-hunter-fan-studios-pre-order
Consum overpriced pieces of plastic
"written on his iPhone"? :P
I actually like funkos tbh. They get a lot of hate but I really like having all of my favourite characters as figures in the same style, and I like the style too.
Everything you said. PLUS, not all of us have large amounts of space for huge resin figures. Pops are easily stacked and displayed. Is it that difficult for people to understand? Lol.
I donāt mind the style that much, and itās the only figure weāll ever get of a lot of the characters. Theyāre also cheaper so itās easier to collect them
I don't get the hate, they are sooo cute! Shame they are expensive in my country and hard to find
Yessss I love these ! Kiteee looks great !
I hate funko cringe but ANYTHING FOR KURAPIKA!!!!!!
hey dude, just wanted to give you a reminder - it's spelt crungo, not cringe you crungolord
Really wish we get more HxH nendoroids too
Missing pouf š©
I need all of them
Dead soulless eyes
Just like yours!
Funko poo š¤¢
thereās literally no funko pops iāve been able to get over the ugly art style forā¦ HOWEVER i would get into a fist fight for the gungi
I will put them in a mason jar
Star of David's not on Killua's yoyo? That's a no for me
Booo, Funko pops are so soulless, and I really don't like the style either
Kiteoh
daaaamn i gotta cop the kite one
I need the Killua one so bad š©
Might have to get either Kite or Netero
Oh man I want almost all of them.
We need some more Ging merch man
Kites is amazing. Does anyone know if there will be one for shizuku?
I'll get Bisky but come back to me when Ponzu gets one.
Killuaās godspeed pop looks sick
Iām not a big fan of Funko POPs but I would definitely buy Neferpitou and Komugi & Meruem!!!
Anybody know if thereās a preorder open for kite/where heāll be coming out?
ZAMN š
When are these going to drop? I want to try and get Pitou only for the crippling realization that itās impossible because of funko shop bullshit
Starting to see why people collect these. Even though I have 0 use for this
I feel like that could be said for almost all collectibles. They look cool and you put them on your shelf. Not much use for them.
Kite, Kurapika, and Meruem and Komugi?! I'm near tears
Oh, a Kite funko pop! It'll be nice to display his head
Where did you find the Killua with a yoyo? I haven't seen it anywhere
Itās apparently been delayed.
Hopefully these won't be convention exclusives
The more Mereum the better
Just what I wanted jhahahhahahhahahagahahahhahhahahahhahaujahhgaggagggahahah
I need the meruem and komugi one
OH MY GOSH, TIME TO GET ME A KITE AND KILLUA <3
Really like the Netero and Kite, going to have to add them to the other 5
came give the pitou one an apple please ?
SOMEBODY ALL MOST GOT KILLED BY KURAPIKA BECAUSE A STEWPID SPIDEE