Bandai Namco Booth Spotlight [WonderCon 2023]

By: Mithrandiel

Where do they get all their wonderful toys?

After spending quite a bit of time meandering the exhibit hall at WonderCon this past weekend, I’m thinking the answer is probably Bandai Namco.

While recognized for their video game ventures, the toy and collectible line from Bandai Namco has a strong fanbase - from the expansive hobby around Gundam models to stunning statues from some of the biggest anime properties around, it would be easy enough to blow your entire budget wandering around their oversized booth.

Because it’s easy enough to get lost amidst the toys and statues, Senior Marketing Manager Justin Cavender was kind enough to be our guide as we explored the different sections of Bandai Namco’s toy and collectible divisions.

The S.H. Figuarts line runs the gamut from Spy Family and Demon Slayer, Chainsaw Man, Tiger & Bunny and beyond.

As we browsed the various S.H Figuarts options, I was definitely struck by the pricing for some of the toys - for the quality and articulation there were definitely some bargains to be had.

After working through the S.H Figuarts, we got to the Nanoblock products. The pieces are all about 4 millimeters, so good and tiny. The way the nanoblocks work is similar to 3-d printing, according to Justin - layer by layer you use a guide to put blocks down using a transparent layer and build up from the base until you have your completed piece. The difficulty can vary, from nearly 200 pieces to over 1400 pieces.

As we moved into the Banpresto line, Justin spoke to the variety in pricing that provides an outlet for all kinds of collectors.

“Maybe you don’t want to buy your kid a $75 figure…” [Why not?!]

“…and in that case you can get a $25-30 banpresto figure.”

All in all, wandering around the booth I was double guessing whether I wanted to keep my budget saved for comic book shopping or dive head-first into some toys.

At the end of the day my comic-side won the battle, but the scale and detail of the figures from Tamashii Nations, S.H Figuarts and the numerous Gundam models definitely had me reconsidering my priorities for the next convention…

Many thanks again to Justin for taking the time to walk us around the booth! You can find Bandai Namco’s various toys here.