Minimates

Minimates are a block-styled miniature action figure line originally created by the New York City–based design and sculpting house Art Asylum in 2002. Since 2007, the brand has been produced and distributed by Diamond Select Toys. Characterised by a modular, humanoid design with a compact, angular aesthetic, Minimates combine elements of traditional action figures with construction-style customisation. The figures are released for a wide range of licensed properties spanning comic books, television, film, music, and video games, and are marketed to both child and adult collectors through specialty retailers and mass-market outlets.
The standard Minimate figure is approximately 2 inches tall and features 14 points of articulation, allowing for a high degree of poseability despite its small size. Over time, the Minimates format has become particularly associated with comic book licenses, most notably Marvel Comics, which represents the longest-running and most extensive series within the brand.

Design concept and core features

The defining feature of Minimates is their highly modular construction. Each figure is composed of interchangeable parts, including heads, torsos, arms, hands, hips, and legs, allowing collectors to swap components between figures. This design encourages customisation and has contributed significantly to the brand’s longevity.
Key characteristics of Minimates include:

• A stylised block-like body with simplified proportions
• Multiple points of articulation uncommon for figures of comparable size
• Compatibility across most Minimates releases regardless of license
• A balance between toyetic durability and collector-focused detail

While the basic body type has remained largely consistent, minor refinements have been introduced over time to improve articulation, sculpt accuracy, and paint applications.

Early development and initial releases

Minimates debuted in 2002 with several 3-inch-tall figure lines produced by Art Asylum. These early releases were based on a diverse selection of licenses, including Dark Angel, Star Trek, Kung Faux, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, and the films of Bruce Lee. A rock-and-roll themed line was also produced, featuring musicians and bands such as Kiss, Rob Zombie, Ozzy Osbourne, and Alice Cooper.
Alongside licensed characters, Art Asylum released blank and promotional Minimates. These figures typically displayed corporate logos and were used for marketing campaigns and promotional giveaways, highlighting the versatility of the format.

Transition to the 2-inch format and Marvel partnership

Following a partnership with Diamond Select Toys, Art Asylum introduced a new 2-inch Minimate body type, which quickly became the standard scale for the brand. This shift coincided with the launch of Minimates based on the Marvel Comics universe. The smaller scale proved commercially successful, offering improved compatibility, lower production costs, and greater display potential.
As the Marvel line expanded, the original 3-inch format was gradually discontinued. The Marvel Comics Minimates series went on to become the cornerstone of the brand, eventually surpassing 85 waves of figures, covering characters, costumes, and storylines from across Marvel’s publishing history.

Expansion into film, television, and gaming licenses

Throughout the mid-2000s and beyond, the Minimates body type was adapted to an increasingly broad range of intellectual properties. These included comic-based series such as The Walking Dead and Invincible, television series such as 24 and Star Trek, films including Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Universal Monsters, and Peter Pan (1953), and video game franchises such as Halo, Tomb Raider (2013), and Marvel vs. Capcom 3.
This expansion demonstrated the adaptability of the Minimates aesthetic, which could be adjusted through sculpted accessories and printed details to represent characters from varied genres while retaining a consistent visual identity.

The Lord of the Rings and scale experimentation

In 2004, Art Asylum and Play Along Toys released a Minimates line based on The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. To reflect the differing physical scales of Middle-earth races, a third 2.5-inch-tall body type was introduced alongside the standard figures. This marked one of the few deviations from the uniform Minimates scale and illustrated the brand’s willingness to experiment when dictated by licence requirements.

C3 construction sets and DC Comics

Also in 2004, Art Asylum and Play Along launched C3 (Create, Construct, Customize) construction sets. These Minimate-based products allowed collectors to build vehicles and playsets, primarily centred on DC Comics properties such as Batman and the Justice League. Due to licensing restrictions, the included DC Minimates could only be sold within these construction sets, limiting their appeal.
The C3 line struggled commercially and was eventually discontinued. In 2006, DC Direct announced that it would produce its own DC Minimates in partnership with Art Asylum, effectively separating DC releases from the broader Minimates range.

Vehicles and accessory lines

Beyond figures, Minimates expanded into vehicles and accessories. The Minimates Vehicles line included both original designs and licensed vehicles from franchises such as Back to the Future, Knight Rider, and Terminator 2. Original vehicles were also produced for Diamond Select Toys’ in-house Minimates brands.
Retail exclusivity played a role in this range, with colour variations distinguishing releases sold through mass-market retailers such as Toys “R” Us from those available in specialty comic shops.
A dedicated Minimates carrying case was also released, capable of holding up to 36 figures and packaged with an exclusive Minimate. Successive editions included exclusive figures tied to Diamond Select’s internal brands, culminating in a silver 10th Anniversary Minimate released in 2013.

Minimates MAX and larger-format experiments

Due to licence restrictions limiting Marvel Minimates to the 2-inch scale, Diamond Select Toys introduced Minimates MAX in 2006. This sub-line consisted of 8-inch unarticulated resin statues designed to represent large-scale characters in the Minimates style. Four statues were announced, but only Galactus and a Sentinel were ultimately released. High production costs and limited articulation resulted in poor reception, and the line was cancelled.

Vinimates and stylistic evolution

In 2015, Diamond Select Toys launched Vinimates, a related but distinct line inspired by the Minimates aesthetic. Vinimates figures were 4 inches tall, featured pre-posed bodies, and included limited articulation, usually restricted to the neck. While many licenses overlapped with Minimates, some properties, such as Caddyshack and The Rocketeer, were exclusive to Vinimates.
The Vinimates line represented a shift toward display-oriented collectibles rather than modular play figures.

Media appearances and animation

Minimates have also appeared in animated media. In 2005, students at the DAVE School produced Batman: New Times, a computer-generated short film featuring Minimate-style characters. The project gained attention for its voice cast, including Adam West and Mark Hamill reprising their roles as Batman and the Joker. A promotional Batman Minimate was released to coincide with the film.
In 2006, a similar animated project titled X-Men: Darktide was produced and released on DVD as part of a Minimates box set. Diamond Select Toys has since produced stop-motion and online animation content to promote lines such as The Walking Dead Minimates and its in-house brands.