As a given franchise begins to become popular, the company that owns the rights to it will often decide to create a variety of goods based on the series in an attempt to generate even more profit. Although these goods can be manufactured by the company that owns the rights to a series, merchandising rights can also be sold to other manufacturers, creating even more products for fans to choose from. These items are often referred to as merchandise and can take a wide range of different forms to help appeal to a bigger audience. Oftentimes, merchandise is based on specific characters or other unique aspects of a series. While there is nearly a limitless variety of merchandise available for fans to choose from, some types of merchandise are easier to find than others. A few of the most common types of merchandise include apparel, plushies, keychains, and plastic models.
Apparel
Although the term “apparel” can simply refer to clothing, in the world of merchandise, it is often used to describe wearable items with designs based on a given series. These accessories and articles of clothing can range wildly in design and style. T-shirts are one of the most popular and widely available kinds of apparel, likely due to how easily they can be manufactured. Some manufacturers will opt to make a printed graphic tee while others have the design for a shirt woven into the fabric itself. Their lighter fabric and lower production cost also often make prices lower on the customer’s end as well, making them great for fans on a budget.
Hoodies are another common form of apparel, but are often more expensive, as they require much more material to produce. While hoodies with graphic designs like t-shirts can still be found, hoodies inspired by the outfits of popular characters from a given series are also quite popular. These types of hoodies are enjoyed by cosplayers, as they can be used in cosplays of that specific character. That said, some apparel is also made specifically for cosplay and includes items like completely pre-made costumes and unique accessories that would be difficult to make by hand. No matter what a fan looks for, they can rest assured that they can find a stylish piece of apparel that fits their personal tastes and budget.
“Attack on Titan Season 2 Titans Adult T-Shirt” by Ripple Junction
Plushies
Plushies are an incredibly popular form of merchandise that often recreates popular characters as cute, huggable dolls, pillows, or charms. Depending on the manufacturer, plushies can have a variety of different uses as well. Like apparel, plushies come in many different shapes and sizes, ranging from those small enough to fit onto a keychain to those well over a foot tall. Smaller plushies can act as charms that can be attached to one’s phone or bag, while larger plushies are better used as pillows or cuddle toys. Plushies that are medium-sized could be used decorations as well, but make for wonderful dolls as well. Either way, the main characteristic that all plushies share is that they are filled with soft materials (often polyester) that give them a soft, squishy feel. Some manufacturers also make groups of plushies based on characters from the same series and release them as collections. This allows fans to pick individual plushies of their favorite characters while true collectors can simply purchase the whole set at once.
“Mega Jumbo Lying Down Plush Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba Inosuke Hashibira” by Sega
Keychains
Keychains are an incredibly common form of merchandise that are perfect for fans on a budget, as they are often small, affordable, and come in an incredible variety to choose from. Most keychain merchandise is made with either clear acrylic or rubber, though some metal keychains are produced as well. When keychains are made, they often portray characters of a series in a variety of different styles, outfits, and themes. Like some plushies, keychains are also produced in collections (and sometimes box sets) that allow fans to collect a variety of keychains of a group of popular characters from a series. Some keychain collections simply use official designs straight from the series they are based on, though some collections use themes that show unique artwork, like the example shown above. Seasonal themes are used quite often, as they show characters in new, previously unseen outfits that can also match the current season.
“My Hero Academia Curry Acrylic Keychain Collection” by Movic
Plastic Models
Plastic Models are incredibly popular items among the more devoid fans of mecha series. These kits usually come completely unassembled, requiring the customer to build their favorite mechs piece by piece. Although some may find plastic models to be a bit too difficult to deal with, those that collect these models thoroughly enjoy the sense of accomplishment they feel once it is finished. Once completed, these models can act like fully articulated figures, allowing its owner to pose them however they see fit. These kits also often include a variety of accessories based on whatever mech is included in the kit, which also may require assembly of their own.
Gunpla (Gundam plastic models) are a popular brand of plastic models that are almost entirely exclusive to the Gundam series. These kits make up a significant portion of the plastic models available for fans to choose from and even have their own ranking system. Today, Gunpla are usually offered as either High Grade, High Grade Universal Century, Real Grade, Master Grade, Perfect Grade. High Grade models are generally easier to build and cheaper to buy, though as a model gets closer to Perfect Grade, the more difficult and expensive they are.
“Moderoid Hades Project Zeorymer Great Zeorymer” by Good Smile Company
Table of Contents
The Animal Crossing is a series of video games that was first created by Nintendo in 2001 and has gone on to entertain players for nearly two decades with its charming characters, low-pressure gameplay, and soothing music. Recurring characters like Resetti, Tom Nook, and Kapp’n h...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Animal Crossing is a video game series that is both developed and published by Nintendo and is highly regarded by its fans for lovable characters, relaxed gameplay, and soothing music. While other games have its players combat against evil in order to save the world, Animal Cross...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Animal Crossing is a video game series created by Nintendo that is beloved by many fans of games with a more relaxed tone. While many games put pressure on its players by having them accomplish feats like saving the world, the Animal Crossing series has its players catching fish,...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Attack on Titan is nowadays one of the most influential works in the manga and anime industry. Since the publication of its manga in 2009 and its anime adaptation in 2013, the series has won multiple awards. The complexity of its story and its spectacular animation made it one of...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Among the most successful manga series of 2011 is the acclaimed Attack on Titan series. After its publication in 2009, it was an immediate success. For this reason, an anime adaptation was released in 2013. The reviews of the series are very positive. They highlight the great qua...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Attack on Titan is a series that is immensely popular both inside and outside of Japan. On release, the public was captivated by it since its manga publication in 2009 and its anime adaptation in 2013. The manga series quickly gained enough popularity to be considered as one of t...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Attack on Titan has been a true phenomenon within the manga and anime industry since the publication of its manga in 2009. With the launch of its anime adaptation in 2009, it became one of the most influential works today. Even with the passage of time, its fame has not vanished....
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Black Butler is a dark-fantasy manga and anime multimedia series that has formed a surprisingly large cult-like fan base over the past 15 years or so. The manga alone has sold over 26.6 million copies worldwide. A number of anime series adapting the storyline have been produced, ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Cardcaptor Sakura (usually abbreviated as CCS) is a magical girl manga and anime series from the well known all-female artist team CLAMP. The anime was able to combine the stylish heroics of Sailor Moon with the competitive edge of Pokemon, which made this magical girl series inc...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Code Geass is an example of a classic anime from the 2000s. Its fan community is very large and has continued growing around the world after the release of the anime in 2006. Since then the series has spread to other kinds of media, like manga, OVAs, and movies. The complexity of...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Cowboy Bebop is one of the most influential anime series of recent times. In a very short amount of time, it became both a commercial and critical success worldwide. Its impact on the anime community was so spectacular that it is still often considered a masterpiece in both Japan...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
One of the most iconic series in the anime industry is Cowboy Bebop. This series made a great impact both in Japan and around the world. Since its release, it has received incredible reviews from fans and critics alike. Many note the unique retro design that mixes elements from w...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Danganronpa is one of the greatest murder-mystery visual novels in recent times and was first released in 2010. Since its original release to the present day, the franchise’s popularity has only continued to grow. The series has continued to keep itself relevant with various entr...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Danganronpa is a video game franchise that began in 2010. Most games take the form of visual novels that are full of charming and unique characters, complex murder mysteries, and plot twists for fans to enjoy. Three years later, an anime adaptation of the first game was produced,...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Darling in the Franxx is an anime series that aired in 2018 in Japan and was simulcasted worldwide by anime streaming services like Crunchyroll. It aired from January 13th to July 7th and had a total of 24 episodes. Darling in the Franxx is a mecha anime with elements of romance ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Death Note is a well known Japanese manga and anime series originally written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The anime and manga series focuses on the protagonist Light Yagami, a high school student who finds a magical notebook containing the power to kill any ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Death Note is a popular Japanese manga series authored by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata. The anime series centers around the character Light Yagami, who finds a magical notebook which contains the power to kill any person as long as they know that person’s name an...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Demon Slayer is a popular manga series that received an anime adaptation that aired between April and September 2019 and went on to become an instant hit. The series was quickly licensed outside of Japan to multiple streaming services around the world. An English dub was later pr...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Demon Slayer is a manga series that was published in Shueisha’s Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in 2016. The series went on to sell over 4 million copies worldwide. Its success led to an anime adaptation produced by Ufotable that lasted for 26 episodes and aired in 2019. A sequel mov...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Digimon is a multimedia Japanese franchise that began as a brand of popular virtual pet toys (like Tamagotchi) in 1997 and quickly spread into other media like trading card games, video games, anime, manga, and animated films to help popularize the brand as a whole. The franchise...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Donkey Kong is a popular series of video games that feature the titular gorilla “Donkey Kong” (sometimes shortened to just DK). After the release of the original release of the “Donkey Kong” arcade game in 1981, the character Donkey Kong and other characters have appeared in othe...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Dragon Ball Z, is one of the most popular anime from the ’90s. As a continuation of the original Dragon Ball series from the early ’80s, Dragon Ball Z continued to capture the heart of anime fans around the world. It has contributed a large part to the rise of popularity of anime...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Dragon Ball Z is the sequel to the popular anime adaptation of Akira Toriyama’s Dragon Ball manga. Dragon Ball Z continues following the adventures of Son Goku as he grows into an adult and fights extraterrestrial beings, Androids, and other incredibly powerful foes along with th...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Dragon Ball Z, is one of the most popular anime and manga series from the 90s. The popularity of Dragon Ball Z extends far beyond Japan and is regarded as one of the series that caused anime to boom in the West. Dragon Ball Z has created some of the most iconic characters in anim...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Evangelion is an example of one of the most popular and inspirational anime series from the 1990s and continues to be enjoyed by fans both old and new to this very day. While some love the series for its cool mecha fights and designs, others can appreciate the deep psychological ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Evangelion is a series that has gone on to inspire many creators and anime fans for many years. Even though it first aired in Japan in October 1995, its complex characters, confusing narrative, and interesting mecha and Angel designs have kept people talking about the series near...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Evangelion is a TV series from 1995 that took the world by storm both during and after its original run. The anime’s recognizable characters, unique mecha designs, and unusual storytelling methods continue to captivate its audiences even today. The series was recently added to Ne...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Evangelion is an anime series that originally aired in October 1995 and quickly became a classic that is still enjoyed by old and new fans alike. Though the series originally aired in 1995, the ongoing Rebuild of Evangelion movie series and its recent addition to Netflix has help...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Evangelion is a classic mecha anime series that has been enjoyed by many fans since its original television broadcast that began in October 1995. Although the TV series itself ended up doing quite well, the more recent Rebuild of Evangelion movie series and its 2019 Netflix relea...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Fairy Tail is in high demand by fans of the anime and manga series. Since the manga series by Hiro Mashima was published in the summer of 2006 and the anime series’ release in late 2009, the audience of Fairy Tail has grown exponentially. Fairy Tail merchandise can range from fig...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Fairy Tail merchandise is only growing in popularity among the fanbase of the iconic manga and anime series originally created by Hiro Mashima. While the manga was first published in 2006, the anime series began in late 2009 and ran until late 2019 with a total of over 300 total ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Fairy Tail t-shirts are in high demand from fans of the manga and anime series. In addition to merchandise such as figures and Funko Pop, shirts and other clothing apparel are particularly popular among fans, as it is an easy, stylish, and practical way to show off one’s love for...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Final Fantasy is a Japanese RPG series that has taken the world by storm. The series is known for its complex worlds, interesting characters, and engaging stories. Due to the popularity of the series, a wide variety of different products based on Final Fantasy has been created. T...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Moogles are popular characters from the video game and media franchise Final Fantasy. Since they have appeared in so many Final Fantasy games, they are often considered to be the mascots of the series. Final Fantasy fans love Moogles and often order Moogle plushies to decorate th...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Chocobos are a famous recurring type of character from the Final Fantasy franchise. Since Chocobos have appeared in so many entries in the series, they are often considered to be one of the mascots of Final Fantasy alongside Moogles. Final Fantasy enthusiasts and fans alike both ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
The Fire Emblem series is a group of tactical Japanese RPGs that are published by Nintendo that have been developed for a wide range of consoles throughout the years. Due to the incredible success and popularity of the series, a wide range of merchandise has been produced. Some i...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Fullmetal Alchemist began as a popular manga series that later received two different anime adaptations. The popularity of these two releases caused a massive amount of merchandise based on the series to be created. This merchandise comes in the form of artbooks, figures, plushie...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Girls' Frontline, a popular mobile strategy game released for iOS and Android. The game allows players to form squads of T-Dolls and send them into battle against a wave of foes. The game has had a lot of merchandise created and garnered worldwide popularity among gamers and ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Gundam toys are very popular with fans of the world-famous mecha series known as Gundam ever since its first release in 1979. Science fiction and anime fans have taken a liking to Gundam and all items associated with it, especially the cool toys that portray the incredible robots...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Gundam t-shirts have been very popular among fans of the Gundam series ever since the franchise began in 1979. The TV series has become incredibly popular among anime and science fiction fans ever since it first aired. The t-shirts feature the giant robots and highlight their cha...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Haikyuu!! is a shonen sports manga that was written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. The anime adaptation created by Production I.G. premiered later in April 2016. To date, a total of four seasons of the anime have aired, with the most recent being titled Haikyuu!!: To the T...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Haikyuu!! is a popular shonen sports manga and anime series that is written and illustrated by Haruichi Furudate. The first season of the anime aired in 2014 and has an additional three seasons that aired in the following years, with the most recent season airing in January 2020....
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
JoJo's Bizarre Adventure is one of the most revolutionary and original stories in the current anime and manga industry. Its incomparable and extravagant design, as well as its colorful sceneries, led to an immediate success after its first release. Despite being a series that...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Kingdom Hearts is an action-adventure Japanese role-playing game series that was originally produced as a collaboration between Disney and Square Enix and proved to be a surprisingly popular hit. The series has had a number of mainline entries and several spin-off games as well, ...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
Kingdom Hearts is a role-playing action-adventure video game series produced by Square Enix in collaboration with Disney. The Kingdom Hearts series has produced a great number of fans and merchandise. These products fall into many different categories such as clothing, video game...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
The Kirby series is one of Nintendo's most popular franchises and is a series that sells well and flies off the shelves whenever new games are released. The novel and unique character gained the attention of many fans, achieving lots of popularity as well as a wide range of m...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
The Kirby series is one of Nintendo’s most popular video game franchises and first began as a Game Boy game called Kirby’s Dream Land. As the series gained popularity, many of its fans praised the Kirby games for their appealing characters and interesting gameplay. Its popularity...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
The Kirby video game series is an incredibly popular property that is published by Nintendo. The first Kirby game was titled Kirby’s Dream Land and released for the Game Boy in 1992. The series follows the titular pink puffball, Kirby. The cute design of the game and its unique g...
Last updated at, 12 Jan 2021
