Making Funko Fun Again: Ideas for Limited Drops, LE Innovation & Fairness

[PopPChulo]

Hey there,

Many of you know me. I’ve been dropping ideas here for years. (Literally, years ).

I wanted to share some thoughts on where Funko has been winning lately — and a few ideas that could take things even further. Limited Edition pieces have clearly brought new life to collecting, and I think there’s a real opportunity to build on that momentum.

1. Limited Drops Are the Future

Every recent LE drop has been moving fast. Even with people complaining, plenty of us have still hit multiple drops manually. The demand is obviously there, and the hype is real. Leaning further into LE pieces only strengthens the long-term collectibility and excitement around the brand.

2. Hyper-Limited Lottery Releases

A system where collectors apply for a chance to buy a hyper-limited piece (say, an LE 100) would be incredible. It keeps things fair, reduces bot activity, and makes the chase more thrilling. Even if only 100 people win the opportunity, the entire community gets to participate.

3. Every Line Should Include at Least One LE Piece

No matter the category — movies, anime, ad icons, games — having at least one limited piece per line boosts engagement and gives completionists something special to chase.

4. Bring Back Shock Drops (But With LE Pieces)

Remember when you’d be out living life and suddenly see an Ad Icon shock drop? That feeling was unmatched.
Shock drops of true LE items would bring that excitement back instantly. They drive engagement, feel fairer, and reward real-time fans just being part of the community.

5. Anime Numbered Pieces → More, Please

Anime LEs have been extremely popular, and many of us would love to see more legendary, numbered anime drops. It’s the main line a lot of us collect, and the demand speaks for itself.

Also — timed releases should show the final LE count. If 7,200 people order it, put a 7,200 LE sticker on it. Simple, transparent, collectible.

6. “Chase Inception” — Three-Tier Chase System

The idea of chases within an LE count is genius and could go even further.
Imagine a drop like:
• LE 9,500 (base)
• Chase: LE 1,200
• Hyper Chase: LE 100

Everyone gets a fair shot, but the thrill and value of collecting go through the roof. This would be one of the most exciting innovations Funko could introduce.

7. Convention 1-of-1s & Blind Boxes

Conventions only happen a few times a year — perfect place for hyper rare drops.
• Blind box format = fair chance for everyone
• The Flash LE 100 was a great start
• Imagine 1-of-1s or LE 100s in themed blind boxes each con

To spread the love across fandoms:
Con 1: Anime, Movies, TV
Next Con: Marvel, DC, Sports
…and so on.
Funko has the licenses to execute this beautifully.

8. Collectibility Should Stay the Focus

A lot of longtime collectors are only picking up limited pieces now — partly to preserve space, partly because that’s where the real collecting thrill still lives. Offering both mass-available and truly limited items keeps everyone satisfied.

⸻

Final Thought

Funko’s move toward limited pieces and chase pieces has been one of the most positive shifts in years. There’s a real lane here to make collecting fun, fair, and exciting again — and these ideas could take things to the next level.

[jmosh42]

I definitely agree on the hyper limited portion of it. A big issue has been overproduction but realistically how many super limited pops (different molds) can funko make and still keep a low production cost to satisfy shareholders? There would have to be tough financial choices made for the sake of the collector.

Blind box format like the recent DC mystery pops at NYCC are such a great idea and brought a lot of excitement back imo. I agree expanding on that would definitely help, especially with certain categories like anime. You could even keep the same mold in some cases and change the colors / blacklight, etc. if you want to be cost effective.

[icemanfan44]

bring back Funko Board exclusives. Reward the faithful!

[ghost_yamasaki]

Hey there,

Many of you know me. I’ve been dropping ideas here for years. (Literally, years ).

I wanted to share some thoughts on where Funko has been winning lately — and a few ideas that could take things even further. Limited Edition pieces have clearly brought new life to collecting, and I think there’s a real opportunity to build on that momentum.

1. Limited Drops Are the Future

Every recent LE drop has been moving fast. Even with people complaining, plenty of us have still hit multiple drops manually. The demand is obviously there, and the hype is real. Leaning further into LE pieces only strengthens the long-term collectibility and excitement around the brand.

2. Hyper-Limited Lottery Releases

A system where collectors apply for a chance to buy a hyper-limited piece (say, an LE 100) would be incredible. It keeps things fair, reduces bot activity, and makes the chase more thrilling. Even if only 100 people win the opportunity, the entire community gets to participate.

3. Every Line Should Include at Least One LE Piece

No matter the category — movies, anime, ad icons, games — having at least one limited piece per line boosts engagement and gives completionists something special to chase.

4. Bring Back Shock Drops (But With LE Pieces)

Remember when you’d be out living life and suddenly see an Ad Icon shock drop? That feeling was unmatched.
Shock drops of true LE items would bring that excitement back instantly. They drive engagement, feel fairer, and reward real-time fans just being part of the community.

5. Anime Numbered Pieces → More, Please

Anime LEs have been extremely popular, and many of us would love to see more legendary, numbered anime drops. It’s the main line a lot of us collect, and the demand speaks for itself.

Also — timed releases should show the final LE count. If 7,200 people order it, put a 7,200 LE sticker on it. Simple, transparent, collectible.

6. “Chase Inception” — Three-Tier Chase System

The idea of chases within an LE count is genius and could go even further.
Imagine a drop like:
• LE 9,500 (base)
• Chase: LE 1,200
• Hyper Chase: LE 100

Everyone gets a fair shot, but the thrill and value of collecting go through the roof. This would be one of the most exciting innovations Funko could introduce.

7. Convention 1-of-1s & Blind Boxes

Conventions only happen a few times a year — perfect place for hyper rare drops.
• Blind box format = fair chance for everyone
• The Flash LE 100 was a great start
• Imagine 1-of-1s or LE 100s in themed blind boxes each con

To spread the love across fandoms:
Con 1: Anime, Movies, TV
Next Con: Marvel, DC, Sports
…and so on.
Funko has the licenses to execute this beautifully.

8. Collectibility Should Stay the Focus

A lot of longtime collectors are only picking up limited pieces now — partly to preserve space, partly because that’s where the real collecting thrill still lives. Offering both mass-available and truly limited items keeps everyone satisfied.

⸻

Final Thought

Funko’s move toward limited pieces and chase pieces has been one of the most positive shifts in years. There’s a real lane here to make collecting fun, fair, and exciting again — and these ideas could take things to the next level.

Best post I’ve seen in a while.

[PopPChulo]

I definitely agree on the hyper limited portion of it. A big issue has been overproduction but realistically how many super limited pops (different molds) can funko make and still keep a low production cost to satisfy shareholders? There would have to be tough financial choices made for the sake of the collector.

Blind box format like the recent DC mystery pops at NYCC are such a great idea and brought a lot of excitement back imo. I agree expanding on that would definitely help, especially with certain categories like anime. You could even keep the same mold in some cases and change the colors / blacklight, etc. if you want to be cost effective.

Well you know, the fan base has always been split & yes share holders are a thing as well.. but if you go and study brands that have preservered through the ages and done really well, you will find that the limited aspect is present in some way AS WELL as the readily available content. I think limited drops should have always been a thing because hype drives sustainability. One brand that comes to mind when I think of this concept is Supreme.

To this day, when they release bogo hoodies it sells out and even some of there general pieces sell out quickly BECAUSE it’s limited. They also have general releases that pretty much are available from every drop but the hot pieces sell out almost immediately.

To directly answer your question, the ability to make limited pieces is almost infinite. There can always be alterations, different stylized versions, off shots of random characters or references to specific scenes in any license. I actually was confused why this wasn’t happening when I first started collecting. When you released numbered pieces or even timed releases, it’s a reward for the folks collecting at that time.

The way I look at it is if they are going to make 100 Variants of Stitch (which we literally have seen taking place), why wouldn’t you make a few limited variants and sprinkle them in the line so 10 years later, the person that was collecting at that time and held on to it has options. If you show your friends your stitch collection, it’s an awesome conversation piece and shows you’ve been at it for a while.

If you’re a new collector, it shows you’re a completionist. If you outgrow it, it gives you the option to sell and help out another collector who needs it & really help you if you’re in a spot where you need it.

I just constantly think and have always thought the pros far out weigh the cons & to create hype; this should always be the angle. When I first began collecting, December was one of the most exciting times of the year to be a Funko funatic. Any old funatic will tell you about the 12 days of Christmas where Funko released a peice every day and they would be super hard to get. Some would be limited, some not but you’d wake up every day on the site not knowing what it was till it dropped and not even knowing if it’s numbered or not so you’d have to be quick on the draw. It services all crowds because if your a collector, your going to snipe cause it’s what you collect and you don’t care if it’s numbered or not but if it is; it’s a sweet suprise (some of these you wouldn’t even know were numbered until it’s in hand, which I think is also an awesome concept to bring back). If it was numbered, then both sides of the fence would go for it. Yes you’d strike out on some. Yes it was aggravating but the overall feeling is it was fun. It was fun to ask a friend, “did you get it?”. To attain a pc that was considered “hard to get” was exciting.

I guess I’m explaining all this to give people a comprehensive view from someone who has been collecting this literally for 10+ years. If you end up following Funko for as long as I have, you’ll also quickly realize that space will become an issue at some point no matter who you are. This even further cements the need for limited pieces because if I need to make space, it’s easily able to be traded or sold for me to procure others or things I’d like to add. Assets that are limited are much easier to trade than something that’s available 24/7.

[PopPChulo]

Hey there,

Many of you know me. I’ve been dropping ideas here for years. (Literally, years ).

I wanted to share some thoughts on where Funko has been winning lately — and a few ideas that could take things even further. Limited Edition pieces have clearly brought new life to collecting, and I think there’s a real opportunity to build on that momentum.

1. Limited Drops Are the Future

Every recent LE drop has been moving fast. Even with people complaining, plenty of us have still hit multiple drops manually. The demand is obviously there, and the hype is real. Leaning further into LE pieces only strengthens the long-term collectibility and excitement around the brand.

2. Hyper-Limited Lottery Releases

A system where collectors apply for a chance to buy a hyper-limited piece (say, an LE 100) would be incredible. It keeps things fair, reduces bot activity, and makes the chase more thrilling. Even if only 100 people win the opportunity, the entire community gets to participate.

3. Every Line Should Include at Least One LE Piece

No matter the category — movies, anime, ad icons, games — having at least one limited piece per line boosts engagement and gives completionists something special to chase.

4. Bring Back Shock Drops (But With LE Pieces)

Remember when you’d be out living life and suddenly see an Ad Icon shock drop? That feeling was unmatched.
Shock drops of true LE items would bring that excitement back instantly. They drive engagement, feel fairer, and reward real-time fans just being part of the community.

5. Anime Numbered Pieces → More, Please

Anime LEs have been extremely popular, and many of us would love to see more legendary, numbered anime drops. It’s the main line a lot of us collect, and the demand speaks for itself.

Also — timed releases should show the final LE count. If 7,200 people order it, put a 7,200 LE sticker on it. Simple, transparent, collectible.

6. “Chase Inception” — Three-Tier Chase System

The idea of chases within an LE count is genius and could go even further.
Imagine a drop like:
• LE 9,500 (base)
• Chase: LE 1,200
• Hyper Chase: LE 100

Everyone gets a fair shot, but the thrill and value of collecting go through the roof. This would be one of the most exciting innovations Funko could introduce.

7. Convention 1-of-1s & Blind Boxes

Conventions only happen a few times a year — perfect place for hyper rare drops.
• Blind box format = fair chance for everyone
• The Flash LE 100 was a great start
• Imagine 1-of-1s or LE 100s in themed blind boxes each con

To spread the love across fandoms:
Con 1: Anime, Movies, TV
Next Con: Marvel, DC, Sports
…and so on.
Funko has the licenses to execute this beautifully.

8. Collectibility Should Stay the Focus

A lot of longtime collectors are only picking up limited pieces now — partly to preserve space, partly because that’s where the real collecting thrill still lives. Offering both mass-available and truly limited items keeps everyone satisfied.

⸻

Final Thought

Funko’s move toward limited pieces and chase pieces has been one of the most positive shifts in years. There’s a real lane here to make collecting fun, fair, and exciting again — and these ideas could take things to the next level.

Best post I’ve seen in a while.

Thank you kindly, I just want to give idea to the universe and hopefully it lands on the right persons desk to allow us to sustain for years to come as a community and as a brand.

[sealordbrian]

Those are all rock solid ideas. Fully behind them all.

[DrunkoPop]

Am I the only one here anxiously waiting for Krang to drop again?

[ghost_yamasaki]

Am I the only one here anxiously waiting for Krang to drop again?

No,sir! I neeeeeeed.

[geekygent78]

I’ve been collecting for awhile now and have been to a ton of conventions. I’ve seen people do some crazy things to get their hands on some of the pops, crazy things! I like the idea of limited pieces and have seen the surge and excitement of LE rejuvenate the people’s excitement back to the hobby. I will say Funko needs to figure out how to prevent bots during their drops to give people an opportunity to get their hands on one without having to purchase pops to gain points to enter the LE drops. Keep the LE coming!

[Rxiempire]

I like the idea and I'm all for LE pops and 500 count and lower for con pops 1 at every con would be awesome

[ghost_yamasaki]

I’ve been collecting for awhile now and have been to a ton of conventions. I’ve seen people do some crazy things to get their hands on some of the pops, crazy things! I like the idea of limited pieces and have seen the surge and excitement of LE rejuvenate the people’s excitement back to the hobby. I will say Funko needs to figure out how to prevent bots during their drops to give people an opportunity to get their hands on one without having to purchase pops to gain points to enter the LE drops. Keep the LE coming!

Bots will always be an issue. For a company struggling with profit, it makes less sense for them to spend hundreds of thousands on bot protection. Maybe even millions. If they’re smart, they release the best LE’s at the con, and drop some online. But, mass producing pops and remakes that nobody cares for and forgetting the fans is what got them into hot water. The entire idea was that pops were limited. They didn’t redo stuff over and over.

[PopPChulo]

I’ve been collecting for awhile now and have been to a ton of conventions. I’ve seen people do some crazy things to get their hands on some of the pops, crazy things! I like the idea of limited pieces and have seen the surge and excitement of LE rejuvenate the people’s excitement back to the hobby. I will say Funko needs to figure out how to prevent bots during their drops to give people an opportunity to get their hands on one without having to purchase pops to gain points to enter the LE drops. Keep the LE coming!

Bots will always be an issue. For a company struggling with profit, it makes less sense for them to spend hundreds of thousands on bot protection. Maybe even millions. If they’re smart, they release the best LE’s at the con, and drop some online. But, mass producing pops and remakes that nobody cares for and forgetting the fans is what got them into hot water. The entire idea was that pops were limited. They didn’t redo stuff over and over.

One thing they could always consider to reward collectors is to have lotteries for aged accounts. For instance if you’ve been a member since a certain date; you can apply for the lottery to get a hyper limited piece. I also think that maybe they should consider open editions that have a high point threshold to enter as well. That cuts back on bots and actually would validate who has high interest in a particular figure genuinely.

[DrunkoPop]

Am I the only one here anxiously waiting for Krang to drop again?

No,sir! I neeeeeeed.

Well that’s what I thought. This was the only exclusive I wanted and look at what happened.