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The Problem: The Protagonist Is Literally a Slime, and Figures Have to Deal With That
Most isekai protagonists at least look human. Rimuru Tempest’s default form is a shapeless blob, which creates a genuinely unusual design challenge most figure manufacturers never have to solve — how do you sculpt a compelling display piece around a character whose “true form” doesn’t have a face, limbs, or a fixed shape at all? The answer across most of the catalog is a companion approach: sell the human/demi-human form as the main figure, and include a small slime piece alongside it so the display can represent both sides of the character at once.
Who This Article Is NOT For
- If you haven’t read my Nendoroid vs Figma vs Scale Figure guide yet, it’s worth reading first — this guide builds on those format fundamentals rather than repeating them.
- If a companion accessory piece feels like an unnecessary gimmick to you, know that most Rimuru releases include one regardless — it’s treated as a standard part of the package across nearly every manufacturer, not an optional extra you can easily avoid.
- If you’re specifically after ultra-rare or convention-exclusive pieces, this guide focuses on the mainstream retail catalog rather than one-off event exclusives.
How I’m Approaching This Guide
1. Understanding the manufacturers and lines actually producing figures for this franchise, since coverage spans everything from budget prize figures to detailed premium scale pieces.
2. Matching specific characters to the format that suits them best, given how differently the main cast and supporting cast are treated by the catalog.
3. Making sense of the franchise’s dual-form design challenge, so you know what to expect from a given release before you buy it.
The Manufacturers Actively Producing Slime Figures
| Manufacturer | Line(s) | Style |
|---|---|---|
| Good Smile Company | Nendoroid, POP UP PARADE | Chibi entry points and simplified scale-style pieces, frequently including a miniature slime companion piece and battle-scene accessories like Rimuru’s Extra Skill effects |
| Max Factory | figma | Fully articulated figures, including interchangeable parts specifically built to recreate both Rimuru’s human and slime forms, along with multiple face plates |
| Banpresto | Maximatic, Otherworlder, Espresto | A wide range of prize lines spanning budget to mid-tier pricing, covering both the main trio and a broader supporting cast |
| Various premium manufacturers | 1/7 scale releases | Detailed scale statues, including notable dual-character compositions — Milim carrying a slime-form Rimuru on her back is a genuinely popular example of this |
| Bandai Spirits | Ichiban Kuji tie-ins | Lottery-style releases tied to specific story arcs and seasonal campaigns, similar to the kuji system I’ve covered in general |
Understanding the Dual-Form Design Challenge
This is worth explaining in more depth, since it genuinely shapes how you should read a product listing for this franchise. Rimuru’s core narrative hook is that he reincarnates as a slime — an amorphous, essentially formless creature — before eventually gaining a human-like “true form” through the story’s power system. A figure manufacturer sculpting Rimuru has to decide how to represent that duality in a static or posable piece, and the industry’s general answer has been:
- Sculpt the humanoid form as the primary, detailed figure, since that’s what most collectors actually want as the centerpiece of their display
- Include a small, simplified slime piece as a companion accessory, often sized to sit on a shoulder, in a hand, or on a nearby surface, so the display can nod to the character’s actual nature without sacrificing the appeal of a detailed humanoid sculpt
- In premium and scale releases, sometimes integrate both forms into a single composition — the Milim-carrying-slime-Rimuru scale figure is a good example of a manufacturer leaning into the duality as a genuine selling point rather than an afterthought
When you’re browsing listings, it’s worth specifically checking whether “slime Rimuru” or a similar accessory is mentioned in the included parts — most mainline Nendoroid and figma releases include it, but it’s not universal across every line, particularly some of the more budget-oriented prize figures.
Matching Character to Format
Rimuru Tempest has by far the deepest catalog of any character in the franchise, and nearly every release — Nendoroid, figma, and scale alike — includes some representation of the slime form alongside the human version. If dual-form accuracy specifically matters to you, always check the included-parts list on a given listing rather than assuming every release handles it the same way.
Milim Nava and other Demon Lord-tier characters get strong premium scale support, generally in dynamic, illustration-based poses rather than simple standing figures — these releases tend to lean into dramatic compositions, sometimes incorporating Rimuru’s slime form as a secondary element within the same piece, which is part of what makes them popular showpiece purchases.
Shizu, Shion, Shuna, and Benimaru round out the well-supported tier of the main cast, generally available across Nendoroid, figma, and Banpresto’s various prize lines — a realistic way to build out a broader “core cast” shelf without relying entirely on premium scale purchases.
Wider supporting cast members see coverage that’s real but noticeably thinner than the top-tier characters — expect more prize-figure-only availability and less premium scale representation the further you go down the cast list.
A Note on Variant and Themed Releases
Similar to what I’ve covered for KonoSuba and Re:Zero, Slime’s most popular characters — Milim in particular — see genuine variant-release variety across manufacturers: different poses, seasonal themes, and Ichiban Kuji-exclusive designs that aren’t available through standard retail. It’s not quite as extreme as Re:Zero’s variant culture, but it’s meaningful enough that “a Milim figure” can mean several genuinely different pieces depending on which specific release you’re looking at. Take the time to compare listing photos rather than assuming the first result you find is the definitive version.
Where to Actually Buy Slime Figures
Check your preferred trusted retailer for current stock, since availability spans both current releases and slightly older, still-popular pieces. Solaris Japan maintains a dedicated Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken collection, worth checking directly for current stock. CDJapan is also worth checking for broader searches and preorders on recent announcements.
Which Should You Buy First? (By Priority)
“I want an affordable, broadly appealing entry point.” A Nendoroid of Rimuru — deep catalog support, accessible pricing, and the format’s included slime accessory captures the character’s core premise well without requiring a premium purchase.
“I want something dynamic and posable.” A figma release of Rimuru, specifically for the interchangeable parts built around both of his forms — this is the format that does the most justice to the character’s dual nature in an articulated piece.
“I want a premium showpiece.” Look at 1/7 scale releases of Milim or other Demon Lord-tier characters for detailed, illustration-accurate sculpting — these tend to be the franchise’s most visually striking pieces.
“I want to build a broader cast display on a budget.” Lean on Banpresto’s Maximatic, Otherworlder, and Espresto prize lines, which cover a wider range of supporting characters at accessible pricing than the premium scale tier does.
“I’m chasing a specific Milim variant I saw somewhere.” Compare listing photos carefully across manufacturers and kuji releases before committing — given the variant variety, it’s easy to end up with a different piece than the one you originally saw if you’re not specific about the release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do so many Rimuru figures come with a tiny slime piece? It reflects the character’s core premise directly — since Rimuru’s true form is a shapeless slime, most figures include a small companion piece specifically to represent both sides of the character rather than only the human form, which is the design solution the industry has generally settled on for this franchise.
Is every Rimuru figure guaranteed to include the slime accessory? No — while it’s common across mainline Nendoroid and figma releases, it’s not universal, particularly among some budget prize figures. Always check the specific listing’s included-parts description before assuming.
Is this franchise’s catalog as heavily variant-driven as KonoSuba or Re:Zero? Not quite to the same extreme, but there’s still meaningful variant and thematic release variety, particularly for Milim and other top-tier characters — enough that it’s worth comparing listings carefully rather than assuming uniformity.
Is Slime merchandise at meaningful bootleg risk? Given the franchise’s strong international popularity, yes — the same checks from my general bootleg guide apply here as much as anywhere else on this site.
Should I buy Rimuru first, or start with a different character? Rimuru is the safest starting point given the depth of catalog support, but if a different character genuinely draws you in more, there’s no requirement to start with the protagonist — collect what you’re actually excited about.
Final Thoughts
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime’s figure catalog solves a genuinely unusual design problem well — rather than picking one form and ignoring the other, most releases find a way to represent both Rimuru’s human and slime sides in a single package. Start with a Nendoroid for an accessible, well-supported entry point, look to figma if posability and dual-form parts matter most to you, and consider premium scale releases of Milim or other top-tier characters once you’re ready for a more detailed showpiece.
For more on choosing between figure formats generally, my Nendoroid vs Figma vs Scale Figure guide and comparison of trusted retailers are useful companion reads before diving further into this catalog.
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