I'm torn about the Jiangshi, honestly. On one hand Funko makes my skin crawl, as does just about any "merchandise." I prefer original characters/sculpts and historical/mythological beings to stuff from TV shows and movies any day.

The Jiangshi are pretty cool though. Not licensed merchandise and has roots in mythology... but... still, it's Funko.
I just don't know what to think.

I think the thing that has always put me off Funko is the "cookie cutter" approach. If you've seen one Pop! Vinyl you've seen them all.. Although I did appreciate the effort put into some of the more recent releases like the Slimer toy where he was being suspended in the air by streams of goo.

The first few reviews coming in for this Hikari line seem to be all positive.. but they are still static and boring even though the quality of materials may have been improved. I think they should have invited american sofubi artists to produce toys based on their countless licenses. MVH designed TMNT.. Max Toy designed He-Man.. Splurrt x Muppets in japanese vinyl!

What Super7 did with Secret Base for the Alien release is exactly what should be done with this Hikari line. Right now it looks like guys who used to work for KR filling out character details in an already established template in Illustrator. Should be more like the licensed toys you see at Super Festival and Wonder Fest.

They couldn't care less about that. Once again, they don't want to make monster toys. the Sofubi is simply a medium and they couldn't care less about capturing the small "Kaiju market". Static pieces mean less pulls and higher margins.

So I'm a bit confused by these toys. I bought a turtle for a friend, the tag says Japanese Vinyl. Then under that it says inspired by Japanese vinyl, designed in the USA, Made in China.

"For a friend..."

Alex said something on the last page to that effect -- Japanese vinyl poured in China. Does anyone know why, though? They want it to be 'authentic sofubi' but also want presumably cheaper labor costs / larger output? Either one or both of those factors is my guess.

This is Funko we're talking about, their toys are all about making the most money by spending the least amount of money. I too bought a Funko figure for someone else, a POP! figure as a Father's Day gift for my dad. I paid $10 for a figure of Sam the Eagle for him and the quality was downright awful. I held my tongue because he was so pleased with it, but the paint on the feet was too thin and I could see the blue vinyl underneath. The eyes were painted outside the "boundaries" and I'm pretty sure there was a paint scuff right out of box. To be fair I ordered online so I didn't get to choose a "good one" I guess, but the experience just pissed me off.
It seems to me that these "fauxfubi" toys are just mass-produced toys with "pretty colors" and catered to existing Funko fanatics as a "higher end" line, not true fans of Japanese vinyl. Funko fans don't know any better.

What defines Japanese vinyl? Does all the raw vinyl come from Japan? I thought I read somewhere here that the raw vinyl comes from China.

It does.

So what part of these are Japanese vinyl? I see the inspired by Japanese in them. False advertising if you ask me.

Not quite false but very tricky...

I made an instagram post in regards to this issue to which Brian F jumped right in saying it was in fact Japanese vinyl.

Maybe he could reiterate his info/thoughts for us here

Either way just by using the word "Sofubi" they instantly jump abord with the cool kids.

There is over 300 of these things on eBay now for between $60-$160

So the contents of those those big squarish Kobayashi tins are imported from China ? Did they just source the right vinyl from China or did they get a Chinese manufacturer to produce it to their specifications ?

I'm guessing the solid vinyl slugs are imported to China from Japan where they are melted down and pulled.

Word is quality is good . . . but it's wasted on toys that look like shit.

S'all about mass market $$$ and hopping on the 'sofubi' bandwagon!

Blech!

All vinyl comes from china. ALL of it. What makes sofubi sofubi. Is the way it's processed in japan. So as long as it's being processed properly, geography doesn't mean a thing.

Except for the skilled Japanese workers who have dedicated lives to perfecting it. Yeah they don't mean much.

Keep " sofubi " in Japan, support the factory workers who made this , this.

Just saying.

I think it's cool for vinyl to come from all over, US, China, just don't call it sofubi. Do your own thing and earn your own cred.

I agree.

I love Japanese vinyl toys. I also love what some other people are doing with vinyl like Unbox. The difference is that Unbox isn't trying to be japanese at all or ride the coattails of other peoples works or traditions. They are carving their own place in the industry with hard work and creativity. That earns my respect for whatever that's worth.

The skilled factory workers are the ones doing the previously mentioned proper processing haha.

Believe me I know the importance of the craftsperson. My point is that it's the actual manufacturing that creates the quality difference. Not the location on the map.

Unless it's got something to do with Japanese tap water. Because I know ny tap is why we've got the best pizza. Maybe that's why japan has the best vinyl.

New York doesn't have the best pizza, clearly you have clue what your talking about.

Yeah, clearly- everyone knows it's all about Jersey.

My favorite part is the Walmart stamp Funko Hikari is Walmart sofubi, haha.

Haha! That's Great, Griz

Tap water's why we have the best testicular cancer.

DING DING DING!!!




Yep. Once again, this is not aimed at the skullbrain collector. This is for your casual collector. I have a friend who collects all things batman. He has a few secret base pieces and he LOVES the Hikari batman. It appeals to him and he couldn't care less about whether it was made in china or japan. I'm not defending Funko quality on anything. I can say I feel that the vinyl looks good. It's by far the best quality vinyl and sprays I've ever seen come out of China. Is it Obitsu like quality?? No, but come on.

Here's my two cents. Just an opinion and does reflect Super7's opinion. Although Josh and I had a long conversation about it recently: I think there this weird paranoia on here of Funko aggressively coming for us and/or ripping off a subculture we've all been a part of for a long time. The response is similar to how DIY punks respond to certain bands or labels they feel are doing the same thing. I just don't care. I felt the same way about Kid Robot. It is what it is, it will never replace or have an effect on what I collect. You can get bent out of shape and post IG posts and tag them in it. Making your stand in the great war of Funko using the word "japanese" on their packaging....or you could just focus on what you love.

Delorenzo's in Trenton used to be my favorite in NJ.
Also shout out to Rich because Frank Pepe in New Haven is great too.
The best NY pizza was Una Pizza Napoletana....until he moved it to SF.

That's all that needs to be said, surely. I think this thread should have stopped a long time ago.