Action figure

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Action figures are plastic figures, usually between 10 and 25 cm in size. They are toys - or collectible figures, sometimes also merchandising products that represent heroes, monsters and other figures from films , comics or computer games or historical figures such as soldiers.

The figures are available as simple models with arms or legs made from one piece. In others, the joints on the limbs can be bent and rotated. Some action figures also have special functions such as leaping out, slamming arms or something else. Newer characters can utter multiple stored words or phrases. In addition to the figures, there are often numerous additional items of equipment and clothing to buy with which different scenes can be represented.

On the one hand, children and young people who play with it come into question as a target group . On the other hand, adults who are collectors and see the action figures not as toys , but as works of art.

Some collectors prefer when the action figures are not taken out of their original packaging ( mint on card or mint in box ). Originally packaged action figures from the late 1970s and early 1980s have a collector's value of several thousand US dollars.

Don Levine is considered to be the inventor of the term action figure , who used it in 1964 as an executive at the US toy manufacturer Hasbro for the then completely new concept of the GI Joe . GI Joe is therefore also seen as the first representative of this type of toy. Levine is said to have made embarrassing that no doll is ever spoken of in connection with GI Joe in order not to deter the target group of young boys. One of the most famous action figure series are the Star Wars figures from Kenner / Hasbro. Today they are mainly collected by adults. Great popularity reached in 1970, the Action Figure Big Jim the manufacturer Mattel , which in sold by the millions Barbie doll , which was mainly used by girls to play, wanted to counter a character specifically for boys.

McFarlane action figure of Paul Stanley , singer and guitarist for the rock band Kiss

The series of figures of the McFarlane Music Figures is also aimed at an adult audience. Famous stars of the rock business create detailed, naturalistic monuments in miniature format.

Popular action figures

literature

  • Roger Sweet and David Wecker: He-Man and the Rise and Fall of a Billion-Dollar Idea. Emmis Books, Cincinnati 2005, ISBN 1-57860-223-8
  • Gröwig, Kevin (arr.): Much more than plastic. Action figures and their story (s). District of Viersen 2013, ISBN 3-931242-27-7 .

Web links