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About ShiniGami
Expertise
I can answer any question about Action Figure and Toy Design, Prototyping, Manufacturing and Production Management. Over 20 years in the Toy business with clients including Bandai US/Japan/Europe, Hasbro, Kenner, Mattel, McFarlane Toys, Playmates, etc., and also specialty companies including Toy Tokyo, The Showroom NYC, Kid Robot, Wheaty Wheat and many others.

NOTE: I travel A LOT, so during overseas travel (Japan, Hong Kong, China), I do not check for questions. Thanks.

Experience

Past/Present Clients:
Designers including : Gary Baseman, Ron English, Frank Kozik, Pete Fowler, Futura, Stash, David Horvath. Companies including : Bandai Japan, Bandai US, Dark Horse, Hasbro, Kenner, Lucas Films, Maharishi, Marvel, Mattel, McFarlane Toys, MTV, NIKE, Playmates, Reebok, Sony, etc.

You are here: Experts > Kids > Kid's Toys and Games > Action Figures > Producing Action Figures

Topic: Action Figures

Expert: ShiniGami
Date: 4/30/2008
Subject: Producing Action Figures

Question
Hi, I like to check with you based on your experience which genre of action figures are mainly most attractive to collectors or kids. I know very much that the popularity of an action figure is very much based on the comic, cartoons, movies that sort of represent how collectible the action figure is. To produce figures based on these comics, cartoons, movies, you will need a license. Without a license, what can I do best on my part to convince an action figure collector to pick out my toy and start saying, "Hey look, this is cool, I'm getting one home." Please advise me apart from naming me a genre I can try go into.

Answer
Well, licensed propertiy action figures are nothing to cheaply get into. Tooling alone can cost $30,000.00 per figure. And then a known license can cost tens of thousands of dollars or more up front before you can even show prototypes. Just making a cool figure doesn't mean anyone will buy it. People want toys for TV shows, films and video games they know.

Thanks

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