Collectible MediCom Toys

MediCom is a Japanese toy manufacturer best known for its plastic and vinyl action figures and dolls, depicting characters from Disney, Marvel, Star Wars, Peanuts, Harry Potter, Planet of the Apes, and other mass-market franchises. MediCom product categories include Real Action Heroes, Project BMI, Ultra Detail Figures, Miracle Action Figures, and its Stylish Collection. In recent years, MediCom products have become highly sought in the U.S. and Europe, but its core business remains its home Japanese market, for which it has produced toys such as Morris: The Cat with Antlers and a Snoopy that's been studded with Swarovski crystals, ala Damien Hirst's famous skull sculpture that was studded with actual diamonds. Although MediCom toys have always been considered collectible, in 2000 the company got into the collectible-toy market trailblazed by Funko in 1998 with its Kubrick line. Resembling LEGO mini-figures, Kubricks are sold in three sizes—100%, 400%, 1000%—ranging from 6 to 60 centimeters tall. To add intrigue to the chase of collecting certain pieces, many Kubricks, especially the small 100% figures, are sold in blind boxes, which means customers have to pay first before finding out what they have purchased. In 2001, MediCom released its even more popular Be@rbrick line, which is similar to the Kubrick line in the sense that they use generic figures as blank canvases for decoration and branding. Unlike Kubricks, which resemble LEGO minis, Be@rbricks look like generic bears. Like the Kubricks, Be@rbricks are sold in a number of different sizes, the standard being 7 centimeters, with several larger sizes and a smaller 50% Be@rbrick. As with countless other MediCom products, Be@rbricks are made in the licensed likenesses of Western entertainment franchises, and even ostensibly competitive products such as Barbie dolls. In addition, Be@rbricks have secured licenses from fine artists and their estates, including Keith Haring and Andy Warhol. There are Sex Pistols Be@rbricks as well as ones licensed from the Grateful Dead. And recently, MediCom released a Mona Lisa Be@rbrick, which means it won't have to pay ancestors of Leonardo da Vinci a dime in royalties.