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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 > action figure manufacturing

Topic: Action Figures

Expert: ShiniGami
Date: 10/28/2007
Subject: action figure manufacturing

Question
greetings...
I have ideas for several action figures but i'm confused as to how to get a company to produce these figures...If I see an action figure on the shelves that is made by a lesser known company, is it possible the company will allow that mold to be used for my idea IF I get that company to produce a run of maybe 10-20000, without getting it licensed thru them?
Or to put it simpler: how can i get an established company (in China) to produce a run of my action figures? cost?

Another question: Would you recommend pitching my idea to a toy company or investing my own time and money into the product?

Answer
No toy company will make it. It doesn't work like that. Properties need product 1st (DVDs, Comics, Books, Action Figures), to get noticed in the 1st place.

The molds are owned by whoever paid for them. If Hasbro makes a mold for a licensed product, it belongs to Hasbro. Even 12" GI Joe bodies can't be used by companies other than whoever paid for the tooling. You can't just start using Dragon bodies on your figures, and they wouldn't give you permission to use them. You'd have to make your own, or find an open source body, made specifically to be sold in quantity as a blank figure.
Chinese companies don't license anything, they just make them.
For 10,000 to 20,000 pieces, depends on the complexity of the figure, size, etc.

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