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Is it a chance to reclaim a lost childhood? Or a shrewd way to invest for the future?
We interviewed two passionate toy collectors, Muhammad (MichioCollectible) and Khairulddin (Mkhairulabdan) to share more about the niche world of toy collecting.
Michio Collectibles has hundreds of toys worth over RM1000 each in its collection.
Image: The Michio Collectible store has a huge collection of toys for people to enjoy strolling through while shopping. The shop features rows upon rows of limited edition action figurines and toys.
Muhammad owns an action figure store in Kluang called Michio Collectibles. The store recently opened in early January 2023.
Action figure shops are most commonly found in city areas like Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, but Michio Collectibles is situated in Kluang, Johor.
Muhammad’s customers hail from everywhere besides the peninsula, including Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak.
He takes their orders from his Facebook page, Michio Collectibles. On his Tiktok, he posts videos of the collector’s items that he buys from overseas suppliers.
Muhammad says he has met all kinds of people who are toy collectors.
“Most of my customers are 90s kids,” Muhammad commented. “One of them is a family man who brings in his children to buy the figurine that they like.”
Aside from figurines, there are also fans who collect models of muscle cars, movie cars, motorcycles, and other cars.
Prices of each figure can range from RM400 up to as high as RM20,000. “The price range depends on the studio that releases it,” according to Muhammad.
Muhammad: “The most expensive resin statue of One Piece anime I have so far is valued at RM5550. The total value of my existing collection amounts to over RM200,000.”
For Khairulddin, he estimates his collection’s current value at: “Probably around RM10k. I haven’t counted in a while,” he shared, laughing.
To afford this expensive hobby, collectors can pre-order the toys for a lower price than ready stock, buy second-hand toys from other collectors, or simply save up month by month.
Khairulddin is a special education teacher from SK Jeram Batu 20 who loves toy collecting as a hobby
Image, Left: Khairulddin posing with a Gundam and Kamen Rider bust. Behind him, his collection of Iron Man suits are on display.
Khairulddin is a special education teacher and an avid toy collector. On weekdays, he teaches special needs kids in Sekolah Kebangsaan Jeram Batu 20.
On the weekends, Khairulddin likes to frequent Amcorp Mall in Petaling Jaya.
“In my circle of toy collector friends, there are teachers, doctors, engineers. We often visit Amcorp for the latest collections in stock,” shared Khairulddin.
While the mall has seen better days, it is known for its hobbyist stores that sell pre-loved toys, collectible items, and many other things.
Buying a collector’s item depends on timing, but scalpers are common
Image: The Michio Collectible store also features a playing space and reading space to kill time.
Toy collectors in Malaysia have to constantly monitor the Malaysian and international markets for the price.
Like the price of gold, the price of each toy will go up and down.
“Prices have increased over the years because toy companies have stopped production of certain toy lines. Others are limited edition collections by design. This leads to scarcity in the market as demand outpaces supply,” explained Muhammad.
In addition to that, there are irresponsible scalpers in Malaysia who would sell the figures imported from overseas for a much higher price.
Scalpers are a negative influence on the toy collector industry. Because of the limited number of toys available, it is extremely easy to manipulate the market in order to inflate the prices.
It is widely acknowledged in the toy collector community that taking advantage of the niche nature of the market is a predatory practice.
There are many categories of collector’s toys: Action figures, Statues, and Die cast toys
Read: When I Was 8, My Dad Bought Me A Hot Wheels Car, Now I Have 1890 Toy Cars Worth RM25,000
Image: Khairulddin owns various sets of Hot Wheels.
There are two broad categories of figurine: Statues and action figures.
A statue is a toy model in a static position. Made from a type of organic resin, it is brittle and prone to damage, but it allows designers to add vibrant colours that do not easily fade over time.
As for action figures, they have articulation at the joints, which allows you to make them do different poses. Action figures are made with PVC, ABS plastic, or sometimes both.
For example, the Transformers robot is made with a combination of plastic and PVC.
On the other hand, diecast iron figures are also popular, especially for larger-scale models.
What is the appeal of toy collecting?
Image: Khairulddin likes to stage photoshoots using his action figures and various props. This image shows Batman focusing on his detective work, a popular scene after the release of The Batman (2020).
What is the appeal of toy collecting?
For Muhammad, it stems from a mix of nostalgia and wonder. “I collect characters I’m interested in from my childhood in the 90s,” he answered.
“Some people may not have been able to buy a toy as a child because of family circumstances, so they “buy” the childhood memories again now,” he explains.
As for Khairulddin, he loves the craftsmanship and details of each toy or model. Admiring the ‘art’ in each toy, the subtle colouring, shape, and design, helps calm him down after a long week at work.
“Most of us who are working professionals collect toys as a form of retail therapy. It helps relieve work stress,” said Khairulddin.
According to him, there is no age barrier for people who appreciate the fine craftsmanship and attention to detail of the figures they collect.
New product releases are affected by upcoming movies and series announcements
Images from left: The Batcycle from an upcoming DC movie, JDM cars such as Nissan and Honda, and a poster from the anime, My Hero Academia.
The market trends in the toy industry are influenced by the release of a new movie or anime season.
When a new movie is announced, the toy companies create new toy lines in conjunction with its release date.
Muhammad makes videos that highlight the various trends that he sees occurring in Malaysia and internationally.
“As one of the admins in the Hot Wheels Collector 1 Malaysia (HC1M) group, I see this new collector trend, mostly focused on JDM cars such as Nissan and Honda,” Muhammad notes in one of his Tiktok videos.
In another video, he shares: “I have preordered the Batcycle and Batmobile toys, because these two vehicles will be in the upcoming movie The Flash, coming out later this year in June.”
Since the anime My Hero Academia has become trending in Malaysia in recent years, their toys have become hot items for fans of the series.
What are Muhammad’s and Khairulddin’s favourite toy collections?
Image: The main character of the Dragon Ball anime series, Goku in his Super Saiyan form.
“My favourite toy collections are characters from the 90s, especially Dragon Ball and One Piece,” says Muhammad.
Muhammad also sells original Bandai figurines in his store, which also includes anime and manga books that he still keeps in his private collection.
“I started loving cartoons from Japan that were shown in my childhood. As boys, we used to love Dragon Ball and Power Rangers,” he reminisced.
Image: Khairulddin’s extensive Iron Man collection, including his 1:1 scale life-size Iron Man helmet made of 100% iron.
As for Khairulddin, his prized toy collection includes a 1:1 scale life-size Iron Man helmet made of 100% iron, and an Iron Man bust to go with it.
His favourite toy? “The Batman Tumbler camo version car, produced by Hot Toys at a 1:6 scale,” shared Khairulddin.
The car is also one of his heaviest toy, weighing approximately 13.5kg. The current price of that figurine is at least USD450 and above (between RM2500 to RM3000, depending on exchange rate).
Is toy collecting a valid investment strategy?
Image: The Batman tumbler camo version car, produced by Hot Toys at a 1:6 scale. The current price of that figurine is estimated to be between RM2500 to RM3000.
Toy collecting is a valid investment choice. People often do sell their old collections because they quit collecting, don’t want them anymore, or urgently need money to buy a new collection.
These collector’s items can be resold as a second-hand figure or back in a box (BIB).
“For example, the release price of certain Dragon ball figures was in the range of RM98 to RM110 a few years ago,” shares Muhammad, who loves to discuss the current trends in his TikTok videos.
“Now, the second-hand resale price is in the range of RM380. If it is new and never opened, it can reach from RM500 to RM600 from certain collectors who don’t care about the price,” he added.
Will Muhammad or Khairulddin sell their figures for their children’s future?
Image: The 2-year-old daughter of Khairulddin sitting with his Power Rangers helmet collection featuring the red and white Rangers, each made to a 1:1 scale.
IRL asked Muhammad and Khairulddin: Would you sell your figures for your children’s future?
Muhammad: “Yes, that’s why one of the goals is to collect those figure statues… There may come a time when they need to be let go, whether it’s for financial needs or due to ageing factors.”
He added: “I would sell it at the appropriate market price, whether it’s now or in the future, whether it’s due to illness or needing the money, depending on the circumstances where there truly are no other choices.”
Khairulddin: “Absolutely. For me, toys are still just toys. There are times when we need to set aside our hobbies for more important matters.”
He added: “Our toy collector community is very tight-knit. In any emergency situation requiring immediate cash, there may be times when we organise auctions to get the highest value for the toys. The winning bidder would then transfer the money directly to the person in need, while our responsibility would be to ship the auctioned toy to the respective winner.”
The Malaysian toy-collecting scene remains limited to targeting children
Image via Ayaq Mata Toy Company.
Toy manufacturing, particularly action figures that cater to adult collectors, remains limited in Malaysia.
Toys manufactured in Malaysia primarily target children — this is due to the demand generated by popular animated content aimed at younger audiences.
While animated characters like Marvel, DC, or Transformers predominantly originate from Japan or the West, Malaysians have a fondness for locally produced Hot Wheels, with one Mattel factory located in Perai, Penang.
Additionally, independent toy makers are emerging, taking strides to create limited edition action figures inspired by contemporary issues and pop culture.
The emergence of independent manufacturers in the toy-making scene breaks the monopoly of chain manufacturers, and this signifies a promising advancement in Malaysia’s toy industry.
Malaysia also boasts its homegrown Ayaq Mata Toy Company, located in Sik, Kedah, known for its longstanding presence and exclusive product releases.
The company primarily focuses on creating figures that reflect and address contemporary issues prevalent in Malaysia.
This humble yet popular toy-making company has brought joy to children’s early years and evoked nostalgic memories in adults, taking them back to their cherished childhood.
Malaysia has explored numerous avenues to enhance the future of toy collecting, including incorporating toys as subjects in photography art and creating diverse dioramas to showcase collections.
Furthermore, the accessibility of affordable 3D printing techniques has contributed to the growing trend of producing self-designed toy models and figures.
What Malaysian Toy Enthusiasts Aspire to Accomplish Through Collecting Toys and Action Figures
Collecting toys is like running a whole business. It demands unwavering commitment spanning numerous years to yield an impressive collection.
Khairulddin: “Of course, it makes me happy to be a collector. With the toys, I am also able to strengthen my family relationship.”
He added: “I used to own several Hot Toys figures before getting married, estimated prices ranging from RM1.2k to RM2.5k. I sold them all to cover wedding expenses and to start our family life. This happened around 2016-2017.”
Necessities take precedence over desires. For married individuals, it is crucial to prioritize fulfilling essential needs before attending to other matters and not to place hobbies above other priorities.
Khairulddin: “My children and I can spend time in my collection room, and sometimes I join charity sales or charity work, giving free toys to underprivileged children out there. It’s a joy that can be shared.”
Responsibility towards one’s family trumps everything else, including one’s beloved hobbies.
Khairulddin: “Many people ask me if my wife is not angry about buying expensive toys. As mentioned earlier, if the family’s needs are enough, there won’t be any issues. Even in my situation, my wife is the one who encourages me a lot in this hobby.”
Muhammad: “I feel happy because when I was a child, I couldn’t buy it because my family couldn’t afford it. Now, I have my career and even have a toy collection business. Alhamdulillah.”
Muhammad added: “My advice to new collectors or those who just want to tame the world of toy collection. Make sure to list first before buying what you are interested in and check your pockets.”
Toy collecting in Malaysia is poised to be a widely-explored hobby in the future. Growing interest in curating toy collections will lead to a greater understanding of the meaningful contributions of toy manufacturers and collectors to the fabric of this country’s contemporary culture.
If you’ve got a personal experience, let us know at: hello@inreallife.my
Read: When I Was 8, My Dad Bought Me A Hot Wheels Car, Now I Have 1890 Toy Cars Worth RM25,000
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