Toy collectors who also love anime no longer have to rely on Nendoroids and Play Arts Kai lines to get action figures of their favorite anime characters. Thanks to Funko Pops, anime fans can have toys to commemorate their favorite characters and scenes. However, despite the diminutive appearance of Funko Pops, some anime Funko Pops cost a lot more than fans might expect.
As such, toy collectors who want some of their favorite anime characters immortalized in cute chibi forms might want to get a Funko Pop of their anime idols. And, more importantly, snagging one of these rare and valuable anime Funko Pops can definitely up a collector’s game in terms of grabbing items of value.
Updated on July 10, 2022, by Rhenn Taguiam: With One Piece having just revealed its final arc, it makes sense for fans of the show to feel a bit alarmed and excited to see Luffy finally acquire and see the One Piece. In real life, this situation may be a perfect juxtaposition for fans to start collecting anime merchandise of the hit series, such as their Funko Pops. However, aside from collecting Luffy and the gang, other must-have Funko Pops that cost a bit of money include an Ichigo transformation from Bleach, a weapon style in Demon Slayer, as well as a Naruto charka mode.
14 Deku ($250)
Fans of My Hero Academia would likely want a Funko Pop of protagonist Izuku Midoriya, also known as Deku. Fans who especially admire his determination and drive to overcome challenges would likely want not just his base form or his powered-up form from My Hero Academia, but the Deku (Battle Suit) iteration.
Unlike other Deku Funkos, the Battle Suit variation takes inspiration from the Deku versus Bakugo fight in the anime, which is reflected with a suited-up Deku but part of his mask broken and torn. Moreover, compared to other Deku Funkos, his hair and skin are more frazzled and dirtied up, suggesting that he's right in the middle of combat. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $250 online.
13 Armored Titan ($300)
Fans of Attack On Titan would likely want to grab Funko Pops of the main characters from the Scout Regiment, but the toy line also released Funkos of Titan enemies from the series. There are a few to choose from, but the pick of the bunch is the Armored Titan, which sports the same bulky and horrific appearance as it did in the hit anime.
While it’s not quite as gory as it is in the anime, the Armored Titan Funko Pop does boast unique details such as skull work, teeth work, and even the ligaments and musculature. As such, fans of anime villains and Attack On Titan would happily add this to their collection. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $300 online.
12 Dabi ($300)
Sometimes, villains overtake heroes in terms of popularity, and this is the case with Dabi from My Hero Academia. Serving as Funko Pop 637, this Funko Pop iteration of Dabi is actually a rare case as it comes from the 2019 New York Comic-Con. Being a Limited Edition figure, it makes sense for this Funko Pop to be a bit more stylistic compared to its other anime counterparts.
Aside from the base gloomy and brooding appearance of Dabi in the anime, he also boasts a foreboding standing appearance with a blue fireball on his hand, his burst of power evidently causing his clothes and coat to fold and flow with the wind. He also comes with a stand made out of blue flames that's integrated into the figure. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $300 online.
11 Sailor Moon ($300)
Those who adore magical girls would almost immediately want a Sailor Moon Funko Pop to add to their collection. And who better for their first Sailor Senshi Funko Pop than the lead character herself, Sailor Moon? One of the best iterations of the Sailor Moon Funko Pop comes in the form of the Sailor Moon (With Luna, Glitter) model, which also features her trusty cat, Luna.
What’s perhaps most interesting about the Sailor Moon (With Luna, Glitter) Funko Pop is that the Usagi figure can stand on its own even without the plastic standee that came with it, and it also features her iconic Sailor Moon pose after she transforms. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $300 online.
10 Kaguya Otsutsuki ($300)
Fans of Naruto might be surprised to learn that it was only in 2020 that the series got a Funko Pop of Kaguya Otsutsuki, despite her serving as one of the series’ central villains. That said, despite her role in the plot, her exposure wasn’t as vast as some fans would expect. However, what makes her Funko Pop so desirable is that she is the first Naruto character to get a Comic-Con exclusive release.
As such, this iteration of the Kaguya Otsutsuki Funko Pop was exclusive to NYCC 2020, making it quite a rare piece for anyone’s collection. Unlike other Funko Pops, Kaguya’s Funko Pop floats in the air, hence the transparent cylinder and standee below her. She has her hand extended, with her sleeve revealing Black Zetsu with its deadly smile. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $300 online.
9 Tenya ($375)
Given the popularity of My Hero Academia, it makes sense for a lot of its characters to be in demand for Funko Pop releases. Eventually, it was the turn of Tenya Ida, the Class Representative of Class 1-A of UA High School. Despite being a minor character, his delightful personality sets him apart from other characters in the franchise.
As a Funko Pop, his appearance showcases his hero uniform. He sports glasses with their own transparent plastic lens, as well as a run-ready pose that represents his powers of superhuman speed. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $375 online.
8 Mikasa Ackerman ($400)
Those new to Attack on Titan might be surprised to find out that the Mikasa Ackerman Funko Pop is actually far more in demand than the ones for main protagonist Eren Jaeger. Unlike other expensive Funko Pops that usually have special effects that come with them, this iteration of the Mikasa Funko Pop is actually a bit normal in appearance, but it still regularly sells for high amounts.
The Mikasa Ackerman Funko Pop features Mikasa standing up and includes two plug-in blades, indicating her battle-ready appearance from both the anime and the manga. Despite her somewhat generic pose, her Funko Pop does boast a lot of detail in terms of costume, featuring the iconic belts and other paraphernalia of her Survey Corps uniform. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $400 online.
7 Tony Tony Chopper Flocked ($450)
Despite the many characters of One Piece, no one could possibly match the adorable nature of Tony Tony Chopper. However, due to his powers of transformation, this medic of the Straw Hat Pirates actually has a couple of Funko Pops available under his belt, namely the Flocked Form and the Buffed Form that he uses in battles. Interestingly, it’s the Tony Tony Chopper Flocked iteration that sells for more, perhaps due to its appearance.
At its core, Tony Tony Chopper Flocked takes the Post-Timeskip appearance of Tony Tony Chopper from One Piece, this time sporting a yellow and white striped shirt, orange pants, and a blue cap. The already cute character is made even more adorable due to the Funko Pop signature eyes. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $450 online.
6 Kurama Mode Kurama ($400)
When Naruto Uzumaki finally makes peace with his relationship with the Nine-Tails Kurama, the Naruto protagonist was able to tap into the full extent of this dangerous Tailed-Beast’s powers. While Naruto can engulf himself in a special chakra via the Kurama Mode, he can take this a step further and transform into a chakra-imbued version of Kurama - a huge beast of pure chakra that can take on armies at once.
In Funko Pop, this is known as the Kurama Mode Kurama, which is a version of the rather cute Kurama but this time with a stern face and colored full yellow-orange, like in the manga. This figure is complete with the special black marks that make Naruto’s chakra mode unique, making this quite a delight to own for $400.
5 Spike ($450)
Fans of Cowboy Bebop will likely want to collect the Funko Pops of all of its characters. In terms of rarity though, it seems the Spike Spiegel Funko Pop takes the cake. As expected, this takes the appearance of Cowboy Bebop protagonist Spike Spiegel as he sports his traditional blue shirt, with a hand in one pocket and another hand holding a cigarette.
What’s interesting about the Funko Pop is the way the designers interpreted Spike’s messy hair from the anime. Aside from that, the Spike Funko Pop boasts accurate details from his anime appearance, making this a must-have for any fan of the show. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $450 online.
4 Tanjiro Kamado Hinokami Kagura Dance ($575)
Despite his meek appearance, Tanjiro Kamado serves as one of the most heroic protagonists ever to grace shonen landscape. Serving as the protagonist of Demon Slayer, Tanjiro uses his skills in the sword and various Breathing Styles to face the threats of various demons. One such style is the Hinokami Kagura Dance, also known as the first-ever Breathing Style called the “Sun Breathing.”
In its Funko Pop form, the Hinokami Kagura Dance iteration of the Tanjiro figure has him holding his katana, now engulfed in flames. This reflects the sheer awesomeness of the Style in question, considering how Tanjiro’s original Style was that of Water Breathing. Not only that, but this Special Edition Funko Pop actually glows in the dark, which makes its $575 retailing price make sense.
3 Hollow Ichigo ($600)
One of the most expensive Funko Pops to ever grace the market would come from one of the most badass forms in anime history: Hollow Ichigo. Whereas Ichigo Kurosaki of Bleach would have to exert effort to unleash a Hollow Mask for an upgraded form, Hollow Ichigo is a splitting mental image of himself in his own mind.
In the series, Ichigo’s mind is seemingly divided into two halves - Zangetsu which reflected his spiritual heritage, and Hollow Ichigo was revealed to be a reflection of the “Hollow infection” that killed his mother. As reflected by the Funko Pop, Hollow Ichigo is a pale Ichigo with white hair and red eyes wearing a white garb opposite that of the Shinigami’s black garb. Possessing this Funko Pop, which may retail at $600, makes it a delightful palette swap to both Ichigo in his normal form and Ichigo in his Bankai form using the mask.
2 Brook ($600)
While all members of the Straw Hat Pirates of One Piece have delightfully-unique appearances and abilities, none could possibly match the quirkiness of Brook. Also known as the “Soul King,” he’s one of the strongest swordsmen in the Straw Hats, Brook possesses the powers of the Yomi Yomi No Mi, allowing him to control both his soul and those of others.
Despite his rather grim powers, Brook remains one of the most dynamic characters among the Straw Hats and throughout the franchise. Considering how he’s one of the later main characters to join the series, it makes sense for his Funko Pop to be quite a rarity, sometimes retailing at $600. Considering how One Piece is about to enter its final arc, it makes sense for fans to start collecting the Straw Hats as soon as possible.
1 Planet Arlia Vegeta ($2,150)
One of the best anime-related Funko Pops to ever the world comes courtesy of Dragon Ball Z's Vegeta. Due to it being a New York City Comic Con 2014 exclusive, the Planet Arlia Vegeta Funko Pop has become an incredibly rare Dragon Ball Z Funko, which has even led to fakes being made. Of the many Vegeta Funko Pops, this one probably boasts the most unique appearance, as it features one of Vegeta’s first appearances as a character in the series prior to his iconic fights against Goku.
The Planet Arlia Vegeta Funko Pop features Vegeta at his most ruthless, depicting his appearance during an anime filler where he mercilessly destroys the Planet Arlia. In this Funko, he sports reddish-orange hair and a purple scouter, as well as Saiyan armor with a green base and blue interior. This was both the first and the only time Vegeta wore such a color scheme in the anime, making the Planet Arlia Vegeta Funko a rare one indeed. This Funko Pop usually sells for at least $2,150 online.