The History of Bearbrick: From 2001 to Today
Bearbrick launched on 27 May 2001, given away free to visitors at World Character Convention 12 in Tokyo. In the two decades since, Medicom Toy has turned a deliberately blank bear silhouette into one of the most collected objects in contemporary design.
This is how that happened — the origin in Medicom’s earlier Kubrick line, the collaboration model that made the figure a canvas rather than a character, and where the line sits today.
When was the first Bearbrick released?
On 27 May 2001, as a giveaway at World Character Convention 12 in Tokyo. It was not sold at retail, which is part of why original first-model figures are now difficult to find.
The launch date and venue are documented in the Bearbrick reference entry. Medicom Toy Incorporated, based in Tokyo, has produced the line continuously since.
Where did the Bearbrick design come from?
From Kubrick, Medicom’s earlier line of blocky, LEGO-influenced human figures. Bearbrick kept the same design language and articulation but replaced the human head with a bear head — and the name is simply “bear” plus “brick”.
The decision that mattered was leaving the surface blank. A figure with its own face and costume is a character; a figure with a neutral silhouette is a canvas. That choice is why the same object can carry a Warhol painting one season and a comic-book character the next, and why the line outgrew the one it came from.
What made Bearbrick successful?
The collaboration model. Rather than inventing characters, Medicom licensed the form out to artists, fashion houses and entertainment brands, so each release brought a new audience to the same object.
That compounding is the whole story. A collector who arrived for BAPE discovers the Warhol editions; someone who bought a Spider-Man figure finds Sorayama. Because the shape never changes, those unrelated purchases still read as one collection on a shelf.
How does the series system work?
Medicom releases numbered series roughly twice a year, sold in blind boxes, with a fixed set of themed categories that recur from series to series.
The recurring themes include Basic, Jellybean, Pattern, Flag, Horror, SF, Cute, Animal, Artist and Hero. Each appears at a different frequency within a case, creating the rarity ladder — Basic figures are common, and the second Artist figure is the scarcest. All editions are limited and re-releases are rare, as Artoyz sets out in its overview of the series system. Series figures are almost always 100%; the larger sizes are standalone releases.
What are anniversary and chrome editions?
Milestone releases where Medicom revisits its own history, usually in a finish that was not available originally. The 20th Anniversary 1st Model Chrome 1000% is the clearest example — the original silhouette, reissued in mirror chrome two decades later.
These matter to collectors because they are self-referential: the value is in the reference to the 2001 original, not in a licensed character. Chrome plating also carries a production constraint that keeps runs short, which is covered in the guide to chrome and metallic finishes.
How has the size range changed?
The 100% at 7cm has been the reference point throughout. What expanded was the range around it — up to the 70cm 1000% and down to 50% keychains.
The percentage has always been a multiplier of that original 7cm figure rather than a description of size, which is the single most persistent source of confusion for new buyers. The size guide sets out every size with real measurements.
Where does Bearbrick stand today?
Thousands of releases deep, with an established secondary market and auction-house presence. The highest recorded sale is the Chanel 1000% at $30,000 through Christie’s in 2019.
The line now spans genuine art collaborations, streetwear, and licensed entertainment, and the collector base splits along those lines rather than behaving as one market. What has not changed in twenty-four years is the object itself: nine parts, eight points of articulation, and a blank surface waiting for artwork.
Frequently asked questions
When was Bearbrick created?
The first Bearbrick was released on 27 May 2001 as a free giveaway at World Character Convention 12 in Tokyo, produced by Medicom Toy.
Who invented Bearbrick?
Medicom Toy Incorporated, a Japanese collectibles company based in Tokyo. The design evolved from the company’s earlier Kubrick figure line.
What was the first Bearbrick?
The original 2001 first-model figure, distributed free at World Character Convention 12 rather than sold at retail. Medicom has since revisited it in anniversary editions.
Why is it called Bearbrick?
It combines “bear” with “brick”, reflecting both the bear head and the blocky, brick-like construction inherited from Medicom’s Kubrick line.
How many Bearbricks have been made?
Medicom has produced thousands of distinct releases since 2001 across numbered series, collaborations and standalone editions. There is no official total, and editions are rarely reissued.
Start collecting
We are an authorised Medicom dealer and ship from Japan, typically arriving in 7–14 days, with 90-day returns. Browse the full Bearbrick range, or by size: 100% · 400% · 1000%.
New here? Start with what a Bearbrick is, then the size guide.