Top Art Toy Brands for Beginners
Art toy collecting has gained significant popularity in recent years, attracting a diverse community of collectors, artists, and enthusiasts. For beginners just entering this exciting world, knowing where to start can be overwhelming. The market is filled with a vast array of brands, each offering unique styles, limited editions, and creative designs. To help you begin your journey, we’ve compiled a list of the top art toy brands that are perfect for newcomers to the world of art toy collecting.
1. Kidrobot
Kidrobot is one of the most iconic and accessible art toy brands for beginners. Founded in 2002, the company quickly gained a reputation for producing high-quality vinyl figures, plush toys, and limited edition collectibles. Kidrobot collaborates with renowned artists like Frank Kozik, Jeremyville, and Gary Baseman, making it an excellent starting point for those interested in the art toy scene.
Kidrobot’s product range is diverse, featuring both affordable, smaller items and larger, more intricate pieces that can appreciate in value over time. Collectors new to the art toy world will appreciate Kidrobot’s wide variety of styles, from pop culture-inspired pieces to original designs, making it easy to find something that resonates.
Visit: Kidrobot Official Website
2. Funko
Funko is another highly recommended brand for beginners, especially for those who are transitioning from collecting action figures or pop culture memorabilia. Funko’s popular Pop! Vinyl series is characterized by its stylized, oversized heads and cute, chibi-inspired designs. These figures feature characters from movies, TV shows, comics, and video games, making them an excellent entry point for newcomers who are fans of pop culture.
While Funko Pop! figures are mass-produced and generally affordable, they offer a gateway to the world of art toys with their creative designs and limited edition releases. Funko also releases exclusive figures that often appreciate in value, which can be attractive to collectors looking for investment potential.
Visit: Funko Official Website
3. Bearbricks by Medicom Toy
Medicom Toy's Bearbricks are an essential part of any beginner’s collection. These collectible figures, which started as a collaboration between Medicom Toy and the Japanese design community, have become a staple in the art toy world. Known for their sleek, minimalist design, Bearbricks are often produced in collaborations with artists, designers, and brands, making them highly collectible.
The figures are available in a variety of sizes, ranging from 100% (7 cm) to 1000% (70 cm), offering collectors flexibility in terms of both budget and display options. Bearbricks are a great entry point into art toys because they are both aesthetically pleasing and widely accessible, yet they also have an impressive track record for appreciating in value over time.
Visit: Medicom Toy Official Website
4. Superplastic
Superplastic is a modern and trendy brand that has quickly gained a loyal following in the art toy world. Known for its vibrant, playful characters, Superplastic combines art and street culture to create unique vinyl figures that appeal to both collectors and design enthusiasts. The company collaborates with popular artists such as Jenkem and Ron English, blending high art with accessible designs.
Superplastic is known for creating limited edition pieces and collaborating with artists from various fields, giving beginners access to collectible items that often increase in value. Their figures, which often have a fun and whimsical quality, are perfect for newcomers who want to dive into the world of art toys without feeling overwhelmed by more niche, high-end releases.
Visit: Superplastic Official Website
5. Tokidoki
Tokidoki is a brand that blends Japanese pop culture with Western influences, offering a range of adorable, playful art toys. Founded by Simone Legno, Tokidoki’s characters are inspired by a mix of cute, quirky, and edgy elements, making them perfect for beginners who appreciate whimsical designs with a touch of attitude.
From plush toys to vinyl figures, Tokidoki’s products are accessible, affordable, and widely available. The brand is especially popular for its blind box collections, where collectors purchase mystery boxes containing surprise figures. This makes it easy for newcomers to start building a collection without committing to a large investment up front.
Visit: Tokidoki Official Website
6. Art Toys by Jason Freeny
Jason Freeny is an artist known for his “dissected” art toys, where the figures are cut open to reveal their internal organs and structures. His designs offer a unique perspective on the world of art toys, combining both macabre and playful elements. Beginners interested in unique, conceptual designs will appreciate Freeny’s approach to toy-making.
Freeny’s figures are often produced in limited editions, making them valuable for collectors looking for distinctive pieces. His creations appeal to those who appreciate a blend of artistic design, humor, and a bit of the bizarre.
Visit: Jason Freeny Official Website
7. Medicom Toy’s Bearbrick × Disney
For beginners who are Disney fans, the collaboration between Medicom Toy’s Bearbricks and Disney offers a unique blend of art toys and classic characters. These figures combine the minimalist Bearbrick design with beloved Disney characters, creating a perfect crossover between art toys and popular culture.
Collectors who enjoy both art toys and Disney merchandise will find these figures to be an excellent starting point. The Bearbricks × Disney series offers a way to build a collection that blends the best of both worlds: iconic characters and collectible design.
Visit: Medicom Toy Official Website
Conclusion
For beginners, entering the world of art toy collecting can be both exciting and daunting. The brands listed above offer a perfect entry point for those looking to start their collections. Whether you prefer the vibrant designs of Tokidoki, the pop culture-driven figures of Funko, or the artistic expressions of Kidrobot and Bearbricks, there’s something for everyone. By starting with these trusted brands, you can begin building a collection that is both enjoyable and rewarding, with many pieces likely to appreciate in value over time.