VOCALOID Figure Collecting: Where to Start

Prize Machine Figures

Prize Machine Figures (shortened to “PM Figures”) are figures that can be won from claw machines in Japan.

These figures are manufactured in mass and as such, often don’t have the quality of actual scale figures. However, due to their ability in prize machines, these figures are known for being cheap during their run in the machines.

Once the prize machines no longer have the figures in them, the price goes up. Price also depends on the rarity and popularity of said figures.

Usually, these figures go for about $10 USD online during their run in machines. However, you can only get them from the machines and cannot buy them in stores. So all prize figures you buy will be pre-owned, even if they’re brand new.

Finding the figures actually isn’t that difficult, either. Determined collectors can find their favorite prize figures years after the line is discontinued. And those who check websites frequently have no problem finding figures currently in prize machines.

Despite these figures only coming from prize machines, they are all over the place online. This is thanks to skilled claw machine users grabbing the figures and selling them for a small profit.

Though PM figures have no set scale, they can be compared in size to 1/7 or 1/8 Scale figures. They may be slightly larger or smaller than those scaled figures but usually are somewhere around that size. This, of course, does not mean that they are properly scaled. It’s simply a size comparison one can use when deciding if PM figures are worth it.

Pros

Cost. If you just have to have a scale figure but aren’t willing to dish out the serious cash for one, prize machine figures are a good alternative. They’re the size of a scale without the cost of one.

Interesting. VOCALOID prize machine figures often come as interesting variants to the popular Crypton characters (though there are also many Lily PM figures as well). The most recent batch of prize machine figures from SEGA includes three Miku figures and a Rin figure based on costumes from the Project Diva Arcade game as well as a special Christmas version of Miku in Project Diva style.

Realistic. Just like figmas and scaled figures, prize machine figures follow human proportions rather well. There are allowances made for the anime-styled look but these figures allow fans to have characters seemingly come to life in their home.

Easy to Obtain. Despite what many may think, prize machine figures are very easy to come by if you know where to look. Places like Mandarake and AmiAmi sell them very frequently. Even years after the figures are no longer in machines, one can often find the figure(s) they’re looking for on one of the two mentioned websites. It just takes a bit of dedication to watch the sites and be able to grab the figures.

Middle

Quality. The quality of figures varies from series to series and manufacturer to manufacturer. As time has gone on, older prize figures like the EX series have been replaced with much higher quality figures. But if you’re looking for a certain character, you may not be able to find a figure of them in high quality.

Character Selection. Prize machine figures do offer opportunities to collect figures of characters that don’t get much attention. Though Miku dominates the market, Lily is actually close behind. So despite there being a lack of characters, there are still many figures of characters that don’t get the scale figure treatment very often.

The Stands. Stands also vary by series and manufacturer. Some look very nice while others detract from the overall appearance of the figure. Bases usually won’t be so much of a turn off as to keep people from wanting to buy the figures but they may be considered a bit of an eye sore at times.

The Faces. Though this can also be considered as quality, faces seem to be the one thing that stick out the most when something is wrong with a figure. Everything else can look incredible but there seems to be quite a few prize machine figures that have faces that look off. Whether the paint job is odd or the proportions used are just off, sometimes the faces can be a deal breaker, but not all the time. Sometimes they’re absolutely beautiful.

Cons

Likely to Deform. Prize machine figures are made to be cheaper than their expensive scale figure counterparts. This leads to the use of cheaper materials. Even scaled figures will eventually experience sagging parts as the plastic warms and heavier, less supported parts are given the chance to move. Cheaper materials have a higher chance of eventually sagging.

Supports. Though supports can be considered as part of the base, they can also be considered as their own category. The bases themselves can look nice but the supports can make a prize machine figure look absolutely horrible. This is especially noticeable when it comes to Miku as her long, wide twin tails often require quite a bit of extra support.

These supports are almost always made of clear plastic but just as the case is with Nendoroid and figma bases, the clear plastic is still visible. This often detracts from the overall appearance of the figure.

But without supports, there would be sagging and breaking. And that would be even worse.

 

Prize Figures

Not to be mistaken with prize machine figures, prize figures are usually won from convenience store lotteries. In the case of VOCALOID figures, the lotteries can give Nendoroids, figmas, or scaled figures as prizes.

The cost of the figures depends mainly on the rarity and popularity of it. If the figure was a common prize, it’ll usually run around $40-$60 USD. If it’s one of the “Last Prizes”, mentioned previously in the Nendoroid section, it’ll go for quite a bit more.

The cost of prize figures also goes up as time goes on and fewer are available for sale. “Last Prize” figures from previous years can already be seen going for several hundred dollars on some websites while finding them on others is near impossible.

These figures are limited to stores in Japan (for VOCALOID figures, usually Family Mart) so obtaining them outside of Japan can be a challenge.

For this section, the pros, cons, and middle ground will all be specific to the prize figures of VOCALOIDs, specifically the Happy Kuji: Hatsune Miku events as they are the most frequent way to get prize figures. All of the figures for the Happy Kuji: Hatsune Miku events are made by Good Smile Company. As such, they are all of very high quality. Not all prize figures are made by GSC and, as such, this portion of the guide should only be used for those interested in collecting the VOCALOID themed prize figures from the Happy Kuji: Hatsune Miku events.

In addition, the pros and cons will focus mainly on quality and ease of obtaining the figures due to the range of figure types available in the lotteries. For specific pros and cons of each figure type, check the corresponding parts of this article.

Pros

Quality. As stated before, all prize figures for the Happy Kuji: Hatsune Miku events are made by Good Smile Company. As a result, the quality of the figures is always fantastic.

As of this article. the scaled figures available as prizes are of very high quality. They are NOT prize machine figures but actual scaled figures.

Unique. The Happy Kuji: Hatsune Miku figures are often very interesting. Figures include Nendoroid Petites of the Miku, Rin, and Len Append, a Nendoroid Miku dressed as Santa, and even a Nendoroid and figma Miku in a Sailor Uniform ready to go to school.

Middle

Scale Figures are Reskins. Though the Nendoroids and figma are brand new, fans may recognize Lat-Type Miku: Autumn Ver.’s pose from the original Lat-Type Miku scale figure. Both of the scaled figures offered so far from the Happy Kuji lotteries are alternative color schemes of existing figures.

Cons

Somewhat Difficult to Obtain. Depending on which prize figure you want, it can be moderately to incredibly difficult to obtain it. Prize figures aren’t as abundant as prize machine figures and the “Last Prize” figures are extremely hard to come by.

Lack of Characters. Due to the Happy Kuji events being Crypton based, only the Crypton characters will ever be featured in these events. As of the time this article was written, most of the figures are of Miku. One Rin and one Len Nendoroid have been made. Smaller prizes do feature other Crypton characters but the Nendoroids, figmas, and scale figures seem to be mainly Miku based.

Varied Prices. Everything from popularity, rarity, and age of the figure makes it difficult to put an exact price tag on the figures. Some go for cheaper than regular Nendoroids or scaled figures while some Nendoroids can only be bought for hundreds of dollars.