Yu-Gi-Oh Funko Pop - Merchandise
Collectible figure manufacturer Funko Pop has a long history of transforming iconic characters from film, TV, books, games, and anime into their classic chibi, black button-eyed figures. Funko Pops are so popular because they offer fans the chance to decorate their spaces with an affordably priced figure, oftentimes for series which have little or no merchandise available outside of Japan.
In 2019, Funko released its first wave of Yu-Gi-Oh pop vinyl figures. This had been long-awaited, as many other classic anime series such as Dragon Ball Z, One Piece, and Sailor Moon had already had figures released in several waves, yet up until 2019, Yu-Gi-Oh had been neglected. The first wave was small, encompassing four figures; Yami Yugi, Seto Kaiba, Blue-Eyes White Dragon, and controversially, Dark Magician Girl in place of the expected Dark Magician. Since the initial release, several special edition figures have also entered the market and wave 2 is currently available for pre-order ahead of its release later in 2020.
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Yami Yugi
The first figure in this wave is 387 Yami Yugi. Also known as the Pharaoh, this figure is made to represent the spirit of the Millenium Puzzle. The figure is styled in Yugi’s Battle City (Season 2) outfit, which Yugi wears for most of the following series and is his most iconic outfit. Like with most Funko Pops, Yami Yugi has black button-eyes, however, there is the addition of Yami Yugi’s characteristic long eyelashes, which help to accurately depict the character.
The Yami Yugi figure also features prominent eyebrows, giving Yami Yugi a focused and intense expression not too dissimilar to the character’s disposition in the animated series. The figure has a dynamic pose that has Yami Yugi holding a hand of cards in his left hand and a single card in his right, as though he is about to play it. Yami Yugi’s signature coat is also fluttering behind him, adding another element of dynamism to the pose.
- Product Line: Pop! Animation
- Manufacturer: Funko, LLC.
- Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale vinyl figure
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Seto Kaiba
Seto Kaiba is Yugi’s rival in the series and, as such, naturally features in the first wave of figures. Compared to Yami Yugi, the facial expression of Seto Kaiba's figure is bland, however, the character’s prominent fringe is captured perfectly. As with Yami Yugi, Seto Kaiba is dressed in his iconic Battle City outfit, complete with his sleeveless cloak which seems permanently caught in the wind and wraps around his legs and juts out from the figure.
The way the figure is posed truly captures the essence of Seto Kaiba, his drive, willpower, and ruthlessness. The character’s left hand is clenched into a determined fist, while the right, similar to Yami Yugi’s figure, is holding a card that the figure seems to be about to play at any moment. Seto Kaiba’s key accessory piece, the card-shaped locket which holds his brother Mokuba’s picture, prominently features in the center of the figure’s chest.
- Product Line: Pop! Animation
- Manufacturer: Funko, LLC.
- Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale vinyl figure
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Alongside the two rival characters, Wave 1 also saw the release of two monsters, 389 Blue-Eyes White Dragon and 390 Dark Magician Girl. 389 Blue-Eyes White Dragon is probably the least visually successful of the four. Its large dragon form doesn’t quite gel with the chibi Pop Vinyl form. While the body may seem a little strange, the head of the figure perfectly captures the essence of Blue-Eyes. It is one of the rare figures which deviates from the classic black eyes of Funko Pops. The mouth of the figure is highly detailed and open, as though it is just about to make one of its iconic battle cries.
- Product Line: Pop! Animation
- Manufacturer: Funko, LLC.
- Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale vinyl figure
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Dark Magician Girl
Fans were surprised that 390 wasn’t Yugi’s favorite monster, Dark Magician, as Blue-Eyes White Dragon is Kaiba’s favorite. While the Dark Magician Girl does play a prominent role and is one of the only monsters to ever speak directly to any character, she admittedly does feel a little out of place in this wave.
It cannot be denied, however, how perfectly Dark Magician Girl’s character design is suited to the cute chibi form of a Pop Vinyl. The figural representation of the Dark Magician Girl has been well-considered, as the character is usually depicted floating. The posture of the figure both gives her the ability to stand when displayed and also gives the impression that she could be hovering above the action. The Monster’s iconic rosy cheeks are also present, though not as prominent as on the original character.
- Product Line: Pop! Animation
- Manufacturer: Funko, LLC.
- Specifications: Painted, non-articulated, non-scale vinyl figure
Wave 2
The second wave of Yu-Gi-Oh Funko Pop figures is due for release in 2020, the 20th anniversary of the animated series. Like the first wave, the second wave consists of four figures and focuses on characters prominent in the first series of the anime, though, both Yugi Muto and Joey Wheeler have been dressed in their season 2 Battle City outfits. The characters that will be released in the second wave include Yugi Muto, Joey Wheeler, Maximillion Pegasus, and Red-Eyes Black Dragon.
Alongside this Wave 2 sees the addition of 3 6-inch ‘Super-sized’ Pop Vinyls, with two being exclusives to various stores. Firstly, there is Exodia, which is available across multiple stores. Next, Obelisk the Tormentor is exclusive to retailer Gamestop, while Slifer the Sky Dragon is a Hot Topic exclusive. The Winged Dragon of Ra is also noticeably missing from the line-up, though this figure might appear in a later wave.
Special Editions
The first wave also saw two special edition characters, a repaint of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon and the much-anticipated appearance of the Dark Magician. 595 Dark Magician was released as a Hot Topic exclusive. The recolor of Blue-Eyes White Dragon shares the same identification number and was released as part of a collectible BoxLunch T-Shirt Bundle. The figure comes in a silver metallic finish.
Links
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Yami Yugi
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Seto Kaiba
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Dark Magician Girl
Pop! Animation: Yu-Gi-Oh! - Blue-Eyes White Dragon
Yu-Gi-Oh Merchandise
Yu-Gi-Oh Label