Collecting vs. Hoarding


Since psychology is the study of human behavior and collecting toys is a behavior, it is only natural that the psychology of collecting would eventually be studied by psychology students and psychologist at some point in time. In fact, there have been many studies regarding the reasons why people collect and the fulfilling emotions that the practice provides. There are many collectors who worry whether or not their passion for collecting toys and other items might cross the line into the dangerous arena known as hoarding.


Many people collect items because they feel an emotional connection to them. For example, people who collect Star Trek toys often enjoyed the television show as a child and the items help them relive that feeling they had when they watch the show. Many collectors simply like the way that some objects look or feel in their hands.


The manual for psychologists is called the DSM, which is short for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, and this book includes the disorders that can be diagnosed and treated. The newest version will include information about hoarding so that psychologists can help people treat their psychological disorder. These are the cues for diagnosing hoarding:


1. Difficulty disposing of possessions, whether they are valuable or not.
2. Difficulty disposing of possessions comes from distress and strong urges to keep the items.
3. The home or workplace becomes unusable because it is extremely cluttered with items.
4. Distress and impairments comes from the fact that the home or workplace is so unsafe from all of the clutter.
5. Hoarding is a disorder that stands alone and is not caused by any other medical condition, like dementia.
6. Hoarding is a disorder that stands alone and is not caused by any other psychological disorder like obsessive-compulsive disorder or anxiety.


Once you have ruled out being a hoarder, you can then begin to understand the psychology of collecting. Many collectors might have the first two symptoms of hoarding, because it is very common for collectors to develop stress if they have to consider parting with their collections. They also develop strong urges to keep their collections intact.


The other symptoms of hoarding usually do not create problems with collectors. Many collectors keep the collections very organized. Displays are often neat and tidy, rather than cluttered and messy. The collections rarely interfere with the cleanliness of the house, which is the opposite of what happens with hoarders, who do not organize their items, but simply place them wherever they land.


Interestingly, in the studies regarding adults who collect, one team of researchers found that nearly 33% of all adults have some type of collection. However, when it comes to hoarding, the population of adults who hoard is under 5% of the population. Even at this population, odds are that everyone knows at least one person who would qualify for the diagnosis of hoarding. It is very important that hoarders get the help they need. It is also important that collectors continue to observe their collecting habits so they do not fall victim to life changing symptoms of hoarding.

Nendoroid: Cool Japanese Figures


The Japanese Good Smile Company is manufacturer of the Nendoroid series of little anime figures. The characters are found in anime and videogames which has made them very popular with collectors who love the big-eyed characters. The majority of the characters are Japanese game, manga, and anime stories. The Good Smile Company not only distributes the cute little products, but designs, manufactures, and markets them, too. They employ artists who know how to turn an anime characters into a figure with exaggerated features without losing the distinguishing features of that character. The Nendoroid figures are some of the highest quality in the industry, making them very desirable collectables all over the world.


Nendoroid is not a character, but a brand that the Good Smile Company makes in the chibi version of many licensed characters. When a characters is made into a chibi style, the characters are deformed to have large heads on small bodies. They are cute with extremely expressive manga/anime eyes. The clothes are fashionable and on some characters the clothes are sexy, but in a cute way. Nendoroid figures often have expressions that can be changed and the body parts can also be exchanged with other characters. The actual term, Nendo, means “clay” which is appropriate for these toys due to the fact that the characters can be changed. Nendoroid also makes petite versions of the characters as well as play sets, plush toys, and display pieces, too.


If you are familiar with manga and anime from Japan, the characters in the Nendoroid brand will be familiar names. Some of the popular creations include characters from Magical Girl Lyrical Nonoha, Haruhi Suzumiya, Vocaloid, and Fate/Stay Night. The majority of characters made into Nendoroids are Japanese fictional characters, but the company has made a few based on real people. The rare ones are designed to look like Kamui Kobayashi, from Formula One racing fame, Linkin Park, and some Japanese actors like Nana Mizuki.


When you begin collecting Nendoroids, you should know about a few different designs. The typical Nendoroid is about 10 centimeters tall and each one comes with a display stand. What makes them fun is that each piece comes with interchangeable expressions so you can make your Nendoroid look happy, sad, or angry. Not all of the 10 cm Nendoroids come with interchangeable facial expressions, but they might come with weapons, jewelry, or other accessories depending on the things the characters use in their original stories. Many of them also come with articulated joints for fun with posing them, too.


The Petite line has Nendoroid that measure in at 6.5 cm and they come with a display stand, too. These often come in a Nendoroid box that offers a surprise to the person who opens it - no one knows what the character will be on the inside of the box. These Nendoroid Petites also have interchangeable parts and facial expressions.


Lastly, Nendoroid More characters are the newest line that offers collectors a larger range of display options for the adorable characters. These characters can be displayed with clips and with suction cups.

The Art of Collecting Minifigures


Collectible toys come in all shapes and sizes, but the easiest collectibles to purchase and display happen to be minifigures. The fact that they are so small make them very easy to purchase, ship, and display. Minifigures are available in practically every collectible line imaginable, so whether you love Star Wars, Legos, Marvel, DC, manga, or anime, you should be able to find minifigures that will stir your interest and imagination.


Collectible action figures are usually around 3.5 inches or taller, so for a collectible to be considered a minifigure, it needs to be smaller than the typical action figure. Some minifigures are articulated and others are not. In the case of the classic and highly collectable Lego minifigures, the heads, arms, and legs and be interchanged with other characters’ arms, legs, and heads.


Minimates is one of the styles of tiny action figures that has a huge following. These debuted in 2002 by a company called Art Asylum. These little figures are about 2 inches tall and they do have several points of articulation. They have a blocky structure that makes them look quirky, but still humanoid in shape. They are fun for kids to play with and they are fun to collect because they come in so many different characters lines. Their Marvel and DC Comics lines are the most popular lines that have been in production for the longest amount of time. Interestingly, Minimates have been designed to cover practically everything from Star Trek, Back to the Future, The Walking Dead, Dark Angel, KISS, and Halo.


Tineez are another line of minifigures that happen to be highly collectible and happen to only include squishy vinyl characters from Futurama. Another line of fun little minifigures are the Domo as DC line that features Domo dressed as popular DC characters like Batman and Superman. The Domo characters are blind boxed, so you have no idea what you are getting until you open the box.

Of course, Star Wars has a few different collections of miniature figures. One of the most collectible lines from recent time is the Galactic Heroes which featured boxes with two characters from all of the films and the Clone Wars cartoons. These little figures stood about two inches in height and they all resembled the fictional characters and their actors in a cartoonish way with large hands and feet. Along with the Galactic Heroes, Star Wars collectors who love the tiny toys can also buy the Fighter Pods, which include characters that are just an inch tall. The Fighter Pods are adorable little figures that fit into circular pods that snap into place in vehicles and play sets. There is also a Star Wars miniatures game that has a very dedicated following. This set includes small characters that stand about 2.5” tall and stand on bases.


The Galactic Heroes lineup of characters is not the only collection of minifigures available from toy maker, Hasbro. There have been collectible lines from Iron Man, and other Marvel characters in the Super Hero Squad line and Indiana Jones characters from the Adventure Heroes lines, too.

Toy Collecting and the Phenomenon of Cosplay

Toy collectors, especially those who collect comic book, science fiction, and fantasy toys, often move into the rapidly growing hobby known as cosplay. The portmanteau of the words costume and play has developed into a large group of people who take time to create amazingly accurate costumes and they even take on the persona of the characters they are dressed as.

Since toy collectors already know about the characters that they love so much, they find the transition into cosplay rather easy. Many toy collectors already have costumes and accessories in their collections, so it becomes easy to join a cosplay group and get in on the fun. Once collectors get into the cosplay subculture, they see how the two groups of hobbiest are so interconnected.

The majority of popular cosplay characters come from video games, films, manga and anime, as well as comic books. When people take on a cosplay character, they not only dress like that character, but when they are in costume, they behave the way the character would. This can be fun and challenging, especially when people dress up like characters who have very few lines in their favorite movies. It is very common with cosplayers to see them switch gender roles; for example, there is nothing wrong with a woman playing Darth Vader or Luke Skywalker, just as men can easily dress up like Lara Croft or Smurfette! It is also very common for people to choose characters because they are incredibly appealing, which is why there are so many women who want to look like Princess Leia.

Cosplayers are not limited to dressing up for real-life events. There are many social networks that allow cosplayers to learn about activities and chat online. This hobby is quite young, having only been in existence since the 1990s, but it has rapidly transformed into a way of life. In Japan, it is quite common to see people dressed in cosplay outfits as regular everyday clothing.

Creating a cosplay costume is very different from creating a Halloween costume. Part of allure of cosplay is in creating an extremely detailed costume to really show the nuances of the character. While toy collectors take time finding the perfect toys for their collections, cosplayer use toys, images, and research to find the perfect elements for their costumes. Many cosplayers will create their own costumes rather than buy a Halloween costume from a manufacturer. They often use fiberglass, wood, rubber, face paint, and other textiles to create a perfect costume. They will usually buy wigs and have them styled or even grow their own hair to replicate the look of the character. Cosplayers take considerable joy in the journey of creating the perfect costume and the social media sites revolving around cosplay costumes help cosplayers with the task. The journey of making the costume is what joins many cosplayers together.


Once cosplayers have their perfect costume, the next step is to show it off at a convention. Just like toy collectors can display their wares at conventions, so can cosplayers. Many cosplayers will attend Comic-cons, Star Trek, or Star Wars conventions because so many of the characters come from those types of stories. There are also opportunities for cosplayers to enter into competitions, too.

For amazing collectible toys to add to your collection, visit us at haveahobby.co.uk

Manga Art and Style

Not every comic book character has to look like an intensely muscular superhero with a cape. In the manga world of comics, characters do not look anything like the ideal Western comic characters. In the world of manga, the characters do not have big bulging muscles, but they have large, distinctive eyes. Manga has been a popular form of art and storytelling in Japan, where it became an artform in the 1950s. Now, manga has crossed boundaries making it one of the best selling forms of media around the world.


The art of manga is what makes it so unique. Compared to the traditional Western comics, manga characters look much younger and childlike. The characters in Western comics are very clearly “men” as their superhero names usually include that designation: Superman, Batman, Spiderman, Iron Man, etc. Manga characters often have names that do not designate any age at all, like Sailor Moon, Dragonball Z, or Naruto.


The characters in manga have very expressive eyes. They are usually much larger than the eyes of Western characters and the manga female eyes are larger than the male eyes. Interestingly, manga artists will change the shape of the eyes to reflect what the character is feeling. So, if the characters is in love, the artist will make the character’s eyes into hearts. If the characters is frustrated, the character’s eyes might squint or even have flames in theme. The eyes can also be turned into lines or half-circles to represent other emotions. Characters who have been injured will have X’s for eyes. Interestingly, manga artists all tend to use the same expressions and techniques when it comes to drawing the eyes.


Along with the eyes, manga characters also express themselves in their thought bubbles and speech bubbles. It may seem like there is little than an artist or storyteller can do with a bubble, but manga artists have managed to take this part of the story and add more expressions. In Western comics, speech bubbles are also solidly extended from the character’s head and thought bubbles have small circles to the bubble. In manga, thought bubbles and speech bubbles are drawn in ways that show how the characters are feeling. So, if a characters is in love, the bubble might be shaped like a heart. If the character is angry, the bubble might look like it could explode. Pair the bubble with the eyes, it is usually very clear to readers how the characters are feeling.


So that readers can really get to know the backgrounds of the characters, artists are very precise with the hair colors they give the characters. The colors are usually chosen to represent personality traits. Interestingly, it is quite easy to see the similarities between Western color symbolism and Eastern symbolism. Characters with black hair tend to be mysterious, powerful, sad, or evil; while the characters with white hair are peaceful, heavenly, and pure. Characters with white hair can also represent cold, so the hair is icy. Blue hair can symbolize dependability, calmness, and peacefulness, too. Purple hair denotes the characters is royal and a character with red hair is passionate, aggressive, and full of strong emotions. Pink hair is feminine and kind, but orange hair shows warmth and balance. Yellow hair is childlike and wealthy. Green hair shows envy, tranquility, and fortune. Silver hair shows maturity, intelligence, and boredom. Finally, brown hair shows comfort and simplicity.

Shown above: Nendroroid: Vocaloid - Miku Hatsune Action Figure from haveahobby.co.uk

Cool Things Featured at Comic Con


If you are in the market for prized collectable toys , you'll want to attend the Comic-Cons that pop-up around the world each year. These conventions are the showplaces for anyone who loves the fanboy world. With anyone who is anyone in the world of fantasy and science fiction dressing up, showing off, and bringing their wares to these intense parties, anyone who wants to see one-of-a-kind pieces or collectables that are only rumored to exist, Comic-Con is the place to go.


Cool Star Wars Toys


Each year, Star Wars fans and officially licensed manufacturers bring their toys and collectables to the Comic Con events. These pieces are often the most desired, expensive, and amazing pieces at each convention. Many of the most popular pieces are busts from Gentle Giant, especially when they feature minor characters like Admiral Ackbar or Boba Fett. When Star Wars characters are mashed with characters from other realms, they become even more collectible. One interesting toy that debuted at the 2013 Comic Con was an Evel Knieval and Boba Fett mashup, where Boba wears Knieval’s red, white, and blue jumpsuit. It was quite a hit. The costumer, Rubies, also frequently impresses with expensive and authentic-looking pieces, like the Darth Vader helmet made from fiberglass and the coordinating costume. It is worth visiting Comic Con just to see the Star Wars pieces.


Unique Statues of Iconic Characters


Since the show is not just for Star Wars fans, there are always other toys and collectibles that make collectors drool. Several years ago, there was an amazing statue of Dobby from the Harry Potter stories. That same year, Ronald McDonald and Marilyn Monroe were also on display; these were not just the regular McDonald and Monroe, but artistic statues that were artistically manipulated by Ron English.


Walking Dead Figures


Now, some of the most popular collectibles are those that feature the A&E show, The Walking Dead. Because there are still very few items available for the fan of this popular show. There are action figures that often sell out immediately, but the latest collectibles are the PoP! vinyl figures. The blood splattered characters look like sweet little kids’ toys after PoP! used their characteristic anime style. When the toys show up at Comic Con, they often become highly valuable just by association with the uber-popular conventions.


Retro-Modern Coolness


While Comic Con toys often feature the most popular characters of the day, they also feature some of the retro shows, too. While Batman is popular in his latest, modern shape as the Dark Knight, retro Batman in the gray suit pop up frequently at Comic Cons. Collectibles from Alien, vintage-looking Barbies, and anything GI Joe become immediately popular. The 2013 Comic Con saw more modern retro toys that will quickly become collectible simply because the toys are just that cool looking!

Hobbyists by Definition

At haveahobby.co.uk, we recognize the fact that many people love to collect toys, but we also understand the idea of a hobby. Many people do not know exactly what a hobby is, so we wanted to clarify what makes an activity a hobby.


Technically, a hobby is a regular activity that people do for fun. Hobbies are usually done when people are not at work, but are enjoying their leisure time. Hobbies can include collecting, but there are many other hobbies that collectors are unaware actually exist. In today’s world, hobbies often include artistic activities, athletics, and crafting, too.


The idea behind a hobby is that the activity is done for fun. Amateurs (hobbyists) do not get any compensation for what they do. On the other hand, professionals do get paid for their activities. So, a person who collects toys for the simple joy of collecting is a hobbyist, but a collector who sells the items to make money, technically would not be an amateur, but a professional. The amateur might know just as much about the professional, but the amateur is not in the market to make money off of the collection.


The word “hobby” comes from the 1200s, when the word signified a small pony. In the mid-1500s, the word “hobbyhorse” was given to a little wooden horse that was used as an tool for religious and civic events. Eventually the word hobby was removed from the hobbyhorse and evolved to describe fun and leisurely activities. The hobbyhorse today is a toy horse that children use, so the term hobby often has to do with child-like activities.


Now, the word hobby is a common term used in First World countries so that people have something to fill their time. In some of those nations, hobbyist are often known as geeks, especially if they have a hobby that the majority of people consider dull.


Hobbies fit into several categories. One of the most popular hobbies is collecting. If you are visiting Havahobby, you most likely collect toys and really enjoy it! However, there are several other collectible items that people enjoy like stamp collecting, trainspotting, birdwatching, and coin collecting.


Another popular hobby categories is the outdoor type. Some of the outdoor hobbies can be conducted at home and include activities like gardening and outdoor photography. These are rather calm hobbies when compared to other outdoor hobbies, like kayaking, hiking, fishing, shooting, and skiing. These are all activities that are in the professional athletics realm, but there are many more people who enjoy them at the amateur level. Outdoor hobbies can be rather expensive because of the all of the gear and safety gear that is needed.


Some of the other hobbies are easy to do at home. They include activities like cooking, reading, scrapbooking, and performing arts. There are also people who collect toys like RC cars, train sets, and miniature soldiers. These toy collectors are more interested in creating dioramas and realistic battle scenes than collecting the toys for the memories.


The best aspect of having a hobby is that you can do as many as you want. Hobbies are supposed to make you happy and they should be very fun!