Dragon Ball figures – fighting poses with character
Akira Toriyama gave his characters something that plays right into figure makers' hands: silhouettes you can identify from their shadow alone. That's exactly why Dragon Ball figures have been a mainstay of the anime collecting world for years – Son Goku mid-jump, Vegeta with crossed arms, Piccolo in his cape. At Elbenwald you'll find officially licensed Dragon Ball figures from manufacturers like Banpresto, Bandai, and Funko: from the compact collectible format for your desk to the expressive pose that the rest of the display case will have to arrange itself around from now on. Over the decades, the selection has grown as broad as the series itself: classics from the early era stand alongside motifs from "Dragon Ball Super" – fresh releases are a tradition with this brand.
What makes Dragon Ball figures stand out?
Dynamism, transformations, and a cast with no weak links. Hardly any series delivers as many states of the same character: Son Goku ranges from the boy with a monkey tail to the golden-haired Super Saiyan – collectors build entire evolution lineups out of that. The manufacturer side plays its part too: Banpresto and Bandai stand for dynamic poses and clean paintwork, Funko for the stylized collectible format. And because Toriyama built his world with humor, that humor is baked into the names too: "Saiyan" is an anagram of the Japanese word "yasai" for vegetable, Vegeta comes from "vegetable," and Goku's birth name Kakarot comes from carrot. A display case full of Dragon Ball figures is, strictly speaking, a vegetable patch – just considerably more battle-ready. Details like that lift a collection above mere display: every figure comes with its own anecdote – conversation guaranteed whenever visitors stand in front of the case.
Frequently asked questions
Which characters are available as Dragon Ball figures?
The classics are Son Goku and Vegeta, plus, depending on availability, Son Gohan, Piccolo, Trunks, Krillin, and Bulma, as well as the villains Frieza, Cell, and Buu. Use the filters to narrow the selection down to your favorite character.
Which manufacturers produce Dragon Ball figures?
Officially licensed Dragon Ball figures come from manufacturers including Banpresto, Bandai, and Funko – recognizable by the license notice from Toei Animation or Shueisha on the packaging. Scale and material are listed on the respective product page.
What's the story behind the Saiyan names?
Vegetable puns: "Saiyan" is an anagram of the Japanese word "yasai" for vegetable, Vegeta comes from "vegetable," and Goku's birth name Kakarot comes from carrot. Toriyama carried that naming scheme consistently through the whole Saiyan family.
How do I best display Dragon Ball figures?
Protected from dust and away from direct sunlight, so the paintwork doesn't fade. Dynamic poses need a bit of breathing room to have an impact; stylized formats work well as a group. Collectors generally keep the original packaging.
Range overview
Every collector type finds their format: Funko figures as a stylized entry point, posable action figures for restaged fighting scenes, true-to-scale scale figures for the display case, and Nendoroids with interchangeable parts for anyone who likes to mix things up. The figures overview delivers the look across every brand – and everything beyond the display case that still belongs to the series is gathered in the Dragon Ball world, from the shirt to the mug. When combining pieces, keep the scale consistent – that way the overall picture stays calm even while energy waves are exploding on the bases.
What else goes with it?
Once the Saiyans are in place, the competition is waiting: One Piece figures and Naruto figures come from the same Weekly Shōnen Jump school and share the display case with many fans. For fandom you can wear, head to the Dragon Ball T-shirts, and the anime overview gives you the full picture.
