Alternatives to Expensive 70s Animation Figures

Table of Contents

• Why Original 70s Animation Figures Cost So Much
• Affordable Vintage Animation Memorabilia That Looks the Part
• Identifying Authentic Animation Merchandise Before You Buy
• How to Preserve Animation Collectables for Long Term Value
• Comparing Affordable Animation Figures and Collectables
• Displaying Your Animation Figures and Collectables at Home
• Frequently Asked Questions

Last Updated: September 30, 2026

Why Original 70s Animation Figures Cost So Much

Genuine 1970s animation figures were never made in large numbers, and most that survived were played with, sun-faded, or thrown out during house moves. That scarcity is the whole story behind today's prices.

Original merchandise from that era was produced as cheap children's toys, not collectables. Production runs were short, packaging was thrown away, and plastic yellowed. Fifty years later, the handful of boxed examples still in good condition are what collectors are bidding against each other for. Auction houses and specialist dealers set the tone, and private sellers follow.

There's a second factor most buyers miss: condition inflation. A figure with its original card and no paint rubs can fetch many times what a loose, played-with version makes. That gap pushes even damaged examples upward, because collectors chasing a full set will pay over the odds for a placeholder.

The result is a market where entry-level prices for anything genuinely vintage have drifted beyond what most people want to spend on nostalgia. This guide from Roobarb and Custard looks at the alternatives, how to spot authentic animation merchandise, and how to care for what you buy.

Affordable Vintage Animation Memorabilia That Looks the Part

Official licensed merchandise is the strongest alternative to hunting down original 70s figures. It gives you the same characters, the same era-accurate artwork, and none of the condition anxiety.

The best-value route is printed and wearable memorabilia rather than moulded figures. Art prints and apparel carry the original studio artwork at a fraction of what a boxed vintage figure costs, and they display just as well.

At Roobarb and Custard, the range is built around exactly that idea. The Roobarb & Custard "Custard Collage" Premium Art Print brings together eight expressions of the show's most sarcastic feline on heavyweight 280gsm satin paper, starting at £9.99. The matching Roobarb Collage print does the same for the green dog's manic energy, and both come unframed or in a matt black or matt white frame with a glass front, strut back, and wall hook.

If you want something to wear rather than hang, the Custard Face Style Sheet t-shirt at £19.99 shows fifteen hand-drawn expressions in 100% organic cotton, printed in the UK.

Identifying Authentic Animation Merchandise Before You Buy

Authentic animation merchandise carries three things: an official licence, the original studio artwork, and clear production details. If any of those are missing, treat the listing with suspicion.

Start with the artwork itself. Genuine licensed pieces reproduce the original character design sheets, including the animator's own handwritten notes and measurements. Knock-offs usually redraw the character, and the proportions drift. Look at the eyes, the leg length, and the line weight.

Then check the listing for specifics rather than mood words. A legitimate seller tells you the paper weight, the print method, the fabric, and where it was made. Vague descriptions like "high quality" with no numbers are a warning sign.

• Official licence stated clearly on the product page
• Original studio artwork rather than a redrawn version
• Specific materials listed, such as 280gsm satin or 100% organic cotton
• Country of printing or manufacture named
• Care instructions included

How to Preserve Animation Collectables for Long Term Value

Light, heat, and handling cause most of the damage to animation collectables. Control those three and your pieces will hold their condition for decades.

Ultraviolet light is the main enemy of printed artwork. It fades the inks and yellows the paper, and it does the damage gradually, so you rarely notice until it is too late. Keep prints out of direct sunlight and away from halogen spotlights. A frame with a glass front adds a useful layer of protection, and rotating pieces between a bright wall and a shaded one spreads the exposure.

For textiles, the rules are simple. Wash inside-out at a low temperature and iron on the reverse to protect the print. Never tumble dry a printed garment. Store anything you are not wearing folded flat rather than on a hanger, because hanging stretches the shoulders over time.

• Keep prints out of direct sun and away from radiators
• Frame behind glass where possible
• Wash printed apparel inside-out on a low temperature
• Iron on the reverse only
• Store spare garments folded, not hung

The Custard Style Sheet hoodie at £49.99 is a good example of a piece worth looking after properly. Its 350gsm organic cotton and metal-tipped drawcords are built to last, but the care label still matters if you want the print to survive.

Roobarb 'Colour Pop' Limited Edition →

Comparing Affordable Animation Figures and Collectables

Choosing between the affordable options comes down to three questions: what you want to do with it, how much space you have, and whether you want something limited.

Limited edition pieces sit at the top of the affordable range. The Roobarb 'Colour Pop' mounted print and its Custard counterpart are each capped at 100 prints worldwide. Both are 40x50cm, printed on 280gsm satin white media, and arrive in an off-white mount board ready for framing. At £75.00 they cost more than a vintage figure in poor condition, but they will never deteriorate the way an old plastic toy will.

For everyday enjoyment, the collage prints and the style sheet apparel do more work per pound. A £9.99 print brightens a hallway. A £19.99 t-shirt starts conversations in the pub. Neither needs a display case or a humidity check.

The honest limitation: none of these are moulded figures. If your heart is set on a three-dimensional character on a shelf, printed memorabilia will not scratch that itch. What it will do is give you the artwork, the characters, and the era at a price that leaves room for more than one piece.

Displaying Your Animation Figures and Collectables at Home

A small, well-lit group of pieces looks better than a crowded shelf. Grouping by character works particularly well, with the artwork and the apparel that share a design language kept together.

For prints, pick a wall that gets indirect daylight and hang at eye level. The 40x50cm mounted pieces suit a hallway or landing, while the smaller collage prints work on a desk, a bedside shelf, or a kitchen wall. Both sizes come ready to frame or ready to hang, so there is no fiddly mounting to sort out.

Textiles are display pieces too, if you treat them that way. A folded t-shirt on an open shelf, print facing out, reads as part of a collection rather than laundry. Rotate what you wear so nothing fades faster than the rest.

Keep the whole arrangement away from radiators, direct sun, and damp. A dry interior wall beats a conservatory every time.

Building a collection around original 70s pieces means competing with dealers on price and condition, and losing more often than you win. There is a simpler route that still puts the characters you grew up with on your walls and in your wardrobe.

Roobarb and Custard stocks officially licensed artwork and apparel built from the original studio designs, including limited edition mounted prints capped at 100 worldwide, framed collage prints from £9.99, and organic cotton t-shirts and sweatshirts printed in the UK.