The numbers don't lie: Dragon Ball Z's Super Saiyan Goku #1999 has been selling for $1,100–$2,240 in a single fortnight. Let that sink in — a vinyl figure that retailed for twelve quid is pulling supercar-deposit money. While collectors spent years chasing convention exclusives and vintage Star Wars, a dark horse quietly bolted to the front of Funko investing: anime collectibles. Leading the charge is One Piece, the manga-turned-anime juggernaut whose Pop values mirror its meteoric rise.
The Perfect Storm: Why Anime Funkos Are Exploding Now
The anime boom isn't just a streaming story — it's reshaping the collectibles market. One Piece now has 149+ figures released since 2016 (the Gold Luffy SDCC exclusive being the rarest), while Dragon Ball Z keeps detonating auction houses with $1,000-plus sales. Three forces have aligned:
- Media momentum: demand spikes with releases, and streaming drops can trigger 120–180% value increases on related figures. Netflix, Crunchyroll and social media are pulling Luffy and Goku in front of people who never watched anime before.
- Scarcity economics: SDCC and NYCC exclusives dominate the high-value listings, and many anime Pops were produced in smaller runs than Marvel or DC lines — natural scarcity baked in.
- Investment mindset: a composite rare-figure index shows a 22.1% compound annual growth rate over the past decade, outperforming plenty of traditional investments — and anime is leading that trend.
Super Saiyan Goku #1999
Dragon Ball Z: The $2,000 Saiyan
One Piece grabs the cultural headlines, but Dragon Ball Z is quietly crushing it where the big money lives. The last 14 days of Dragon Ball Pops tell an incredible story:
- Super Saiyan Goku #1999 (LE 1200): multiple sales from $1,100 to $2,240.
- Seven different Goku variants sold for four-figure sums.
- On eBay data, the Super Saiyan Goku Pop recently sold for $1,012.50, averaging 27 monthly sales.
The kicker: only 1,200 pieces of the Goku #1999 exist worldwide. Unlike mass-produced figures that flood the market, that's genuine scarcity — and collectors will pay grail money for it.
One Piece: The New King of Anime Collectibles
Where DBZ owns the ultra-high end, One Piece is building something arguably more impressive: sustained, broad-based demand across multiple price points. The One Piece advantage is storytelling depth — instead of pure power-scaling, it forges emotional bonds that translate straight into collectible value. Ace's tragic fate at Marineford is one of the series' most pivotal moments, and for many fans his Pop is as much a tribute as a collectible. Key 2025 values:
- Shanks: $322 (eBay 2025).
- Portgas D. Ace: $300 (eBay 2025).
- Roronoa Zoro #1901: $495 (eBay 2025).
- Gold Luffy SDCC exclusive: estimated $1,000+ (unconfirmed recent sales).
Beyond the Big Two: The Broader Anime Landscape
The boom stretches well past the marquee names. Emerging franchises with real investment potential include:
- Attack on Titan: limited production runs creating scarcity.
- Demon Slayer: massive popularity pulling in new collectors.
- My Hero Academia: cross-generational appeal, a bit like early Marvel comics.
- Naruto: nostalgia driving millennial collectors.
Strategically, the smart play is investing in grading and focusing on franchises with strong media ties. Professional grading can multiply anime-figure values significantly — our rarity, grading and price guide explains how that works.
The Investment Case: Why Anime Funkos Outperform
- Historical performance: these aren't just holding value, they're aggressively appreciating — that $2,240 DBZ sale is a massive premium over a $12–15 retail price.
- Market dynamics: collectors increasingly treat these as investments, with top grails fetching thousands. Anime benefits from nostalgia AND current popularity, not just one cycle.
- Global appeal: a rare One Piece figure has buyers in Japan, America, Europe and increasingly across Asia and South America — a far broader market than many Western properties.
Red Flags and Market Realities
Not every anime Funko is a goldmine. Counterfeits hit roughly 12% of eBay listings, and the high-value anime market is a prime target — so authentication is essential. Warning signs to watch:
- Figures from oversaturated series with too many variants.
- Poor condition or damaged packaging — anime collectors are especially condition-sensitive.
- Unlicensed or bootleg figures flooding the market.
- Franchises with declining popularity or controversial storylines.
And the macro picture matters: Funko's Q2 2025 revenue fell 11.6% year-over-year to $193.5 million (from $247.7 million). That broader softness could shape future production — creating both opportunity and risk. We dug into the full picture in Unboxing Funko's 2025 Numbers.
The 2025 Opportunity: What to Watch
Immediate catalysts that could push anime values higher:
- New seasons and movies: One Piece's ongoing manga and potential new anime arcs.
- Convention exclusives: SDCC 2025 anime announcements can create instant grails — see our convention guide below.
- Vaulting announcements: when Funko discontinues popular anime lines, values typically spike.
- Celebrity endorsements: mainstream celebs collecting anime legitimises the whole category.
With the Dragon Ball Super manga returning in February 2025 via a new one-shot starring Trunks and Goten, that resurgence could make their Pops even more valuable. Timing the convention calendar helps too — our 2025 convention guide maps the year's biggest exclusive drops.
Bottom Line: The Anime Revolution Is Just Beginning
The data is clear: anime Funkos have evolved from niche collectibles into serious investment vehicles. DBZ regularly hits four digits, One Piece is building sustained demand across characters — we're watching a new blue-chip category emerge. For investors, the edge is spotting the next breakout franchise before the mainstream catches on. For fans, it's securing beloved characters before they become unattainable grails. This isn't a fad; it's a generational shift in how we consume entertainment, and it's reshaping collecting forever.
Looking to dive deeper into anime Funko investing? Track real-time values and market trends at pops.today, where collectors monitor over 21,000 Funko Pop figures including the complete anime catalog.