Aquamarine

An independent maker remembered for thoughtful license choices and a short, respected run

At a glance

Status: No longer active. Operations ended in August 2020.
Based in: Tokyo in Japan.
Known for: Fixed scale figures from Touhou Project; Fate Grand Order; Key adaptations; Jeanne d Arc Swimsuit.
Good fit: collectors seeking overlooked Touhou Project characters; Key adaptations; less frequently used Fate Grand Order characters.
Before buying: prioritize well kept secondhand copies; production has ended and another manufacturing run cannot replace a damaged figure.
Research coverage: Extensive

TL;DR

Independent Japanese manufacturer (2011-2020) that chose overlooked licenses from Touhou Project, Fate/Grand Order, and interactive story games.
Worked with sculpting studio Knead and used Good Smile Company (GSC) for distribution. After Aquamarine ceased operations, GSC completed some unfinished products.
Production has ended with no possibility of another manufacturing run, so buyers now depend on well-kept secondhand copies.

Distributed by Good Smile Company

Aquamarine was the small manufacturer with good taste. Founded in October 2011 and distributed through Good Smile Company, it built an identity around overlooked licenses: interactive story games, lesser-used TYPE-Moon characters, Touhou Project, Key adaptations, and romance-focused anime with deeply dedicated fan bases. For those fans, Aquamarine was often the only source of quality figures made at a fixed proportion to the character.

They partnered with sculptor studios like Knead (now an independent manufacturer) and individual sculptors like Mizuki, whose work brought refinement to the output. GSC’s distribution gave Aquamarine broader retail reach than a company of its size would normally achieve.

Creative Risks in Pose and Presentation

Aquamarine primarily produced figures at one-seventh or one-eighth of a character’s intended height. Its Fate/Grand Order Jeanne d’Arc Swimsuit version became a real hit. The company also covered SSSS.GRIDMAN, Log Horizon, Ane Naru Mono, and adaptations of Key’s interactive story games. Its willingness to try unusual poses and presentations distinguished the work from that of more conservative manufacturers.

At their best, Aquamarine occupied a quality bracket where collectors felt confident pre-ordering without waiting for owner photographs. The figures weren’t competing at the Alter or GSC premium tier, but the sculpting was crisp, paint held up well, and the likenesses landed.

What to Look For Secondhand

The Jeanne d’Arc Swimsuit, Touhou Reimu releases, and Key character figures all hold appeal on the resale market. Condition matters more than usual because damaged copies cannot be replaced through another production run, making well-kept examples especially desirable.

COVID Shutdown and GSC Rescue

Aquamarine ceased operations on August 3, 2020, closing simultaneously with Easy Eight, a companion company focused on military model kits. COVID-19 had disrupted manufacturing, shipping, retail, and event sales. Outstanding pre-orders were left unfulfilled, and retailers like AmiAmi processed refunds for customers awaiting figures that could not be completed.

Good Smile Company stepped in to take over development and release of Aquamarine and Easy Eight products that had been available for pre-order through GSC distribution. Not every pre-order was saved, but the rescue preserved work that collectors had worried was lost.

Aquamarine ran lean, distributed through a partner, and depended entirely on pre-order revenue to fund production. COVID took out every link in that chain at once. There was no cushion.