The Future...

An idea I had on this rainy November day
What do you think is the future, for collecting animal figures?
What will happen to the major brands over the next few years? Is there a trend they are following, will they cease to exist, will they start to specialise in certain species/ types of models? Where will STS be in 50 years time? Do you think that animal figures will change, maybe more will be 3D printed, will some be made so realistically they can barely be told apart from their real counterparts... will a new amazing brand appear? Just a few things to think about !
I'll try and give my opinion as far as dogs are concerned, although I'm fairly new to the collecting world so it may not all be accurate!
I think that Schleich dogs (And all Schleich) are popular now, because of how wonderful their figures were in the past. And yes, I think they are still very popular now, but maybe, if they keep following the way they are going, they will become both overpriced and badly made, and uless they change, fall out of favour for children... maybe unless, of course, they realise that they were more successful before. I also think that they will continue to do this cutesy style, and release mostly fantastical figures. But maybe, Schleich will not be here in 100 years time
For Bullyland, I saw somewhere on this forum, that they may close down , which was so very sad as they have made some wonderful dogs. Unless they can find some way of getting themselves back on this competitive market, I fear they may be lost
I think that Safari will have a positive future, because they are a big American brand and haven't yet, in my opinion reached their peak. And watching the trend of the dogs shows this, I'm really hoping for some amazing models in the future, it's always exciting when you realise the best is yet to come!
CollectA as well is turning into a favourite for many, but for some reason I don't think they are that widely known... but their dogs too are getting better and better, and I think this is the same for their other animals. Could they become the new Schleich? I fear they might go the 'toy' way, maybe once they have reached the same peak that Schleich once reached, and bring out playsets and all the rest and switch to the cutesy style. But for now we can enjoy their wonderful collectors' items
I love Papo, and for me their dogs have pretty much remained at a consistent standard, and they are a popular brand. It's hard to recognise any trends, although this may be more obvious in the wildlife, but I feel they may be here for many years
And finally Mojo, the new brand, and like the humble beginnings of the others, I am excited for their peak! They will become more well known with their 'Animal Planet' partnership, and maybe they too will become the 'new Schleich'. I think they are more likely to go down the childrens' toys route with the less realistic style that goes with it, but until then I think their models will get very good! But only time will tell
I'm hoping STS will still be here in 50 years time, because it really is a wonderful wonderful forum
I had this crazy idea, about what models will change to in the future- they will become 'hyperrealistic'
So they will be made of real, to scale fur, with all the different textures when you feel the nose, eyes, etc. be perfectly made in every way, to scale with every shade of colour accurately done. Some may even be able to move and behave scarily like a tiny version of the actual animal, but I doubt I would want a load of tiny dogs, racing around my shelves and knocking each other over! Maybe as well 3D printing will improve to include colour, and somehow you could just tell the computer which animal to make, and they will make and exact printed copy, colour and all...
Phew, long answer, but I hope this topic is interesting! But if I could hope for one thing in the future, it would be that whatever the brand, high quality animals will continue to be produced, and that STS will still be here! And I am excited to hear everyone else's views!

Look in the past. Animal figures are many many years old. Also as toy figures. But i think collectors will be less.

Definitely, I think they will always be around in some form, as they have for many years and are hugely popular But I think it depends on what form this will be!

I think plastic from petroleum material will be soon replaced by organic or mineral one and maybe, with a main stream for kids and another one for more "adults" collectors inside each big brands.. but it's also what I wish! :)

Oh yes that is what I wish too! That would be such a good move too, because they would be appealing to both adults and children, and of course saving the planet!

It's a very interesting topic. I believe that good, 3D printing with accurate colours isn't so far off anymore. Initially, it will still be expensive, but it will become cheaper and I suspect quite a few of the current major brands will be caught out because they cannot suddenly change to the cheaper 3D printing technology. 3D printing companies will have the advantage that they can produce a much more diverse range of figures (because they don't need moulds and 3D designs can be tweaked relatively easily.)

Just see what MiniNature is already doing. I wouldn't be surprised if a hobbyist or small start-up company is going to be the first to mass-produce animal figures and outcompetes many of the current players. Once good, coloured 3D printing becomes feasible, I believe we'll also see more of a distinction between animal toys that are sturdy and look good for children (e.g., big head and eyes) and very realistic and more expensive figures for collectors, probably often made by hobbyists (again, see MiniNature).

But I think collecting will become very different. 3D printing technology will allow for an almost limitless number of different poses and scales, so it's going to be impossible to collect everything. There will be lots of figures that are very rare (because so many different ones are printed), but at the same time, they may never really go out of production, because they can be printed whenever needed.

That's my 2 cents. I can't wait!

Those are all really interesting points Roger and I'm sure that this will happen in the future! I agree with you that once 3D printing starts, like the wonderful figures by MiniNature, we will see endless animals of many shapes and sizes, which will certainly mean collecting all is difficult- but then more likely you will find the exact figure you like.
I too am excited to see other views!

I doubt that many of the popular brands today will exist in 50 years. Schleich and Bullyland are on the way out already. Safari, Collecta and Papo are doing well but I doubt all will be around in 50 years.

Really, that's interesting to know you definitely think this!
I hope that if they aren't here, there will be another brand instead!

Bonnie wrote:

Really, that's interesting to know you definitely think this!
I hope that if they aren't here, there will be another brand instead!

I think that new companies will appear, but brands could become more specialized.

Max wrote:

Bonnie wrote:

Really, that's interesting to know you definitely think this!
I hope that if they aren't here, there will be another brand instead!

I think that new companies will appear, but brands could become more specialized.

Yes, I can see that, like Schleich with their fantasy figures and I think some people were saying CollectA this year with their horses and dinosaurs!

Bonnie wrote:

Max wrote:

Bonnie wrote:

Really, that's interesting to know you definitely think this!
I hope that if they aren't here, there will be another brand instead!

I think that new companies will appear, but brands could become more specialized.

Yes, I can see that, like Schleich with their fantasy figures and I think some people were saying CollectA this year with their horses and dinosaurs!

Schleich fantasy is great, I used to collect some of it when I was younger. Collecta is doing well with their diverse dinosaurs and prehistoric life.

Max wrote:

Bonnie wrote:

Max wrote:

Bonnie wrote:

Really, that's interesting to know you definitely think this!
I hope that if they aren't here, there will be another brand instead!

I think that new companies will appear, but brands could become more specialized.

Yes, I can see that, like Schleich with their fantasy figures and I think some people were saying CollectA this year with their horses and dinosaurs!

Schleich fantasy is great, I used to collect some of it when I was younger. Collecta is doing well with their diverse dinosaurs and prehistoric life.

Yes definitely! I have quite a few Schleich fantasy figures!

This I think is a very complex concept with lots of issues and thus many possibilities.

Safari actually wasn't doing well at the beginning of this year, they sent a plea to loyal customers to "help them out". Since then I haven't recieved another such plea so I HOPE they are doing better. Bully has struggled for several years now, really only producing their disney line faithfully. Not sure how the other companies have handled the pandemic yet, I expect we will see it reflected in their releases in the coming years (either reduced or reviving older molds).

I've felt for years, with a brand like Schleich especially, that the hobby is polarizing. Companies will either stick with the concept of childrens toys (releasing play sets, articulated models, and lower quality products, as well as focusing on specific toy lines like fantasy or horses etc.) Or redesign themselves into collector quality pieces (higher expenses, fewer releases on average but higher quality over all). Honestly, the toy market is likely a safer bet as collectors are more niche. I see these sorts of changes already present in many brands with heavy focuses on dinos and horses (injudiciously conceptualized as little boy and little girl style toy lines [keep in mind I disagree with this idea, but still feel most people think of these toys that way]) or with higher numbers of sets and fantasy focuses becoming more prevalent.

I could see with technology in 3D printing moving ever forward it become cheaper and easily attainable for future productions. Materials is an interetsing concept Alain... I would love to see a change into something friendlier but that would also affect costs.

At any rate, I hope it only gets better from here but its hard to tell. Brands will come and go and evolve for better or worse with time. Schleich was cartoony, hit a golden age, fell of a cliff so to speak, and in my opinion has slowly started to come back in some ways. These are mere growing pains. All will grow or go bankrupt eventually. But I will support anyone who can put an honest effort into representing the animal world for the world to appreciate.

Oh really! I do hope too that Safari have sorted themselves out now! And I agree with you, it's difficult to appeal to both adults and children, and so, like you, I feel there will be a divide in the future. But I'm sure that Schleich in their golden age, was still loved by many children, when I was younger I still appreciated the better models. So maybe and hopefully, a brand may find a middle way to please both!
And your last point is interesting, maybe Schleich will realise their mistake and correct it before they go too far wrong... looking at the dogs for 2021, I'm tempted to say they're better than the Schnauzer and dachshund they released recently...
And I completely agree with your last line!

There's already at least one company which will 3D scan your real horse and produce a bespoke scaled down portrait model, so the technology's starting to filter down into products for sale, just not quite mass marketing the results yet.

I think perhaps the biggest change we'll see far in the future will be animal figures scanned from life.

Whether the realistic poses and proportions would sell as well as something created to fit an idealised image, I'm not sure - I could see it being well received by the same sort of adult collector who currently buys limited edition resins or OOAK sculpts, but would some children find them boring and less appealing?
The companies with massive sales like Schleich seem keen to offer something more stylised these days, and I couldn't see their research and development people ditching this theory that all children (and parents buying toys) want cute-looking smiley animals and don't care about anatomy or proportion.

So perhaps the 3D modelling and scanning and printing developments will happen, but as an addition to the current way of making figures, rather than a replacement for it.

That's so interesting, a mini version of your real horse! If that technology creates a realistic model and the result works well, that would definitely be an exciting idea for the future! There would be endless possibilities then, it's a really interesting theory of yours- but I agree, because of companies such as Schleich, this would only be another way to making figures rather than a replacement- but still an amazing idea to think about!

I bought a 3D printed goose figure (about 12cm tall) and many of the other customers' reviews were negative as they had had parts of it break very easily.
So I think 3D printing must first ensure, that for longevity and integrity, that their base material is durable.
I wouldn't buy another 3D item again, unless I knew for sure that the material was different than the one for my large but delicate goose.

As for the future - companies will come and go, that's business and money and fashions and fads. But I believe that there will always be a strong element of collectors out there.
The thing with collectors is - is that they tend to collect the pieces they had in childhood (mainly).
So for last century the 1/32nd market dominated, with metal and then plastic figures.
And then at the turn of this century you had all different scales plastic models.
So, perhaps the prevalence for 1/32nd models may be slightly diminished for main stream collectors.
However, for those that love that scale then I am sure they will continue their hunt.

The internet has made the whole world accessible, with images, easy communication and multiple payment options, so perhaps walk in stores may have less and less stock in them.
I'm not sure.

Personally I love seeing things in person before I purchase them. I'm pretty fussy and particular and nothing beats hands on.
However, the world is changing. Plastics are not a preferred material going forward. The planet has suffered tremendously at the hands of 'progress' and there is a strong current now for returning to a more natural living style, so I reckon that we could see a new kind of artisan composition material come in - and perhaps a celebration and revival of Composition type figures, made from more earth-friendly eco-friendly materials, with models that have slimmer legs and more realistic bodies (that the solid plastic figures find hard to do because of their weight). Bamboo for example would be a perfect material. There are many kitchen items already in daily use that are made of durable bamboo.

And there will be more artists creating one off and limited editions of sculptures as well.

It also depends on the future global trade model. China dominates in the production and exportation of all things cheap plastic. That's Not a critisism, but with global warming and climate change - China HAS to come into line with the rest of the Western World and adopt healthier production practices. Who knows how long it will take ? but the thing that will change it, will be ground-up activism and refusal to purchase throw away items, coupled with Western nations changing their trade practices with China/Far East. (I know I'm mentioning China, but there are many Far East countries involved too). Corruption over there at the Government level is also a hindrance in positive change. I am sure that with the environmental crisis we are now going thru and climate change that some time this century changes will have to be made there. And that will affect mass production of these figures.
The not to scale models that have been produced in the last 30years will perhaps face a decline, as they are larger and use more plastic than the smaller 1/32nd models.

Then again, we can also look to Japan for trends - who knew, even 30 years ago that these amazingly detailed yet hollow plastic clip together models would be so popular ?
Japan has always had a strong market for all things 'kawaii' (cute), so it is only natural that they have produced figures that are not only beautiful and covetable but realistic in the majority of cases.

The success of any company producing these figures will depend on the vision of the manager. If that person doesn't have a true desire or love for these figures, then their company will fail to be successful, both in money and longevity. A company can only succeed if the person at the top is a visionary and true leader, adapting and innovating as necessary whilst maintaining a true love for their product at all times.

Perhaps the major brand companies will start to produce their figures in hollow plastic (less plastic production, less manufacturing costs for them, less pollution) and there will be an upsurge for 'giant sized' clip together figures across the board ?

I really like the light weight yet highly detailed Japanese figures, so if I was to collect figures outside the 1/32nd scale then I would go for this larger clip together model. However, personally I prefer my animals to be in scale with each other. So, larger clip together could prove to be an interesting theory.

thanks for opening this discussion Bonnie! YOU are the future btw

Wow, thank you for such an interesting and long answer Sunny!
Interesting about the 3D printed goose, yes definitely, if 3D printing were to become an option I would hope that the material used would be of a high enough quality so as to not break! And yes, I can see how what is popular would change depending on what collectors grew up with as children, and it's also interesting to think about what the children of generations to come will grow up with. I completely agree about being able to walk into a shop and look at the models in your own hand too! I hope like you that the Internet doesn't take over too much because it is part of the joy of collecting to look around models in shops and see what you like. Really interesting about the material, definitely I am sure plastic will be replaced because of how much damage it is doing to the world right now- bamboo is a really interesting idea! And return of more composition style animals would be interesting too. But as you say, a reduction in mass production would certainly increase the number of smaller scale businesses/ artists looking to sell unique figures. Of course, the success of a brand's future definitely lies in the passion of the manager for the animal models, and lets hope that in being a business the big brands don't forget to maintain their high standards and don't fall into the trap of simply making money by reducing the quality of their products. Totally agree too, Japanese models are stunning!
Thanks again, it's fun to speculate on these things!

I definitely agree about reducing use of wasteful materials, but for me the packaging can be a bigger waste than the model itself. When I place an order I intend to keep the contents forever, but the plastic bag, box, any polystyrene or air packets or foam or too-tatty-to-keep bubblewrap etc, that goes straight into the recycling bin.
I doubt any of us here would throw an animal in the bin if we didn't want it anymore, we'd sell them online, or give them to friends, or donate them to a charity shop. But by buying them, we're also 'buying' a load of packaging we don't intend to keep, and I'd much prefer if the companies would pack and send them in either environmentally-friendly green compostable materials, or recycled plastics, which are then recyclable again after they've done their job.

Please remember shopping locally to see models in hand only works if you live near somewhere that sells the! I'm a really long way from anywhere, and as I only bike, not drive, it'd be an epic expedition along very dangerous roads which would probably take several days there and back and totally exhaust me even if I survived the traffic, just to see Breyers in the nearest shop to me which has them on the shelves. Or I can order them online

Bonnie wrote:

Of course, the success of a brand's future definitely lies in the passion of the manager for the animal models...

I think this is why Mojo Fun are doing so much which customers enjoying and appreciating. I once had a discussion with the owner, and you'd struggle to find a more committed person, with real passion and enthusiasm for the products and making them better, and who wants to do exactly what collectors want to see.

I think attitudes are changing toward shopping in general, and blindly supporting big business cos it's cheap and convenient may become a thing of the past, as people get more aware and make moral decisions. The same sort of person who'll boycott Amazon to buy from a small or local business trying really hard with their quality and customer service, is the same sort of person who'd choose to support small companies making really great models, even if they were slightly more expensive than the mass-produced mainstream.

George wrote:

I definitely agree about reducing use of wasteful materials, but for me the packaging can be a bigger waste than the model itself. When I place an order I intend to keep the contents forever, but the plastic bag, box, any polystyrene or air packets or foam or too-tatty-to-keep bubblewrap etc, that goes straight into the recycling bin.
I doubt any of us here would throw an animal in the bin if we didn't want it anymore, we'd sell them online, or give them to friends, or donate them to a charity shop. But by buying them, we're also 'buying' a load of packaging we don't intend to keep, and I'd much prefer if the companies would pack and send them in either environmentally-friendly green compostable materials, or recycled plastics, which are then recyclable again after they've done their job.

Please remember shopping locally to see models in hand only works if you live near somewhere that sells the! I'm a really long way from anywhere, and as I only bike, not drive, it'd be an epic expedition along very dangerous roads which would probably take several days there and back and totally exhaust me even if I survived the traffic, just to see Breyers in the nearest shop to me which has them on the shelves. Or I can order them online

Bonnie wrote:

Of course, the success of a brand's future definitely lies in the passion of the manager for the animal models...

I think this is why Mojo Fun are doing so much which customers enjoying and appreciating. I once had a discussion with the owner, and you'd struggle to find a more committed person, with real passion and enthusiasm for the products and making them better, and who wants to do exactly what collectors want to see.

I think attitudes are changing toward shopping in general, and blindly supporting big business cos it's cheap and convenient may become a thing of the past, as people get more aware and make moral decisions. The same sort of person who'll boycott Amazon to buy from a small or local business trying really hard with their quality and customer service, is the same sort of person who'd choose to support small companies making really great models, even if they were slightly more expensive than the mass-produced mainstream.

That's a really good point too, the packaging adds up to so much waste and it would definitely be much better if eco-friendly materials were used. There are thousands of model animals out there, and just thinking of the amount of plastic packaging that would have been used for each one of them is awful! Yes, I can completely see how it would be hard living in the middle of nowhere, and this is where online shops are definitely useful! I mixture of the two would be good, so that the shops are still around but online shops still there for convenience! And good for you cycling everywhere, I admire you for that, it's definitely what the world needs at the moment, too many polluting cars! How interesting about Mojo, I have heard that they had lots of involvement with STS in the past, that's a real positive and like you I'm sure they'll do well because of it!

Last time I checked Bullyland avoided bankruptcy by getting bought by a large logistics company, now being under the subdivision Bullyworld.
I do hope that they will however tone down their licensed franchise stuff and focus more on animals again.

I can imagine 3D printing to become more commonplace, after all some companies like Papo and Schleich already do it (note the print lines on Papo's cave bear and Irish elk, as well as Schleich's Dracorex / juvenile Pachycephalosaurus).
What bothers me however is that they still limit the production of these, with molds they can get worn down after time which warrants a limited run but 3D printed figures shouldn't be able to retire.

Burgerenby wrote:

Last time I checked Bullyland avoided bankruptcy by getting bought by a large logistics company, now being under the subdivision Bullyworld.
I do hope that they will however tone down their licensed franchise stuff and focus more on animals again.

I can imagine 3D printing to become more commonplace, after all some companies like Papo and Schleich already do it (note the print lines on Papo's cave bear and Irish elk, as well as Schleich's Dracorex / juvenile Pachycephalosaurus).
What bothers me however is that they still limit the production of these, with molds they can get worn down after time which warrants a limited run but 3D printed figures shouldn't be able to retire.

That's interesting about Bullyland! I too hope that they focus more on animals again one day! And interesting that some of the companies are already using 3D printing!