Top 7 Well Known Action Figure Brands

Action figures have long been a favorite of collectors all over the world, there are many well-known action figure brands.

1/6 action figures are about 30cm high and can be divided into four parts as modular products: body+head+clothes+accessories.

With so many action figure brands on the market,  these collectible action figures allow fans to recreate their favorite scenes from movies, TV shows, and comic books.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the TOP 7 most popular action figure brands.

Hasbro

Identify: Undisputed king of the mass market + broadest IP coverage.

Hasbro is one of the most well-known names in the toy industry and has been producing action figures for decades.

They are best known for their lines of Star Wars and Marvel action figures, which have been fan favorites for years.

Hasbro also produces action figures for other popular franchises like Transformers, Disney, and G.I. Joe.

What sets Hasbro apart is their attention to detail. Their action figures are highly articulated, making them great for posing and displaying.

They also often come with a wide range of accessories, giving fans the ability to customize their action figures.

Bandai

Identify: The leading brand for anime action figures.

Bandai is a Japanese toy company that has been producing action figures for several decades.

They are best known for their line of Gundam figures, which are based on the popular anime series of the same name.

Bandai also produces figures for other popular anime franchises like Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon.

What sets Bandai apart is their focus on anime and manga franchises.

They produce figures for a wide range of franchises that other companies may not have considered.

McFarlane Toys

Identify: A key player in the North American mid-range collectibles market.

McFarlane Toys is a company that was founded by Todd McFarlane, a comic book artist who is best known for his work on Spider-Man and Spawn.

McFarlane Toys is best known for their line of highly detailed collectible action figures based on popular video game franchises like Halo and Fortnite.

They also produce action figures for other franchises like DC Comics and The Walking Dead.

McFarlane Toys sets itself apart by paying attention to detail. Their figures are highly detailed and often come with a range of accessories.

Hot Toys

Identify: A benchmark in the high-end collectibles market (approaching the level of fine art).

Hot Toys represents the gold standard for collectible, hyper-realistic figures.

Specializing in 1/6 scale hyper-realism

Cinema-quality facial sculpting & costuming

IPs: Marvel Cinematic Universe, Star Wars, Batman

High unit prices, limited production runs, and significant market premiums

NECA

Identify: Master of Detail in Film and TV Themes

NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) is a company that specializes in producing high-end action figures for collectors.

They are best known for their line of horror movie figures, which includes iconic characters like Freddy Krueger and Jason Voorhees.

NECA figures are highly detailed and often come with a range of accessories, making them great for display.

What sets NECA apart is their focus on niche franchises.

They produce figures for a wide range of franchises, including video games, TV shows, and movies, that other companies may not have considered.

Sideshow Collectibles

Identify: A core brand in the high-end collectibles and statue market.(USA | High-end statues and collectibles)

Sideshow Collectibles is a “premium display-grade brand.”

Specializes in Premium Format and 1:6/1:4 scale statues.

Covers a vast range of IPs (Marvel, DC, Star Wars, etc.).

Maintains a long-standing distribution partnership with Hot Toys.

Positioned more as “display-grade collectibles” than toys.

Good Smile Company

Identify: A core brand in the world of ACG collectibles (Japan | A powerhouse in the anime/manga world)

Good Smile Company wields immense influence within the anime community.

Product lines: Nendoroid / Figma

IPs: *Attack on Titan*, *Demon Slayer*, etc.

Style: Cute, articulated, and highly faithful to the source material

Extensive global reach across the ACG market

Other Excellent Action Figure Brands

In addition to the 7 action figure brands mentioned above, there are many excellent collectible action figures, such as JT Studio, Enterbay, Hot Toys, Michael Lau, and so on.

Nowadays, action figure brands are also constantly cooperating with fashion brands. The action figure brand RUINSWORK cooperates with The North Face, Nike, and other brands.

These collectible action figures are full of designers’ imagination, artistic, and fashion, and are deeply loved by action figure collectors.

Funko

Funko is a company that is best known for their line of Pop! vinyl figures.

These figures are highly stylized and designed to look like popular characters from movies, TV shows, and comic books.

Funko has also produced action figures for other franchises like Harry Potter and Star Wars. What sets Funko apart is their unique design style.

Their action figures are highly collectible and come in a wide range of designs, making them great for display.

Mattel

Mattel is another prominent name in the toy industry and has been producing action figures for several decades.

They are best known for their line of DC Comics figures, which includes popular characters like Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman.

Mattel also produces figures for other franchises like Masters of the Universe and WWE action figures. Mattel sets itself apart by focusing on playability.

Their figures are often designed with action features that allow for interactive play.

Mezco

Mezco is a company that specializes in producing highly detailed and articulated action figures for collectors.

They are best known for their line of 1:12 Collective figures, which includes popular characters like Batman and Spider-Man action figures. Mezco sets itself apart by focusing on quality.