Figure Industry Timeline

c. 2000 BCE: Egyptian ushabti figures

Ancient Egyptians craft small servant figurines to accompany the dead into the afterlife. Not a direct ancestor of the figure industry, but one of the earliest documented traditions of detailed miniature sculpture.

Ushabti were carved from stone, wood, and faience, often with remarkable detail for their size. The tradition spanned over 2,000 years of Egyptian history. The care invested in these small objects, far more than their functional purpose required, reflects the same pattern visible in figure sculpting today, even though the cultural lines never directly connected.

c. 300 BCE: Greek tanagra figurines

Workshops in ancient Greece produce small terracotta figures of everyday people (women, dancers, children), capturing personality and movement at palm-held scale. A parallel tradition, not a direct influence on Japan.

Tanagra figurines were mass-produced from molds and hand-painted, making them affordable for ordinary people. They weren't gods or heroes but ordinary people frozen in graceful poses. The parallels to modern figure manufacturing (mold-based production, hand-finishing, characters from everyday life) are striking, even though these traditions developed independently.

c. 1600s: Netsuke carving tradition emerges in Japan

Japanese artisans develop netsuke, intricately carved miniature sculptures in ivory and wood. They are part of a long Japanese tradition of miniature character carving that modern figures echo.

Netsuke carving is part of a long Japanese tradition of miniature character carving that modern figures echo. Netsuke originated as functional objects: small toggles used to secure pouches and containers (sagemono) to the sash of a kimono, since traditional Japanese garments had no pockets. What began as practical accessories evolved into an extraordinary art form as carvers competed to achieve the most lifelike detail in the smallest possible space, typically just 3 to 7 centimeters. The Edo period (1603 to 1868) was the golden age of netsuke. Master carvers worked primarily in ivory, boxwood, and deer antler, developing specialized techniques for rendering human figures, animals, mythological creatures, and scenes from daily life. Major carving centers emerged in Osaka, Kyoto, Edo (Tokyo), and Nagoya, each developing regional styles. Osaka carvers favored naturalistic animals. Kyoto artists leaned toward elegant human figures. The craft was taken seriously enough that master carvers signed their work and built reputations that collectors followed by name. Modern figure collectors value several qualities that netsuke collectors also evaluated: accuracy of expression, quality of surface finishing, dynamic posing, and the sculptor's ability to capture personality in a small form. A similar respect for this kind of mastery, shokunin kishitsu (the craftsman spirit), can be seen in both Edo-period workshops and today's figure sculpting. When Japan opened to Western trade after the Meiji Restoration (1868), netsuke became prized export items. Many master pieces entered European and American collections, where they influenced Western appreciation for Japanese decorative arts. The domestic tradition declined as Western clothing replaced kimono for daily wear, while other Japanese miniature arts, including doll-making and model building, continued to evolve before garage kit and PVC figure culture emerged in the twentieth century.

c. 1710: Meissen porcelain miniatures in Europe

European porcelain houses produce detailed figurines of dancers, shepherdesses, and courtly figures. Miniature sculpture as decorative art, collected and displayed in homes. Another parallel tradition with a familiar collector sensibility.

Meissen, Sèvres, and other manufacturers established the idea of small-scale decorative figures as home collectibles. Ironically, European porcelain was heavily influenced by Japanese ceramics (Arita/Imari ware), not the other way around. But the collector behavior is recognizable across cultures: people wanting beautiful, detailed small figures to live with. The manufacturing approach (mold-based production, hand-painted finishing) echoes directly in PVC figure factories centuries later.

1944: Taito's origins in Shanghai

Michael Kogan establishes a business in Shanghai, one of the earliest roots of what is now Taito Corporation and Japan's amusement industry.

Kogan's original venture involved jukebox importing and entertainment. After relocating to Japan, the company was formally incorporated as Taito Corporation in 1953.

1947: Tezuka and the birth of modern manga

Osamu Tezuka's New Treasure Island sells 400,000 copies, pioneering the cinematic storytelling and expressive character design that would define manga and anime for decades.

Tezuka's large-eyed, dynamic character designs, influenced by Disney and Fleischer Studios, became the visual foundation of everything that followed. Astro Boy (1952) cemented the aesthetic globally. Without this visual language and its character-driven storytelling, there would be no characters to sculpt. Every figure on a collector's shelf traces its aesthetic lineage back through this moment.

1947: Kotobukiya opens as a doll shop

Kotobukiya begins as a traditional Japanese doll shop in post-war Tachikawa, Tokyo, decades before pivoting to figures and model kits.

The company did not enter anime/game merchandise for many years. Its transformation into a major figure manufacturer is one of the industry's most dramatic reinventions.

1950: Bandai-ya textile company founded

Naoharu Yamashina founds Bandai-ya, a textile and toy company that grew into one of Japan's largest entertainment conglomerates.

The company changed its name to Bandai Co., Ltd. in 1961 and became a leading name in model kits, toys, and eventually collector figures through its Tamashii Nations and Bandai Spirits divisions.

1953: Taito Corporation incorporated in Tokyo

Michael Kogan's enterprise is formally incorporated as Taito Corporation, beginning its evolution from import/export firm to arcade and amusement giant.

1960: SEGA enters the entertainment industry

SEGA establishes itself as a maker of coin-operated amusement machines, laying the groundwork for its future arcade and prize figure empire.

Originally founded as Service Games in the 1940s for coin-operated machines for U.S. military bases, the company reincorporated in Japan and adopted the SEGA name. Its arcade business made it one of the largest prize figure distributors in the world.

1961: Bandai Co., Ltd. established

Bandai-ya rebrands as Bandai Co., Ltd. and begins its expansion into plastic models and character merchandise.

1962: MegaHouse's predecessor established

MegaHouse's predecessor company begins operations in 1962, growing over the decades into a major producer of figures, toys, and collectibles.

1964: Kaiyodo founded in Osaka

Osamu Miyawaki opens a small plastic model shop in Osaka on April 1, 1964, the beginning of a name now synonymous with sculptural excellence in Japanese figure making.

Kaiyodo evolved from hobby shop to garage kit pioneer to commercial figure manufacturer. The company became synonymous with sculptural excellence and later took over organization of Wonder Festival, the hobby's most important event.

Around 1965: Taito builds Japan's first crane game

Taito develops what is widely considered Japan's first crane game machine, creating the template for the UFO catcher prize figure market that would follow decades later.

1969: Hobby Japan founded

Hobby Japan launches as a hobby magazine publisher, laying the groundwork for what will become the AMAKUNI figure brand decades later.

For decades Hobby Japan was primarily a publication covering model kits and figures. Its AMAKUNI figure brand would not launch until 2012.

1972: Volks founded in Kyoto

Volks opens as a hobby shop in Kyoto on December 3, 1972, beginning a pioneering role in both garage kits and ball-jointed dolls.

Volks became central to the garage kit movement and later created Super Dollfie, one of the most influential product lines in doll collecting history.

1977: Banpresto's predecessor founded

Hoei Sangyo launches as an arcade video games company, the predecessor to Banpresto, the largest and most influential name in prize figures.

The company was renamed Coreland Technology in 1982, then acquired by Bandai and renamed Banpresto in 1989.

1978: Space Invaders launches the arcade boom

Taito releases Space Invaders, igniting a worldwide arcade phenomenon and cementing the company's place in gaming history.

The game was so popular in Japan that it reportedly caused a temporary shortage of 100-yen coins, though this claim is disputed. For the figure hobby, the arcade boom it started created the UFO catcher market that drives prize figure culture today.

1983: Wave founded

Wave begins operations in May 1983 as a plastic model kit company, decades before its pivot into PVC figures.

1983: Movic founded

The Animate Group launches Movic in October 1983 as its dedicated merchandise arm, with built-in distribution through Animate's retail network.

As part of the Animate retail network, Movic had direct access to anime fans and could produce merchandise tied to popular franchises with built-in distribution channels.

1984: Wonder Festival founded

The first Wonder Festival is held, creating the premiere showcase for garage kits and amateur sculptors that would define Japanese figure culture for decades.

Originally organized by General Products (a Gainax predecessor), Wonder Festival became the hobby's most important biannual event. Its one-day license system allows amateur sculptors to sell fan-made kits of copyrighted characters, fostering the creative community that feeds the professional industry.

1987: Max Factory founded

Makoto 'MAX' Watanabe establishes Max Factory in April 1987, initially producing high-quality garage kits before becoming a pillar of commercial figure making.

Max Factory became closely linked with Good Smile Company, co-developing the figma action figure line. The two companies shared office space and functioned almost as a single entity while remaining legally separate.

1988: Azone precursor Shonan Screen founded

Shonan Screen opens its doors, the predecessor to Azone International, now a leading doll manufacturer.

The company would rebrand as Azone International and eventually launch the Pure Neemo character doll body in 2006, becoming the industry standard for anime-styled dolls.

1989: Banpresto name established under Bandai

Bandai acquires Hoei Sangyo/Coreland Technology and renames it Banpresto, creating the brand that would lead the prize figure market for three decades.

1989: Kotobukiya launches Active Styling figures

Kotobukiya debuts its Active Styling PVC figure line, an early step toward its eventual ARTFX series and its identity as a major figure manufacturer.

1990: Banpresto enters prize figures

Banpresto begins supplying UFO catcher prize figures in April 1990, starting with Ultraman and Kamen Rider. This launched what is now the largest prize figure operation in the industry.

1992: Kaiyodo takes over Wonder Festival

Kaiyodo assumes organization of Wonder Festival from General Products/Gainax, cementing its role at the center of Japan's figure culture.

With Kaiyodo running the event, Wonder Festival grew into the hobby's definitive event: part trade show, part fan convention, part garage kit bazaar. The biannual event (summer and winter) became the primary venue for major product reveals.

1996: Daiki Kougyou founded

Daiki Kougyou begins in April 1996 with roots in garage kit production, later expanding into PVC figures while maintaining its resin kit heritage.

1996: P-Style founded

P-Style opens in April 1996 as a bishoujo figure specialist, contributing to the early pre-painted PVC figure market.

1996: Medicom Toy founded

Tatsuhiko Akashi founds Medicom Toy in June 1996, beginning the company that would create the iconic BE@RBRICK collectible line.

Around 1996: SEGA enters the prize figure market

SEGA begins producing prize figures for its arcade machines, with early Evangelion figures among the first. This marks the start of SEGA's evolution into a major prize figure supplier.

1998: Azone International established

Azone International is formally established as a doll clothing and accessories company, building on the foundations of Shonan Screen (1988).

1999: Volks launches Super Dollfie

Volks introduces the Super Dollfie ball-jointed doll line, fundamentally changing doll collecting and creating one of the hobby's most devoted communities.

Super Dollfie dolls combined high-quality craftsmanship with extensive customization options, spawning an entire subculture of BJD collectors and customizers. The line's influence extended well beyond Volks, inspiring numerous other manufacturers and establishing ball-jointed dolls as a major segment of the figure hobby.

1999: Chara-Ani founded

A consortium including Kadokawa Books, Animate, and Mediaworks launches Chara-Ani in November 1999 as a character merchandise company.

Chara-Ani was absorbed into Kadokawa in January 2022, with its Toy's Works brand continuing under the Kadokawa umbrella.

2000: Griffon Enterprises founded

Griffon Enterprises incorporates in May 2000, entering the figure market with budget-friendly releases covering characters and franchises that few other companies were producing.

Griffon often produced figures of characters that few other companies were covering, making it a valued option for fans of niche series. The company ceased operations in January 2019.

2000: Medicos Entertainment founded

Medicos Entertainment opens in November 2000, later becoming the go-to manufacturer for JoJo's Bizarre Adventure figures and other niche action figure lines.

2001: Good Smile Company founded

Takanori Aki establishes Good Smile Company in May 2001 as an event management firm. Figures were initially a side project. They became the entire business.

GSC grew into the industry's most influential company, creating the Nendoroid line, co-developing figma with Max Factory, launching the budget-friendly Pop Up Parade line, and becoming a distributor and partner for numerous smaller brands.

2001: BE@RBRICK line launches

Medicom Toy debuts the BE@RBRICK collectible figure line, now one of the most widely recognized designer toy formats.

2002: FuRyu enters crane game prizes

FuRyu begins supplying crane game prize figures in January 2002 while still operating under parent company OMRON.

FuRyu did not become an independent company until spinning off from OMRON in April 2007.

2003: Square Enix launches first Play Arts figures, produced by Kotobukiya

The first Play Arts action figures debut featuring Final Fantasy X-2 characters, produced by Kotobukiya for Square Enix. Square Enix later brought production in-house with the improved Play Arts Kai line in 2009.

2003: Square and Enix merge

Square Co. and Enix Corporation merge to form Square Enix Holdings, creating a major player in both gaming and figure collecting.

2004: Union Creative founded

Union Creative International launches in 2004 (renamed Union Creative in April 2014), developing a reputation for design-forward figures and its cult-favorite Hdge stylized series.

2004: First GSC-branded figure released

Good Smile Company releases its first company-branded figure in September 2004, completing the pivot from event management to figure manufacturing.

2005: Alter founded

Takashi Mikami founds Alter in March 2005 with a singular focus on premium PVC scale figures, quickly earning a reputation as a benchmark for quality.

Alter's dedication to quality over quantity earned it a reputation as a benchmark for the entire hobby. The company became widely associated with meticulous sculpting and painting, though its output has notably decreased since the early 2020s.

2005: Square Enix acquires Taito

Square Enix acquires Taito Corporation for approximately ¥45 billion (roughly $410 million at the time), bringing the legendary arcade company and its growing prize figure business under the Square Enix umbrella.

Around 2006: Native founded

Native enters the market around 2006, carving out a premium niche in adult figures through its CREATORS and CHARACTER collections.

2006: Nendoroid line debuts

Good Smile Company unveils the Nendoroid line at Wonder Festival Winter 2006 with Neco-Arc from Tsukihime, launching the hobby's most iconic chibi figure format.

The early Haruhi Suzumiya Nendoroid helped popularize the line, and 'Nendoroid' became practically a generic term for chibi figures. The format's combination of cuteness, interchangeable parts, and affordable price point made it an entry point for countless collectors.

August 8, 2006: FREEing founded

FREEing launches in 2006, later partnering closely with Good Smile Company and defining the 1/4 scale bunny figure category.

Around 2006: Alphamax founded

Alphamax launches in the mid-2000s, producing scale figures known for sharp sculpt work and clean paint, often collaborating with BINDing on adult-oriented releases.

2006: Pure Neemo doll body debuts

Azone International launches the Pure Neemo character doll body in Autumn 2006, helping establish one of the benchmark body systems for anime-styled dolls.

Pure Neemo provided a consistent, high-quality body that could be dressed in character-accurate costumes, making character dolls accessible to a wider audience. The system's modularity and quality helped establish it as one of the benchmark body systems for character dolls.

2007: Aoshima launches Funny Knights brand

Aoshima creates the Funny Knights sub-brand as a deliberate pivot into the bishoujo figure market, applying model kit engineering to character figures.

2007: FuRyu becomes independent

FuRyu spins off from parent company OMRON as an independent corporation in April 2007, gaining autonomy over its growing prize figure business.

2007: Phat Company founded

Phat Company starts up in September 2007, taking on characters and franchises that larger studios often overlook.

2008: figma line launches

Max Factory and Good Smile Company debut the figma poseable action figure line, creating a breakthrough mass-market format for anime characters.

figma filled the gap between static scale figures and fully articulated action figures, offering smooth articulation with attractive sculpting at accessible price points. The line became one of the most successful product formats in figure collecting alongside Nendoroid.

2008: Bandai Tamashii Nations takes shape

Bandai's Tamashii Nations crystallizes as a dedicated collector division, giving its premium figure lines like S.H.Figuarts and Robot Spirits a distinct identity.

2008: Penguin Parade founded

Penguin Parade opens in August 2008, producing Petanko-style chibi figures and small-scale releases with a deliberately cute, simplified aesthetic.

2009: Wave enters the PVC figure market

Wave launches Beach Queens (1/10 swimsuit figures) and Dream Tech lines simultaneously, marking the veteran model kit company's pivot into pre-painted PVC figures.

2009: Sentinel founded

Sentinel opens in July 2009 with a focus on premium mecha and tokusatsu action figures.

Around 2010: Alter launches ALTAiR sub-brand

Alter introduces ALTAiR, a sub-brand dedicated to male character figures, a relatively rare focus in a market where female characters are the primary focus.

October 5, 2011: Aquamarine founded

Aquamarine opens on October 5, 2011, focusing on anime character scale figures before ceasing operations in 2020.

2012: Prime 1 Studio founded

Rie Matsumoto and Johnny Pham establish Prime 1 Studio on March 30, specializing in large-format polystone statues that push the boundaries of size and detail.

Prime 1 expanded into accessible PVC collecting by launching the PRISMA WING line in 2021, offering a more accessible tier alongside their premium statues.

2012: AMAKUNI brand launched

Hobby Japan launches the AMAKUNI figure brand in September 2012, drawing on decades of industry connections from its magazine business to produce premium figures.

2013: Myethos founded as Mirror Studio

Myethos begins as Mirror Studio in China (formally registered as Myethos in 2014), growing into a studio that would reshape international perceptions of Chinese figure manufacturing.

Myethos grew into a widely recognized Chinese figure studio internationally, earning praise for artistic figures with painterly aesthetics that distinguished them from Japanese manufacturers.

2014: Good Smile opens Lucky Factory in Tottori

Good Smile Company opens the Lucky Factory in Tottori Prefecture, a rare domestic Japanese production facility in an industry where most manufacturing is done in China.

2014: Kadokawa merges with Dwango

Publisher Kadokawa merges with Dwango (operator of the Niconico video platform), creating a media conglomerate with deep ties to anime, publishing, and figure licensing.

2015: Good Smile Company expands its partner network

GSC broadens its reach through Orange Rouge and distribution partnerships with independent makers including Bell Fine.

Bell Fine, established independently in 2015, lists GSC among its major sales destinations; Orange Rouge serves the male character figure market. Bell Fine's relationship with GSC is distribution, not ownership.

August 2015: Hakoiri Musume established

Hakoiri Musume is established in Katsushika, Tokyo, beginning a figure business that would pair licensed characters and original designs with elaborate display features.

2015: Wonderful Works founded

Wonderful Works opens on October 13. The company's Atelier Ryza figures later become its breakout line and establish the brand's reputation.

2018: APEX founded

APEX launches in China in 2018, quickly building a reputation for quality gacha game character figures with ambitious sculpts and attractive pricing.

2018: Bandai Spirits established

Bandai carves out Bandai Spirits as a dedicated collector division, giving its premium figure and model kit businesses focused management and identity.

2018: Good Smile Arts Shanghai established

Good Smile Company establishes its Chinese subsidiary, Good Smile Arts Shanghai, for local development and faster turnaround, particularly for the upcoming Pop Up Parade line.

Most Pop Up Parade figures are developed through this Shanghai office, explaining the line's shorter development cycles compared to mainline GSC releases.

2019: Griffon Enterprises ceases operations

Griffon Enterprises ceases operations on January 22. The company had been known for producing figures of characters that few other manufacturers covered.

Griffon's closure left some characters without any available figures, as the company had been one of the few makers willing to take chances on less mainstream series.

2019: Banpresto absorbed into Bandai Spirits

Banpresto is formally dissolved into Bandai Spirits as of April 2019, ceasing to exist as a separate corporate entity. Prize operations had already transferred to Bandai Spirits in 2018.

The Banpresto brand remains instantly recognizable in the prize figure world, even though the company behind it is now Bandai Spirits.

2019: Pop Up Parade launches

Good Smile Company debuts the Pop Up Parade budget figure line at approximately ¥3,900-5,000 (approximately $26-33 USD), disrupting a market where alternatives cost two to three times more.

Pop Up Parade made scale figures accessible to a vastly wider audience by offering decent quality at aggressive price points. The line's rapid expansion, covering an enormous range of characters, made it arguably the single most impactful product launch in recent figure history.

2019: SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE FIGURE brand launches

eStream launches the SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE FIGURE brand in December 2019, bringing large-scale premium figures with dramatic bases to the market.

2020: SEGA sells arcade operations

SEGA sells its arcade operations to Genda Inc. (2020-2022), ending its direct ownership of GiGO arcade centers while maintaining its prize figure supply business.

2021: Prime 1 launches PRISMA WING

Prime 1 Studio debuts the PRISMA WING PVC figure brand, adding an accessible PVC line alongside its large-format polystone statues.

2022: Kadokawa absorbs Chara-Ani

Kadokawa absorbs Chara-Ani in January 2022, bringing the Toy's Works brand and its figure business under direct Kadokawa management.

2023: Aniplex rebrands Revolve to Claynel

Aniplex formally rebrands its Revolve subsidiary as Claynel, expanding its figure manufacturing ambitions with a fresh identity.

2023: Chinese manufacturers gain international recognition

Companies like Myethos, APEX, Ribose, and Solarain establish themselves as internationally recognized brands, earning collector trust through quality, distinctive aesthetics, and attractive pricing.

The growth of Chinese figure manufacturers represents a defining shift in the industry's recent history. Companies like Myethos brought distinctive artistic styles, while studios like APEX built strong reputations through gacha game IP coverage and ambitious sculpt quality.

2024: SEGA restructures prize division

SEGA's prize figure division is restructured and renamed Sega Fave Corporation in April 2024, reflecting the evolving prize figure business.

2024: eStream dissolved into CyberZ

eStream, the parent company behind SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE FIGURE, is dissolved in April 2024 and merged into CyberZ. The SSF brand continues under new corporate ownership.

March 13, 2025: Siki Anim debuts Alvina-chan

Alvina-chan Wet Ver. reaches Japanese retail as the earliest confirmed shipped release in Siki Anim's scale-figure catalog.

July 2025: BISHOUCRAFT debuts Cow Girl Nana

BISHOUCRAFT announces and opens preorders for Cow Girl Nana, the 1/12 articulated original that Hobby Japan identifies as the label's first figure.

March 2026: Eclipse Feather launches its first major license

Eclipse Feather opens preorders for a 1/6 Chocola and Vanilla set from Nekopara, marking the brand's first major franchise license.