Just a few Japanese companies wading into the action figure market include Kotobukiya's ARTFX, producing a toy line for "Bastard!!!," Bandai, continuing to manufacture "Gundam" material, Banpresto, which developed a figure set for "Cowboy Bebop" and Kaiyodo, boasting "Fist of the North Star" toy releases.

When comparing Kaiyodo toys to McFarlane toys, a debate over the benefits of joint articulation inevitably comes into play. Kaiyodo toys specialize in articulation whereas McFarlane's toys prefer to sacrifice joint articulation in favor of realism. In a bulletin forum on McFarlaneguide.com, one fan laments McFarlane's choice to steer clear from articulation.

"McFarlane, who taught everyone else how it's done, could use a few pointers from Kaiyodo," posts the fan. "McFarlane didn't use to mind making articulated toys, and now it's like they can't stand it." Store clerk Elias from Santa Monica toy store Puzzle Zoo immediately affirms that the McFarlane toys are best sellers. "Look at the detail," Elias points out by way of explanation. However, Elias also notes that the Kaiyodo Vash and the McFarlane Vash are on equal footing and sell about the same, though he personally would pick the Kaiyodo version for its detailed joints.

On the other hand, reviewer Mr. Nash from a "Trigun" action figures review in "The Armchair Empire" praises the McFarlane Toys version of Vash over the Kaiyodo version Nash complements the Kaiyodo version. "Their craftsmanship is very respectable, they have plenty of points of articulation, and the sheer number of accessories that come packed with them are amazing," he says. But, in the end, McFarlane Toys surpasses the competition. "There is quite a bit of detail in both of these action figures, but not nearly as much as the McFarlane Toys anime figures," concludes Nash.

The competition that McFarlane Toys brings to the anime action figure market will only get stiffer.

"McFarlane's 3D Animation from Japan Series II represents the depth and breadth of the anime world with a mix of classic characters and visually striking new properties, including: Akira from 'Akira, Motoko Kusanagi from 'Ghost in the Shell,' Tenchi Masaki from 'Tenchi Muyo,' Naomi Armitage from 'Armitage III' and Soultaker from 'Soultaker'" announces McFarlane Toys in an overview for 2001.

Clearly the "3D Animation from Japan" series is a profitable venture for McFarlane Toys. And as long as McFarlane Toys continues to manufacture realistic representations, they will continue to remain serious competitors for Japanese counterparts like Kaiyodo.