History Main / BlindBagCollectables

[[folder: Individual Brands]]

* The company ''Penny's Box x Antu'' in 2022 released one of the first widespread series of miniature blind box ball-jointed dolls, the ''Nature Secret'' series. The 13-15cm dolls are more costly than the average blind box collectable at about $25 per box. They have plastic removable hair (rather than wigs or rooted brushable hair), removable clothing, and are elastic strung with a large range of joints like their larger counterparts, allowing the same kind of posing; newere dolls also come with exchangable hands. Within a line (or brand) parts can swap along a series (or, rarely between brands); e.g. the plastic wigs from the Nature's series can fit the heads of the "School Haunting" dolls. Series have four to six variants and and often include one to two "hidden" [[RareRandomDrop rarer dolls]] that are harder to find. The concept of mini-blind-box [=BJDs=] has expanded to other brands such as Simon Toys, Lucky Doll, and [=NAGIDoll=].

[[folder: Franchise and Liscenced Products]]

* ''Franchise/{{Lego}}'' Did this with the collectible Toys/LEGOMinifigures line, with an assortment of characters; some inspired by history or fiction, others more random. Most came with some new mold that hadn't been seen in an existing set. As well as generic series, they also had series focused on the GB Olympics, ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Creator/{{Disney}}, German Football, ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGONinjagoMovie'', the ''Film/HarryPotter'' and ''Film/FantasticBeasts'' franchise, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie2TheSecondPart'', ''Franchise/LooneyTunes'' and ''Franchise/TheMuppets''.

In TheNewTens, a new type of toy became popular: the Blind Bag (or Box) Collectable. Blind Bag Collectables are series of toy or figurine sets where the items inside are [[MysteryBox packaged to hide the contents]], meaning [[RandomDrop you don't know what you get inside until you open them]]. The idea [[OlderThanTheyThink has been around since the 1930s]], but the idea really hit it big in the early half of the decade.

The not knowing brings an element of surprise to the sets--what's in the one you just got?--as well as makes them [[GottaCatchEmAll highly addictive]] because it's difficult to complete collections by just buying enough, especially with [[RareRandomDrop some in a series]] that may be harder to find. Though if someone wants to drop enough money to buy a whole box set, they may get all of them except rares. Blind bags are usually small and cheap to buy--no more than $5 in the US--though elaborate ones can cost more as well as those made in markets such as East Asia, wher the figurines can be very elaborate. They're inexpensive to make, but the companies generally make back their money with people buying multiple packages over and over in an attempt to get the ones they want. They're also popular for online unboxing videos, as people don't know what they're getting (even if they buy a whole set, they likely don't know what's in each package individually).

In TheNewTens, a new type of toy became popular: the Blind Bag (or Box). The idea [[OlderThanTheyThink has been around since the 1930s]], but the idea really hit it big in the early half of the decade.

Blind Bag toys are toy sets where the items are [[MysteryBox packaged to hide the contents]], meaning [[RandomDrop you don't know what you get inside until you open them]]. This brings an element of surprise. It also makes them [[GottaCatchEmAll highly addictive]] because it's difficult to complete collections by just buying enough, especially with [[RareRandomDrop some in a series]] that may be harder to find.

Many companies make original Blind Bag toys, but there are also numerous licensed tie-ins. Blind Bags are usually very small and cheap to buy, though some imported and more elaborate ones can cost more. They're inexpensive to make, but they make back their money by people buying over and over in an attempt to get the ones they want. They're also popular for online unboxing videos, as people don't know what they're getting (even if they buy a whole set, they likely don't know what's in each package individually).

* ''Toys/{{Hatchimals}}'': ''Hatchimals'' has a series of blind bag eggs.

* ''Toys/GoGosCrazyBones'', a series of little plastic figures which are primarily made to be used to play games. There are two versions - a 90's version and a 2000's version.
* ''Toys/{{Gormiti}}'' began as a blindbag collectible series.

* ''Toys/{{Hairdorables}}'': A blind box/unboxing series of dolls with cool, unique hairstyles.
* ''Toys/LOLSurprise'': A blind package/unboxing series based on [[JustForFun/XMeetsY pop culture with baby dolls]]. The first of girl-aimed toys to really take off in the era.

* Zuru Toys started in 2019 with Mini-Brands, which are small reproductions of various grocery items. Each ball has five items packaged together, along with potential shelving and shopping carts. Selected ones have special designs such as all-gold or glow in the dark and are harder to find. They later expanded into mini toys, with brands from companies such as Creator/{{Mattel}}, Creator/{{Hasbro}}, various Creator/{{Disney}} brands, and Toys/HotWheels for example.

* The episode "[[Recap/StevenUniverseS1E15OnionTrade Onion Trade]]" from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' features Steven buying out an entire Gacha machine just to get the last Ranger Guy from his collection-- one particular figurine that Onion has but is stingy about trading away. Calamity ensues when Steven starts getting Gem technology mixed up in the trading. In the end, Steven finds out that the missing figure from his collection was the one that Onion originally stole from him in the first place.

* The US has toy vending capsule machines, which have [[OlderThanTheyThink existed since at least the 1930s]]. Small capsules--nowadays of plastic--contain small toys, often things like bouncy balls, plastic bracelets, sticky hands, or little plastic toys. Cost range from a quarter to two dollars and often have flashy items on the front to lure the hopeful kid in, but the toy inside varies in quality.
* The practice of the Blind Box has existed in Japan through the gachapon machines -- the devices that LootBoxes are named after -- since at least the 1960's. There are arcades and an entire section of an airport, filled with nothing but gacha machines; they usually have receptacle bins to allow people to recycle the plastic capsules the prize comes in. After the turn of the millennium, marketing practices spawned from the idea by featuring series of collectibles that comes in packaged boxes. You could buy one blind box, or you could buy the entire package with the promise of getting the complete set; many do not offer this, particularly those only available at special events. Some, such as Music/{{Tsukiuta}}, have started offering these in packs of three, guaranteed to be three different ones, so even if there is no guarantee that you get one of each, there is at least a guarantee that, out of 9, you won't get more than 3 of the same one.
** Some stores offer older collections that are sold separately, bypassing the "Blind" part, and the intent for those having duplicates is for them to trade to each other to complete the collection.

* As part of the expansion of the Toys/RainbowHigh line, blind box packages of shoes and handbags were released; while some were unique, others were rereleased shoes that came on the dolls already.

Blind Bag toys are toy sets where the items are packaged to hide the contents, meaning [[RandomDrop you don't know what you get inside until you open them]]. This brings an element of surprise. It also makes them [[GottaCatchEmAll highly addictive]] because it's difficult to complete collections, especially with [[RareRandomDrop some that may be harder to find]].

Compare LootBoxes, the video game equivalent, and CollectibleCardGame, the trading card game equivalent.

In TheNewTens, a new type of toy became popular: the Blind Bag (or Box). The idea [[OlderThanTheyThink already existed prior to the 2010s]], but the idea really hit it big in the early half of the decade.

Blind Bag toys are toy sets where [[RandomDrop you don't know what you get until you open them]]. This brings an element of surprise to them. It also makes them [[GottaCatchEmAll highly addictive]] because it's difficult to complete collections.

* ''Toys/StarMonsters'': Similar to ''Toys/GoGosCrazyBones'', in that they're little plastic figurines intended for use in their own games.

* While not called blind box, the US has toy vending machines, which have [[OlderThanTheyThink existed since at least the 1930s]]. Small capsules--nowadays of plastic--contain small toys, often things like bouncy balls, plastic bracelets, sticky hands, or little plastic toys. Cost range from a quarter to two dollars and often have flashy items on the front to lure the hopeful kid in, but the toy inside varies in quality.

* The practice of the Blind Box has existed in Japan through the gacha machines -- the devices that LootBoxes are named after -- since at least the 1960's. There are arcades and an entire section of an airport, filled with nothing but gacha machines; they usually have receptacle bins to allow people to recycle the plastic capsules the prize comes in. After the turn of the millennium, marketing practices spawned from the idea by featuring series of collectibles that comes in packaged boxes. You could buy one blind box, or you could buy the entire package with the promise of getting the complete set; many do not offer this, particularly those only available at special events. Some, such as Music/{{Tsukiuta}}, have started offering these in packs of three, guaranteed to be three different ones, so even if there is no guarantee that you get one of each, there is at least a guarantee that, out of 9, you won't get more than 3 of the same one.

!!Brand and Line Examples:
[[folder: Brand and Line Examples]]

* Creator/{{Disney}} has dabbled in this genre quite a few times:
** ''[[Toys/DisneyAnimatorsCollection Disney Animators' Collection]]'': The ''Disney Animators' Collection Littles'' come in pencil-shaped packages that connect together as holders for the toys. They come with toys based off ''Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon'' and feature very basic tutorials on how to draw the characters.
** ''[[Toys/DisneyDLectables Disney D-Lectables]]'': A line of Disney-themed ice cream cone-shaped toys in an ice cream tub-shaped container.
** ''[[Toys/DisneyDoorables Disney 'Doorables]]'': A line consisting of miniature Disney toys that come in door-shaped boxes.
** At the Ride/DisneyThemeParks, ''Ride/StarWarsGalaxysEdge'' has kyber crystals that can be used with the land's lightsaber and holocron toys. Since you can choose the color you get (which in turn determines the lightsaber blade color and sound effects), the blind bag aspect only ties into the holocrons as each crystal can get its corresponding holocron to play a different set of voice clips. The five Jedi colors have two possible sets of voices each, while Sith blind bags have red crystals and four possible voices (or a chance of finding [[spoiler:a black crystal with a fifth voice set]] instead). There were originally two other crystals that had Magic8Ball voice clips (one Jedi, one Sith), but these were removed from the blind bag assortment and are now sold separately. The exact crystal shape is also randomized, but it's generally not something people care about.

* ''Toys/FunkoPop'': ''Funko'' has a spinoff line of ''Mystery Minis'' vinyl blind bag toys of various properties.

* There are several ''Film/JurassicWorld'' blind bag sets.
* ''Franchise/{{Lego}}'' Did this with the collectible Toys/LEGOMinifigures line, with an assortment of characters; some inspired by history or fiction, others more random. Most came with some new mold that hadn't been seen in an existing set. As well as generic series, they also had series focused on the GB Olympics, ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Creator/{{Disney}}, German Football, ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGONinjagoMovie'', the ''Film/HarryPotter'' and ''Film/FantasticBeasts'' franchise, ''WesternAnimation/TheLegoMovie2TheSecondPart'', ''Franchise/LooneyTunes'' and ''Franchise/TheMuppets''.
** Other similar concepts are the Power-Up Packs from the ''Franchise/SuperMario'' subline (which features brick-built characters) and the Bandmates from the Vidiyo line (which contain both minifigures and additional tiles to use with the line's dedicated AR app).

* Toy giant {{Creator/Hasbro}} released blind bags based off the fourth generation of their ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' tv show, ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. Characters ranged from the show's [[JustforPun mane]] characters to secondary characters to [[RecurringExtra recurring background ponies]].
* ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}}'' has done various series through other companies. Along with the Re-Ment series which sets the Pokémon in more natural setting such as the forest or lakes, there are also small toys and/or playsets frequently based on selected Pokémon. (Pikachu, as the SeriesMascot, often is prominent in a line.) This also happens connected to the anime, promoting the newest generation airing at the time.

* ''Series/SesameStreet'': The ''Sesame Street Surprise Plush Boxes'' have tiny plush version of ''Sesame Street'' characters.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasAndFriends:'' In 2015, Creator/FisherPrice released MINIS, miniature plastic models of characters from the ''Thomas the Tank Engine'' television series. Although certain engines and rolling stock can be bought together in multi-packs (where they can be visibly seen), they can also be bought individually in sealed opaque bags.

* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' dabbed multiple times into the craze:
** In Japan:
*** From 2003 to 2007 exclusive redecoes of Mini-Cons were released in blindboxes under the "Micron Booster" name.
*** In the same time period, the Micromaster combiners (which were sold on cards in western countries under the ''Universe'' and ''Energon'' lines) were also released in blindboxes, alongside a reprint of the Multiforce from ''Anime/TransformersVictory'' as their final wave.
*** From 2005 to 2014, the Legends class molds from the ''Cybertron'', ''Universe'' and movie trilogy lines were sold in blindboxes under the "EZ Collection" name.
*** During the ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' toyline (whose Japanese release featured transforming weapon robots known as the Arms Microns as an addition), four waves of Arms Microns featuring both new animal-shaped characters and small-sized renditions of the main cast of the show were released as Gachapon surprises. The first two of them also got a limited release in Europe as blindbags.
** In Western countries:
*** The Loyal Subjects (a toy company specialized in vinyl blindbags of licensed characters) did three waves of ''Transformers'' figures. The character cards included with them are infamous for copypasting the opening paragraphs from the Transformers Wiki for the character bios, to the point that one of them (Swoop's) used a joke caption found on one of them as the character's motto.
*** [=KRE-O=] (A short-lived competitor to Toys/{{LEGO}} made by Hasbro) had a few waves of blindbag minifigures.
*** The ''WesternAnimation/TransformersRobotsInDisguise'' toyline featured the Tiny Titans, a series of blindbag minifigures featuring characters from both the ''Robots in Disguise'' cartoon and G1, with the addition of a pair of ''WesternAnimation/BeastWars'' characters.
*** The ''Alt-Modes'' line is a series of Super Deformed figures sold in blindboxes whose bodies can be replaced with small renditions of their altmodes by flicking the Autobot/Decepticon insignia-shaped tabs behind their heads.
*** The Tiny Turbo Chargers are another line of chibi Transformers, this time transforming and based on both the Film/TransformersFilmSeries and ''WesternAnimation/TransformersCyberverse''.
*** ''Toys/TransformersBotBots'' are a line of chibi ''Shopkins''-esque characters that transform into common objects, sold in blind packages or in multipacks where only one of them is hidden.

* The practice of the Blind Box has existed in Japan through the Gacha machines -- the devices that LootBoxes are named after -- since at least the 1960's. There are arcades and an entire section of an airport, filled with nothing but gacha machines; they usually have receptacle bins to allow people to recycle the plastic capsules the prize comes in. After the turn of the millennium, marketing practices spawned from the idea by featuring series of collectibles that comes in packaged boxes. You could buy one blind box, or you could buy the entire package with the promise of getting the complete set; many do not offer this, particularly those only available at special events. Some, such as Music/{{Tsukiuta}}, have started offering these in packs of three, guaranteed to be three different ones, so even if there is no guarantee that you get one of each, there is at least a guarantee that, out of 9, you won't get more than 3 of the same one.

Many companies make original Blind Bag toys, but there are also numerous licensed tie-ins. Blind Bags are usually very small and cheap to buy. They're inexpensive to make, but they make back their money by people buying over and over in an attempt to get the ones they want.

* ''Toys/{{Shopkins}}'': A series of grocery-themed blind bag series.

[[folder: Franchises]]

** ''Disney Animators Collection'': The ''Disney Animators' Collection Littles'' come in pencil-shaped packages that connect together as holders for the toys. They come with toys based off ''Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon'' and feature very basic tutorials on how to draw the characters.
** ''Disney D-Lectables'': A line of Disney-themed ice cream cone-shaped toys in an ice cream tub-shaped container.
** ''Disney Doorables'': A line consisting of 78 Disney toys that come in door-shaped boxes.

* ''Lost Kitties'': A series featuring cute cat characters. The toys come in milk cartons and, to complete the theme, they come inside creamer-shaped packages full of putty.

!! In-Universe Examples

* The practice of the Blind Box has existed in Japan through the Gacha machines -- the devices that LootBoxes are named after -- since at least the 1960's. There are arcades, and entire section of an airport, filled with nothing but gacha machines, and they usually have receptacle bins to recycle the plastic capsules the prize comes in. After the turn of the millennium, marketing practices spawned from the idea by featuring series of collectibles that comes in packaged boxes. You could buy one blind box, or you could buy the entire package with the promise of getting the complete set, but many do not offer this, particularly those only available at special events. Some, such as Music/{{Tsukiuta}}, have started offering these in packs of three, guaranteed to be three different ones, so even if there is no guarantee that you get one of each, there is at least a guarantee that, out of 9, you won't get more than 3 of the same one.

!!Examples:

[[folder: Film -- Animation]]
* ''WesternAnimation/RalphBreaksTheInternet'' features a scene where Ralph tries to make as many memetic videos as possible in order to make enough cash to buy a new steering wheel for the ''Sugar Rush'' arcade machine. Amongst the gags is Ralph doing a blind box unboxing video for a fictional brand based off of a ShowWithinAShow. He opens the box and is instead swarmed with a bunch of bees (hitting two memes in one as "bee puns" are a trend in-universe).
[[/folder]]

[[folder: Other]]

* The company ''Penny's Box x Antu'' in 2022 released one of the first widespread series of miniature blind box ball-jointed dolls, the ''Nature Secret'' series. The 13-15cm dolls are more costly than the average blind box collectable at about $25 per box. They have plastic removable hair (rather than wigs or rooted brushable hair), removable clothing, and are elastic strung with a large range of joints like their larger counterparts, allowing the same kind of posing; newere dolls also come with exchangable hands. Within a line (or brand) parts can swap along a series (or, rarely between brands); e.g. the plastic wigs from the Nature's series can fit the heads of the "School Haunting" dolls. Series have four to six variants and and often include one to two "hidden" rarer dolls that are harder to find. The concept of mini-blind-box [=BJDs=] has expanded to other brands such as Simon Toys, Lucky Doll, and [=NAGIDoll=].

* The company ''Penny's Box x Antu'' in 2022 released one of the first widespread series of blind box ball-jointed miniature dolls, the ''Nature Secret'' series. The 13-15cm elastic-strung dolls are more costly than the average blind box collectable at about $25 per box and have plastic removable hair and removable clothing, with a large range of joints allowing posing similar to larger ball jointed dolls. Series have four to six variants and and often include one or two "hidden" rarer dolls that are harder to find. The concept of mini-blind-box [=BJDs=] has since expanded to other brands such as Simon Toys, Lucky Doll, and [=NAGIDoll=]; all the brands almost always offer the ability to swap parts and clothing along a series or between lines.
* ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': Toy giant {{Creator/Hasbro}} has released blind bags based off the most recent iteration of their ''Franchise/MyLittlePony'' tv show. Characters range from the show's [[JustforPun mane]] characters to secondary characters to [[RecurringExtra recurring background ponies]].

* The company ''Penny's Box'' in combination with Antu in 2022 released one of the first widespread series of blind box ball-jointed miniature dolls, the ''Penny's Box Nature Seecret'' series. The 13-15cm elastic-strung dolls are more costly than the average blind box collectable at about $25 per box and have plastic removable hair and removable clothing, with a large range of joints allowing posing similar to larger Ball jointed dolls. Series have four to six variants and and often include one or two "hidden" rarer dolls that are harder to find. The concept of mini-blind-box [=BJDs=] has since expanded to other brands such as Simon Toys, Lucky Doll, and [=NAGIDoll=], which almost always offer the ability to swap parts and clothing along a series or between lines.

* ''Franchise/{{Lego}}'': Did this with the collectible Toys/LEGOMinifigures line, with an assortment of characters; some inspired by history or fiction, others more random. Most came with some new mold that hadn't been seen in an existing set. As well as generic series, they also had series focused on the GB Olympics, ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'', Creator/{{Disney}}, German Football, ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGOBatmanMovie'', ''WesternAnimation/TheLEGONinjagoMovie'', and the ''Film/HarryPotter'' and ''Film/FantasticBeasts'' franchise.

*** The Tiny Turbo Chargers are another line of chibi Transformers, this time transforming and based on ''Film/TransformersTheLastKnight'' (but also featuring characters from the other live action movies).

In TheNewTens, a new type of toy became popular: the Blind Bag (or Box). The idea [[OlderThanTheyThink existed even prior to the 2010s]], but the idea really hit it big in the early half of the decade.

* The episode "Onion Trade" from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' features Steven buying out an entire Gacha machine just to get the last Ranger Guy from his collection-- one particular figurine that Onion has but is stingy about trading away. Calamity ensues when Steven starts getting Gem technology mixed up in the trading. In the end, Steven finds out that the missing figure from his collection was the one that Onion originally stole from him in the first place.

* The practice of the Blind Box has existed in Japan through the Gacha machines -- the devices that LootBoxes are named after -- since at least the 1960's. There are arcades filled with nothing but gacha machines, and they usually have receptacle bins to reuse the plastic capsules the prize comes in. After the turn of the millennium, marketing practices spawned from the idea by featuring series of collectibles that comes in packaged boxes. You could buy one blind box, or you could buy the entire package with the promise of getting the complete set, but many do not offer this, particularly those only available at special events. Some, such as Music/{{Tsukiuta}}, have started offering these in packs of three, guaranteed to be three different ones, so even if there is no guarantee that you get one of each, there is at least a guarantee that, out of 9, you won't get more than 3 of the same one.

* ''WesternAnimation/ThomasTheTankEngine:'' In 2015, Creator/FisherPrice released MINIS, miniature plastic models of characters from the ''Thomas the Tank Engine'' television series. Although certain engines and rolling stock can be bought together in multi-packs (where they can be visibly seen), they can also be bought individually in sealed opaque bags.