Banpresto, the prize-figure brand under Bandai Spirits, has revealed one of its more unusual licenses of the year: a bust figure based on Ring (known in Japan as Ringu), the horror film whose crawling, television-bound antagonist Sadako Yamamura became one of the most recognizable images in Japanese horror. The Sadako Bust Figure is scheduled for release in Japan in August 2026, and it leans directly into the film's most iconic scene rather than offering a generic character portrait.
Because this is a prize figure, it does not carry a fixed manufacturer suggested retail price the way a standard retail collectible does. Prize figures are originally distributed through Japanese arcade crane machines, then resold by import shops and secondhand retailers at prices that vary by source; current listings for the Sadako Bust Figure run in the neighborhood of $24 USD through some import retailers, though pricing will vary depending on where a collector orders from.
For collectors who track Banpresto's prize-figure output alongside its higher-profile anime lines, this is a good example of the format branching into film-based horror licensing rather than sticking exclusively to shonen and idol properties.
The Sadako Bust Figure captures the character mid-crawl, halfway emerged from a television set, at approximately 12cm tall. The sculpt leans into the character's signature details: disheveled black hair obscuring her face, a tattered white dress, and pale, decaying hands with discolored fingernails. Despite the compact, prize-figure proportions, the sculpt keeps the unsettling tone of the source material intact rather than softening it into a cuter chibi interpretation.
One detail that sets this release apart from a typical bust figure is that Sadako's body separates from the television portion of the sculpt. That means collectors can display her crawling out of the included TV base, or remove her and position her against their own computer monitor, television, or other flat display surface for a more personalized scene. It is a small but genuinely useful design choice for anyone who wants to build a horror-themed display shelf with some visual variety rather than a static bust on a single base.
Since this is a Japan-only prize figure rather than a Western retail release, EVORETRO customers picking this one up should expect to order through an import retailer or secondhand marketplace rather than a standard North American storefront. Reported prices vary noticeably by source, so it is worth comparing a few listings once the figure actually ships in August rather than committing to the first price seen in a pre-release listing.
Banpresto has historically leaned toward shonen anime, idol franchises, and kaiju when picking prize-figure licenses, so a Ring-based release stands out as a step into more traditional horror-film territory. It follows a broader pattern across the prize-figure market of publishers testing whether iconic horror imagery translates well into the smaller, more affordable prize-figure format rather than reserving it exclusively for premium statue lines from companies like Sideshow or NECA. For collectors who already track Banpresto's other prize-figure waves, this release is worth watching as a possible signal that more film-horror licenses could follow if Sadako performs well with crane-game and secondhand buyers alike.
Given the figure's irregular shape, with the crawling pose and separate television base, a modular acrylic case that adjusts to fit non-standard silhouettes is a better fit than a rigid, single-size box protector. For collectors who want to display Sadako as part of a rotating horror-figure lineup, a tiered acrylic stand also lets her sit at a different height than surrounding figures, which helps the crawling pose read clearly instead of blending into a flat shelf line.
It is a prize figure, meaning it is originally distributed through Japanese crane-game machines before becoming available secondhand through import shops and resale retailers.
Banpresto lists the figure at approximately 12cm tall, including the television base.
Yes. The figure's body is designed to separate from the included television portion, allowing collectors to display Sadako against their own monitor or another flat surface.
Banpresto has only confirmed an August 2026 release window rather than a specific day, which is typical for prize-figure announcements ahead of their arcade debut.
The Sadako Bust Figure is a niche pickup, but a genuinely well-executed one for horror collectors who want something beyond the usual anime and idol prize-figure rotation. The detachable TV base is the standout feature here, giving the piece more display flexibility than its compact size might suggest. Just budget for import pricing rather than expecting a fixed retail cost.
!
