When you are gathering anime figures, the words prize figures and scale figures most likely have crossed your ears a number of times. They both are popular among the anime fans but they differ a lot in terms of quality, price, details, and the way in which they are appreciated by the collectors. When you subscribe to an anime subscription box or consider it, it is important to know the difference since it would allow you to know what you could get every month. We should break it down in an easily understandable manner so that you can always know what to expect.

What Are Prize Figures?

Mass-produced anime figures Prizes Prize figures Prizes are mass-produced anime figures that were originally developed as token prizes in crane games and lotteries in Japan. Their greatest strength is their accessibility as they deliver a decent quality at an affordable price. Although they lack the high-quality detailing of the high-end figures, the modern prize figures have become much better. Producers such as Banpreto, Sega and FuRyu still release superior sculpts, more intense paint work and dynamic poses.

The reason why prize figure is so popular is that it is relatively cheap, and therefore most new collectors or fans will use it to furnish their display with a limited budget. They are light, colourful as well as have a colossal variety of characters and are highly collectible. Prize figures are a common feature in most anime subscription services or anime loot boxes since they are a great value addition to the box that will not negatively affect the price of the box.

What Are Scale Figures?

Scale figures are regarded as high-end collector products. They are well designed using top quality materials, hand painted details and extremely precise proportions. The term scale, e.g. 1/6, 1/7, 1/8, is used to mean that the figure is drawn to a certain proportion of the natural size of the character. Scale figures are much more costly since they require more skill. They are usually accompanied by detail bases, dynamic effects, and details in clothing, hair and even facial expression.

The scale figures are purchased by the collectors as long-term investments and display value. They are the main attraction to any anime collection it can sell for a lot more in future sales and be a point of pride to serious fans.

Prize Figures vs Scale Figures Which One in Your Box?

When purchasing anime boxes on a monthly basis, you should have an idea of what kind of figure you are purchasing. Some boxes can contain just prize figures whereas others can combine both based on the theme, availability, or special issues.

These boxes contain more prize figures due to their low price, wide availability and ship easily. They enable subscription services to add other items to their figure, like keychains, posters, stickers, clothing or other small collectibles, without increasing the price of the entire box.

Scale figures, in contrast, are considered to be seldom found in a regular subscription box due to their high price. Nonetheless, custom boxes of anime sometimes have an opportunity to get one as a rare bonus or special upgrade, limited edition, or premium.

What is Really in The Otaku Box?

The otaku box subscribers get a handpicked set of anime products every month, with prize figures being the most prevalent. The box is concentrated on providing the highest value of a combination of fan-favorite characters, exclusive artwork, themed products, collectible cards, and others. The presence of prize figures will enable the box to remain affordable and at the same time provide fans with an entertaining experience of unboxing. Scale figures are more of a special release than a regular monthly item, although more upscale collectibles are sometimes used in special editions or during the holiday season.

The knowledge of the distinction will make you enjoy what comes in your box, whether it is an attractive prize character that adds to your display or something worth remembering years.

Which Should You Collect?

Which figures to choose between prize and scale figures: this is based on your objectives as a collector:

Select Prize Figures Assuming You Desire:

And cheap monthly extensions to your set.

A wide variety of characters

An exciting gaming experience, a light-hearted game.

Prices that won't make you cry.

Select Scale Figures Choose You Wish:

Thickly adorned, superb workmanship.

Showcase works of art that are unique.

Long-term collectible value

Characters as they are, perfected and polished.

There are plenty of collectors who take a combination of the two, beginning with prize figures and eventually including scale figures of their favourite characters.

Final Thoughts

Be it a display shelf of prize figures of all colors or a scale figure investment in fine quality, both categories introduce something special to the anime collecting world. Subscriptions such as The Otaku Box are little gifts of happiness every month, and knowing the variety of types of figures, you can think how glad you are to see what is in them. Whatever you end up with, it is the experience, nostalgia and association to the anime worlds you fell in love with that are truly worthwhile.