What Is Prime 1 Studio? Anime's Premium Statue Maker Explained
Prime 1 Studio is the anime statue maker that collectors point to when a nendoroid or prize figure feels too small for a favorite character. Since 2012 the Tokyo company has built museum-scale polystone statues priced from roughly $1,200 to over $4,600, licensed from franchises like Fate/stay night, My Hero Academia, and Berserk. Here is what Prime 1 Studio actually makes, how its product lines differ, and where its statues fit next to the prize figures and scale figures already on your shelf.
What Is Prime 1 Studio?
Prime 1 Studio is a Japanese collectible company, established on March 30, 2012, that designs and manufactures high-end, hand-painted statues under official entertainment licenses. Its head office and showroom sit in Asakusa, Tokyo, with CEO Rie Matsumoto leading the company, according to Prime 1 Studio's own corporate page. Unlike mass-produced prize figures, every Prime 1 Studio piece is a licensed, limited-run statue aimed at serious collectors rather than casual buyers.
Akibato ships several Prime 1 Studio statues from Japan, so if a specific character catches your eye below, you can see what is currently in stock in the figures collection alongside other scale and prize pieces.
Prime 1 Studio's Product Lines, Decoded
Prime 1 Studio splits its catalog into named lines rather than one uniform product. The line name on the box tells you the scale, the detail level, and roughly the price before you even check the tag.
| Line | What it means | Typical scale |
|---|---|---|
| Concept Masterline (CMS) | Prime 1's more accessible tier, still hand-painted polystone but smaller and lighter on accessories | 1/6 |
| Premium Masterline / Ultimate Premium Masterline (PMS / UPML) | The flagship tier: larger statues, interchangeable parts, and elaborate dioramic bases | 1/4 |
| Museum Masterline | Articulated, highly detailed statues, often with built-in LED lighting | Varies, frequently 1/3 |
| Ultimate Diorama Masterline | Multi-character scene pieces built around a single dramatic moment | Varies |
| Premium Bust / Life Size Bust | Head-and-shoulders sculpts for collectors with less shelf space | Bust only, up to life-size |
If the idea of a diorama-style scene appeals to you but a four-figure statue does not fit the budget, Akibato's Revible Moment ichiban kuji line builds similar scene-based dioramas at prize-figure prices.
How Big and How Much: Scale and Price Explained
Prime 1 Studio's own site lists scales from 1/7 up to 1/2 and non-scale "life-size" pieces, but the statues it actually ships tend to cluster around 1/4 and 1/6. A review by collectibles retailer Superherotoystore notes that Prime 1's 1/4, 1/3, and 1/2 scale statues typically measure "anywhere between 25 to 50 inches," built from "premium grade polystone" with fabric costuming and die-cast accessory parts.
Here is what that looks like in real prices, pulled from Prime 1 Studio statues currently listed on Akibato:
| Statue | Line / scale | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Genos (One-Punch Man) | Concept Masterline, 1/6 | $1,277.74 |
| Yuno (Black Clover) | Concept Masterline, 1/6 | $1,746.73 |
| Saber Artoria Pendragon (Fate/stay night) | Ultimate Premium Masterline, 1/4 | $2,869.44 |
| Shigaraki, Dabi & Himiko Toga (My Hero Academia) | Ultimate Premium Masterline, 1/4 | $4,631.66 |
Prices and stock move, so treat these as a snapshot rather than a price list. What does not change is the pattern: Concept Masterline is Prime 1 Studio's entry point, and Ultimate Premium Masterline is where the price climbs with the scale and the part count. Superherotoystore also notes that most releases are "very limited editions, mostly less than 1000 pieces per product," which is a big part of why secondhand UPML statues rarely sell below retail.
Prime 1 Studio vs Prize Figures and Posable Statues
It helps to place Prime 1 Studio against the figure types Akibato has already covered, since the differences explain the price gap. A Taito Coreful figure is a mass-produced crane game prize, typically 7 to 9 inches tall and priced under $50, with no license-holder input on the sculpt. A Medicos Super Action Statue sits in between: a posable, articulated figure built for play value as much as display.
Prime 1 Studio statues are neither. They are static, limited-production pieces built for display, not play, with the detail and pricing of a museum-grade collectible rather than a toy. If a shelf of Coreful or Super Action Statue figures is the starting point of a collection, a single Prime 1 Studio piece is usually the centerpiece collectors build the display around.
Which Anime Has Prime 1 Studio Made Statues From?
Prime 1 Studio holds licenses across anime, games, and Western pop culture, but its anime catalog leans toward franchises with strong visual designs that reward large-scale detail. Confirmed anime licenses include Fate/stay night, My Hero Academia, One-Punch Man, and Black Clover, all represented in Akibato's current Prime 1 Studio stock. The company has also produced a dedicated Berserk series built around Guts, including a 1/3 scale "Berserker Armor" statue, according to Prime 1 Studio's own product catalog, and continues to add new reveals such as a 2026 Bubblegum Crisis statue reported by Essential Japan.
Because each line is a limited run tied to a specific license window, a character you want today may not be in production next year. That is the trade-off for the detail: Prime 1 Studio is not restocking Coreful-style prize figures on a rolling basis.
Is Prime 1 Studio Worth the Price?
A $1,200 statue is a different kind of purchase than a $20 prize figure, so it is worth being specific about what you are paying for. The price covers hand-painting, licensed sculpting approved by the rights holder, and a production run capped under 1,000 units, not just raw material cost.
Three things are worth checking before buying a Prime 1 Studio piece rather than a cheaper alternative:
- Shelf space: a 1/4 scale Ultimate Premium Masterline statue can reach the upper end of the 25–50 inch range Superherotoystore describes, so measure the display area first.
- Assembly: expect to attach interchangeable parts, such as alternate arms or weapon effects, rather than unbox a single fixed pose.
- Timing: because runs are capped and tied to a specific license window, a sold-out piece is unlikely to be reproduced, so sold-out stock tends to hold or rise in resale value rather than mark down.
Prime 1 Studio distributes through retailers across Asia, North America, and Europe according to its official site, which is why Akibato is able to carry a rotating selection sourced directly from Japan rather than importing from a Western distributor.
FAQ: Prime 1 Studio Statues
Is Prime 1 Studio a legitimate company?
Yes. Prime 1 Studio Co., Ltd. is a registered Japanese company founded in 2012, headquartered in Asakusa, Tokyo, with an additional retail location in the Yurakucho Marui building, per its own corporate site. It holds official licenses from major anime, game, and film rights holders rather than operating as a bootleg manufacturer.
What is the difference between Concept Masterline and Ultimate Premium Masterline?
Concept Masterline (CMS) is Prime 1 Studio's smaller, lighter-accessory tier, usually 1/6 scale and priced from roughly $1,200. Ultimate Premium Masterline (UPML) is the flagship tier at 1/4 scale, with elaborate bases and interchangeable parts, typically priced from $2,800 and up.
Do Prime 1 Studio statues arrive already assembled?
They arrive pre-painted, but larger Premium and Ultimate Premium Masterline statues ship with switchable parts, such as alternate arms, heads, or weapon effects, that collectors attach themselves per the included instructions. This is standard for high-end polystone statues at this scale, not a sign of a damaged or incomplete product.
Summary
- Prime 1 Studio is a Japanese statue maker founded in 2012, based in Asakusa, Tokyo.
- Its lines run from Concept Masterline (around $1,200, 1/6 scale) up to Ultimate Premium Masterline (over $4,600, 1/4 scale).
- Statues are hand-painted polystone with fabric and die-cast parts, produced in runs of under 1,000 pieces per release.
- Licensed anime lines currently include Fate/stay night, My Hero Academia, One-Punch Man, and Black Clover.
- They sit above prize figures and posable statues in both detail and price, built for display rather than play.
Akibato currently ships Prime 1 Studio statues and other scale figures from Japan to collectors worldwide. If you want to see what is in stock right now, including the pieces listed above, browse the figures collection before a limited run sells out.
Sources
- Prime 1 Studio — About Prime 1 Studio (official)
- Prime 1 Studio — official store and product line listing
- Superherotoystore — "Prime 1 Studio: What Makes Them Amazing to Collect?"
- Transformers Wiki — Prime 1 Studio
- Prime 1 Studio — Berserk series catalog
- Essential Japan — "Prime 1 Studio Reveals New Bubblegum Crisis Premium Statue"