Most Wanted Anime Figures in 2026: What to Chase and Where to Buy
The most wanted anime figures of 2026 are not always the newest ones. They are the pieces collectors track, wishlist, and hunt down after the pre-order window has closed. This guide explains how figure demand is actually measured, which figure lines are worth chasing at each budget, which franchises collectors are prioritizing this year, and how to buy the ones you want in stock from Japan instead of losing another pre-order lottery.
Everything below is organized so you can skim to the part you need: the lines, the franchises, the buying logic, and a short FAQ. No single figure is a guaranteed investment, so the goal here is a shelf you actually want, bought at retail rather than at scalper prices.
How "most wanted" is actually measured
"Most wanted" is not a marketing word. Collectors log what they own and what they are still chasing on public databases, the largest being MyFigureCollection, where wishlist counts act as a rough, visible gauge of demand. A figure with thousands of wishlists and a long-closed pre-order is exactly the kind of piece that ends up above retail on the secondary market.
Three signals tell you a figure is in real demand:
- High wishlist counts relative to how many were produced.
- A closed pre-order window with no announced re-run, which caps supply.
- Rising secondary prices six to twelve months after release.
The practical takeaway: if a figure is already produced and sitting on a shelf, you do not have to win the pre-order race at all. You can simply buy it. Akibato ships in-stock scale figures, Nendoroids, prize figures, and model kits from Japan worldwide, so browsing the in-stock figures collection is one way to skip the lottery entirely.
The figure lines worth chasing (and what each costs you)
Before picking a character, pick a format. The line decides the size, the price band, and whether the figure moves. If you are new to the categories, our types of anime figures explained guide covers the full landscape; here is how the most-collected lines compare.
Premium scale figures (1/7 to 1/4)
- Size: roughly 20-30cm at 1/7, larger at 1/6 and 1/4.
- Articulation: none; these are static display statues.
- Price band: the premium tier, from mid-hundreds up into four figures for studios like Prime 1 Studio.
- Best for: a centerpiece. Makers such as Good Smile Company, Alter, and Kotobukiya build these with detailed sculpt and paintwork, and Good Smile groups its premium scales under its Wonderful Hobby Selection banner.
Scale numbers confuse a lot of new buyers, so if 1/7 versus 1/8 means nothing to you yet, read anime figure scale sizes explained before you spend.
Ichiban Kuji and MASTERLISE prizes
- Size: MASTERLISE prizes typically stand around 20-26cm.
- Articulation: none; display pieces.
- Price band: you pay per lottery draw rather than a fixed price, and value comes from the top prizes.
- Best for: chasing a specific A prize or the coveted Last One prize. MASTERLISE is Bandai's premium Ichiban Kuji tier, with sharper sculpts and larger sizes than standard prize figures.
MASTERLISE pieces are frequently among the most-wanted prize figures for a franchise. Our MASTERLISE tier explainer breaks down why these outclass ordinary prizes.
Nendoroid and figma
- Nendoroid: chibi-styled, standing about 10cm, with swappable faceplates and interchangeable parts as standard.
- figma: mid-sized and highly articulated, described by Good Smile as combining the look of a PVC statue with the mobility of an action figure.
- Price band: accessible mid-tier; Nendoroids often cost a little more because of all the swappable parts.
- Best for: expressive display and posing. If you cannot decide between the two, see Nendoroid vs figma.
POP UP PARADE (the value pick)
- Size: around 17-18cm with realistic proportions.
- Articulation: none; a single detailed static pose.
- Price band: the most budget-friendly full-size option, and Good Smile ships new entries roughly four months after pre-orders open.
- Best for: starting a shelf without the premium-scale price. Full breakdown in our POP UP PARADE guide.
Most wanted anime figures 2026, by franchise
Demand clusters around the franchises with active anime, films, or anniversaries. These are the series collectors are prioritizing in 2026, with a concrete piece that was in stock at Akibato at the time of writing for each.
One Piece
With the Elbaf arc airing and a Netflix remake in production, One Piece figure demand stays high across every line. The Ichiban Kuji One Piece Boa Hancock Prize A art-scale figure is a strong current chase piece. For a full map of the lines, see our One Piece figures guide.
Demon Slayer
The Infinity Castle film pushed Demon Slayer back to the top of collector lists. Premium scales such as the Flame Hashira Kyojuro Rengoku figure and Kotobukiya's Shinobu Kocho ARTFX J are the sought-after pieces here, alongside the recurring Ichiban Kuji waves.
Chainsaw Man
Chainsaw Man is one of the most-wishlisted franchises overall, led by scale Makima figures. With the Reze Arc film driving fresh releases, deformed PalVerse figures of Reze, Aki, and the Angel Devil are an affordable way in, and the Reze Arc Ichiban Kuji is running now.
Jujutsu Kaisen
Fifth-anniversary product keeps Jujutsu Kaisen busy. Trading and deformed lines like PalVerse and MegaHouse's Lookup miniatures give collectors a low-cost entry while the scale figures hold demand.
Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, Gundam, and Pokémon
- Dragon Ball: a perennial top seller; the Spectacle Battle Ichiban Kuji is a current in-stock draw.
- My Hero Academia: the 10th-anniversary year keeps demand high, with MASTERLISE prize figures such as Himiko Toga in rotation.
- Gundam: steady collector interest around the 45th anniversary, including crossover prize figures.
- Pokemon: the 30th-anniversary Ichiban Kuji waves and Mega Evolution gacha are the accessible chase items.
Why "in stock" beats "pre-order" for most buyers
Anime figures are largely made to order. Manufacturers size production to pre-order demand, which is the entire point of the pre-order system, so once a run sells out there is often no restock. That built-in scarcity is why a closed pre-order plus a high wishlist so reliably means a price jump.
But scarcity does not make every figure an investment. Tracking real releases six months after launch shows the picture is mixed: one Alter scale rose from roughly 30,000 to 37,000-40,000 yen, while others fell well below retail on the secondary market. Buy the figures you want to display, not the ones you hope to flip.
New waves keep arriving, too. Good Smile Company alone revealed fresh figma, Nendoroid, POP UP PARADE, and scale figures across many properties at SDCC 2026, so the "most wanted" list refreshes every season. Buying a produced, in-stock piece removes the two biggest risks at once: missing the pre-order window and paying a scalper later.
How to buy the most wanted figures from Japan
Most sought-after figures are Japan-exclusive at retail, which leaves you two routes: a proxy service that buys on your behalf, or a store that already exports. A proxy adds service fees and an extra shipping leg, while an exporting store handles it in one step. We compare the trade-offs in do you need a proxy to buy anime figures from Japan, and for lottery figures specifically, how to buy Ichiban Kuji outside Japan.
Whichever route you take, check that the listing is a real in-stock item and not a closed pre-order, confirm the maker and line so you know the size, and factor international shipping into the total before you commit.
FAQ
What is the most wanted anime figure right now?
By wishlist counts, scale figures of characters like Chainsaw Man's Makima and Hatsune Miku regularly top the charts, but "most wanted" shifts with new anime seasons and film releases. The more useful question is which figure you will actually display.
Are anime figures a good investment?
Some appreciate and many do not. Limited anniversary pieces and sold-out premium scales can rise, but plenty of figures drop below retail after release. Treat any resale gain as a bonus, not a plan.
What is the cheapest way to start collecting?
POP UP PARADE offers full-size figures at the lowest price, and prize or trading figures like PalVerse and Lookup are cheaper still. Nendoroids cost a little more but give you the most play value per figure.
Nendoroid or POP UP PARADE for a first figure?
Choose POP UP PARADE if you want a traditional, realistically proportioned figure at a low price, and Nendoroid if you want swappable faces and poses. Many collectors buy one of each to see which suits their shelf.
Key takeaways
- "Most wanted" is driven by wishlist demand plus capped, made-to-order supply, so closed pre-orders push prices up.
- Pick the line first: premium scale for a centerpiece, Nendoroid or figma for posing, POP UP PARADE for value, Ichiban Kuji MASTERLISE for prize chasing.
- Demand in 2026 clusters around One Piece, Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, Jujutsu Kaisen, Dragon Ball, My Hero Academia, Gundam, and Pokemon.
- Not every figure appreciates; buy what you want to display.
- Buying an in-stock piece from an exporting store avoids both the pre-order lottery and scalper markups.
If you would rather buy a figure that already exists than gamble on a pre-order, browse Akibato's in-stock Ichiban Kuji prizes for MASTERLISE and Last One chases, or the One Piece collection if that is the shelf you are building. Everything ships from Japan.