One of the most interesting trends in the “nerd” subculture revolves around collecting and displaying pop vinyl toys. These tiny figures are the most recent addition to the collectible action figure market, and they are wildly popular among casual fans and serious collectors alike. As more people discover these cute collectibles, the market will only continue to grow.
What are Pop Vinyl Figures?
Pop toys are a different twist on traditional action figures or collectible figurines. Instead of being an exact scale likeness of a superhero or movie character, a pop figure is a cutesy take on the character (similar to when artists reimagine a character in the anime style). Pop figures have disproportionally large, cube-shaped bobble heads. The faces all feature enormous eyes and tiny noses. Some pop figures feature smiley mouths, whereas the “serious” characters (e.g. supervillains) have no mouths at all.
The Amazing Variety of Pop Figures
Pop figures are incredibly popular, and the demand for them only continues to grow. They are appealing to a wide variety of people: children, comic book fans, serious collectors, and anyone who enjoys decorating with cute items. There are a few reasons for this success.
Pop figures are accessible to a wide audience. They are small and much less expensive than traditional action figures or collectibles. The figures are adorable and appeal to a wide range of people. Even casual movie or TV fans who generally wouldn’t care to invest in traditional collectibles enjoy seeing pop figures on their bookcases, desks, or shelves.
Pop figures are also diverse. You can find a pop figure of almost any movie, comic book, video game, TV show, or book character. There are superheroes and villains and My Little Ponies. You can find wizards, dragons, Godzilla, and Hello Kitty. The variety is staggering. You can decorate your work desk with your favourite Mass Effect characters, or display your Smaug pop figure next to the Tolkien books on your shelves. Some people have even used them to create customised superheroes versus supervillains chess set with characters from favourite comic books. If you are looking for a way to get your children interested in stories that you love, you can help them start a collection of relevant pop figures.
The Future of Nerd Culture
Comic books and other traditionally “nerdy” stories are going through somewhat of a revival right now. While some franchises, such as Star Wars, have been part of mainstream culture for years, many of the lesser-known fictional universes are becoming popular due to blockbuster movies and successful TV shows. This success means that filmmakers and other leaders in the entertainment industry will most likely continue branching out into other beloved stories. It’s no longer considered socially shameful to be a fan of comic books or video games. Instead, people of all backgrounds are coming together to share their love of Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Superman, or World of Warcraft. The success of pop vinyl figures is a result of this new cultural phenomenon. Additionally, the rapidly expanding market for pop figures will continue to influence culture to embrace the science fiction and fantasy genre.
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