What is the difference between Funko Pop! and Pop Mart?

In the vibrant world of collectible vinyl toys, two names often spark curiosity, debate, and excitement among collectors: Funko Pop! and Pop Mart. Both brands have built dedicated global fanbases, yet their approaches to design, packaging, and collector engagement differ in significant ways. Whether you are a seasoned collector looking for that rare or special piece or just starting to step into the world of designer toys, understanding the differences between these two popular brands can help you decide where to start – or where your collection is going to expand next!

The Origins and Core Focus

Funko Pop!

Funko was founded in 1998 and initially made waves with bobbleheads before launching its now-iconic Funko Pop! vinyl figures in 2010. These figures are known for their distinctive “chibi” style with oversized heads, small bodies, and minimal facial features, these core features remain consistent across nearly all products. This uniformity of design makes Funko figurines instantly recognizable, whether it is a Marvel superhero, a TV sitcom character, or a classic cartoon icon.

Funko’s greatest strength lies in licensing and the company holds rights to thousands of popular franchises—from Disney and Star Wars to Pokemon, NBA, and Hello Kitty.  Funko can quickly produce figures that align with current pop culture trends, offering fans instant gratification and the ability to represent their favorite characters on their shelves.

Pop Mart

Founded in Beijing in 2010, Pop Mart has taken another path, and collaborates with emerging and established artists to create original, often whimsical, characters like Molly, The Monsters, and Dimoo. Each character line is very artistic, filled with emotion, and tied to specific themes such as dreams.

So a Funko collection is built around popular, well-known characters and features familiar faces, where Pop Mart introduces new unique characters and worlds that are not found in other formats but have a rich narrative.

Style and Aesthetic

The most immediate and obvious difference between Funko and POP MART is visual.

• Funko Pop! figures follow a uniform design: similar body proportions, black round eyes, and minimal facial expression. While the accessories, outfits, and hairstyles differ, the base structure remains consistent across all characters meaning you can mix and match your favourite characters from TV, Sport and Film and personalise your collection.

• Pop Mart toys are mini art sculptures. Each collection has its own aesthetic and design language. For instance, Molly often has a dreamy, wide-eyed look with a touch of attitude. Each figure is a miniature piece of art.

These characteristics mean Pop Mart has strong appeal to art and design enthusiasts, where Funko targets mainstream pop culture fans.

Packaging and Experience

The packaging and un-boxing experience is another key difference between the 2 brands.

• Funko Pop! figures typically come in windowed boxes that show exactly what you are buying. This appeals to display collectors who may not even open the box, preserving the item’s condition and resale value.  The boxes often feature co-ordinating artwork that enhance the figure and help identify series within the collection.  Funko Pop can also include ‘chase’ options where a rare character in a series comes with a different outfit colouring or a special effect, these rare options are often highly sought after by collectors.

• Pop Mart embraces the “blind box” concept so you never know which figure you are buying until you open it. Each collection usually contains 12 standard figures and 1–2 “secret” figures, which are much rarer and highly sought after.

These approaches add a thrill to the collecting experience, turning each purchase into a mini surprise and encouraging trading among fans.

Community and Engagement

Both brands have cultivated strong communities, but they engage fans in different ways.

• Funko’s Fan Culture: Funko fans often engage through large-scale conventions like Funko Fair or San Diego Comic-Con exclusives, where limited edition figures are released. There is also a huge resale market, with rare Pops fetching high prices online. Many fans are completists, aiming to collect every version of a character or entire franchise sets.
• Pop Mart’s Creative Community: Pop Mart is a more immersive approach and look to launch flagship stores in major cities, organised exhibitions, and even open Roboshops, automated vending machines for blind boxes, like the one featured in The Entertainer at Bluewater.

Which is Right for You?

Choosing between Funko Pop! and POP MART depends on what you are looking for as a collector.

• If you love pop culture, enjoy seeing your favorite movie or TV characters immortalised in vinyl, and want a consistent look for your display the Funko Pop! is your go-to with Bitty Pop! being a great way to collect in miniature.

• If you are drawn to art, creativity, and love discovering new characters in a blind box unboxing experience, Pop Mart offers something imaginative and expressive to collect.

In the end, both brands offer joy in their own ways. Whether you are team Funko or team Pop Mart – or both – you will be part of a global movement that celebrates the artistry, nostalgia, and fun of collectible toys.

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