Medicom Toy: the Japanese house that invented the modern designer toy

Step into the world of Medicom Toy, the Japanese house founded in Tokyo in 1996 by Tatsuhiko Akashi that redefined the global collector figurine market. Inventor of the BE@RBRICK in 2001, the Kubrick, the VCD (Vinyl Collectible Dolls) and the MAFEX series, Medicom has become in less than three decades one of the most coveted collaboration partners in the world — from streetwear (Bape, Undercover, fragment design) to contemporary art (KAWS, Banksy, Andy Warhol, Basquiat) through luxury (Louis Vuitton, Chanel) and global pop culture (Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, JoJo's Bizarre Adventure). MTHOR curates the rarest drops from the house, all authenticated by our team of experts and shipped sealed worldwide.

The story of an icon: how Medicom turned the Bearbrick into a legend

Medicom Toy was born in 1996 in Tokyo, in the Aoyama district, under the impulse of Tatsuhiko Akashi, a passionate fan of American collector toys and articulated figurines. The house positioned itself from the start on a segment then non-existent in Japan: the adult collector figurine, conceived as a design object and accessible artwork rather than a children's toy. First breakthrough: the Kubrick series in 2000, mini articulated figurines in six elements inspired by director Stanley Kubrick and the LEGO minifig.

On May 27, 2001, Medicom unveiled the BE@RBRICK, a stylised bear silhouette with nine articulation points available in five sizes: 50% (3.5 cm), 70% (5 cm), 100% (7 cm), 400% (28 cm) and 1000% (70 cm). The object instantly became a playground for artists and brands. The first decade saw cult collabs flow in: Bape (the ABC Camo Bearbrick), KAWS (the Companion Bearbricks), Andy Warhol (the Bearbrick Soup Cans), Disney, Star Wars, Marvel. Today, more than 3,000 Bearbrick models have been produced, some drops limited to 100 pieces resell for 10,000 to 50,000 dollars on the secondary market. The house then expanded with the MAFEX (Medicom Action Figure EX) series ultra-articulated for pop culture fans, the VCD (Vinyl Collectible Dolls) in artisanal vinyl, and the Super Action Statue dedicated to premium anime licences such as JoJo's Bizarre Adventure.

A unique technology: how does a Bearbrick work?

At the core of Medicom's craftsmanship sits a patented 9-point articulation that has equipped every Bearbrick since 2001. Pivoting head, arms articulated at the shoulder and elbow, legs articulated at the hip, pivoting waist: the figurine can take dozens of poses without breaking or wearing out thanks to an articulation system in industrial-grade injection-moulded ABS plastic. The Bearbrick face — a flat circle of 4.5 cm on the 100% — serves as a blank canvas for artists and brands, which explains the silhouette's near-infinite collaboration potential.

Three clear benefits for the collector: (1) absolute formal coherence over 25 years (the silhouette has never changed, making drops compatible with each other and stackable on a shelf), (2) industrial material quality in ABS / PVC resin depending on the series, with paintwork at the level of Japanese luxury toys (multi-layer paint, protective varnish, sometimes flocking or gilding), (3) genuine collector value — 1000% Bearbricks and limited drops constitute one of the most liquid secondary markets in contemporary art, comparable to historic Supreme drops.

The standout pieces of the collection

The Medicom collection at MTHOR brings together the most coveted drops from the Tokyo house. On the Bearbrick side, you'll find the Bearbrick Medicom Toy 25th Anniversary 100% & 400% Set Gold Chrome celebrating the 25 years of the house with a unique chrome-gold finish, the collab drops Bearbrick BAIT x Medicom TMNT Scratch 100% & 400% Set (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), BAIT x Medicom x Sriracha 100% & 400% Set Red (the legendary hot sauce), Bearbrick MEDICOM FAZE CLAN 1000% (the American esports house in giant 70 cm format) and the highly chased Bearbrick x Medicom Black Hearts 1000%.

On the MAFEX (Medicom Action Figure EX) side, the collection covers the most iconic pop culture drops: The Boys MAFEX No.151 Homelander from the Amazon series, Marvel Avengers Endgame Iron Spider No.121, Marvel Spider-Man Far From Home Stealth Suit No.125. Anime fans will find the Super Action Statue JoJo's Bizarre Adventure Part 3 Stardust Crusaders Dio Brando Awakening Version in signature black & yellow finish. The VCD are represented by the Medicom x fragment design VCD Doraemon Figure (collab with Hiroshi Fujiwara), the VCD Phantom Of The Paradise Phantom and the Medicom The Beatles Apple Colour Version Figure Green. The Kubrick are represented by the Kubrick To-Fu Oyako 400% Set Blue Red. On the premium Medicom collab side, you'll find the Undercover x Medicom Hamburger Lamp and the Undercover x Medicom Toy Gilapple Clock Red (with Jun Takahashi), the Monster Hunter x Medicom Lao-Shan Lung Figure Red, the Medicom x Dreamworks x SWITCH Collectibles x Felix the Cat Slugger, and the KAWS x Medicom Bus Stop Series Volume 2 Vinyl Toy Black/Blue bridging contemporary art. For sneakerheads, the collection includes the SB Dunk Low BE@RBRICK Medicom Toy and the Nike SB Blazer Low Medicom Toy (2020), two official Nike SB pairs whose silhouette integrates the Medicom signature. Plus the Medicom Toy 25th Anniversary Manual Volume IV, the reference book for collectors.

Why buy your Medicom at MTHOR

MTHOR Shop specialises in the sale of authenticated objects. Every piece in our Medicom collection goes through a rigorous quality control led by our team of experts: we check the consistency of the original Medicom box and the serial label, the ABS plastic / PVC vinyl material, smell, stitching for plush variants, shape and articulations, as well as the accessories — particularly the Medicom Toy authenticity certificate, the drop hangtag and the moulded internal packaging. For the deepest verifications on 1000% Bearbricks and the most counterfeited drops (KAWS, Bape, FAZE CLAN), we rely on specialised tools such as the UV lamp or the microscope, indispensable to verify paint alignment, screen-print quality and finish fidelity to the official drop. Every order ships with a seal, a tangible guarantee that quality control was performed and authenticity validated. Learn more about our authentication process.

We offer worldwide signed-for home delivery in 2 to 8 days, with real-time tracking via email and WhatsApp, 4x interest-free payment via Klarna or Scalapay, and a France-based customer service available Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. Should anything go wrong, our 14-day return policy has you covered. No customs fees on your end: MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes, regardless of your destination.

FAQ — Medicom at MTHOR

How can I verify the authenticity of a Medicom?

Every piece sold on MTHOR has been authenticated by our team of experts before shipment. We control the original Medicom box (which must show the official logo and the serial number), the inner label with the Japan barcode, the ABS plastic quality (genuine Medicom have a characteristic matte feel), the 9-point articulations (smooth rotation without cracking), the paint precision (perfect alignment, no smudges), and the Medicom Toy authenticity certificate shipped with official drops. For Bearbrick KAWS, Bape and other ultra-counterfeited collabs, we use UV lamp and microscope. The piece is then sealed before shipment: if the seal is intact upon receipt, you have the guarantee no tampering took place. Full details here.

What size is a Bearbrick 100%, 400%, 1000%?

Bearbricks come in five standardised sizes at Medicom: 50% (3.5 cm) — the mini keychain size, 70% (5 cm) — rare pocket figurine, 100% (7 cm) — the most collected base size, 400% (28 cm) — the ideal display shelf size, 1000% (70 cm) — the giant statement piece version. The 100% & 400% sets group both sizes in a single box, the most common format for collab drops. The 1000% is a premium indoor display object, sold standalone, often weighing more than 5 kg.

What is a Bearbrick exactly?

The Bearbrick (stylised BE@RBRICK) is the signature figurine of Medicom Toy launched in May 2001. It's a stylised bear silhouette with 9 articulation points (head, shoulders, elbows, hips, waist) that serves as a canvas for collaborations with brands, artists and pop culture licences. More than 3,000 models have been produced since 2001, making the Bearbrick one of the most collected designer toys in the world, at the crossroads of toy, artwork and design object.

What box does my Medicom piece ship with?

You receive the original Medicom Toy box specific to the drop, with its particular design (varies depending on the series: rigid cardboard for Bearbrick, rigid blister for MAFEX, window box for VCD and Kubrick, premium packaging for anniversary sets), the Medicom authenticity certificate with serial number, the drop hangtag with date and licence, and all original accessories. For MAFEX, you also receive the interchangeable hands and accessories specific to each figurine (different pose hands, weapons, translucent effects). Everything ships in an MTHOR overpack to protect the box during transport — the Medicom box itself being a collector item for vintage and anniversary drops.

What's the delivery time?

We ship worldwide, with signed-for home delivery in 2 to 8 days. You get real-time tracking via email and WhatsApp, no matter your destination.

Will I have to pay customs fees?

No, you won't pay any customs fees. MTHOR covers all customs duties and taxes, regardless of your destination worldwide. The price you see on the site is the final price you pay: no nasty surprises on delivery.

Can I return my Medicom if I'm not satisfied?

Yes. You have 14 days from receipt to return your piece, provided it's in original condition (never unboxed, intact box, seal not removed, certificate and hangtag present, complete accessories). Refunds are processed within 24 hours of receiving the return.

Going further

Discover also our MSCHF, Streetwear and Nike collections. To learn everything about the quality of our pieces, check out our detailed authentication process or our guide How to recognize a real pair of sneakers.