Figures – Page 5

Dragonball HG Gashapon – Bandai

Dragonball HG Gashapon figures by Bandai

Series: Dragonball / Dragonball Z / Dragonball GT / Dragonball Kai / Dragonball Super / Dragonball Heroes

Company: Bandai

Release: 1995+

Size: various

Main distribution: Japan / Europe

The HG series is a series of Gashapon sets of small Dragonball figures. Most you had to build as they came in pieces. HG stands for ‘High Grade’. They came out of a Gashapon machine in a capsule, although some come in boxes I believe. 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, and is still ongoing now. What’s cool about these is is that they are in scale with one another.

Dragonball Mini Figure Selection Plus – Bandai

Series: Dragonball / Dragonball Z

Company: Bandai

Release: October, 2004

Size: +/- 5 cm

Main distribution: Japan

This is a series made by Bandai called the “Mini Figure Selection Plus”. 2 series of 6 figures were made. These came in blind bags. They are great 3D representations of Akira Toriyama’s art.

Dragon Ball Chara Pucchi – Bandai

Dragonball Z Series 4 Chara Pucchi Trunks

Series: Dragonball / Dragonball Z / Dragonball GT / Dragonball Super

Company: Bandai

Release: 2003-2016

Size: +/- 6 cm

Main distribution: Japan

This is a series made by Bandai done for several IP’s, like Dragonball, Dragonball Z, Dragonball GT, Dragonball Super, Gundam Seed etc. These are all SD (Super Deformed) or chibi figures sitting on a round object. “Chara Pucchi” means “Character Petit”. Here you’ll find all the Dragon Ball ones.

Dragonball Z Collector’s Edition – Irwin Toy

Series: Dragon Ball Z

Company: Irwin Toy

Year: 2001

Size: 24 cm

Main distribution: America / Europe

This is a line of Collector’s Edition figures made by Irwin Toy. Only 3 figures were made; Goku, Super Saiyan 2 Gohan and Super Saiyan Vegeta. All were “battle damaged”.

Dragonball Z / GT Super Battle Collection – Bandai

Dragonball Z / GT Super Battle Collection by Bandai

Series: Dragonball Z / Dragonball GT

Company: Bandai

Year: 1991-1996, 2003

Size: 3~14 cm

Main distribution: Japan, later re-released in America / Europe

Bandai released some of the first Action Figures of Dragonball when the show started airing in Japan. The line was called “Super Battle Collection” and 43 figures / sets were made. These were later re-released by KidzBiz, Giochi Preziosi and Irwin Toy, bringing them to the West. Bandai re-released the entire line again in 2003, updating their paint jobs with shading. Here you’ll find these.

Dragonball Z Action Figures – Irwin Toy

Dragonball Z Action Figures by Irwin Toy

Series: Dragon Ball Z

Company: Irwin Toy

Year: 1999-2002

Size: 4~14cm

Main distribution: America / Europe

Irwin Toy was a Canadian distributor and manufacturer of toys. They started off by re-releasing Dragonball Z Action Figures of Bandai, AB Groupe and Dorda Toys, bringing these toys to America, before making their own Dragonball Z Action Figures. They made 56 different ones, and here you can find them.

Dragonball Z Super Guerriers Articule – AB Groupe

Dragonball Z Super Guerriers Articule by AB Groupe

Series: Dragon Ball Z

Company: AB Groupe (Re-released by KidzBiz, Giochi Preziosi and Irwin Toy)

Year: 1989, 1996~2000

Size: 9~13cm

Main distribution: Europe

Known as “Super Guerriers Articule” (Articulated Super Warriors), these Action Figures were made by the AB Groupe. AB Groupe (now Mediawan Thematics) is a French broadcasting group, and the distributor of the Dragon Ball merchandise for European and Canadian markets. They made the English dub for the Dragon Ball Z movies in the Netherlands (based of their French dub), with awkward changes like Piccolo being “Big Green” and the Saiyans “Space Warriors”. As terrible as that dub was, their toys were one of the first you could get in Europe. Here you’ll find the Action Figures of them. They made 25 different ones, which later got re-releases under KidzBiz, Giochi Preziosi and Irwin Toy.

Dragon Ball Z X One Piece DX Figure Luffy Style Son Goku – Weekly Shōnen Jump 40th Anniversary – Banpresto

Series: Dragon Ball Z & One Piece (crossover)

Company: Banpresto

Year: 2008

Size: 26cm

Main distribution: Japan (as price only)

This is a very special collaboration between Dragon Ball Z and One Piece to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Weekly Shōnen Jump. It’s a large figure of Dragonball Z’s Goku, dressed up as One Piece’s Luffy. This figure was released in a limited run and could only be won in the arcades. There were 4 different figures; Goku style Luffy, Luffy Style Goku, Goku style Nami and Luffy style Bulma.

Dragonball Z Soft Figures – Bandai

Series: Dragonball Z

Company: Bandai

Release: 2008

Size: 11 cm

Main distribution: Worldwide

Barcode: 3296580345304

These are action figures of Dragonball Z made by Bandai. They’re made of a soft plastic / vinyl hence the name ‘Soft Figures’. There are 14 different figures. I got 1.

Dragonball Z Collector Capsule – Irwin Toy

Series: Dragonball Z

Company: Irwin Toy

Release: 2000-2001

Size: 10.5 cm

Main distribution: Europe / Worldwide

These are Collector Capsules with Die Cast vehicles and tiny figures of Dragonball Z, made by Irwin Toy and licensed by FUNimation.