The 10 Art Toy Brands

Over the years I've collected a lot of plastic toy figures. Some I bought for fun, some for investment, and some just because they looked cool. Today I want to share my personal top 10 collectible figurine brands. No ranking is perfect, but this is what I genuinely think matters right now.

I'll go brand by brand – with core status, signature products, and why I like them.

Let's go.

Core Status:

Brian Donnelly, better known as KAWS, is a toy artist who turned street art into high-end collectibles. His work sits somewhere between designer toys and fine art.

Signature Products:

COMPANION (the dissected and non-dissected figures), BFF.

Brand Highlights:

KAWS makes some of the most famous figurines in the world. Those "XX" eyes are instantly recognizable. His plastic figurines have sold for millions at auction, which is crazy for something that started as a toy. Among collectible figurine companies, KAWS is in a league of his own. Many collectors call his pieces the best figurines for long-term value.

Core Status:

The popmart company is now one of the largest collectible figurine companies globally. They turned blind boxes into a mainstream habit.

Signature Products:

Molly, LABUBU, SKULLPANDA, Dimoo, Hirono.

Brand Highlights:

Pop Mart's plastic toy figures are everywhere – and for good reason. They work with amazing toy artist talents and release new series constantly. Their toy product design is colorful, cute, and very collectible. If you're new to popular figurines, Pop Mart is the easiest place to start. They've basically become the face of modern designer toys in Asia.

Core Status:

Medicom Toy, founded in 1996, is a giant among brands of figurines. They pretty much defined the vinyl art toy market in Japan.

Signature Products:

BE@RBRICK (the bear-shaped block figure), KUBRICK.

Brand Highlights:

BE@RBRICK is often called the "holy grail" of plastic figurines. They collab with everyone – Chanel, KAWS, the Van Gogh Museum, you name it. For serious collectors, these are some of the best figurines to own. Medicom's toy product design is simple but brilliant. A blank BE@RBRICK can even become a personalized figurine if you paint it yourself.

Core Status:

Superplastic is a next-generation designer toy brand that blends physical art figurines with animated web series.

Signature Products:

Janky, Guggimon, Dayzee.

Brand Highlights:

Superplastic's popular figurines have millions of online followers. Each character has its own personality and backstory. Their toy product design is loud, bold, and very streetwear. Among collectible figurine brands, they're one of the fastest-growing. I think their limited drops are some of the most fun plastic toy figures to hunt for.

Core Status:

Mighty Jaxx is an internationally acclaimed studio known for anatomical plastic figurines and bold collaborations.

Signature Products:

XXRAY (anatomy) series, limited-edition designer toys with independent artists.

Brand Highlights:

Mighty Jaxx excels at toy product design that reveals inner skeletons and organs. Their popular figurines include dissected versions of beloved characters, blending science with pop art. Among collectible figurine companies, they stand out for material innovation and intricate details. Many collectors consider their pieces the best figurines for display. If you ever want a customized figurine in an anatomical style, Mighty Jaxx sets the standard.

Core Status:

Kidrobot is one of the OG collectible figurine brands that brought designer toys to the American mainstream.

Signature Products:

Dunny (the rabbit-eared figure), Munny (blank DIY figure).

Brand Highlights:

What I love about Kidrobot is the Munny. It's a blank plastic toy figure that you can paint yourself – basically a personalized figurine ready to happen. They've also collaborated with hundreds of toy artist talents over the years. Among brands of figurines, Kidrobot feels the most community-driven. Their art figurines are playful, weird, and always interesting.

Core Status:

Hot Toys is the king of hyper-realistic plastic figurines, especially for movie fans.

Signature Products:

1:6 scale plastic toy figures from Marvel, DC, Star Wars, and more.

Brand Highlights:

If you want famous figurines that look exactly like the actors, Hot Toys is unmatched. Their head sculpts and paint work are considered the best figurines in terms of realism. These aren't cheap, but they're worth every penny. Hot Toys proves that toy product design can reach the level of fine art. Serious collectors usually end up with a few of these.

Core Status:

Jason Freeny is a unique toy artist who dissects popular figurines to show what's inside – bones, organs, even mechanical parts.

Signature Products:

Dissected Companions, anatomical versions of cartoon characters.

Brand Highlights:

Jason Freeny's toy product design is instantly recognizable. He takes plastic toy figures and cuts them in half (artistically) to reveal their inner anatomy. Among collectible figurine companies, his studio is small but hugely influential. Many fans have asked him for a customized figurine in his dissection style. If you like art figurines with an educational twist, check him out.

Core Status:

Finding Unicorn is a Chinese collectible figurine brand that focuses on emotional, healing designer toys.

Signature Products:

Farmer BOB, RiCO, ShinWoo, Zhuoda King.

Brand Highlights:

Finding Unicorn's popular figurines feel quiet and thoughtful. They're not loud or flashy – instead, they focus on mood and storytelling. Each piece is created with a toy artist who has a very personal style. Among brands of figurines, they stand out for their soft colors and limited releases. These plastic figurines sell out fast, and the aftermarket prices can get high.

Core Status:

52TOYS is a well-established Chinese brand that makes a wide range of plastic toy figures, from cute to hardcore.

Signature Products:

BEASTBOX (transformable animal robots), WANBOX, Strawberry Millionaire.

Brand Highlights:

52TOYS excels at toy product design that combines playability with display. Their BEASTBOX series lets you transform a robot into a perfect cube – it's super satisfying. Among collectible figurine companies, 52TOYS offers something for every budget. Many collectors have tried to make a personalized figurine or customized figurine using their figures as a base. They're one of the most underrated brands of figurines in my opinion.

So that's my list. Ten collectible figurine brands that I truly enjoy following.

Everyone's taste is different. Some people only collect famous figurines from KAWS or Hot Toys. Others love the surprise of a popmart company blind box. And some just want a personalized figurine that means something to them.

we respect all of it. Whether you're into designer toys, art figurines, or simple plastic toy figures – there's a place for you here.

Got a favorite brand I didn't mention? Or do you agree with my ranking? If you have a better ranking to recommend, you are welcome to contact Demeng Toy to share your thoughts.

Happy collecting, everyone.