Figures and Merch
Since its debut in 2001, Medicom Toy's BE@RBRICK line has cultivated a reputation as a highly valuable designer toy brand. Derived from the company's Kubrick line, BE@RBRICK figures are simplified, anthropomorphic bear models with nine points of articulation. The figure form remains consistent while designs featuring patterns, graphic prints, or character renderings are painting on top. In this way, the BE@RBRICK figure functions as a canvas showcasing unique designs and artist creations. BE@RBRICK creates figures representing a wide range of high art designs and pop culture icons.
Series Collections
BE@RBRICK's signature product launch involves a blind box, randomly selected product from a set of figures. The brand calls these collections "Series." Each series contains at least one figure representing a certain theme. Themes include visually determined figures such as the basic, pattern, and jellybean themes and more iconically recognizable themes. These iconic themes include categories like SF, figures from popular science fiction titles. The newest category, the Hero group, was introduced in series 21 to depict DC Comics characters. The Artist category features a special design from a guest artist or brand designer.
Medicom Toy launches two series per year, the first in June and the second in December. Each series contains 18 figures. Each category entry appears in the blind box distribution at a set rate, creating set rarity values for certain figures. For example, each series blind box has a roughly 11% chance of containing a pattern figure and a 1% chance for a secondary artist figure. As a result, the secondary artist figures, produced in smaller quantities, become more valuable. Not all figures from each series are mentioned in announcements or advertisements. These hidden "chase" figures are considered the most valuable by collectors. Most figures from a series launch are re-released as a solo figure at a later date. The series launches from anniversary years tend to include high-profile collaborations, new brand partnerships, or new themes in the BE@RBRICK line.
Collaborations
The BE@RBRICK line garnered the most fame from the brand's popular and high-profile collaborations. Collaboration figures involve both works from a guest artist or designer and advertising style merchandise agreements.
BE@RBRICK first gained attention by contracting design collaborations with contemporary artists. The line's collaboration with KAWS starting in 2002 resulted in a massive boom in popularity. As a result, BE@RBRICK gained legitimacy as a merchandise partner for future deals with artists around the world. Along with big names, such as Pushead and Vivienne Westwood, the brand provided a valuable platform for upcoming indie artists. BE@RBRICK also launches figures on an irregular schedule in promotional collaborations with other brands. These off-schedule launches usually tie-in with movie premieres or packaged Blu-ray releases, such as the One Cut of the Dead special edition figure.
NY@BRICK and R@BBRICK Variations
BE@RBRICK introduced variations on the traditional bear-shaped figure to include other animal designs. As of 2021, the main variations include the bunny-shaped RABBRICK figures and cat-shaped NY@BRICK line.
R@BRRICK
The first R@BBRICK figures came out in July 2015. R@BBRICKs follow slightly different proportion guidelines than BE@RBRICK figures to balance their heavier heads. The R@BBRICK figures stand taller than their BE@RBRICK counterparts. Standard size R@BBRICKS stand at 80mm tall compared to the 70mm BE@RBRICK height. The 400% size R@BBRICK is significantly taller than the BE@RBRICK version at 320mm rather than 280mm. After its debut chrome line, the R@BBRICK figure featured largely in holiday celebrations, such as Valentine's Day and Easter. Since then, the line has expanded to include popular rabbit characters and designer collaborations.
NY@BRICK
NY@BRICK's model follows the same proportion guidelines as the BE@RBRICK model with triangular cat-like ears rather than rounded ones. The standard size NY@BRICK is 5mm smaller than the standard BE@RBRICK. The 400% size version similarly stands 10mm shorter than the BE@RBRICK version. As of 2021, there are no NY@BRICK figures available in the 1000% size. The first NY@BRICK figures were launched in 2016 in part of BE@RBRICK's 15th-anniversary celebration. This collection featured a special three-way collaboration with guest artists and musicians for special multimedia releases. Japanese rock band CYBER NEW NEW released most of the collaboration's music in promotion of their comeback studio album. The model continued as a BE@RBRICK staple, depicting popular cat-like characters such as Hello Kitty and the Maneki-neko.