What is the appeal of action figures to you?

[davelvictor]

what is the appeal of action figures to you? why do you collect them?

[10incher]

Welcome to the forums Davelvictor!

The main reason would have to be reliving good ole childhood memories. Also monsters and robots are just to damn to not have them displayed all over the house!

[skindoggz]

What really drives me is the meomerys they bring back a time where saturday was all about geting up early and watching cartoons all morning.. and week days were spent at recess showing off you new transformer or gijoe ect and couldnt wait to get home to watch after school cartoon of your favarate cartoons and a time with no resposiblty only imagination and summer on our mind and no stress sorry about the big run on

[microtraveller]

Mostly childhood memories - I loved figures as a kid. I mainly collect the figures I had and also the ones I wanted as a kid but never had. If I had one line I favour, it would definately be the Micronauts.

[Centurn]

Well, like most have already said; childhood nostalgia/memories!
Some OCD might also be part of this, but I speak for myslef of course.
Is living your life by the nostalgia code so wrong? Not acording to me!

[vintagenate]

Pure nostalgia.

[zod]

Reliving childhood memories, and getting back at my parents. They made it a point to throw away what few toys I managed to get from my friends when I turned 13 because I was "too old". BS.

[wraith]

I'm with most of the other guys...Some people look at pictures to relive or remember good times....I look at toys & action figures.Each one, that I had as a kid, in my collection has a special memory of mine attached.

[tank1976]

skindoggz said:

What really drives me is the meomerys they bring back a time where saturday was all about geting up early and watching cartoons all morning.. and week days were spent at recess showing off you new transformer or gijoe ect and couldnt wait to get home to watch after school cartoon of your favarate cartoons and a time with no resposiblty only imagination and summer on our mind and no stress sorry about the big run on

I couldnt of said it much better myself. All of that keeps me in it.

[WishItWas1984]

davelvictor said:

what is the appeal of action figures to you? why do you collect them?

I had a long winded response until I realized it's really mostly about memories and feelings. Whether a childhood vintage figure, or something just released, what I have invokes memories and feelings that I want to continue to have.

Like a scent might trigger a memory you never knew existed, these toys constantly act as triggers to all sorts of good thoughts. Remembering a piece of my childhood, a great story, show or movie I enjoyed, etc. etc.

Another part though is just that these things impress me. The sculpting and creation of them. They are like little sculptures and unlike most pieces of art that might appeal to you, these are easily attainable in a large quantity

Which reflects something we all probably share. And that's the bug to collect things we like.

[adam03]

When I first started it was just for closure, I got all the things my parents wouldn`t; then it became an obsession, as soon as I finished a line I sell it off to start a new one. I think it`s kinda like recycling and I keep all photos of everything I`ve collected over the years, I have three photo albums full of pics of figures.

[emmawood]

Hello guys,

im relatively new to this forum but i wanted to share with u an article here: collectorism.com/blog/why-we-love-collecting-fun-facts/
it is about why we love collecting things especially toys and action figures.
its good to know the psychological reasons behind this

let me know what u think

[waywardmonk]

That was a good read, covering many aspects of collecting and written by an enthusiast

It is nostalgia that drives my collecting, but more specifically nostalgia for a childhood time when things in life could still feel magical. When life was fresh and new, mysterious and fascinating. Our imaginations could transport us away for afternoons at a time. Action figures, for good or bad, help me remember those feelings.

I love good children's movies like the Harry Potter series for the same reason. The article mentions hoarding, which I think applies to every collector to varying degrees. I'm reminded of when Harry Potter was so attached to looking in the mirror of Erised at his lost parents, his heart's desire...

"It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live, remember that."
—Albus Dumbledore