Dragon Ball SH Figuarts: all you need to know about Bandai action figures

Every Dragon Ball fan owns at least one object that is iconic and representative of the saga born from the china of the master Akira Toriyama and in the world of collecting it is quite common to see action figures or statues inspired by it, we ourselves were lucky enough to review a good one number. By reviewing several figures of this line we decided to explain better, even to those who want to start collecting them today, what are the SH Figuarts from Dragon Ball.

Dragon Ball SH Figuarts: all you need to know about Bandai action figures

Dragon Ball SH Figuarts, What are they?

Since 2008 Bandai, leader in the field of collectible objects and action figures for adults, offers a series of action figures called SH Figuarts where the initial acronym indicates an acronym for Simple style and heroic action, a recurring phrase in every product packaging that wants to highlight the fact that this type of action figure is able to stand out from the crowd due to the large number of accessories and body joints with interchangeable parts and a whole series of accessories to be purchased separately for create real scenarios. Bandai’s new figures have joints of all kinds, especially striking i movement details of the wrists, ankles and the myriad of hidden joints and without fixing screws, everything is made by interlocking with a visible and satisfying technical result able to satisfy the most demanding collector.

There are many series proposed by the company, from the world of cinema to the manga and anime successes of the moment, we do not pretend to give you a “mega pippone” on each brand treated by Bandai, they are really too many and a dispersive and of little appeal. The focus of this piece is on what, if we were to say, is without a doubt the most successful line up, Dragon Ball, which began in 2009 with the release of the first example, the figure of Piccolo. There are two moments in time in which the SH Figuarts line dedicated to Dragon Ball is remembered by collectors, the first time span that of 2009 – 2017, what we would define as “experimental”. The figures are nice, detailed but still don’t catch on as they should. Sales are above average but still not up to par with other Bandai series or a successful brand like Dragon Ball. At some point the turning point, the dated period 2015 – Today in which the figures have undergone a total restyling of both the packaging and the structure and joints. The dates you see above are not an oversight, the generational transition did not happen suddenly but was accompanied in the three-year period 2015-2017 where old and new types of figures alternated. With these new features finally comes the well-deserved success. These releases, let’s call them regular, have alternated over the years with limited editions such as the Tamashii Web Exclusive or special ones resold at exclusive events such as the San Diego Comic Con, the New York Comic Con or our local Lucca Comics and Games. All (except rare cases) these action figures are distributed in Italy by Cosmic Group.

2009 – 2017 (A start with the brakes on…)

In 2009 we are in the full boom of success with i Myth cloththe metal armored action figures of the Knights of the Zodiac, and the sales of Piccolo and Goku who succeeded him a few months ago are struggling to take off. It is clear that Bandai does not yet have precise plans on how to move but begins, in the following years, to propose some of the most loved characters of the saga such as Son Gohan, Vegeta and Trunks. We have therefore arrived at 2012 and it is clear that the attention of the Japanese brand is focused on Saga of Androids and Cellthis type of releases lasted, alternating with others until 2016 and constitute the majority of releases of this period which, in the final part, also witnessed the announcement of the figures taken from the first Dragon Ball feature film after many years of silence, Dragon Ball Z: F’s Resurrection which then gave rise to Dragon Ball Super of which the starting point became adapted into an animated version.

List of Releases:

Small (2009)
Super Saiyan Son Goku (2010)
Super Saiyan Son Gohan (2010)
Super Saiyan Son Goku (SDCC 2011)
Super Saiyan Vegeta (2011)
Super Saiyan 3 Son Goku (2012)
Trunks (TW 2012)
Super Saiyan Son Gohan (SDCC 2012)
Perfect Cell (TW 2012)
Vegeta (TW 2013)
Final Form Frieza (TW 2013)
Small (SDCC 2013)
Krillin (TW 2013)
Son Goku (TW 2014)
Android 18 (W2014)
Vegeta ‘Original Animation Color Edition’ (SDCC 2014)
Android 17 (W2014)
Broly (TW 2014)
Android 16 (W2015)
Vegetto (TW 2015)
Son Goku (Frieza Saga Ver.) (SDCC 2015)
Ultimate Son Gohan (TW 2015)
Golden Frieza (TW 2015)
SSGSS Son Goku (TW 2015)
Super Saiyan Vegeta (Premium Color Edition) (W 2015)
Future Trunks (TW 2016)
Broly ‘Premium Color Edition’ (SDCC 2016)
SSGSS Vegeta (TW 2016)
Perfect Cell ‘Premium Color Edition’ (2017)
Son Goku ‘Kaiohken Ver.’ (SDCC & World Tour 2017 )

2015 – Today… the era of Success

2015 for Dragon Ball SH Figuarts action figure collectors are especially remembered why indissolubly marks the new course taken from the line. The first figure to be announced is Super Saiyan Son Goku (Super Warrior Awakening). With this release we immediately notice the new approach with technical improvements in various aspects: the insertion of butterfly joints in the shoulder, more details of the faces and in the sculpt and a new packaging with a white template that recalls the layout of a manga in style. Furthermore, after several years, regular releases resume, interrupted in 2012 with Super Saiyan 3. One thing you will surely notice by scrolling through the list below and comparing it with the one shown above is that the list of releases has significantly increased by concentrating many more releases and releases over the years. This new course, which still continues today, has also seen the introduction of new limited editions called Event Exclusive Color Edition which are often reprints of models already released in the past (unavailable at human prices) reproposed with improved or alternative colors with very attractive packaging. We can say that these new editions have in fact replaced the old SDCCs, it is no coincidence that it is the same versions that are also released on the occasion of events such as fairs both in Asia and in Europe and the West in general.

List of Releases:

Super Saiyan Son Goku (Super Warrior Awakening) (2015)
Beerus (2016)
Future Trunks SSJ (2016)
Whisper (2016)
Super Saiyan Vegeta ‘Ver.2’ (2016)
Trunks Xenoverse Edition (2017)
Time Patroller Xenoverse Edition (2017)
Vegeta ‘Ver.2’ (2017)
Tassel (QW 2017)
Super Saiyan 3 Son Goku (2017)
Shenlong (2017)
Super Saiyan God Son Goku (2017)
Yamcha (TW 2017)
Tenshihan (TW 2017)
Son Goku (Kid) (2018)
Goku Black (2018)
Frieze (2018)
Majin Vegeta (TW 2018)
Broly (EECE 2018)
Perfect Cell (EECE 2018)
SSGSS Vegito (EECE 2018)
Son Goku (a Saiyan Raised on Earth) (2018)
Kame Sennin (Master Roshi) (TW 2018)
Majin Boo (2018)
Bulma (QW 2018)
Super Saiyan Gotenks (2018)
Mirai Trunks (TW 2018)
Kid Krillin (2018)
Mr. Satan (TW 2019)
Great Saiyaman (Gohan) (W 2019)
Majin Boo (Evil) (2019)
Broly Fullpower (2019)
SSGSS Gogeta (2019)
SSGSS Vegeta (TW 2019)
Son Goku ‘Kid’ (EECE 2019)
Goku Black Super Saiyan Rose (EECE 2019)
Golden Freeze (EECE 2019)
Ultimate Son Gohan (EECE 2019)
Android #21 (TW 2019)
SSGSS Son Goku (2019)
Bulma (EECE 2019)
Zamasu Potara (TW 2019)
Broly (2019)
Little Daimaoh (TW 2019)
Bulma Adventure Begins (2019)
Jiren (TW 2020)
Tao Pai Pai (TW 2020)
Son Goku Ultra Instinct (2020)
Jackie Chun (TW 2020)
Son Goku ‘Kid Era’ ‘ Adventure Begins’ (2020)
Son Goku Kaioken (2020)
Bulma’s Motorcycle Hoipoi No.9 & Kid Goku (2020)
Son Goku Ultra Instinct «Sign» (EECE 2020)
Android 17 (EECE 2020)
Android 18 (EECE 2020)
Ginyu (2020)
Great Ape Vegeta (TW 2020)
Chi Chi ‘Kid Era’ (TW 2020)
Jiren Final Battle (TW 2020)
SSGSS Vegito (TW 2020)
Piccolo ‘The Proud Namekian’ (2020)
Son Gohan ‘Kid Era’ (TW 2020)
Zamasu (TW 2020)
Jiece (TW 2020)
Bardock (2021)
Recoome (TW 2021)
Raditz (TW 2021)
Frieza First Form & Frieza Pod (2021)
Burter y Guldo (TW 2021)
Beerus (EECE 2021)
Tassel (EECE 2021)
Super Saiyan God Son Goku (EECE 2021)
Whis (EECE 2021)
Super Saiyan Full Power Son Goku (2021)
Hits (TW 2021)
Lunch (TW 2021)
Goku Black Super Saiyan Rose (2021)
Cooler Final Form (TW 2021)
Tenshinhan & Chaoz (TW 2021)
SSGSS Son Goku Kaio-Ken (EECE 2021)
Super Saiyan Son Goku Clone (2021)
Bulma ‘Journey to Planet Namek’ (TW 2021)
Super Saiyan 4 Son Goku (2021)
Android 17 «Universe Survival Saga» (TW 2021)
Android 18 «Universe Survival Saga» (TW 2021)
Krillin «Earth’s Strongest Man» (2022)
Super Saiyan Kefla (TW 2022)
Frieza Fourth Form (2022)
Dodoria (TW 2022)
Little Super Hero (2022)
Zarbon (TW 2022)
Son Goku Super Hero (2022)
Vegeta Super Hero (2022)
Ultimate Gohan Super Hero (2022)
Super Saiyan 2 Son Goku (EECE 2022)
Majin Buu -Good- (EECE 2022)
Android 16 (EECE 2022)
Shenron (EECE 2022)
Cell ‘First Form’ (2022)
Android No. 21 (White Coat) (2022)
Gohan ‘Battle Clothes’ (TW 2022)
Super Saiyan Broly (EECE 2022)
Krillin ‘Battle Clothes’ (TW 2022)
Super Saiyan 4 Vegeta (2022)

The Future of the Series…the next releases

There is still a good period ahead for the Dragon Ball SH Figuarts series, usually about six months pass between the announcements and the release on the market and among the next incoming figures there are many releases dedicated to the recent feature film Dragon Ball Super: Super Heroes. We also know thanks to various trade fairs in the sector that the new versions of Gohan, Piccolo and Cell, taken right from the end of the film. This focus on the new animated project is completely normal, both because it is in fact very recent and because the releases of normal characters are now coming to an end and the future of the series could also include a sort of reboot with recolor of characters already released (it happens more often than you can imagine in this field). Among those announced, certainly, one of the more interesting releases will be that of Porunga dragon with Dende that besides being one of the biggest in size also includes light effects for the Namekian Dragon Balls.

List of Upcoming Releases: