What Is a Nendoroid?

Last reviewed 17 September 2026

A Nendoroid is a roughly 10 cm chibi-proportioned figure made by Good Smile Company, distinguished by its interchangeable parts: each one ships with several swappable face plates, hands and accessories so a single figure can be posed and re-expressed. The line has run since 2006 and is numbered sequentially, and parts are broadly compatible across it.

What makes a Nendoroid a Nendoroid

Chibi proportions — an oversized head on a small body, at roughly 10 cm tall.
Interchangeable face plates, typically two or three per release, covering different expressions.
Swappable hands, arms, legs and hair parts, plus character-specific accessories.
A clear articulated stand with an arm, so the figure can be posed in mid-air.
A sequential release number, so collectors refer to them by number as well as name.

Nendoroid, figma and Nendoroid Doll

Line	What it is
Nendoroid	Chibi-proportioned, around 10 cm, swappable faces and parts. The core line.
figma	Also Good Smile, but realistically proportioned and fully articulated at roughly 1/12 scale. An action figure rather than a chibi one.
Nendoroid Doll	Nendoroid heads on a soft-bodied, cloth-dressed frame. Outfits are actual fabric and can be changed between dolls.
Nendoroid More	Accessory sets — alternative bases, outfits and parts — sold separately to use with the main line.

Why collectors like them

Two reasons, and they are practical rather than aesthetic. The first is footprint: at 10 cm a Nendoroid fits a bookshelf, a desk or a cabinet row where a scale figure would not, so a collection can grow without a display problem.

The second is that they are the only mainstream format where one purchase gives you several presentations of the character. Swapping a face plate genuinely changes the piece, which makes a Nendoroid something you interact with rather than only look at.

What to watch for

Small parts. Face plates, hands and accessories are easy to lose, and replacements are not sold individually.
Joint tightness varies between releases, and a loose hip or shoulder limits which poses hold.
The stand arm is release-specific in its fitting, so keep it with the figure.
Price sits above a prize figure and below a retail scale figure — you are paying for the parts count, not for size.

What Is a Nendoroid? — frequently asked questions

How big is a Nendoroid?⌄

Roughly 10 cm tall. Because the proportions are chibi — a large head on a small body — the height is broadly consistent across the line regardless of how tall the character is in the source work.

What is the difference between a Nendoroid and a figma?⌄

Both are Good Smile Company lines. A Nendoroid is chibi-proportioned at about 10 cm with swappable face plates and parts. A figma is realistically proportioned and fully articulated at roughly 1/12 scale — an action figure rather than a stylised one.

Are Nendoroid parts interchangeable between figures?⌄

Largely yes, which is part of the appeal — the joint and face-plate systems are shared across the line, so hands, arms and bases from one Nendoroid usually fit another. Face plates are character-specific in appearance but use the same mounting.

Are Nendoroids good for a first figure?⌄

They are a strong first purchase if desk or shelf space is limited and you want something to handle rather than only display. If you want presence on a shelf, a scale figure or a statue gives you more of that for similar money.