Series: Dragonball / Dragonball Z / Dragonball GT / Dragonball Kai / Dragonball Super
Company: Bandai
Release: 2002-2010
Size: various
Main distribution: Japan / Europe
The HG series is a series of Gashapon sets of small Dragonball figures that you had to build as they came in pieces. HG stands for ‘High Grade’. They came out of a Gashapon machine in a capsule. They were made by Bandai, and later redistributed by AB Groupe in Europe, where they were called Maxi Collection. Several series were made resulting in over 300 figures including colour variants. What’s cool about these is is that they are in scale with one another.
All figures have © B/S · T, B. CHINA on them. They also have the 4 dots Bandai stamp on them. They often come with a clear base to help them stand. They often have little numbers on them to help put pieces together, or to match bases, or distinguish between left and right feet.
They didn’t come with instructions, so you had to puzzle them together yourselves. However, they were pretty straight forward. They also came with little leaflets displaying the rest of the series, as most Gashapon.
After High Grade, another series, Digital Grade was made which was a continuation of the line. These are also listed here.
Newer lines regarding Dragonball Super are also being released. I’ve seen several but wasn’t sure whether these were Gashapon or boxed figures. I have not listed them here for now (I have none of them anyway).
HG1
Release date: 2002
6 figures were released in this set. I got 0/6.
HG2
Release date: 2003
7 figures were released in this set. I got 1/6; Bulma.
I got her secondhand, and she is missing a little hair piece on the side of her head.
HG3
Release date: 2003
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG4
Release date: 2004
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG5
Release date: 2004
7 figures were released in this set. I got 2/7; Piccolo and Imperfect Cell.
These were re-released in Europe by the AB Groupe in 2006 and called the Maxi Collection Cell’s Game. These are the ones I got specifically.
My Piccolo is either from this set or HGSP3, I can’t remember.
HG6
Release date: 2005
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG7
Release date: 2005
7 figures were released in this set. I got 6/7; Super Saiyan 3 Goku, Super Saiyan Broly, Hercule, Majin Buu, Frieza (first form) and Goten & Trunks.
These were re-released in Europe by the AB Groupe in 2007 and called the Maxi Collection Super Saiyan 3. These are the ones I got specifically.
HG8
Release date: 2005
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG9
Release date: 2005
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG10
Release date: 2005
10 figures were released in this set. I got 1/10; Super Saiyan 3 Goku (HG7).
Super Saiyan Goku is a re-release of HG2. Super Saiyan 3 Goku is a re-release of HG7.
HG11
Release date: 2006
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG12
Release date: 2006
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG13
Release date: 2007
7 figures were released in this set. I got 1/7; Frieza (second form).
HG14
Release date: 2007
8 figures were released in this set. I got 0/8.
HG15
Release date: 2007
7 figures were released in this set. I got 1/7; Super Saiyan Goku.
HG16
Release date: 2008
8 figures were released in this set. I got 0/8.
HG17
Release date: 2008
8 figures were released in this set. I got 0/8.
HG18
Release date: 2008
7 figures were released in this set. I got 1/7; Vegito.
Despite being in Europe, these came with the Japanese leaflet.
HG19
Release date: 2008
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG20-I
Release date: 2008
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG20-II
Release date: 2009
8 figures were released in this set. I got 0/8.
HG21
Release date: 2009
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG22
Release date: 2009
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HG23
Release date: 2009
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HGGT
Release date: 2006
6 figures were released in this set. I got 0/6.
HGGT2
Release date: 2006
6 figures were released in this set. I got 0/6.
HGSP
Release date: 2007
6 figures were released in this set. I got 1/6; Frieza (first form).
Frieza is a re-release from HG7.
HGSP2
Release date: 2007
9 figures were released in this set. I got 0/9.
2 of these figures, Nappa and Vegeta, are re-colours.
HGSP3
Release date: 2008
7 figures were released in this set. I got 3/7; Super Saiyan Goku, Frieza (second form) and Piccolo.
Super Saiyan Goku is a re-release from HG15. Frieza (second form) is a re-release from HG13. Piccolo is a re-release from HG5.
My Piccolo is either from this set or HG5, I can’t remember.
Despite being in Europe, these came with the Japanese leaflet.
HGSP4
Release date: 2008
6 figures were released in this set. I got 2/6; Goten & Trunks and Majin Buu.
Goten & Trunks and Majin Buu are a re-release from HG7.
HGSP5
Release date: 2008
7 figures were released in this set. I got 0/7.
HGSP6 ~Movies&TV Specials~
Release date: 2009
6 figures were released in this set. I got 0/6.
HG Special
Release date: 2009
7 figures were released in this set. I got 1/7; Majin Buu.
Majin Buu is a re-release from HG7/HGSP4.
HG+
Release date: 2008
6 figures were released in this set. I got 0/6.
HG+2
Release date: 2008
6 figures were released in this set. I got 0/6.
HG+Ex
Release date: 2008
I believe these came in a box rather than a Gashapon machine.
5 figures were released in this set. I got 0/5.
HG+Ex2
Release date: 2009
I believe these came in a box rather than a Gashapon machine.
5 figures were released in this set. I got 0/5.
HG Ex
Release date: 2009
I believe these came in a box rather than a Gashapon machine.
8 figures were released in this set. I got 1/8; Trunks.
Trunks is a re-release from HG7/HGSP4.
DG01
Release date: 2010
5 figures were released in this set. I got 0/5.
DG02
Release date: 2010
5 figures were released in this set. I got 0/5.
DG03
Release date: 2010
5 figures were released in this set. I got 0/5.
DG Saiyan
Release date: 2010
5 figures were released in this set. I got 0/5.
These figures I found in Gashapon machines in a shopping mall in Heerlen, the Netherlands. As my best friend had moved here at the time, I visited almost weekly. She was one street away from the mall, so I always stopped by there first to throw my saved up €1 and €2 coins in of the week.
I really liked these figures. Unlike other figures I had at the time, which were mostly Western action figures, these felt very Japanese. I fell in love with Gashapon, its game of chance, its cheapness (only €1 or €2!) and the miniature nature of its prizes.
I love small things so smaller figures of Dragonball were great. They were so detailed despite their size and I love the paint job of the Super Saiyans, as it has a slight metallic look to it. I also liked their bases, making them easy to stand yet it didn’t detract from the figure. They were so much better than the western stuff we usually got out of these machines, like bouncy balls or sticky hands.
I’m pretty sure I almost single-handedly emptied these machines over the weeks, trying to get full sets. I sold off the doubles, often for €3~5, making my own collection practically free. I never managed to get a full set though, although I came close with one.
Some of them can be quite fiddly with all the small pieces though. And some appear to be a bit top heavy, despite the base they come with. Some pieces leave a clear line, like in capes. I very much prefer the simple, standing ones. Less pieces, and they are full of attitude. They look nice lined up.
I wanted to get them all, but I never saw them again. When I looked them up later, I found there were so many; it’s overwhelming. I probably just try to get my favourites.
If you like Gashapon, or small Dragonball figures, these are great. They scale as well!
If you prefer bigger figures, these might not be your thing.
Got any more details / information you think I should add? Or did I get something wrong? Do you own any of these figures? Which one is your fav? Do you agree or disagree with my findings? Let me know in the comments below!