STEP into Muhammad Fikri Hadi Mohamed Hanafiah’s home in Kulim, Kedah, and you will be drawn to his impressive collection of anime figurines featuring characters from globally popular series.
The 30-year-old’s passion for the intricately designed figurines, which are crafted to closely resemble characters from popular Japanese anime, has led him to collect more than 1,500 figurines that are neatly displayed in glass cabinets and metal shelves.
The Manufacturing Engineering graduate from Universiti Malaysia Perlis also owns rare and limited-edition items, such as Kakashi Hatake from Naruto and Vinsmoke Sanji from One Piece.
Both are his favourite characters.
“These two items are very valuable because only 300 units were released worldwide,” said Muhammad Fikri Hadi.
“I pre-ordered and competed with other collectors to be able to purchase these rare items.
“Being able to get your hands on rare items is one of the main challenges of collecting anime figurines.
“Sometimes I have to wait for months for a single figurine.
“That’s why it’s important for collectors to stay active in the anime community and attend conventions to network and gain more knowledge about the anime world,” he told Bernama.
Muhammad Fikri Hadi said he typically turns to a variety of platforms to look for his desired anime figurines, including online marketplaces, social media, anime conventions and specialty Japanese merchandise stores.
He said he has no qualms about spending thousands of ringgit to fuel his passion for Japanese animation, particularly on characters from the Naruto and One Piece series.
For him, the joy of owning a figurine far surpasses the experience of collecting posters.
“I focus more on collecting figurines than posters, manga or other merchandise because figurines are more detailed and visually appealing compared to posters or manga,” said the production supervisor at a private company.
“Each figurine is not just an object; it is a form of appreciation for the art and nostalgia connected to the character I love, such as the Kakashi Hatake full susanoo figure from SXG Studio.”
Asked if he plans to sell his collection, Muhammad Fikri Hadi said that while collecting anime figurines in Malaysia is not as widespread as in Japan, he intends to continue his hobby until the right moment comes to part with his pieces.
“The price of each figurine depends on the size and material. Resin figures are more expensive than PVC ones, with prices starting at around RM50 and reaching up to RM3,000.”
