A while ago I read a news story about the "Funko Experience" in Saudi Arabia, and it stuck with me for a long time. The idea is simple but magical: giant figures and pop culture characters, along with interactive activities that draw in art toy collectors. To me, anyone who owns these figures knows they aren't just dolls, but pieces that express taste and identity.
Personally, I've been following the world of art toys for years — from Funko Pop characters, known for their big heads, to limited-edition figures whose value rises over time. What draws me in is the variety: anime characters, movie heroes, even music and sports icons, all turned into little collectibles displayed on shelves.
What I liked about this event is that it takes the hobby off the screen and into the real world, giving collectors a chance to meet, share their passion, and take photos next to huge figures. Exhibitions like this strengthen the community and encourage newcomers to step into the world of collecting.
I hope to see similar events in my city soon, because the passion for collecting deserves a real space worthy of it.
Source: صحيفة اليوم
I laughed out loud when I first saw this collaboration figure set. T-BASE and animal sculptor Toshio Asakuma have teamed up on the "ONE PIECE × TOSHIO ASAKUMA" series, which puts the One Piece characters back into realistic animal form.
The series has eight figures, each about 8 to 9 centimeters tall, with a reference price of 1,980 yen apiece. They are due in 2027, and the exact release date and sales method will be announced later. The lineup includes Monkey D. Luffy, Gilbert, Monkey D. Garp, Buggy, Jora Coel Mifolge, Crocodile, Tamago and Kozuki Oden, covering the Straw Hat crew, the Marines, Cross Guild and Wano, so several generations of classic arcs are gathered in one set.
The sculpts keep Asakuma's trademark realistic animal bodies, while clothing, weapons and expressions make the characters recognizable. Even with animal heads on everyone, you can instantly tell who is who, from Buggy's red nose to the black sword "Yoru" on Mihawk's back.
The concept is not new. The earlier Figuarts ZERO Artist Special also turned the Straw Hat crew into animals, but that leaned toward large collectibles. This time, shrinking them to about 8 to 9 centimeters and keeping the price per figure under 2,000 yen lowers the barrier a lot.
Physical samples were shown at Taipei Toy Festival 2026, which runs until October 11. What I find most fun is this combination of artist interpretation and licensed characters. It has the flavor of toy art while keeping the characters easy to recognize.
Source: Toy People News
NECA has shown its Prey ULTRAmate Feral Predator in full ahead of New York Comic-Con 2026, and the accessory list alone is enough to make a collector's eyes widen. ULTRAmate is a new line that builds on NECA's Ultimate releases with extra gear and bigger packaging, and this Predator is the one that launches it.
The figure is 7-inch scale, stands a bit over 8 inches tall, and is fully articulated. It is based on the creature as it appears in the 2022 film Prey. What makes it interesting is that NECA has merged the accessories from two earlier Ultimate Feral Predators into one set: swappable hands and mandible faceplates, a bone mask, a bolt gun, collapsible Combisticks, open and collapsed shields, a magnetic rucksack, gauntlet blades, a flintlock pistol, a hatchet, a wolf skull, a wolf head and spine, a net-ball set and even a bear trap.
It comes in a premium window box with magnetic gatefold panels. The price is $79.99, pre-orders are open on NECA's own store, and shipping is expected in early 2027.
Personally, I like that this packs two earlier versions into one purchase. If you missed either of them, this looks like the easy way to get everything at once.
Source: The Toyark
A collaboration between the custom bike shop Wedge Motorcycle and Studio Sota brings miniature custom bike models as capsule toys and box toys. Release is planned for January 2027, and pre-orders for the box toy have opened at the Studio Sota Store.
The price including tax is 500 yen per capsule toy pull and 1,100 yen for the box toy. The original sculpt was made by FlexiblueDesign, based on 3D scan data of a real bike, and it was refined over many rounds under the supervision of the Wedge Motorcycle representative. Details like the muffler routing, brake rotor and caliper are faithfully reproduced.
The handlebars and wheels rotate, and the side stand is movable. It stands on its own, so it can be displayed as it is. The material is ABS and similar, and the recommended age is 15 and up. Brown and gray are common colors, navy and sand khaki are capsule-only, and olive and red are box-toy exclusives. The box toy comes with a dedicated display case and a logo stand.
As a purchase bonus, a limited blue version with the Studio Sota logo will also be available. It is an interesting combination that a real custom shop supervised such a small bike, and I am looking forward to how it looks on a shelf.
Source: 電撃ホビーWeb
Pop Mart, the Chinese maker known for blind boxes and art toys, is finally going to operate officially in Brazil. According to Fast Company Brasil, sales of Labubu start in June 2026 in partnership with the toy brand Candide.
The prices Candide released to the press run from R$ 299.99 to R$ 799.99. Besides Labubu, the lineup includes other Pop Mart characters such as Cry Baby, Hirono, SkullPanda, Pucky and Nyota. There are also collaborations with Coca-Cola, The Powerpuff Girls, My Little Pony and The Little Prince, and Candide plans to bring products inspired by Naruto, Demon Slayer, Teletubbies and Frieren.
The article notes that Labubu's success grew through appearances in celebrity content, especially with the singer Lisa of BLACKPINK. The character also appeared in the music video for "Goals", the official song of the 2026 World Cup, performed by Lisa with Anitta and Rema.
What I found most interesting is the strategy of targeting collectors, with a focus on products with strong aesthetic and emotional appeal. Until now, anyone who wanted a Labubu in Brazil had to rely on imports or resellers, at prices well above the original. The article does not give the exact launch day or sales channels, so it is worth following the official announcements before rushing to the queue.
Source: Fast Company Brasil
Toy People News ran an interview with George, the founder of the Hong Kong toy brand DEVIL TOYS, and it is well worth recommending to anyone who likes designer toys.
George studied graphic art in the UK, then came back to Hong Kong and worked in advertising, illustration and stationery branding. DEVIL TOYS has been around for 12 years. It started because he felt the market lacked hard sci-fi military style 1/6 figures, but the first release was a figure of tattoo artist MAXX. C, because the team wanted to build production experience before developing the "War of Order" series.
The most interesting part of the interview is the collaboration with Philippine artist Quiccs. The two met about ten years ago at STGCC in Singapore. George wanted to turn the GOK half-bust into a 1/6 articulated figure, but Quiccs insisted on developing the flagship character TEQ63 first. George was worried about sales at first, but chose to respect the other artist's vision, and TEQ63 turned out to be a big hit, starting a ten-year partnership. They later worked with Dehara-sensei on "Aiken Bancho", which turns the contrast between a fierce look and a kind heart into a character.
His favorite designer toy is the "QUICCS BANCHO", because it was the first time a foreign designer's style and traditional Japanese sofubi were blended perfectly. George is also a toy collector himself, with Transformers, Saint Cloth Myth, S.H.Figuarts and Hot Toys in his collection.
I especially liked his point that communication is the key to working with different artists: some need a lot of freedom, and others already have an understanding. That holds for any creative collaboration.
Source: Toy People News
The Toyark has posted its photo roundup from Mezco Toyz's booth at New York Comic-Con 2026, and it is a good snapshot of where the company is heading with its two main lines.
On the One:12 Collective side, which is 1/12 scale, the booth showed figures from Conan the Barbarian, The Brow, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dick Tracy, DC and Marvel, along with Void Wars and Doc Nocturnal. On the smaller 5 Points line, at 3.75 inches, the booth featured ThunderCats and The Nightmare Before Christmas, plus a teased figure listed only as a wizard movie.
The post is photo-heavy and does not list prices or release dates, so treat it as a preview rather than a pre-order guide. Still, I enjoy seeing a mix of classic pulp heroes, comic characters and cartoon icons sitting side by side at the same booth.
If you collect Mezco figures, the gallery is worth scrolling through for the paint and sculpt details that are hard to judge from press renders.
Source: The Toyark
Good Smile Company has announced that it will release the first-generation Jaeger “Cherno Alpha” from the film Pacific Rim as part of its MODEROID plastic model series. The release is set for June 2027, priced at 8,900 yen.
The appeal of Cherno Alpha is its rough, unpolished silhouette, far from anything sleek. It stands about 220 mm tall, every joint moves, and the included replacement wrists allow a range of action poses. The look is reportedly based on the film's 3DCG, so a solid presence is something to look forward to.
What I find interesting is the care put into the parts. The “arm punch” can be set in an extended or retracted state by swapping parts. The clear parts come in two versions: pre-colored, and unpainted for those who like to paint. It is a kit that considers both people who just want to build and people who want to paint.
The design is by mffp, and the scale is non-scale. There is still a while until release, but as a robot fan I am already looking forward to it. If more updates or color sample details come out, I would like to share them on this board again.
Source: HOBBY Watch
Nacelle has opened pre-orders for its Judge Dredd x Biker Mice from Mars crossover, and the first piece is Judge Throttle, a mash-up of the Martian biker mouse and Mega-City One's lawmen. It is the kind of odd licensed crossover I enjoy seeing.
The figure is 7-inch scale with 22 points of articulation and is priced at $34.99. It comes with a vehicle option: Throttle's Martian Lawmonster bike measures roughly 8.5 inches long and costs $46.99.
Several bundles are listed as well. The Judge Throttle figure with a comic book is $45.99, the bike with a comic is $57.88, the figure and bike together are $74.99, and the Ultimate Bundle with figure, bike and comic is $86.99. The bundle prices are marked as sale prices.
According to The Toyark, the products are due in the third quarter of 2027, and no specific pre-order close date or shipping detail was given. That is a long wait, so it is worth remembering that this is a pre-order commitment almost a year out.
My own take: the crossover is a fun idea precisely because both properties already share a loud, over-the-top look. Pairing the figure with a comic bundle is a nice touch for people who want more than another shelf piece. I will be curious to see how the paint and articulation turn out in the final product.
Source: The Toyark
Hiya Toys has revealed its Godzilla 2000: Millennium Final Battle Godzilla figure, and it is available this weekend at New York Comic-Con 2026 at Booth 4415. It joins the Exquisite Basic line, stands about 18 cm (7 inches) tall and is priced at $75.
What caught my eye is the paint work. The figure is meant to recreate the energy-overload look of the film's climax, with yellow-to-charred gradients on the teeth, claws, chest and limbs to suggest battle-worn, molten skin. The translucent dorsal fins are painted with layered orange-to-gold gradients, so they glow like molten metal when lit from behind, evoking the moment right before the ultimate energy release.
The figure has multiple points of articulation for dynamic poses while keeping the original design, and it comes with two interchangeable hands for recreating different scenes from the movie. Toyark's post is mostly a gallery of ten photos, so the finish is easy to judge for yourself.
Personally I like seeing this lesser-celebrated film get the premium treatment. Godzilla 2000 has a very distinctive design with those sharp, jagged dorsal fins, and a translucent-fin approach is just the right way to show it off on a shelf. If you are heading to the show, this looks like one to check in person.
Source: Toyark
Dengeki Hobby Web reports that the third wave of YURUGUN, the cute and loose new format Gundam figures, is set to go on sale on October 31. A box of 10 is now open for pre-order on Amazon.
The price is 9,900 yen including tax. Each pack contains one figure, one card and one card stand. The contents are random in closed boxes, and the recommended age is 15 and up. The lineup has 12 figures in total, including 2 secret variants: Char's Custom Zaku, Zaku, Gundam, Beargguy, Agguy, Zeta Gundam, Char's Custom Zgok, Justice Gundam, Unicorn Gundam and Double O Gundam, among others.
The big topic this time is that Gundam 00 mobile suits join the series for the first time. The mood does not change dramatically from the first two waves, but seeing Gundams from different generations lined up in the same loose deformed style looks like great fun.
Personally, I was drawn to the charming mobile suits like Beargguy and Agguy. Prices and specifications may change, so please check the Amazon product page before you buy.
Source: 電撃ホビーWeb
