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A Thorough Comparison of Nendoroid and Figma | A Beginner's Guide to Choosing
Staff Writer
Apr 10, 2025
19 min read
Nendoroid and Figma: A Comprehensive Comparison | Beginner's Guide to Choosing
When considering purchasing figures from Good Smile Company, many people find themselves wondering whether to choose "Nendoroid" or "Figma." Both are popular series released by the same company, but they differ significantly in design concept, size, price range, and ways to enjoy them.
In this article, we will thoroughly compare the differences between Nendoroid and Figma in a way that is easy for beginners to understand. We will explain the characteristics of both series from various angles, including design differences, mobility, price range, and features of included parts, to support you in choosing the best figure for you. If you are wondering "which one should I buy?" or want to know the differences in detail, please read until the end.
【Related Articles】: Complete Guide to Good Smile Company | How Nendoroid and Figma Changed Figure Culture
Table of Contents
- Basic Differences Between Nendoroid and Figma
- Thorough Comparison of Design and Size Differences
- Range of Motion and Freedom of Posing
- Enjoying Accessories and Part Swapping
- Comparison of Price Range and Cost Performance
- Differences in Product Development and Lineup
- Which One Should You Choose? Recommended Diagnosis by Type
Basic Differences Between Nendoroid and Figma
Nendoroid and Figma are both articulated figure series developed by Good Smile Company, but their concepts are entirely different. The most significant difference is that Nendoroid features a cute design with a deformed 2-3 head height, while Figma maintains a realistic head height with a 6-7 head height stylish design.
The sizes also differ, with Nendoroid being approximately 10cm and Figma being approximately 13-15cm. The price range also varies, with Nendoroid priced around 4,500-6,000 yen and Figma around 6,000-8,000 yen. Nendoroid is appealing for its abundance of facial parts and cuteness, while Figma is attractive for its high mobility and dynamic posing.
The choice between the two depends on whether you want to display a cute, deformed character or enjoy action poses with a realistic head height. First, let's understand the basic characteristics of both series.
Nendoroid Features: The Cuteness of Deformation
Nendoroid's most significant feature is its adorable design, deformed to a 2-3 head height. The balance created by a large head and small body results in the cuteness of "chibi characters," which is supported by a wide range of ages and genders.
Another characteristic is the abundance of facial parts included, with 3-5 types of expressions such as a standard face, smiling face, crying face, and angry face provided for each figure. Simply swapping the face can dramatically change the character's impression, allowing for various expressions even with the same figure.
Additionally, the compact size does not take up much display space, making it easy for beginners to start collecting. The price is also relatively affordable, making it an ideal series for first-time figure purchases.
Figma Features: Realistic Mobility
Figma is a figure series that reproduces the character's original proportions with a realistic head height. It features an appearance that looks like the character designs from anime or games have been three-dimensionally realized, faithfully recreating the atmosphere of the original work.
The biggest appeal is its extremely high mobility. Joints throughout the body, including the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees, and ankles, move finely, allowing for standing poses as well as sitting poses, running poses, and combat poses, enabling the recreation of various action scenes.
Thanks to Figma's unique joint mechanism, a wide range of motion is achieved without compromising appearance, making it ideal for those who want to enjoy posing or capture action scenes. The abundance of weapons and effect parts also reflects the design philosophy that emphasizes action expression.
Comparison Table of Main Differences at a Glance
We have summarized the main differences between Nendoroid and Figma in a table. Please use it as a reference when considering a purchase.
| Item | Nendoroid | figma |
|---|---|---|
| Height Ratio | 2-3 heads (deformed) | 6-7 heads (realistic) |
| Size | About 10cm | About 13-15cm |
| Price Range | 4,500-6,000 yen | 6,000-8,000 yen |
| Articulation Method | Part-swapping | Multi-joint articulation |
| Features | Abundant expression parts, cute | High mobility, free posing |
| Best For | Those who love cute figures, display specialists | Those who want to enjoy posing, action lovers |
| Ease of Display | Compact and space-saving | Slightly larger, can be displayed dynamically |
As can be seen from this table, Nendoroids focus on "enjoying the view" and "adoring cuteness," while figma emphasizes "enjoying movement" and "creating poses."
Thorough Comparison of Design and Size Differences
- Differences in Height Ratio and Proportions
- Differences in Face and Expression Parts
- Actual Size Feel and Ease of Display
Design and size are the most important differences when choosing between Nendoroid and figma. Since the visual impressions are completely different, selecting a series that matches your preferences is the key to enjoying your collection for a long time.
Nendoroids pursue "cuteness" through deformation, resulting in designs that retain the character's features while being adorable to anyone who sees them. On the other hand, figma pursues "realism" by faithfully reproducing the atmosphere of the original work, giving the impression that anime or game characters have been three-dimensionally realized as they are.
The size difference is also practically important, affecting display space, shelf size, and compatibility with other figures. Here, we will take a closer look at the differences in design and size.
Differences in Height Ratio and Proportions
The 2-3 head height design of Nendoroids is characterized by a very large head and a small body balance. This extreme deformation allows any character to be expressed cutely, making even serious or cool characters in the original work appear more approachable when turned into Nendoroids.
In contrast, the 6-7 head height design of figma maintains a realistic proportion close to the human body shape. With long limbs and detailed reproduction of muscle definition and body lines, they are three-dimensionally realized without compromising the character image from the original work.
Nendoroids maximize "the cuteness of characters" in their design, while figma faithfully reproduces "the individuality and style of characters" in their design. Even for the same character, Nendoroids and figma have completely different charms, which is why many collectors gather both.
Differences in Face and Expression Parts
Nendoroid faces feature large eyes and rounded face lines. Typically, 3-5 types of expression parts are included, showcasing representative expressions of the character such as smiling, crying, angry, and surprised faces. Since the entire face is swapped, changing them is easy.
Figma faces are realistically sculpted to faithfully reproduce the character design from the original work. Usually, 2-3 types of expression parts are included, such as a standard face, smiling face, and combat face. While not as abundant as Nendoroids, the natural expressions that match the realistic height ratio are appealing.
Nendoroids focus on "enjoying the variety of expressions," while figma emphasizes "expressing the world view through combinations of poses and expressions." Both allow for easy swapping of face parts, making them beginner-friendly.
Actual Size Feel and Ease of Display
Nendoroids are very compact, with a height of about 10cm. They can fit in the palm of your hand, making them easy to display in limited spaces like on a desk or in the gaps of a bookshelf. They take up little space even when lined up, making it easy to increase your collection.
Figma, at about 13-15cm tall, is slightly larger than Nendoroids. When equipped with weapons or effect parts, their width and height increase even more, requiring a certain amount of space for display. However, they have a strong presence, and when displayed in dynamic poses, they stand out beautifully.
Nendoroid is suitable for those who want to display many characters in a compact space, while figma is aimed at those who want to create impressive displays. Considering the display space at home is also an important point when making a choice.
Range of Motion and Freedom of Posing
The range of motion and freedom of posing is one of the biggest differences between Nendoroid and figma. Both fall under the category of "articulated figures," but the methods and purposes of articulation are completely different.
Nendoroid adopts a "part-swapping" system, creating poses by swapping out arms and legs. Instead of moving joints, it uses pre-determined parts to create poses, which makes it highly stable and less prone to collapsing.
On the other hand, figma uses a "multi-joint articulation" system, allowing for free movement of all joints to create poses. This means you can freely recreate any pose you can imagine, offering infinite possibilities for posing. Here, we will explain the characteristics of each articulation system in detail.
Nendoroid's Articulation System
Nendoroid uses a "part-swapping" system to create poses by swapping out arm and leg parts. For example, it comes with multiple parts such as leg parts for standing poses, leg parts for sitting poses, and arm parts for running poses.
The advantage of this system is that poses are less likely to collapse, allowing for stable displays. There is no worry about joints loosening and causing poses to fall apart, so it can be displayed in the same pose for a long time without any issues. This ease of use is also a significant benefit for beginners.
However, there is a limitation that poses not included in the parts cannot be recreated. Posing is limited to the range of included parts, so it lacks the freedom that figma offers. Nevertheless, it provides stability with the assurance of "not failing" and "being able to display with confidence," making it an ideal system for those who do not prioritize posing.
figma's Articulation System
figma uses a "multi-joint articulation" system that allows for free movement of joints throughout the body to create poses. With joints in the neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees, and ankles, it can recreate almost any pose a human can take.
figma's unique joint mechanism achieves a wide range of motion without compromising appearance. For example, the shoulder joints can move significantly forward, backward, and sideways, allowing for natural poses when raising or rotating the arms. The knee joints bend deeply, enabling beautiful expressions of sitting poses or kneeling poses.
Due to the high freedom of posing, it requires some practice to create the ideal pose. There is enjoyment in gradually building poses while adjusting the balance of the joints, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy creative activities like photography or diorama creation. Additionally, combining multiple figma figures to recreate battle scenes or conversation scenes adds to the expressive possibilities.
Enjoying Accessories and Part Swapping
The richness of accessories and part swapping greatly influences how one enjoys figures. Both Nendoroid and figma are attractive for their abundant accessory parts, but their focus is different.
Nendoroid is rich in "expression parts and small items," providing many parts to enjoy everyday scenes and emotional expressions of characters. In contrast, figma is rich in "weapons and effect parts," offering many parts to recreate action scenes and battle scenes.
Moreover, both series feature optional parts sold separately and compatibility with parts from other characters, broadening the scope for customization. Here, we will explain the characteristics and enjoyment of each series' accessories.
Nendoroid's Abundant Part Variations
Nendoroid typically comes with 3 to 5 types of expression parts and about 4 to 6 types of hand parts. The hand parts include various variations such as gripping hands, open hands, holding hands, and pointing hands, accommodating a range of poses.
Additionally, there are many character-specific small item parts. For example, a student character might come with textbooks and bags, a combat character with weapons, and a slice-of-life character with food, all items that express the world of the work. By combining these small items, you can enhance the character's individuality.
The great appeal of Nendoroids lies in their compatibility, allowing parts to be exchanged with other Nendoroids. By combining heads and bodies from different characters or sharing accessories, you can enjoy original combinations. Using the separately sold "Nendoroid More" series expands your options even further, enabling unique customizations.
figma Weapons and Effect Parts
It is common for figma figures to come with about 2 to 4 types of weapon parts. Weapons such as swords, guns, and staffs that characters use in their respective works are precisely recreated, allowing them to be held firmly. The sculpting of the weapons is very detailed, and the painting is meticulous, expressing a realistic texture despite their small size.
Effect parts that enhance action expressions are also appealing. By attaching effect parts made of transparent materials, such as slash effects, explosion effects, and magic effects, you can recreate dynamic battle scenes. These effect parts are also sold separately, and combining multiple pieces allows for even more dynamic expressions.
Additionally, figma figures are highly compatible, allowing weapons and effect parts to be shared among figures from the same figma series. By equipping different characters with various weapons or combining multiple effects, you can create original action scenes. When combined with posing, you can enjoy displays that feel like recreating famous scenes from anime.
Price Range and Cost Performance Comparison
Price is one of the important criteria when purchasing figures. Both Nendoroids and figma are high-quality figures, but they fall into different price ranges.
Nendoroids are relatively affordably priced, making them appealing for beginners to purchase easily. On the other hand, figma figures are priced slightly higher, but considering their high mobility and precise sculpting, the price is quite justifiable.
Moreover, when purchasing multiple figures for a collection, the price difference can have a significant impact. Here, we will explain the price ranges and cost performance of each, as well as budget planning for collecting.
Price Ranges and Market Prices
The standard price range for Nendoroids is approximately 4,500 yen to 6,000 yen. For simpler characters, it is around 4,500 yen, while characters with abundant accessories or special sculpting are priced at 5,500 yen to 6,000 yen. Limited editions or special versions can be even more expensive.
The standard price range for figma is approximately 6,000 yen to 8,000 yen. Basic characters are priced at 6,000 yen to 7,000 yen, while characters with rich weapon and effect parts or complex sculpting are around 7,500 yen to 8,000 yen. If large weapons or mechanical parts are included, the price can be even higher.
The reason for the price difference is the size and complexity of the articulation mechanisms. Figma figures are larger than Nendoroids and use many joint parts throughout their bodies, resulting in higher manufacturing costs. However, both are high-quality figures made in Japan, providing satisfaction that matches their price.
Budget Planning for Collecting
If you plan to collect Nendoroids, purchasing one figure per month will require a budget of approximately 54,000 yen to 72,000 yen per year. Due to their relatively affordable prices, it is easy to collect multiple characters, making it realistic to gather characters from your favorite works.
If you plan to collect figma figures, purchasing one per month will require a budget of approximately 72,000 yen to 96,000 yen per year. While this is more expensive than Nendoroids, the satisfaction per figure is higher, allowing for more enjoyment in posing.
If you want to keep your budget in check, you can focus on collecting Nendoroids and only purchase figma figures for characters you particularly like. Additionally, utilizing the second-hand market can allow you to purchase figures at lower prices than retail. By considering your budget and priorities, creating a manageable collection plan is the key to enjoying figures for a long time.
Differences in Product Development and Lineup
Nendoroid and figma both feature characters from a wide range of works, but they excel in different genres and trends. Checking which series your favorite characters are part of is an important point in making a choice.
Nendoroid covers a very broad range of genres, with various characters from anime, games, Vtubers, and even real-life figures being produced. On the other hand, figma focuses on works with high action elements, with many products based on works that feature battle scenes or sports scenes.
Here, we will explain the characteristics of each series and what genres they are strong in.
Characteristics of Nendoroid's Product Line
Nendoroid widely produces popular characters from anime and games. It spans genres without limitation, including slice-of-life anime, romance anime, fantasy works, and battle works, particularly featuring a wealth of female characters and cute characters.
Additionally, characters from outside anime and games, such as Vtubers, real-life artists, athletes, and historical figures, are also actively produced. The versatility of the deformed design allows for any character to be expressed cutely, which is a strong point of Nendoroid.
The series lineup is also very rich, often featuring all the main characters from popular works, making it a delightful lineup for fans of those works. There is joy in collecting and displaying all the characters from your favorite series.
Characteristics of figma's Product Line
figma is centered around works with high action elements. Many products are based on battle anime, fighting games, action RPGs, and special effects heroes, which are appealing for their battle scenes and dynamic movements.
Moreover, figma pairs well with mecha and robot works, allowing for the combination of pilot characters and their machines for display. Sports-themed works and characters with acrobatic movements are also attractively recreated, utilizing figma's high mobility.
The lineup of male characters is also substantial, featuring many cool characters such as protagonists and rival characters. The realistic proportions and freedom of posing allow for the enjoyment of recreating and displaying iconic scenes from the original works.
Which One Should You Choose? Type-Based Recommendations
Having detailed the differences between Nendoroid and figma, many may still wonder, "Which one should I choose?" The criteria for selection will vary based on your preferences and how you enjoy them.
Nendoroid is suited for those who prioritize "the cuteness that heals the eyes," while figma is for those who value "the creativity of enjoying posing." Additionally, collecting both allows you to enjoy the charms of each simultaneously.
Here, we will diagnose recommended series based on type and suggest the best options for you. If you are purchasing figures for the first time, please use this as a reference.
Recommended for Nendoroid
Nendoroid is recommended for the following types of people. First, it is perfect for those who love cute things and want to enjoy the adorable expressions and gestures of characters. The deformed design has a charm that is soothing just to look at.
Next, it is also recommended for those with limited display space. Due to their compact size, they can be displayed in small spaces like on a desk or in the gaps of a bookshelf. They do not take up much space even when lined up, allowing for enjoyment of the collection even in small rooms.
Furthermore, it is suitable for those who want to start a collection on a budget. Being more affordable than figma, they can be purchased easily, making it easier to collect multiple characters. For those buying figures for the first time or students with limited budgets, starting with Nendoroid is recommended.
Recommended for figma
figma is recommended for the following types of people. First, it is ideal for those who want to enjoy posing and love the creative activity of making their own poses. With multi-joint mobility, you can create poses freely, allowing for various enjoyable activities such as photography and diorama creation.
Next, it is also recommended for those who love action expressions and want to recreate battle scenes or cool poses. With a rich selection of weapons and effect parts, you can recreate iconic scenes from anime and games in three dimensions. For those who enjoy dynamic characters, figma is the way to go.
Additionally, it is suitable for those who like realistic proportion figures and want to faithfully recreate the atmosphere of the original work. The character's proportions and costume details are meticulously reproduced, ensuring a quality that satisfies fans of the original. Even at a slightly higher price, figma is recommended for those who prioritize quality and mobility.
Enjoying the Fun and Benefits of Collecting Both
In fact, by collecting both Nendoroid and figma, you can maximize the enjoyment of each's charm. By purchasing both the Nendoroid and figma of the same character, you can enjoy comparing the different appeals of deformed and realistic styles.
For example, you can display Nendoroid to enjoy its cuteness in everyday life, and use figma to recreate action scenes when taking photos or creating dioramas. By varying the display according to your mood or purpose, the enjoyment of the figures expands even further.
Moreover, by displaying Nendoroid and figma side by side, you can also enjoy the contrast in size and atmosphere. The unique world where deformed and realistic coexist is a special charm that can only be experienced by those who collect both. If you have a budget to spare or want to seriously enjoy figure collecting, consider collecting both series.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Figure for You
Both Nendoroid and figma are high-quality figure series developed by Good Smile Company, but they differ significantly in design, mobility, price, and enjoyment. Nendoroid is appealing for its deformed cuteness and affordable price, making it ideal for beginners or those who love cute figures. On the other hand, figma is attractive for its realistic proportions and high mobility, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy posing or love action expressions.
When deciding which to choose, it’s good to consider perspectives like "Is cuteness more important, or mobility?" "Do I enjoy looking at them, or moving them?" "Do I want to keep my budget low, or prioritize quality?" If it’s your first purchase, starting with the affordably priced Nendoroid is recommended, but if you enjoy action, figma can also be a viable option.
Additionally, by collecting both series, you can enjoy the charm of each simultaneously. Check which series your favorite characters are available in, and while considering your preferences, budget, and display space, choose the optimal figure. Meeting the right figure for you will mark the beginning of a wonderful collection life.
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SW
Staff Writer
Content Creator
Passionate about anime figures and Japanese pop culture. Dedicated to bringing you the latest news and reviews.
