Ep 81: Nerdy Collectables

Topic: Nerdy Collectables

 

Nerds LOVE, I do mean, LOVE their collectables.  We love collecting stuff, and who doesn’t?  Everyone has a collection, but nerds have collections that seem to always seem odd and befuddling to most.  So here’s some follow up ideas for what you can give your favorite nerd this Christmas.

 

 

Funko Pop

Started in 1998, the brand was founded because its creator, Mike Becker, wanted a Big Boy Restaurant Mascot coin bank, but couldn’t find one that was affordable.  He created his own company and licensed the brand to make it.  This eventually led to them making Bobblehead of the Big Boy Mascot, which in turn eventually grew to other smaller brands.  In 2005, Becker sold the company to Brian Mariotti, who began aggressively licensing the bobblehead concept to other companies.  By 2011, the Pop! Vinyl line of figures came in to existence, which is what the company is most known for. 

 

The Pop! Vinyl is the company’s best selling product and most often thought of when thinking of Funko.  The style was intended to mimic the Japanese Chibi (Deformed Cuteness) art style and characterization, often seen Nendoroids(Chibi anime action figures).  Pop! Vinyls typically take on licensed works, usually movie, tv, comic, fantasy, and literary characters from a wide range of media brands, alongside real people like World Leaders, Wrestlers, and other celebrities. 

 

It’s popular to not open the Pop! Vinyls, as they work well as display pieces within their original boxes. Much like Vintage Action Figures, they can also lose some of their value if taken out of the box as well, assuming they’re resold.

 

There are some people however, who do not like Pop! Vinyl.  A majority of the criticism, or dislike, comes from the notion of:

• They look disturbing (White eyes)
• True / professional collectors don’t want cartoony collectables
• Too Mainstream
• Cheaply Made
• Mass Produced
• Not a True collection item
• Haters going to hate; OR Some people just hate what brings other people joy.

 

http://popvinyls.com/

 

 

Statues

Action Figures

Two types of action figures types:

• Vintage
• Premium

 

Vintage Action Figures are essentially Old Toys, kept in either Pristine or Good condition over the many years.  Their value differs from brand to brand, but typically follows the following format:

• Rarity
• In Box and/or all original items
• Condition

A toy originally played may do well on the open market if played with sparingly or taken care of over the years, but if it has the box and all original items, it will tend to see for much more.  Most people who by Vintage toys are often getting them for collection sake or re-buying their youth, ie buying something because they had it as child once or because they never had it as a child.

https://www.ebay.com/b/Vintage-Action-Figure-Lot/246/bn_7023219109

 

Premium Action Figures are just as they might sound; they tend to be made primarily for collectors and intended for an older demographic and market.  Unlike traditional Action Figures, these are meant to be taken out of the box and set up as a display.  They also tend to be taller than most Action Figures, ranging from 9inch to 15inch.  Their value may differ from brand to brand, but typically follow the format of:

• Rarity
• Detail / Complexity
• Pose-ability / Articulation

These toys are typically never intended to be played with, but rather, intended to be set up in a pose and marveled at for the remainder of their ownership.  Depending on the figure, they can range in to the $100s of dollars based. 

https://www.bigbadtoystore.com/

               

XXRAY

Jason Freeny, an American Pop Surrealist Artist, popularized the notion of a Cutaway toy/cartoon character sculpture that shows one half of a individual and an anatomical inside, similar to a x-ray.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/146648531591273567/

https://mightyjaxx.rocks/collections/xxray

 

Nendoriod

Created by the Good Smile Company in 2006, Nendoriods are typically 3-4 inch toy action figures of your favorite anime / video game characters from Japan.  What makes them unique is their Chibi look, high possibility, and various accessories including various faces, weapons, outfits, and props from their shows.  Because of a universal design of the Nendoriods, you can even swap heads, faces, and other element between various Nendoriods to get new looks and crossovers.  Most Nendoriods are single print runs of the figure, so only a limited amount are available, and pre-orders are available; but that’s not to say they always sell out.  The more popular the character, the harder it might be to find a Nendoroid, but they are around.  They typically set you back about $40-$60, depending on complexity and/or what kind of accessories are included.

https://www.goodsmile.info/en/products/category/nendoroid_series/announced/2020

 

 

 

Plushies

Tsum Tsums

A collectable Disney Plush series that are known for Disney characters shaped like logs.  The name comes from Japanese word tsumu, which means ‘to stack’.  The Plushies are well known for Disney character, including Star Wars and Marvel, though other imitators exist.  They come in a variety of sizes, which include:

• Micro – 2 inches
• Mini – 3.5 inches
• Small – 7.5 Inches
• Medium – 11 inches
• Large – 17 inches
• Mega – 21.5 Inches

Most, if not all, Disney characters have been made in to TsumTsums.  A popular mobile game allows you to collect the Tsum Tsums as additional character so the same, originally popularized in Japan as well: LINE: Disney Tsum Tsum.

 

Nesoberi

A primarily Japanese style of Plush, these pluses are similar to Tsum Tsum in the sense that the character is often found laying on their stomach, but are characterized by their oversized heads and chibi looks.  They tend to have large heads and tiny bodies.  While they aren’t meant to be stacked like Tsum Tsums, they can be.  While there is no Official name for this series of toys, Nesoberi is a brand of Sega Prizes that can be won via Crane Games.  They typically a head about 8-10 inches round, with a small body roughly a foot long.

 

Movie Prop Replicas

Perhaps not just movies, but people love to have replicates of the original items in movies, tv shows, or books.  Typically, original Movie Props rarely ever come on to the market outside of auctions or rare giveaways, and most auctions tend to be in the thousands of dollars.  The next best option are replicas, which instead of the $1000s, instead run in the $100 range instead.

 

Prop replicas can range from prop weapons / items, wardrobe / costumes, patches, parts, and more.  A good place to go is Etsy to find prop replicas that you may have not known existed outside of the main/licensed brands.

 

Most popular Movie replica, light saber from Star Wars.

 

https://www.entertainmentearth.com/s/prop-replicas/p

https://propstore.com/products/

 

 

 

Accessories

Women’s Fashion

Hand Bags

Pillows

Art work