How Do You Rate/Tier The Toy Makers?

[Over9K]

I see the pvc dinosaur toy/figure hobby as two columns, Science and Pop Culture, with tiers in each column. Tier placement isn't about the company per se, more about the expectation when a figure is purchased. Upper tier makers are expected to deliver quality, accuracy to either the science, or the source material, and quality control in the final product. As you go down tiers, these expectations are lowered. It's also not about how many figures a maker makes, purely the qualities of the figures produced.

In the Science Column, Top Tier is HLG, PNSO, EoFauna and Mesozoic Life Project with the hopes their Carchardontosaurus comes to fruition. Second Tier is Safari, CollectA, TNG. Third tier is RECUR, which I want to put in 2nd tier, but it's just not there yet, Mojo, Schleich and Kaiyodo, which makes beautiful dinosaurs, but are 20 years out of date, and Bandai, which is 30 years out of date.

Pop Culture Top Tier is Nanmu (which may be leaving the PVC figure genre for the articulated vinyl action figure genre) and W-Dragon and X-Plus/Star Ace, which has made some beautiful Harryhausen dinosaurs, with more hopefully on the way. Too bad their scientifically aimed products aren't nearly as good. Second tier is DinoDream, i-Toy, REBOR and Papo. I'm giving Papo a lift here, but truth be told, when they are rising to their potential, Papo's dinosaurs are totally equal to any other in 2nd Tier, at a significantly lower price point, but also a step down in size/scale. Papo has had some real ugly offerings in the recent past, but their newest stuff looks to be a return of the good stuff. Third Tier is really the domain of the knock-offs, so many of the figures being offered here are derivative of others. 

I'm sure I missed all kinds of makers, and I am specifically not rating Showanna, because their first PVC offering has yet to reach collector hands in any meaningful way.

What's your tier list, top10, or family tree of dinosaur toy makers look like?

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

I consider quality, accuracy (for the time), aesthetic, time period, and how long I've been collecting them/personal nostalgia.

Highest tier are the main museum lines: Carnegie and Battat.

Second tier is Safari and Invicta

Third, or middle tier would be most other manufacturers: Papo, CollectA, Bullyland, Marx, SRG Old Schleich... Not bad, but by-and-large average.

Fourth: New Schleich

Fifth: stuff I don't collect: Rebor, Mojo (only taking prehistorics into consideration), PNSO, HLG, among others.

Not sure where I'd rank the pop culture stuff since the only articulated action figures I collect are Jurassic Park, so it would be between nostalgia (Kenner and Hasbro) or film accuracy (Mattel). I would be inclined to put the latter above the former if I'm just comparing the best examples of film species, but overall, I would put Kenner/Hasbro on top.

[Turkeysaurus]

I rate their Artistry & Accuracy average. I collect if both them are highly rated. Art: Sculpture, fine details, pose Paintjob, colors etc. Accuracy: Scientifically accurate enough for my standards.

TIER LIST:

Tier 1: PNSO
Tier 2: Haolonggood, Rebor, Showanna , BOTM
Tier 3: Eofauna
Tier 4: Papo , Safari ltd. , Collecta , TNG
Tier 5: schleich ?

WINNER: PNSO has highest standards for their artistry & scientific accuracy.

Both Haolonggood & Rebor has special place for me as well.
Haolonggood: 1:35 large sauropods & prices.
Rebor: Innovation (Detachable body parts, odd but fun products ) & low shipping price.
Too early tell for Showanna but they seem to have same level artistry & accuracy.

I don't collect action figures but it's undeniable BOTM has great artistry & accuracy. Only reason it's in tier 2, some of their painting style has high artistry but low accuracy.

Something like Nanmu is also top tier as well but i label Jurassic Park/World stuff as movie toys.