Good Smile Company Brings Yu-Gi-Oh! Figures to the West

Yu-Gi-Oh! figures have taken off in Japan in the last couple of years, attracting older fans of the franchise who grew up with the characters and monsters and who now have the income to feed their nostalgia. Now, Yu-Gi-Oh! fans in the West will at last be able to get their hands on some of these amazing figures without the need to import them directly from Japan.

4K Media (Konami) announced today that it has inked a licensing agreement with Good Smile Company, the popular Japan-based producer and distributor of collectible figures. GSC will import Yu-Gi-Oh! figures into United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, and Europe. The first two figures to be introduced will be the figma Yami Yugi and Dark Magician Girl scale figure, pictured above. 4K Media and GSC’s deal marks the first time that Yu-Gi-Oh! figures will be released simultaneously in Japan and throughout the world.

Yami Yugi is an articulated figure from the figma series standing about 5.7 inches and includes a removable cape, cards, and Duel Disk. It is scheduled to be released in June 2016. The 1/7th scale Dark Magician Girl figure is about 8.3 inches high and is based on a summoning scene, complete with a summoning circle base. It is slated for a May 2016 release. Both figures are manufactured by Max Factory, a sister company of Good Smile Company.

“Today’s news represents our ongoing commitment to enrich the Yu-Gi-Oh! brand by adding new layers to the collectible experience and expanding its reach,” said Jennifer Coleman, 4K Media’s VP of licensing and marketing, in a press release.

“Yu-Gi-Oh! is a globally beloved franchise with very active fans that are always looking for new ways to enjoy their favorite characters,” added Max Watanabe, CEO of Max Factory. “Yami Yugi and Dark Magician Girl are a highly recognizable character and monster, making them perfect choices [to] make available to a much broader audience of collectors.”