You watch a lot of anime and want your favorite characters to come to life in your room.

Collecting anime figures is a fun hobby that lets you explore the exciting world of anime and show how much you like these well-known characters.

This beginner’s guide to collecting anime toys will help you get started, whether you’re just starting out or want to add to what you already have.

In this full guide, we’ll show you the steps and tips you need to get started with your anime figure collection.

Choose Your Theme

Choose a central idea or theme for your collection. It might be based on a certain anime show, theme, type of character, or artist. Having a theme will help you keep your collection on track and make it more fun.

Anime Figure Collection/choose your theme

Reflect on Your Interests

Start by thinking about what you like and what interests you in the anime world. Think about the types of anime you like best, like action, magic, romance, or robots. Think about the personalities, types of art, or stories that stand out to you. Your collection should show how much you care about it.

Identify Your Favorite Series

Think about the anime shows that are very important to you. These can be the cartoons that got you interested in the genre or the ones that have stuck with you.

If you choose a theme based on your favorite show, you can focus on gathering models from that show and making a collection that shows how much you like those stories and characters.

Explore Different Genres or Themes

If you want to try out different kinds of anime, you might want to pick a theme that fits a certain kind of anime.

You could write about dream girls, robots, or even teams of characters from different types of anime. This lets you show off different parts of the anime world and make your collection more interesting.

Character Type or Design

Another way to choose a theme is to focus on certain kinds of characters or styles. You could collect figures of strong female characters, cute chibi-style characters, or figures with complicated designs.

Using this method, you can create a good group that shows off certain features or design elements.

Artist or Studio Focus

If you like the work of certain artists or cartoon companies, you can use them as inspiration for your theme. Some companies, like Studio Ghibli, have a unique type of work that a lot of people love.

By gathering models from a certain artist or company, you can show what they’ve done to make anime what it is.

Combination and Customization

Feel free to put together different themes or make up your own. You can mix figures from different shows or genres as long as they have a similar style or look.

You can also make your own theme by adding items, making dioramas, or making changes to the models.

Consider Long-Term Interest

It’s important to choose a theme that speaks to you right now, but you should also think about how it will hold up over time.

Both anime and your tastes can change over time, so think about whether the theme you choose will still be interesting to you in the future.

Set a Budget

Think about how much you want to spend on your collection. Prices can change a lot, so having a budget can help you decide what to buy and how to spend your money.

anime figure collection/Set a Budget

Assess Your Financial Situation

Start by taking a look at your money in general. Think about how much money you make, how much you spend, and what other financial responsibilities you have.

Find out how much you can spend on your figure collection without putting other important things on the back burner.

Determine Your Spending Limit

Set a limit on how many cartoon figures you can buy once you know how much money you have and how you spend it.

Depending on your wants and funds, you can make this budget every month, every week, or every year.

Set a limit that is fair and lets you enjoy meetings without putting too much strain on your finances.

Research Figure Prices

Doing research on the prices of anime toys will give you an idea of how much they generally cost.

Prices for figures can vary a lot based on things like size, quality, rarity, and license.

Compare prices at different shops, online markets, and government websites to get an idea of what to expect.

Prioritize Your Collection

Choose which of the people or themes in your collection you care about the most.

Set aside some of your budget just to get these key numbers. So you can focus on getting the most important numbers while staying within your budget.

Consider Additional Costs

Keep in mind that buying the first figure may not be the only cost of collecting cartoon figures.

These can be things like shipping costs, customs fees, show cases, and protection cases. Include these possible costs in your budget so you don’t have to worry about money when you least expect it.

Set Saving Goals

If you want specific figures or limited versions that cost more than you can afford right now, you might want to set savings goals. Set aside some of your budget to save for these big purchases.

This lets you plan and save over time, making it more likely that you’ll be able to get the figures you want without breaking your budget.

Decide on Scale and Style

There are different scales for anime figures, such as 1/8, 1/7, and 1/6, which tell you how big they are compared to the real character.

Choose a scale that meets both your needs and your budget. Also, think about what kind of figures you like, such as ones with a lot of details or ones that look like chibi.

Purchase Authentic Figures

Watch out for fake or “bootleg” models. You can be sure that the goods you buy are real if you buy them from authorized stores or official websites. Look for reflective stickers or certificates of origin from the company that made the item.

Storage

Think about how you’ll show off and keep your figures. To show off your collection, you might want to buy display cases, shelves, or glass boxes. To keep your figures in good shape, keep them out of direct sunlight and away from dust.

anime figure collection/storage

Keep Original Packaging

Whenever you can, keep figures in the box they came in. The packaging gives them an extra layer of safety while you store them and can help them keep their value if you ever want to sell or trade them.

Individual Figure Protection

If you don’t want dust to build up on figures that aren’t on display, you might want to put them in their safe cases or boxes.

This will also reduce the risk of scratches or other damage. Clear plastic cases are made just for figures that can be bought and can be a good investment.

Temperature and Humidity Control

Keep your figures in a place where the weather and humidity stay the same.

Avoid places where the weather changes a lot, where there is a lot of humidity, or where the sun shines directly on the figures.

These things can damage the figures by causing the colors to fade or the material to break down.

Avoid Contact and Pressure

When putting figures away, make sure they don’t bump into each other too much. Don’t put figures right on top of each other because the paint could rub off or the figures could break.

Using soft support, like foam or bubble wrap, can give you more safety.

Regular Cleaning

Dust your figures often so that dust doesn’t build up and cause damage over time. Use a soft cloth without lint or a brush made for cleaning surfaces that are easy to scratch.

Don’t use strong chemicals or rough objects that could hurt the surface of the figures.

Monitor for Pest Control

Pests like insects and mice can do a lot of damage to your collection, so keep an eye out for them. Take the right steps to stop bugs, like keeping the store area clean and, if necessary, using pest control methods.

Expand and Customize

You can add more themes, characters, or shows to your collection as it grows. You can also make your collection your own by adding decorations, theater sets, or creative ways to show off your figures.

Enjoy the Journey

In conclusion, collecting anime figures is a fun journey that lets you bring your favorite characters to life and show how much you love the anime world.

By using this beginner’s guide, you can get your collection off to a good start and make a display that shows off your love and style.

So, start your collection, take care of it, and let each figure you choose show how much you love anime. Have fun gathering!