Types of Anime Figures Explained: Scale, Prize, figma & Nendoroid (2026)

The types of anime figures on any store page span at least eight distinct categories — scale figures, prize figures, Nendoroid, figma, S.H.Figuarts, Pop Up Parade, garage kits, and trading figures — each with its own size, price band, level of articulation, and reason to exist. That is why one Rem figure can cost 3,000 yen and another 25,000 yen: it comes down to the type. This guide breaks down every one of them so you can read any listing and know exactly what you are buying before you commit.

The one split that matters: scale vs non-scale

Before the brand names, there is a single distinction that organizes everything else: whether a figure is scale or non-scale. A scale figure is built to a fixed ratio of the character's in-universe height. A non-scale figure is sized for looks, cost, or a product line's house standard instead. Almost every category below falls on one side of that line, and it is the fastest way to predict a figure's size and price.

• Scale figures: sized by ratio (1/7, 1/8, 1/4), usually a fixed display pose, higher price, higher finish.
• Non-scale figures: Nendoroid, prize figures, Pop Up Parade, trading figures — sized for the line, not the character.

If you are building a shelf right now, Akibato ships both scale and non-scale figures from Japan — the figures collection mixes prize, scale, and articulated lines so you can compare types side by side.

Types of anime figures at a glance

Here is every major type in one place. Prices are rough street ranges as of 2026 and move with resale and exchange rates, so treat them as bands, not quotes.

Type	Typical size	Price band	Poseable?	Best for
Scale figure	1/7 ≈ 23 cm, 1/8 ≈ 20 cm, 1/4 ≈ 40 cm	¥15,000–40,000+	No (fixed pose)	A centerpiece display of one character
Prize figure	~15–25 cm, non-scale	¥1,500–5,000	No (fixed pose)	Affordable display, quick collection building
Nendoroid	~10 cm	¥5,000–8,000	Partly (swappable parts)	Cute chibi versions, expression swaps
figma	~13–15 cm	¥6,000–10,000	Yes (full articulation)	Action poses, photography
S.H.Figuarts	~14–16 cm	¥6,000–12,000	Yes (full articulation)	Fighting poses, tokusatsu & shonen
Pop Up Parade	~17–18 cm	¥3,500–5,500	No (fixed pose)	Affordable standing display of a full-size look
Garage kit	Varies (often 1/6–1/8)	¥8,000–30,000+	No	Advanced hobbyists who paint and build
Trading figure	~7–12 cm	¥600–1,500 each	No	Blind-box collecting, small displays

What does "scale" actually mean in cm?

A scale figure's number is a ratio of the character's real height. A 1/7 scale figure of a 160 cm character is about 23 cm tall (160 ÷ 7). Larger ratios like 1/4 are physically bigger; smaller ratios like 1/8 are smaller. That is the whole system, and it is why two 1/7 figures can still differ in height — the characters differ.

• 1/4 ≈ 40 cm — large, premium centerpieces.
• 1/6 ≈ 28–30 cm — big but shelf-friendly.
• 1/7 ≈ 23 cm — the most common scale for anime figures.
• 1/8 ≈ 20 cm — the classic, slightly cheaper standard.

Because the exact height depends on the character and the pose, always check the listed dimensions. For the full breakdown of each ratio and how tall it works out in centimeters, see our guide to anime figure scale sizes in cm.

Scale figures: the display centerpiece

A scale figure is a fixed-pose statue, usually cast in PVC and ABS, built to a scale ratio and finished with detailed paintwork. This is the category most people picture when they hear "anime figure": a single character in a dramatic pose, often 20 cm or taller, sold at a premium and frequently offered as a pre-order months before release.

Makers such as Good Smile Company, Kotobukiya, Alter, and Max Factory dominate here. Because scale figures are the highest-finish category, they carry the highest prices and the strongest resale demand — a discontinued 1/7 can sell well above its retail price years later.

Prize figures: the affordable everyday collectible

Prize figures are non-scale figures produced for arcade crane games and lottery campaigns rather than direct retail. In Japan they come from lines like Ichiban Kuji (Bandai/Banpresto) and SEGA prize figures, and they are the reason you can start a shelf without spending scale-figure money.

The trade-off is finish: prize figures use simpler paint and are non-scale, so a "1/7-ish looking" prize figure is not actually built to scale. Quality has climbed sharply, though — Bandai's premium MASTERLISE prize figures rival entry-level scale figures. If you want to chase prizes from outside Japan, our walkthrough on how to buy Ichiban Kuji outside Japan covers every method and cost.

Prize figure vs scale figure: which is worth it?

The short version: buy a scale figure when you want one show-stopping piece of a favorite character and finish matters most; buy a prize figure when you want more characters on the shelf for less, or when no scale version exists. Prize figures are non-scale and cheaper; scale figures are ratio-accurate and higher-finish. Neither is "better" — they solve different problems.

Nendoroid: the chibi with swappable faces

A Nendoroid is a non-scale, deformed (chibi) figure about 10 cm tall, made by Good Smile Company, with an oversized head and interchangeable faces and parts. That swap system is the whole appeal: one Nendoroid ships with multiple expressions and accessories, so you can re-pose the same character between a smile, a shout, and a battle stance.

Nendoroids sit in the mid price band and are beginner-friendly because they are small, sturdy, and endlessly re-arrangeable. There is also a fabric-outfit variant, the Nendoroid Doll — see how it differs in our guide to the Nendoroid Doll vs Nendoroid.

figma vs S.H.Figuarts: the articulated action figures

If you want a figure that moves, you want an articulated line, and the two giants are figma and S.H.Figuarts. Both are roughly real-proportioned action figures in the 13–16 cm range with many points of articulation, swappable hands and faces, and a display stand. This is the most-searched comparison in the whole category, so here is the clean distinction.

• figma — made by Max Factory / Good Smile Company. Leans toward anime and game characters, with a smooth aesthetic and good expression swaps. Around 13–15 cm.
• S.H.Figuarts — made by Bandai's Tamashii Nations. Deep in tokusatsu (Kamen Rider, Ultraman, Dragon Ball, Demon Slayer) with very tight, robust joints built for dynamic fighting poses.

Choose figma for softer anime/game characters and clean posing; choose S.H.Figuarts for action-heavy franchises and the widest tokusatsu range. For a three-way breakdown that also folds in Nendoroid, read figma vs S.H.Figuarts vs Nendoroid.

Pop Up Parade: the standing figure that undercuts scale prices

Pop Up Parade is a Good Smile Company line of non-scale standing figures with a standardized height of roughly 17–18 cm and a deliberately lower price than scale figures. The line trades pose variety and scale accuracy for speed and affordability: figures are announced, released quickly, and priced to be an easy "yes."

Think of Pop Up Parade as the middle ground — bigger and more full-figured than a Nendoroid, cheaper and faster to market than a scale figure, but fixed-pose and not built to a ratio.

Q posket and chibi prize lines

Not every cute deformed figure is a Nendoroid. Q posket is a Banpresto prize line of chibi-proportioned figures, usually sold through the same crane-game and lottery channels as other prize figures, and frequently released in color variants (A and B versions). They are non-articulated and inexpensive, which makes them a low-risk way to grab a favorite character. See our breakdown of the Q posket line and its version A vs B.

Garage kits: the resin figures you build yourself

A garage kit is an unpainted, often unassembled resin figure that the buyer builds and paints. Historically tied to Japan's Wonder Festival (WonFes), garage kits are the enthusiast end of the hobby: no factory paint, no snap-together convenience, but access to sculpts that never get a mass release. They demand tools, primer, and patience, so they are not a beginner's first figure. Our full explainer covers the workflow in what is a garage kit.

Trading figures: blind-box collecting

Trading figures are small figures — usually 7–12 cm — sold in sealed blind boxes, so you do not know which one you are getting until you open it. A set has a fixed lineup plus occasional "secret" rares, which is what makes them collectible and, sometimes, tradeable at a premium. They are the cheapest way to collect a whole cast at once. For how blind boxes and secret rares work, see what is a trading figure.

Which type should you buy?

Match the type to what you actually want out of the shelf:

• Tight budget, want variety: prize figures and trading figures get the most characters per yen.
• One perfect centerpiece: a scale figure (1/7 or 1/6) of your favorite character.
• You like re-posing and photos: figma or S.H.Figuarts for full articulation.
• Cute over dramatic: Nendoroid or Q posket.
• Full-size look without scale prices: Pop Up Parade.
• You want to paint and build: a garage kit.

Common misconceptions

Is "non-scale" the same as "prize figure"?

No. Non-scale simply means the figure is not built to a height ratio — that includes Nendoroid, Pop Up Parade, and figma, none of which are prize figures. All prize figures are non-scale, but not all non-scale figures are prizes.

Is every chibi figure a Nendoroid?

No. "Nendoroid" is a specific Good Smile Company brand. Q posket, Luminasta, and many other chibi-style figures are different lines from different makers, with different sizes, joints, and price points.

Frequently asked questions

How big is a 1/7 scale figure in cm?

Roughly 23 cm for an average-height character, since 1/7 scale means one-seventh of the character's real height (about 160 cm ÷ 7). Taller characters produce taller figures at the same scale, so always confirm the listed dimensions.

Is figma better than S.H.Figuarts?

Neither is strictly better. figma (Max Factory / Good Smile) suits anime and game characters with clean posing; S.H.Figuarts (Bandai Tamashii Nations) has tighter joints and a deeper tokusatsu and shonen catalog. Pick by franchise and how much articulation you want.

Are prize figures worth it compared to scale figures?

Yes, for value and variety. Prize figures cost a fraction of a scale figure and modern premium lines like MASTERLISE look excellent. Scale figures still win on finish, size, and ratio accuracy, so choose based on whether you want one showpiece or many affordable pieces.

What is the difference between a Nendoroid and a figma?

A Nendoroid is a ~10 cm chibi with swappable faces and limited posing; a figma is a ~13–15 cm real-proportioned figure with full articulation for action poses. Both come from Good Smile Company's ecosystem but serve different display goals.

Are garage kits good for beginners?

Generally no. Garage kits arrive as unpainted resin parts that you assemble and paint yourself, so they suit hobbyists with tools and experience. Beginners are better served by a finished scale, prize, or Pop Up Parade figure.

The bottom line

• Scale vs non-scale is the first thing to check — it predicts size, price, and finish.
• Scale figures are ratio-accurate fixed-pose centerpieces (1/7 ≈ 23 cm); prize figures are affordable non-scale everyday collectibles.
• Nendoroid (chibi, swappable) and Pop Up Parade (standardized, affordable) are the beginner-friendly non-scale lines.
• figma vs S.H.Figuarts is the articulation choice: anime/game clean posing vs tokusatsu-deep robust joints.
• Garage kits (resin, build-it-yourself) and trading figures (blind box) sit at the enthusiast and pocket-money ends.

Once you know which type fits your shelf and budget, the next step is finding one in stock. Akibato ships anime figures from Japan across all of these types — browse the figures collection to compare prize, scale, and articulated lines, or the full Akibato catalog if you already have a character in mind.