Anime figure and statue demand benchmarks by franchise 2026
Nobody publishes a clean franchise-by-franchise demand number for anime figures in New Zealand in 2026, and this page does not invent one. It benchmarks what is checkable: which anime franchises Pop Stop carries, in how many formats, and where each one sits from blind box to premium display piece. For the buying shortlist, start with the best anime figures and statues to collect in NZ.
- Dragon Ball has the deepest anime figure range at Pop Stop in 2026, across Pop! Vinyl, action figures and cards.
- One Piece spans the widest span of the shelf: blind box Mega Cat figures up to a 10th Anniversary Gear 4 Luffy display figure.
- Evangelion, Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen are narrower: one core format each in the current range.
- No public NZ sales-volume data by franchise exists, so treat range depth as a demand signal, not a sales figure.
Why this matters
Anime figure shopping in NZ splits into two decisions: which franchise, then which format. A One Piece fan can spend on a blind box figure or on a statue-class display piece, and those are different purchases. Franchise popularity alone does not tell you what to buy.
The benchmark below gives you the structure. It does not give you a sales ranking, because that data is not in the inputs behind this page.
Short answer: which franchise has the deepest NZ range
Dragon Ball has the deepest anime figure range at Pop Stop in 2026, with three distinct formats on the shelf: Pop! Vinyl figures, a 13-inch action figure and Dragon Ball Super card game boosters. One Piece follows with two figure formats at opposite ends of the spectrum. Everything else in this benchmark sits at one or two formats.
That is a range-depth ranking. It reflects what the store stocks, not what NZ buyers purchase most.
Anime franchise range benchmark, 2026
| Franchise | Formats in the current range | Number of formats | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| All anime franchises (yardstick) | Blind box, Pop! Vinyl, action figures, display figures, cards, model kits | 6 | Comparing depth |
| Dragon Ball | Pop! Vinyl (singles and 2-packs), 13-inch Limit Breaker action figure, card game boosters | 3 | Collectors who want one franchise across shelf and deck |
| One Piece | Mega Cat Project blind box figures, Portrait of Pirates Gear 4 Luffy display figure | 2 | Budget entry or a centrepiece |
| Pokemon | Blind box figures, trading card products, figure set | 3 | Mixed card and figure collectors |
| Evangelion | Robot Spirits action figure | 1 | Mecha fans who want a posable piece |
| Naruto | Heritage Collection card packs | 1 | Card collectors |
| Jujutsu Kaisen | Sorcerer Series card packs | 1 | Card collectors |
| Gundam | Model kits | 1 | Builders and painters |
The All row is the yardstick: six distinct formats appear across the anime range, and no single franchise covers all six.
High and low: who leads and who trails
Dragon Ball and Pokemon lead at three formats each. One Piece sits at two, but its two formats cover the widest gap between casual and serious spend. Evangelion, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen and Gundam trail at one format each.
In the anime figure feed, seven of the nineteen current store products are anime figures: three One Piece, three Dragon Ball and one Evangelion. That is a small sample of one store's catalogue, so read it as shelf mix, not market share. If Dragon Ball is your pick, the best Dragon Ball Z figures and merchandise in NZ guide goes format by format.
Methodology and limitation
The table counts formats actually listed in Pop Stop's current catalogue and product feed in 2026. A format counts once, regardless of how many individual products it holds.
The limitation is plain: this measures supply, not demand. It cannot tell you how many units a franchise sells, how fast stock moves, or what NZ search volume looks like. Any page that gives you an exact NZ sales share per anime franchise without a cited source is guessing.
One Piece: the widest spread
One Piece is the one franchise where the same fandom reaches both ends of collecting. The Mega Cat Project blind box figures are the low-commitment entry. The Portrait of Pirates Gear 4 Luffy figure, a 10th Anniversary limited version, is the display piece.
Pros: two very different entry points, strong display presence at the top end. Cons: blind box means you do not choose the character, and the limited display piece is a big single spend. Verdict: Buy the blind box to test interest, Hold the display figure until you have the shelf space.
Dragon Ball: the deepest shelf
Dragon Ball is the only anime franchise here that runs across figures and a card game with several figure formats. Pop! Vinyl is the cheap-to-start option, the 13-inch Limit Breaker action figure is the posable piece, and the card boosters cover play.
Pros: easiest franchise to build a mixed collection in. Cons: several Pop! Vinyl listings are US exclusives, so check shipping notes on the product page before ordering. Verdict: Buy, especially if you collect across formats.
Evangelion, Naruto, Jujutsu Kaisen and Gundam: narrow but focused
These four each sit at one format. Evangelion is a posable Robot Spirits figure. Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen show up as collectable card packs. Gundam is model kits for builders.
Verdict: Buy if the single format matches how you collect. Skip if you want several formats in one franchise from one store.
How to use these benchmarks
- Pick the franchise with range depth if you plan to keep collecting. Dragon Ball and Pokemon give you the most formats to grow into in 2026.
- Start One Piece at blind box. It costs far less than the display figure and tells you whether you want the centrepiece.
- Match format to habit. Card fans go Naruto or Jujutsu Kaisen packs; builders go Gundam; posers go Evangelion or Dragon Ball action figures.
- Check the product page before you commit. Stock, shipping restrictions and pricing change, and this page does not freeze them.
FAQ
Which anime franchise has the most figure formats in NZ in 2026?
Dragon Ball, with Pop! Vinyl, a 13-inch action figure and card game boosters at Pop Stop. Pokemon matches it at three formats when you include cards and blind boxes.
Is there public data on anime figure sales by franchise in NZ?
No clean public breakdown exists. This benchmark measures range depth in one NZ store's catalogue, not units sold.
What is the cheapest way to start collecting One Piece figures?
The Mega Cat Project blind box figures are the entry format in the current range. The Portrait of Pirates Gear 4 Luffy figure sits at the top end.
Are Dragon Ball Pop! Vinyl figures available in NZ?
Yes. Pop Stop lists Dragon Ball Pop! Vinyl figures, including 2-packs. Some are US exclusives, so read the shipping note on each product page.
Which anime franchise is best for card collectors?
Naruto and Jujutsu Kaisen both have collectable card packs at Pop Stop, and Dragon Ball has Super card game boosters.
Where do Gundam model kits fit in an anime collection?
They are the build-it-yourself format. Pop Stop carries Gundam models for hobbyists who prefer assembling and painting over display-ready figures.
One last thing
The franchise with the widest gap between its cheapest and most expensive format is One Piece. If you only buy one anime figure this year, buy the blind box first: it tells you whether you are a casual fan or a display-shelf collector before you spend at the top end.
