Figurine Toys

Figurine toys are small three dimensional representations of people, animals or other things mostly sculpted or molded from clay, porcelain or plastic. They can be used for decorative purposes or for entertainment. Historically they were often made to represent deities or figures of prominence or for religious reasons. Today they are also popular with fans of superheroes (action figures), anime (Japanese cartoons) and movie characters.

There is some confusion as to what the difference is between a figurine, a doll and an action figure. Generally, toys with moveable parts are called dolls or mannequins and those that have no moving parts are considered to be figurines. If a figure can be posed by bending or twisting the limbs then it is an action figure. Some of the main differences between dolls and action figures are that dolls tend to have groomable hair, changeable clothes and a more delicate appearance while action figures have a more rugged, masculine appearance. Additionally, action figures have a smaller scale than dolls and often come with add-ons like weapons and other accessories.

The first action figures were developed in the 1960s with the introduction of G.I. Joe by Hasbro followed by the World’s Greatest Super Heroes line by Mego and the Star Wars action figure line from Kenner. Since then the toy industry has seen many changes in both the size and types of figures produced.

In the past, action figures were usually marketed to boys and dolls to girls with some gender specific features or themes used to differentiate them from competing products. However, this is not always the case anymore as both dolls and action figures are made for all children. Companies that produce dolls often have original concepts or push the boundaries with their design like with Disney’s Princess line while those who manufacture action figures tend to be more focused on specific franchises and eras.

As a result, many action figures include a series of “build-a-figure” pieces so that the collector can put together a full-sized character from a particular franchise. This concept is popular with the 12-inch articulated figures such as Hasbro’s classic G.I. Joe, Dragon Models New Generation Life Action Figures and Hot Toys Movie Masterpiece Series as well as the 18-inch highly detailed larger fashion dolls such as Mattel’s Barbie or Volks’ Dollfie.

As a result of this, there is some overlap between dolls and action figures with the lines blurring as more and more toy makers offer both options. Regardless, there are many benefits to both types of toys that help children develop their dexterity, fine motor skills and hand eye coordination, their creativity and imagination, their communication and interpersonal skills as well as their emotional intelligence. This is especially true with animal toys, which support a nurturing spirit and promote empathy through role-playing. In addition, interacting with figurines can also enhance the development of vocabulary and improve reading comprehension. For these reasons, it is important for parents to select quality toys for their children.