# Alien Anime Dolls Medicom Toys Teams with Takashi Murakami for Figurines By Christina Butty | Published 2009-08-29 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/medicom-takashi-murakami References: [hypebeast](http://hypebeast.com/2009/08/medicom-toy-x-takashi-murakami-inochi-figure/) Medicom Toys has teamed with art world heavyweight Takashi Murakami to create these “Inochi” [figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ultraman-figure). The “Inochi” dolls are based on the movie by Shinohara Tetsuo also titled “Inochi” from 2002. This doll is available in 5 different outfits. If you are interested in picking up an “Inochi” doll, you will need to move fast because there are only 200 of each available, priced at $1,500 apiece. **Implications** - In the last few years, the entertainment industry and [Hollywood](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marilyn-monroe-barbie) have seen a movement toward comic book and animated properties. A company or brand can capitalize on this by associating itself with an [animated property](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bape-and-transformers-1). This allows the company to market additional products (toys, video games, children's clothing) that the cartoon commodity is ready-made to produce. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.2/10 - Popularity: 36% | Activity: 51% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Anime Figurines:** The rise of anime and manga fandom presents an opportunity for companies to produce collectible anime figurines, tapping into the growing market for anime merchandise. - **Limited-edition Collectibles:** Manufacturing a limited number of highly-priced collectibles is a potential business opportunity that may create a sense of exclusivity among fans. - **Collaboration with Artists:** Partnering with artists and designers, particularly those with a strong following, can help companies create unique products that appeal to collectors. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Industry:** The toy industry can expand its offerings by producing anime-inspired figurines and other merchandise that cater to the fans of anime and manga. - **Entertainment Industry:** By aligning themselves with popular animated properties, companies in the entertainment industry can leverage merchandise sales to enhance the overall profitability of their brand. - **Art Industry:** Partnering with artists and designers to create unique and exclusive figurines can provide a new source of revenue for galleries, museums, and other players in the art industry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Designer Pop Culture Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kkplus.md) - [Large Animated-Themed Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lilith.md) - [Sensorial Anime Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bedhedz.md) - [Artist-Designed Toy Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/art-toy-series.md) - [Collectable Sculptural Doll Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/inedible-doll.md) - [Space Anime-Themed Apparel](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/albino-and-preto-1.md) - [Car-Branded Toy Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/starbase.md) - [Toy-Themed Film Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/funko-pop-movies-barbie.md) - [Character Crossover Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skullpanda-x-sanrio.md)