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Many VOCALOID fans have seen the world of figures, whether it be the adorable Nendoroid Petits, the super affordable prize figures, or the absolutely stunning 1/4 scale Miku figure. Yet despite wanting to start their collections, many fans simply don’t know where to start. This guide will help you start your VOCALOID figure collecting journey. However, it can be applied to figures in general as well.
Update Notes: Since this article was originally published, more options have come out and others have seen updates. As such, we’ve updated the article to reflect these.
Deciding Where to Start
The first thing any beginning collector needs to decide is what their budget is. Are you ready to shell out $200 USD or is your budget more like $20?
Once you decide that, you need to determine what type of figure you’re looking for. Do you want something small and cute? Pose-able or still? Super detailed or more simplistic?
After those questions are answered, it’s very easy to figure out where you’d like to begin. In the following sections, we’ll cover each type of figure from their prices to sizes and the pros and cons of each.
Nendoroid Petites
Nendoroid Petites are small figures with limited posing ability. They are essentially mini Nendoroids with less articulation. Just like Nendos, Nendoroid Petites are capable of having bodies, face plates, and other parts swapped around to other Petites (minus a few special circumstances). Some Petites are now even coming with more than one face plate so that they can have different expressions.
These are usually sold as both full sets online and blind boxes at conventions and other events. A single Petite will usually cost no more than $8 USD* while the full sets range in price depending on how many figures there are. The Hatsune Miku Selection set retailed for ¥7,200 in the Good Smile Company online shop. The newer Hatsune Miku Renewal set also retailed for the same price.
Unfortunately, there haven’t been any VOCALOID Petite sets released. The second to last set (Hatsune Miku Selection) was released in 2013 while the latest Renewal set came three years later in 2016.
*This price can be quite a bit higher depending on if the Petite is bundled with something of higher value. The Racing Miku 2012 Nendoroid Petit retailed for ¥2,000 because the Petite came with a motorized car Miku could ride in.
Pros
Cost. Though many figures go up in price as time goes on, Nendoroid Petites from the sets can usually still be found for a good price. They rarely go over $15 USD and less popular characters usually never reach over $10 USD.
Many Characters. A lot of the options listed don’t include many characters. Nendoroid Petites are limited to the VOCALOIDs (and derivatives) owned by Crypton but that’s a lot more characters than many of the other options have.
Small. If you want to start small, Petites are the way to go. They’re around 65mm in height which makes it easy to collect quite a few without taking up too much space.
Customizable. Though not as customizable as Nendoroids and figmas, Petites can have face plates changed. In addition, body swaps and other options are available. This gives them some extra character that rigid figures cannot provide.
Cons
Buying them. If you’re looking for VOCALOID Nendoroid Petites, you’re going to have to buy them pre-owned or hope you can find them from a reputable dealer at a convention. Even then, they’ll likely be selling blind boxes and you’ll be forced to gamble.
In the event that a new set is released, you’ll have to buy the full set online. If you want just a single character, it’s difficult to get it.
Lack of Pose-ability. Petites have some mobility to them but not much. In a sense, they’re almost like scaled down figures of Nendoroids. They can come apart but can’t be posed like their larger counterparts.
Nendoroid Plus
~Snow Miku and Friends from the North~ SEASON 1
“Nendoroid Plus” is a term used to cover everything from the Jumbo Nendoroid Petite Miku to Petites in pull-back cars. Plushes styled like Nendoroids and the “~Snow Miku and Friends from the North~ SEASON 1″ figures also fall under this category. For this article, we’ll be focusing on the “Snow Miku and Friends from the North” figures.
These were recently released in February 2015 and from the “SEASON 1” part of their name, we can assume there will be more to come in the future. Other Nendoroid Plus items either aren’t quite figures (the pull-back cars) or are simply one of a kind (Jumbo Nendoroid Petite Miku).
These figures were originally sold during the 66th Sapporo Snow Festival in solid white capsules. You never knew what figure you got until you opened the capsule.
The capsules retailed for ¥463 each before tax and eventually made their way into animate shops, the Snow Miku cafe in Taiwan, Skytown in the New Chitose Airport, and even Anime Expo.
Only the heads and twin tails of these figures are moveable. The bodies have no moveable parts.
As for size, they are slightly smaller than Nendoroid Petites.
Head joints on these Capsule Factory figures are compatible with Nendoroid Petites as well as other bodies in the set, allowing for some customization.
Pros
Cost. Much like the Nendoroid Petites, these figures are very cheap. Even buying them second hand will usually cost you no more than $10 USD. Even if you don’t get the figure(s) you want the first time, you can afford several tries.
Small. You can easily display the whole first season of the “Snow Miku and Friends from the North” set on your desk or a small shelf.
Free Standing. Some people are put off by the sight of figure stands, which are needed to hold up most figures. The set I’ve spoken about (future sets can not be spoken for) are all able to stand on their own. Miku’s twin tails support the Miku figures while the Yukine one is supported by the trailing “fabric” of his bow.
Middle
Simplicity. These are by far the simplest figures you can get. They have a very cartoonish feel to them that makes them unique and very charming. Though some may find this a con, it’s definitely a positive for collectors looking to start small, or if they’re looking for something insanely cute.
Cons
Buying Them. Much like the Nendoroid Petites, these figures are also hard to come by. Unless you’re lucky enough to go to an event that has the figures, you’re going to struggle buying them first hand. And even then, they come in capsules and you have no choice as to which ones you get. There also has yet to be an option to buy them online or as a full set.
Lack of Characters. At the moment, the only Nendoroid Plus: Capsule Factory figures are of Rabbit Yukine and Miku. There are five (5) Miku figures and one (1) Rabbit Yukine.
Though these are not pose-able, they do not look like pose-able figures. As such, lack of pose-ability isn’t a con.
