I get this questions a lot: "Why should I collect Nendoroids when they are expensive and I can barely do something with them?" Yes, they can be expensive but don't have to and they seem boring if you don't have imagination. You see Nendoroids are one of Japan's best figures you can get. They extremely detailed and are very versatile. You can pose them and swap their clothes. So here is Why you should Collect Nendoroids: 1 They are Versatile
When you buy a Nendoroid you are actually getting several accessories with it like different limbs, face expressions, objects, etc. You can customize your Nendoroid as much as you want and you can even make little dramas and scenes with them. Owning several Nendoroids opens up even more doors. All Nendoroids have the same build quality which means you can swap their parts and they will still fit. Several months ago, there was this viral picture of a Hatsune Miku Nendoroid with a Colossal Titan body. The point is there is a lot of possibilities with Nendoroid especially if you have Imagination. 2 They are cute
Probably one of the deciding factors for me was their cuteness. When you start collecting Nendoroids you usually do so by buying only the one that really appeals to you but then you get another and another. In short, the main drive force behind buying a Nendoroid for me is their cuteness. The only reason I didn't list this first was because that other misconception.
3 People won't think that you are a creep
When I got my first scale Figure of Hatsune Miku, which I got at an UFO catcher in Akihabara (Tokyo), she came with a Bikini and well detailed underwear ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) I really liked her because she was my first Figure but occasionally friends would come over and look at me like a little creepy because of that. While on the other side, Nendoroids are regarded as kid's friendly and therefore cute. Some of the girls that saw my Nendoroids really liked them like for instance Renge (2 They are cute) above. 4 Make new friends Once you start collecting Nendoroids, you can actively participate in the Nendoroid community and make new friends who can share your passion. 5 You will really enjoy the view The view of several Nendoroids together is quite something. Every now and then it will make you laugh about yourself and believe or not cheer you up. I know that that 4 and 5 sort of are really short but I just did not want to finish this guide without mentioning those. I hope you liked this little guide and hope we see on the next time. Do not forget to subscribe to our Mailing list since there we let you know of new content, ideas and news in the Japanese world in general not just Anime, Manga, etc.
Buying a Nendoroid requires a certain knowledge about the quality, origin, rarity and detail of the Nendoroid. If you are yet unfamiliar with Nendoroid this short Wikipedia Snippet will help you:
The Nendoroid (ねんどろいど nendoroido) series is a brand of plastic figures created by the Japanese Good Smile Company in 2006. They typically depict characters from anime, manga or video games and are designed with a large head and smaller body to give them a cuteappearance. Their faces and other body parts are exchangeable, giving them a range of different expressions and poses. The Nendoroid brand spans a variety of different products: the original 10 cm figures, smaller Nendoroid Petite figures, additional display tools known as the Nendoroid More series as well as plushies and play sets.
Just as you have read Nendoroids are figure with big heads and small bodies. Their appearance is rather cute. There each Anime, Manga or Game character can be featured as a Nendoroid but not just once. There can exist several variation of the same character with different clothes, expressions, objects, etc. Collectors enjoy getting each variation and storing them in a showcase. Now that you have a better understanding let starts. What you have to know before Buying
How much money do I want to spend ?
What type of Nendoroid I want ?
Is original Important for me ?
How do I know that my Nendoroid is Original or Fake?
How do I know that I'm not spending too much ?
What type of Nendoroid do I want ? Now that you know about how much money you want to spend, we talk about the different types of Nendoroids. I just told you that there are three price classes but there is a little more to it. Nendoroids come in different sizes too. You can between three different types:
Nendoroid
Nendoroid Petite (Nendoroid Puchi)
Nendoroid Petite Plus (Nendoroid Puchi Plus)
Nendoroid
These are your typical Nendoroid. They are the biggest of the three measuring about 10cm. All original Nendoroid come with a stand, accessories (different faceplates, legs, arms, eyes, hat, swords, etc.) Nendoroids have joints and can change position but only limited. Almost all their parts are interchangeable.
※ Rin Nendoroid Petite (left), Hatsune Miku Nendoroid Petite (middle), Len Nendoroid Petite (right)
Nendoroid Petite, as the name suggests, are smaller versions of the normal Nendoroid. They measure about 6 cm each and a little rare because they are not sold in stores. Your only chance is to get them either in a set (several bundled together) or individually as a bonus for purchasing other merchandise such as an Anime, Manga, Game, etc. Other than that, they share the same qualities that normal Nendoroids have. People who get a hold of one resell them sometimes and that would be your chance to get one beside buying an Anime, Manga or Game.
I couldn't find a set of Nendoroid Petite Plus - this show another set of Nendoroid Petite
Nendoroid Petite Plus are yet even smaller measure only 3cm. Beside their size, they are super detailed and have no interchangeable parts or joints that allow you to move it. Your only chance get one is during special events held in Japan or by getting one from someone who is willing to sell his.
How much money do I want to spend for my Nendoroid? At this moment, you probably don't know how much Nendoroids costs and that is perfect. There is no point in spending more money if you don't think that the product is not worth it. Based on the amount of money you have (or are willing to save) your options will vary greatly. So let's dive in. Generally speaking, there are four price classes for Nendoroid (it may seem overly simple but read on):
Made in China/Fake ($5 - $35)
Original ($40 - $80)
Original and Rare ($90 - $250+)
Petite and Petite Plus ($20 - ???)
Made in China => Nendoroids in this price class are usually made in China (Fake). This means they are not original (more on this later) and their build quality is not good. The makers usually don't focus on details either. Most collectors wouldn't buy Fake Nendoroid because of those reasons. If your intent is owning a Nendoroid just to have it and please your desire, then this is the best option. (Click on the Image for more info) Korisato Nendoroid (Photo Kano) Buy Now
Original => These nendoroid are the good quality ones. They are made by the Good Smile Company (original). Their build quality is far superior and with more attention to the details. As a collector, these are the ones you want. Even if you just want to own just one, this option will offer you a much better quality as well as more parts (more on this latter). (Click on the Image for more information) Hestia Nendoroid (DanMachi) Buy Now
Original and Rare => If you want to own something superior and exclusive, then this is your option. These are the ones that become your little treasure. Obviously, they are original and come also with more parts to customize your Nendoroid. Umaru Nendoroid (Himouto Umaru-chan) Buy Now
Petite and Petite Plus =>As discussed earlier, Petite and Petite Plus can be very rare. That is why it is hard to set a fixed price range for them. It will depend a lot on the uniqueness and rarity of the Nendoroid. If you want one of these I recommend going to the Good Smile Company website. They have their own online shop where you can buy them if they have it.
Is an Original Nendoroid Important for me? Now we arrived to another deciding factor. Original vs. Fake. Basically based on what you read until now you probably can make your decision BUT WAIT. Every Original Nendoroid is made by the Good Smile Company and comes with extra parts to customize it. These include different legs, arms, eyes, hair, stands, objects (ex. Cup of tea, soccer ball, mask, etc.) as I mentioned earlier. This gives you the ability to change and customize your Nendoroid a lot. Fakes, usually do not offer you this convenience and have a far inferior quality and color. Furthermore, Fakes have also another downside. Their parts are very loose and fall off quite often which makes losing parts unavoidable. My Tip: Avoid Ebay and Unknown Pages Here are the Manufacturers that are acknowledged by the Original Company - Good Smile:
How do I know that my Nendoroid is Original or Fake? Now that you have learned a lot about Nendoroid itself, it is time to keep the Fake ones from the Originals. A lot of times, you will find websites that sell you apparently original Nendoroid for $15 which screams for fake but it is possible. You can lower your risk by buying from a trusted place with a lot of reviews and a well established paying system. Amazon once again is king here. The original Company - Good Smile Company have their own brand store on Amazon. You can also visit the Good Smile Company website. They have an online store but sometimes their products are more expensive there (due to constant Amazon offers) But... These are 10 things Fake Nendoroid have in common:
It is cheap; fake ones cost $5-$30
Check the box and look if it has a round sticker (original) or scotch tape (fake).
Bad coloring, poor build, few details, blurry details.
Colors are off and the face is distorted. (Look for Original reference photos)
The colors of the Box are pale and less glossy.
Very loose parts
Needs holes for fixing it on its stand (which should come with the Nendoroid)
The joints seem unnatural both color and form.
The stand is poor quality (Originals have "Good Smile Company" written on it usually)
Any other sign of bad quality (Originals cost more for a reason)
Renge (Non Non Biyori) The left one is an Original and the right one is probably a fake one. If you click on the link, you will see that the left ones price matches that of the Good Smile Company website and that it has reviews certifying its quality. The right one on the other hand, has a price that is very suspicious and it has no comment whatsoever. The images are the same but these details help you spot the difference. How do I know that I'm not spending too much ? Now that you made it this far, you are close to being an Expert. But how do you know that you are not spending too much ? Your best ally is the Good Smile Company's Website. They list all their products and their price in Yen (convert it to dollars) and that gives you a good idea about the price. Always round up a little due to export, handling and shipping but a lot more and you know it is too expensive. My recommendation is to go the Amazon Store of the Good Smile Company and they will give you the accurate prices most of the time.
There are several things you have to keep in mind when you want to buy your Dakimakura. Mainly because you will end up spending a lot of money if you don't know these things. Also, because you may end up buying something that you don't really like.
This is what you have to know:
What you will need
Where to Buy Dakimakura Pillow (The products quality)
Material of Dakimakura Pillow (The price will vary a lot)
Caretaking of Dakimakura Pillow (Keep it safe)
What you will need
Here you have to be a little carefull. The first time you a dakimakura you may be forgiven for thinking that you can get a $15 dakimakura like the one on the right (Click image for more detail) but no. What you actually get is the cover with the image. The Filling will cost you extra. So you will have to buy 2 things:
The cover (Image)
The Inner Pillow
Here you can save money. Instead of buying them separately, you can buy them in a bundle which can get you 10%-30% discount (depending on your luck). Amazon has a nice bundle section right below the picture
Where to Buy Dakimakura Pillow
Now that you know what you need, it is time to talk about trust. This step is very important because there are a lot places you can actually buy a Dakimakura if you do a simple google search. BUT, don't buy it from just any place. This is not the moment to save some money (later). You have to trust that place because it could be used, the review could be false, paid (fraud), and the materials could be simply bad.
Amazon is number because they have a great assortment and the best prices (discounts).
Anime Dakimakura Pillow is also a great site but you pay more because they are made in Japan and have a superior quality.
Material of Dakimakura Pillow
The next step is to decide what material you want. You can choose between these and their price depends on the fabric:
Cheapest first:
Peach Skin
Natural Velvet (Plush Fabric)
Japanese Textile (Polyester)
Two way Tricot (2WAY Tricot)
Each one will give you a different amount of softness, thickness and durability: Peach Skin The surface of the Peach Skin fabric is very smooth the material is thick enough to make it robust and durable but the it is not the softest options out there. The price tag will probably convince you on this model. It is the cheapest of the four but Dakimakura Fabrics but due to its durability, you can hand wash it or mashine wash it. Don't tumble dry it. It is best to let it dry in the sun or another dry place.
Natural Velvet This fabric offers you one of the softest experience. At the same time is quite thick and therefore not so smooth. It is durable but not as much as the Peach skin (most durable). The surface is soft, plushy and warm. To wash it, put it in a laundry bag and wash it then let it dry without exposing it to the sun. Buy Now -20%
Japanese Textile
This is the allrounder fabric. It offers the perfect balance between softness, smoothness, thickness and durability. You can hand wash it or mashine wash it and then let it dry in the sun or tumble dry at low heat. Buy Now -20%
2WAY Tricot This fabric offers you the softness of the Natural Velvet fabric combined with the Smoothness of the Peach Skin fabric. The fabric itself is not thick but offers a good durability due to its elasticity. It is also wrinkle resistant. To wash it, use natural detergent (no whitener or bleach) and only hand wash it then let it dry without exposing it to the sun Buy Now -20%
Kuronuma Sawako is seen by everyone as a gloomy person. Everyone misspells her name and calls her "Sadako (horror character)". One day she meets a guy called Kazehaya Shouta. He is the only person that calls her by her true name "Sawako". He unconsciously helps Sawako change her nature. At some point, Sawako is able to make friends and the story unfolds into a complete Shoujo Anime. She falls in love with Kazehaya and everything starts from there...
Ranma Saotome is a teen martial artist like his father Genma Saotome. One day they go the cursed springs of Jusenkyo in China. During their training, Ranma falls into one of the springs and becomes a Red Haired girl everytime he touches cold water. His father also falls into one of the springs and becomes a Panda. Both turn back to Men with warm water but the problems just start there. When they come back to Japan, Ranma has to become the fiancee of Akane. Akane is a young and beautiful girl that hates men. With the time many things happen between Ranma and Akane.
The story is about Kanda Sorata and his troublesome life in the school and its dorm. He was marked as a weirdo by the school and moved to a special dorm full of other weirdos. Actually, he is not so strange. He just likes cats and he keeps a lot of them in his dorm. One day, a beautiful girl arrives at Sakurasou. Her name is Mashiro Shiina and captivates Sorata. The problem is that Sorata soon learns that Mashiro is completely incapable of taking care of herself. This goes to the point that she doesn't know whether to use or not underwear. The story is very different and involves several love triangles and dramas.
This story is a shoujo anime. It is about the student council president Misaki Ayuzawa. She is well respected both in athletics and in studies but she has a little secret. She works part time at a maid cafe. Nobody at her school knows that but someday three bullies from her school notice her secret. They try to blackmail her when Usui Takumi scares them away. After that incident, the three bullies become Misaki's fans. Between Misaki and Usui happens what has to happen in a Romance Anime...
This story is sweet and mellow it makes you question your manliness (if you are a guy). The story is about five friends: Sakaki, Io, Tsumiki, Hime and Mayoi. All go to the same school and spend their days filled with fun there. The main characters are Tsumiki and Io. Tsumiki is secretly in love with Io but she cannot say anything because she is a little introvert and TSUNDERE. Together they spend many sweet time under the rain, in the snow and in the warm summer nights. All the episodes are filled with comedy and sweetness.
This Romance anime almost needs no intro. The story is about Haruyuki Arita and Kuroyukihime. Haruyuki is a very introvert person. His only escape are virtual games. One day he meets the school's most popular girl Kuroyukihime. She elects him to form part of her team in a virtual game called Accel World. The trick is that once you die in the game you lose all your memory of the game and you can't never play it again. Both play together and become so attached that they are able to sacrifice their lives for each other.
Yoshioka Futaba was a popular girl in Junior High but envious classmates hated her. She tried her best so that Tanaka likes her back. All the classmates started to dislike her for being so nice. They thought that she pretended to be another person. Soon she notices the problem and to add things up Tanaka leaves the school without saying anything. In High School, both Tanaka and Futaba meet again but both changed a lot. Now both have the chance to change each other if it were not for the love triangles...
Despite the long title, the story is very beautifull. It is about a boy called Jinta that fell in love when he was little with Honma. Back when he was a kid, his friends tried to make a little fun of him by saying that he likes Honma. He responded under pressure saying: "There is no way I could like such an ugly girl". Honma tried not to cry but finally ended up running away from a shelter in the mountains. Unfortunately, when she ran off she fell from a cliff and died. Years later, the spirit of Honma appears again but only Jinta can see her. He tries to find a way to make her rest in peace but love triangles surge from everywhere...
Here, I refer to all the Monogatari Series. The episodes are not filled with love and romance but they contain a more realistic love. It is a story about Araragi and Senjougahara. Araragi has a vampire girl living in his shadow. That girl makes him also in part a vampire. Senjougahara suffered of a problem in the past where a cancer ate all her weight. To add things up, a men tried to violate her when she was younger. As the stories progress, she is cured and finds in Araragi a support.
Yuuta is a boy that suffered from Chuunibyou (delighted fantasy) in the past. In the present, he pretended to burry it all in the past but Rikka reminds him kindly of his Chuunibyou. She shows him all the fantasy items that he threw away. He is shocked by that fact and tries to do what she says to recover his items. He soon notices that he feels more for Rikka than it seems. Both face hardships like the past death of Rikka's father...
This is a top 10 list of the best rated Anime by Anime News Network. What are your thoughts and which are your favorite ones ?
1) Steins;Gate
The story is about a self proclaimed mad-scientist called Rintaro Okabe who believes in a World Conspiracy driven by an International Organization. He and his lab members create thus a gadget that allows them to send messages to the past which leads to changes in the present. As the stories progresses he tries to fix these changes but fails several times.
Is the story of two brothers who lose their mother due to an illness. Both brothers try to become Alchemists in order to revive their mother. Their attempt fails and made one of the brothers lose his leg while the other brother loses his body. The remaining brother Edward sacrifices his right arm in order to store his brothers soul in an armour. At the end, Edward works desperately to find the Philosopher's Stone and return his brothers body to normal again.
Tomoya's life continues. Several months after he confessed to Nagisa. The plot situates him in the second semester where he continues to meet new people. Tomoya's relationship enters a new level. His relationship with Nagisa helps him to appreciate the importance of a family. Unexpected both start facing hardships in their lives and relationship.
Himura Kenshin was enslaved but is then rescued after the slavers fight with bandits who kill everyone except him. A master finds him and trains him in one of the deadliest schools. Master and students are decided by combat. You either live as a Master or die as a student. At some point he meets a woman named Tomoe. He hides here and makes her his fictional bride. Soon after, both actually fall in love. But Tomoe has another reason to stay with Kenshin.
One year after the failure of the Black Rebellion and the death of Zero Britannia assigned Area 11 a correctional status, where 11s are corrected by brute force.The purpose of this is to prevent rebellions. A high school student named Lelouch (Zero in the past) meets a woman called C.C., who helps him remember his past. This leads to Lelouch remembering his true self and finishing his plan.
Chihiro and her parents find an abandoned theme park on the countryside. Soon the story reveals that the theme park is not abandoned but is in fact a bath house for the spirits where humans are not good seen. The witch that controls this world transforms Chihiro's parents into swines and Chihiro has to overcome all sort of things to save them.
It is mid-december, and SOS Brigade chief Haruhi Suzumiya announces that the Brigade is going to hold a Christmas party in their clubroom, The brigade members start preparing everything for the party. A few days later after some preparations, everything changes and it seems like none of the brigade members remembers that they were part of it. To add things up, Haruhi (team leader) has disappeared.
It is about a world where Mushi, spirit like creatures, live and torment people. Ginko is a Mushishi (master) who advises people how to deal with them. The story is very calm with ambiental music and a never ending journey.
10) Princess Mononoke
Ashitaka, prince of a village, is wounded and cursed by a mountain god trying to protect his village. After this, Ashitaka leaves the village trying to find a cure for his curse. On his journey he meets a mysterious wolf girl and a war driven Women who fight openly with the forest gods. The war extends while Ashitaka tries to end the war in a friendly manner.
