Takara TOMY’s hot selling toy! “Metallic Figure Collection”, this popular series has been selling 2.5 times more than expected.
2017-05-23
Takara TOMY’s hot selling toy! “Metallic Figure Collection”, this popular series has been selling 2.5 times more than expected.
Palm-sized die cast figures, the “Metacolle” series is a product of Takara TOMY, one of the largest toy makers in Japan. The product name “Metacolle” is short for “metallic figure collection,” Takara TOMY's original movable action figure series. The characteristic of these is that despite the small size, die cast metallic parts (zinc alloy) provide a sense of weight.
With 11 series and 71 figures (as of April2017), it has sold more than 2 million items in Japan and other Asian countries in only 2 years since its release, 2.5 times more than was expected originally.
Why are these so popular?
1. The weight gives it the feeling of mass and stability.
What makes “Metacolle” so special is its weight. Typical slim figures tend to be wobbly when kept standing. But “Metacolle” stands stable because of its weight.
2. Just the right size
The size of the figure (approx. 8 cm) is just right to display on your desk or shelf. Some people enjoy these at home, and others keep some next to their office PC. The palm-sized figures can fit anywhere!
3. Reasonable prices
Figures usually cost about 2,000 yen to 10,000 yen or more depending on size. However, all “Metacolle” figures are only 1,000 yen (excluding tax) except for minor exceptions of Hulk and Hulkbuster (1,500 yen without tax). This reasonable price range is one of the reasons why “Metacolle” has many collectors.
1,000 yen for any one of them! How reasonable!
4. Poseable figures
Even though they are small, some parts are made movable depending on their original characters. You can create poses as you like!
5. Highly detailed design
In the past, small figures were difficult to recreate with a detailed design and tended to end up with low quality. “Metacolle” is different from those cheap-looking figures. It recreates the original character’s color, feel of the material and other details extremely well.
EVANGELION, POKEMON, HELLO KITTY...all popular characters lined up!
Since its release in 2015, Takara TOMY has been producing new series for “Metacolle” reflecting fan’s requests. In addition to already released “STAR WARS” and “MARVEL”, they released “EVANGELION”, “DISNEY”, “TOY STORY”, “TRANSFORMER”, “HELLO KITTY”, “POCKET MONSTER”, “SNOOPY”, “RILAKKUMA”, and “Robi”. The collection now has 11 series with 71 figures. (Some items are no longer on sale.)
This wide variety of items is one of the reasons why it is so popular among people in all generations regardless of age or gender.
New products released one after another. See the website to check them out!
Takara TOMY releases a stream of new items for “Metacolle” series. Below is an image of the shopping site intended for use in Japan only, but you can check the lineup of their products here.
Takara TOMY official shopping site “Takara TOMY Mall”.
