How to Start an Anime Figure Collection: Bearbrick, Funko Pop & Blind-Box Guide (2026)

Starting a figure collection in 2026 has never been easier or more fun. Between the surprise of blind boxes, the design-world prestige of Bearbrick, and the sheer breadth of Funko Pop, there's an entry point for every budget and taste. This beginner's guide explains what each category is, how to think about condition and value, and how to start a shelf you'll actually love. Browse our Bearbrick collection and Funko Pop collection to see where it all begins.

Bearbrick: The Art-Toy Cornerstone

Bearbrick (often styled BE@RBRICK) is the bear-shaped designer toy from Medicom Toy, and it's a cornerstone of the art-toy world. The appeal is the canvas: the simple bear silhouette becomes a platform for collaborations with artists, fashion houses and franchises, so no two designs feel the same. Bearbricks come in standard sizes, commonly the 100% and 400% scales, which lets you mix small accent pieces with larger statement ones on the same shelf. We stock authentic Medicom Toy Bearbricks, so the piece you collect is genuine. Start in our Bearbrick collection.

Funko Pop: The Easiest Place to Start

If Bearbrick is the art-world cornerstone, Funko Pop is the welcome mat. With officially licensed figures across hundreds of franchises, anime, film, games, sports, music, Funko makes it simple to start a collection around the things you already love. The figures are affordable, uniform in style so they display well together, and easy to find for almost any character. We carry officially licensed Funko Pop, so every figure is the genuine article. Browse them in our Funko Pop collection.

Blind Boxes: The Thrill of the Pull

Blind boxes are the fastest-growing corner of collecting, and the appeal is simple: you don't know which figure you'll get until you open it. That surprise turns each purchase into a small event, and the chase for rare variants keeps collectors coming back. The category covers everything from designer art toys to character-driven series, and the low entry price makes it an easy way to test whether the collecting bug bites. The same instinct that makes blind boxes addictive, the chase, is what drives the whole hobby.

Condition and Grading: What Beginners Should Know

Condition matters more than new collectors expect, especially if you ever want to trade or resell. A few habits protect your collection's value:

• Mind the box: For Funko Pop and many blind-box figures, the original packaging is part of the value. Collectors describe condition in terms of box sharpness, dents and creases.
• In-box vs. out-of-box: Decide early whether you're a "keep it sealed" collector or a display-it-open collector. Both are valid, but it changes how you store everything.
• Keep figures out of direct sunlight: UV fades paint over time, the figure equivalent of leaving a costume in a sunny window.
• Authenticity first: A genuine figure in good condition holds value; a recast never will.

Buy Authentic From the Start

The single most important habit for a new collector is buying authentic. We stock authentic, officially licensed products, including genuine Medicom Toy Bearbricks and officially licensed Funko Pop. When a design is popular, counterfeits flood the market, and a fake undermines both the value and the joy of a collection. Starting with genuine pieces means your shelf is worth something and looks the way the artist intended. Browse the wider catalog in our figures collection.

How to Choose Your First Pieces

The best starting collection is the one built around something you genuinely love, not what you think will appreciate. Pick a franchise, an artist, or a character, and let that be the theme. A focused shelf, all Bearbrick, all one anime, or a tight blind-box series, looks more intentional and is more satisfying to grow than a random pile. Start small, learn what condition and authenticity look like in person, and expand from there.

Returns That Make Starting Low-Risk

Trying a new hobby is easier when the first orders are reversible. Magic Stories accepts returns within 30 days, provides the return shipping label, and charges no restocking fee. If your first Bearbrick or Funko isn't what you hoped, you can return or exchange it without paying for return postage. That safety net is exactly what lets a curious beginner test the waters without overcommitting.

Sizing and Display Space

Before you buy, plan where pieces will live. Bearbricks come in distinct scales (100%, 400% and larger), and Funko Pops have a fairly uniform footprint, so check the listed dimensions against your shelf, the same way we list a full XS-to-3XL size chart on our cosplay so you order the right fit. A figure that overwhelms its shelf is the collecting version of a costume that doesn't fit.

Start Your Collection

Whether the surprise of a blind box, the art-toy prestige of Bearbrick, or the easy breadth of Funko draws you in, the formula is the same: buy authentic, collect what you love, mind the condition, and lean on the covered 30-day returns while you learn. Start in our Bearbrick collection or our Funko Pop collection, then branch out across our figures collection.

Related guides: Anime Figures for Beginners · Be@rbrick Collecting Guide for Beginners 2026

New here? See our Anime Figure Authenticity Guide.

Quick Answers

• What is a Bearbrick? Bearbrick (styled BE@RBRICK) is the bear-shaped designer toy from Medicom Toy and a cornerstone of the art-toy world, where the simple bear silhouette becomes a platform for artist, fashion and franchise collaborations.
• What's the easiest way to start collecting figures? Funko Pop is the welcome mat: officially licensed figures across hundreds of franchises, affordable, uniform in style so they display well together, and easy to find for almost any character.
• Why do blind boxes appeal to collectors? You don't know which figure you'll get until you open it, and that surprise turns each purchase into a small event, with the chase for rare variants keeping collectors coming back.
• What should beginners know about condition and grading? For Funko Pop and many blind-box figures the original packaging is part of the value, so mind the box, decide early whether you keep figures sealed or display them open, and keep them out of direct sunlight.
• What is the returns policy for a first-time collector? Magic Stories accepts returns within 30 days, provides the return shipping label, and charges no restocking fee, so you can return or exchange a first Bearbrick or Funko without paying for return postage.