What Are Nendoroids?

There are many types of toys and statues available right now. Of those, scaled PVC are, by far, the most popular. Then, there are Figmas, by Max Factory, and the new Pettanko line by Good Smile Company. Cast Off statues have also made their appearance, and are becoming increasing popular. But, there is one other type of statue that is making headlines in the world of statues. This statue is known as a Nendoroid. They're not as common as the scaled PVCs, but they are becoming very popular. They have a very unique design that makes them highly collectable, and very fun! But, what are Nendoroids, and why are they so well liked?

First, all Nendoroids are created by the same manufacturing company, Good Smile Company (also known as GSC). Good Smile Company is one of the most well known and respected anime toy distributors. They were founded in May of 2001, and have been operating ever since. They consist of only 38 workers (as of October 10, 2011). On top of producing Nendoroids, they also produce scaled PVC statues, mostly of anime and manga characters or icons, and Figmas. They are centered in Matsudo city, in the Chiba prefecture in Japan.

But, back to the main reason you're here, what are Nendoroids? Well, the word is derived from the Japanese word "nendo," which means 'clay' or 'plasticine'. And, as that name suggests, they are small figures made of plastic. They are typically only about 4 inches in height (10 centimeters). They are known to be designed in a 'chibi', or deformed, format, in which the head takes up about one-third of the figures height. This is one of the key reasons why the figure is so popular; they're tiny, and very adorable!

There are many reasons as to why Nendoroids have become so well-liked. One main reason is that they come with a lot of changeable pieces. Typically, you can change out the faces to show different facial expressions. Also, there are usually other arms and legs that offer various placements for the character do be shown. Many different types of garments can also be available for the character! With all of these features combined, you are able to replicate different parts of the anime or manga that the character is from! And, since all Nendoroids are manufactured by the same company, you can even change out parts from different figures!

As you can tell, Nendoroids are here to stay. In fact, as of the writing of this article, there have been 199 Nendoroids produced! Since there are so many and they're so well liked, GSC produces many of these statues every month. A lot of websites that promote anime statues keep up with the latest Nendoroid releases from Good Smile Company, and it's best to visit one of those sites if you're interested in seeing what kinds of Nendoroids are available. Happy collecting!

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