What Is Superplastic
Superplastic is a San Francisco-based company that develops original vinyl characters with deep narrative backstories and partners with established artists for limited-edition releases. The two flagship characters are Janky, a stylized cartoon cat figure, and Guggimon, a horror-inflected rabbit character whose visual identity borrows from fashion and streetwear aesthetics. Both characters have substantial social media followings independent of any single toy release, which creates a consumer base that exists before any specific figure ships. This audience-first approach distinguishes Superplastic from traditional toy companies that build audience through products rather than building products for an existing audience.
The Edition System: Open vs. Limited
Superplastic releases fall into two distinct categories that carry very different secondary market dynamics. Open-edition releases — the standard Janky and Guggimon colorways sold through the Superplastic website and retail partners — are produced in quantities sufficient to meet demand. These do not appreciate meaningfully on the secondary market because supply matches collector interest. Limited-edition artist-collaboration releases are the collectible tier: specific artist partnerships produce numbered editions with defined production runs, and these are the pieces that appear on secondary market platforms at premiums over retail.
Which Collaborations Hold Value
The pattern that holds across designer toys broadly also applies to Superplastic: established artist collaborations outperform brand collaborations, which outperform standard releases. Artist collaborations that have demonstrated strong secondary market performance share a common characteristic — the collaborating artist has an independent auction or gallery market that creates demand from fine art collectors in addition to toy collectors. As Superplastic has grown its artist collaboration program, the tier system has become more pronounced:
- Collaborations with artists who have gallery or auction market presence: strongest secondary market performance
- Collaborations with fashion and streetwear brands with loyal followings: moderate secondary market performance, dependent on brand relevance
- Standard character releases and seasonal colorways: minimal secondary market premium
Superplastic vs. KAWS and BE@RBRICK: The Tier Comparison
Understanding where Superplastic sits relative to KAWS and BE@RBRICK in the collector market is important for setting realistic expectations. KAWS and Medicom Toy (BE@RBRICK) have two to three decades of documented secondary market history, established auction house presence, and collector bases that span fine art and toy collecting. Superplastic is building toward a similar position from a younger foundation. The practical implication: Superplastic offers a lower entry price point with higher upside potential relative to more established names, but also higher uncertainty. The volatility of returns in emerging market segments is greater in both directions.
Authentication for Superplastic
The Superplastic market is newer and has less third-party authentication infrastructure than the KAWS or BE@RBRICK markets. No major specialist authentication service focuses exclusively on Superplastic releases at this writing. Buyers should focus on:
- Packaging integrity: Authentic Superplastic figures come in branded packaging with consistent printing quality. Examine packaging for print quality, correct logo placement, and proper seal integrity.
- Figure material quality: Authentic figures use consistent vinyl formulations. Counterfeits in this market segment are less sophisticated than KAWS fakes but do appear on informal channels.
- Purchase channel: The cleanest authentication path for Superplastic is purchase from authorized retailers or directly from Superplastic. Secondary market purchases from established platforms with buyer protection are preferable to informal channels.
- COA for limited editions: Artist-collaboration limited editions typically include certificates of authenticity. Verify that COA format matches the documented release specifications.
Our Superplastic Holdings
We carry select Superplastic limited-edition releases, with a focus on the artist-collaboration tier that has demonstrated secondary market interest. Every piece we list is evaluated for packaging integrity and edition documentation. We describe the specific collaboration and edition details in every listing so buyers can make informed decisions.
Browse our Superplastic and designer toy collection at gauntlet.gallery/collections/figurines.
