An action figure is a posable character figurine, made of plastic or other materials, and often based upon characters from a film, comic book, video game, or television program. These action figures are usually marketed towards boys and adult collectors. Redressable action figures are sometimes called action dolls to distinguish them from those with all or most of the clothes molded on.
It is argued that action figures are particularly popular with boys because they represent traditional masculine traits and are closely associated with the public sphere. While most commonly marketed as a children's toy, the action figure has gained wide acceptance as an adult collector item. In such a case, the item may be produced and designed on the assumption it will be bought solely for display.
Famous quotes containing the words action and/or figure:
“The beginning, middle, and end of the birth, growth, and perfection of whatever we behold is from contraries, by contraries, and to contraries; and whatever contrarity is, there is action and reaction, there is motion, diversity, multitude, and order, there are degrees, succession and vicissitude.”
—Giordano Bruno (1548–1600)
“The mind is a strange and wonderful thing. I’m not sure it’ll ever be able to figure itself out. Everything else, maybe, from the atom to the universe, everything except itself.”
—Daniel Mainwaring (1902–1977)