BANDAI SPIRITS
STORY

Changing the Game by Turning Prizes into the Main Attraction

The World Collectable Figure series debuted in 2009 as a line of stylized figures created specifically as amusement prizes.

At the time, prizes were generally seen as an afterthought—a “bonus” for playing other arcade games—and it was said that few people visited amusement facilities specifically for the prizes. It was also widely believed that launching a successful figure series in the amusement industry would be next to impossible. Challenging that mindset is what sparked the idea for WCF.

After much consideration, we developed a series of stylized figures designed to feel like "palm-sized treasures" that collectors would find irresistible. The first release, based on DRAGON BALL, became a runaway hit. Today, the lineup includes ONE PIECE, Nakayama Kinnikun, Ken Shimura, RIZIN FIGHTING FEDERATION, and many more beloved source material and characters.

A Bold Statement: Launching 88 Figures at Once

True to the name "World Collectable," the series' greatest appeal lies in its ability to showcase the entire world of an original work by featuring a wide range of characters, from main heroes to minor supporting roles. This inclusivity, especially the attention to lesser-known characters that only appear briefly in the original work, struck a chord with fans early on.

At the time, the industry standard was that amusement prizes rarely drove customers to facilities , and figure series typically fizzled out after just a few releases. Half-hearted efforts simply weren't enough to make an impact.

To break through, we made a bold move: at an industry exhibition, we announced that WCF would launch with 88 figures—8 figures released each month for 11 months. By unveiling 11 series upfront, we signaled our readiness and commitment, while also highlighting the unique charm and sense of discovery that only WCF can offer—bringing not just the main stars but every character in between to life.

Clever Design Tricks That Capture Every Collector's Heart

When planning WCF, we focus on creating features that appeal to collectors' instincts. Some notable examples include designs where "completing the set recreates an iconic scene," "combining parts forms a fully realized figure," or "collecting one series completes an entire team." These elements are carefully crafted to encourage customers to enjoy the process of collecting.

However, if the features are too complicated, it raises the difficulty of completing a collection. Since acquiring these figures already involves the challenge of winning a crane game, we carefully consider this balance while planning.

Retaining Details in a New Approach to Stylized Figures

It's commonly thought that stylization in figure design involves simplifying or reducing details. However, WCF challenges this norm by aiming for stylized figures that retain the same level of detail, even with altered proportions.

The process begins with a dedicated illustrator creating stylized character designs. From there, figure sculptors meticulously refine the prototypes, working closely with the team to balance realism and stylization, while adhering to our WCF creation guidelines.

Rather than taking a simple approach to stylization, we intentionally incorporate extra steps and complexities into the process, driven by our commitment to creating figures that are more intricately crafted than any others.

The Figure Sculptors at the Heart of WCF

Figure sculptors play an indispensable role in bringing our stylized figures to life. The quality of the figures depends on their ability to capture the balance and key features of the characters while maintaining an impressive level of detail.

During the initial stages of developing the 88-figure lineup, we dedicated ourselves to recruiting the best figure sculptors available. We shared our vision and passion for WCF with them, ultimately bringing together a team of 20 to 30 highly skilled figure sculptors. Though our ambitious requests likely put them under immense pressure, many of these talented individuals have continued to collaborate with us for over 15 years. We are deeply grateful for their enduring dedication and contributions.

Breaking Industry Stereotypes and Reaching New Heights

Compared to 15 years ago, the landscape of the amusement industry has completely transformed. Today, it's not uncommon to see lines of customers waiting to play crane games specifically for the prizes. This has taught us that it's possible to overturn stereotypes and redefine expectations.

Looking ahead, our goal is to continue evolving our line of figures, ensuring they match the quality of Eiichiro Oda's original ONE PIECE manga and Toei Animation's ONE PIECE anime. Recently, our junior team members have started working on a variety of series beyond ONE PIECE, and I hope their fresh ideas will expand the horizons of these worlds even further. Ultimately, we want WCF to become a series that everyone enjoys collecting.