Solarain
The Shenzhen maker whose original character went viral and launched an independent Chinese figure brand
At a glance
- Status
- Active.
- Based in
- Shenzhen in Guangdong China.
- Known for
- Original character figures; the Colors series; translucent effects; clean paintwork.
- Good fit
- collectors drawn to original Chinese illustrator art and vivid translucent effects.
- Before buying
- ask the retailer to use a second shipping box because the original packaging can be less sturdy.
- Research coverage
- Solid
TL;DR
- Shenzhen-based studio that designs AND manufactures its own figures. Not a Chinese factory producing Japanese designs; Solarain creates original characters, hires its own illustrators, and controls production end to end.
- The catalog splits between original characters (the Colors series with vivid translucent effects) and licensed anime figures, with only 5-10 releases a year. Prices fall between roughly $54 and $190 USD, and quality has improved visibly with each wave.
- Best for collectors drawn to original character designs or Chinese illustrator art. The licensed anime figures (Guilty Crown, Steins;Gate, Railgun) are solid, but the original work is where Solarain's visual identity is sharpest.
Where It Began
The Colors: BLUE figure went viral for a reason. A translucent raincoat catching light, vivid color gradients, a character that didn't exist in any anime or game. Collectors wanted to know who made it. The answer: Solarain, a Shenzhen studio established in the early 2020s that designs and manufactures everything domestically. Unlike Chinese factories producing figures designed in Tokyo, Solarain creates its own characters, hires its own illustrators, and ships under its own brand.
By the early 2020s, the Chinese collector market had matured enough to support domestic premium brands, and international collectors had grown receptive to non-Japanese manufacturers thanks to trailblazers like Myethos and APEX.
Colors, Translucence, and Drama
Solarain splits its catalog between original characters and licensed anime figures. The Colors series features original characters built around vivid color themes, each with translucent resin elements that define the visual identity. Licensed work covers Guilty Crown, A Certain Scientific Railgun, Steins;Gate, and Gridman Universe, primarily at 1/6 and 1/7 scale, about one-sixth or one-seventh of a character’s full height, with dynamic poses and saturated color palettes.
The translucent parts are the signature. Solarain uses clear and colored resin, a rigid casting material, for raincoats, water effects, and fabric hems that catch and diffuse light in ways standard PVC plastic cannot. Combined with high-contrast color choices and dramatic compositions, the result has more visual impact than a standard proportionally sized figure. Their licensed work treats source material loosely, prioritizing visual drama over strict character accuracy.
Growing Pains in Resin and Paint
Solarain’s early figures had visible quality gaps: uneven paint gradients, seam lines that needed more attention, and translucent parts that didn’t always sit flush. Later releases show markedly improved paint application and engineering, but the catalog is still small enough that consistency across an entire production batch remains unproven.
Pricing is competitive at ¥8,000 to ¥28,000, often undercutting comparable Japanese manufacturers at similar scales.
Solarain operates as an independent Chinese company with no known parent corporation. Manufacturing is domestic; Shenzhen-based facilities handle everything from sculpting to packaging. Controlling production end to end gives them cost advantages that most Japanese manufacturers cannot easily replicate.
Corporate details are sparse, typical of newer Chinese figure manufacturers that grew through domestic e-commerce rather than traditional hobby press channels.
Standout Releases and Buying Notes
Standout releases include Colors: BLUE, the Guilty Crown Inori, and the Steins;Gate swimsuit line. Direct imports from Chinese retailers may take longer to arrive than Japanese pre-orders, so factor in shipping timelines.
Resale values are still developing. Original character releases have no competing manufacturer versions, which supports buyer interest on the resale market. The small annual catalog avoids the oversaturation that dilutes demand for higher-volume brands.
Small Enough to Follow Completely
New A Certain Scientific Railgun preview models and a packed lineup for the Wonder Festival Shanghai event are on the horizon. The catalog is still small enough to follow as a complete brand, which is part of the appeal for collectors who like watching a studio develop in real time.