So what exactly are Sonny Angels?
According to the official website, Sonny Angel is “a little angel boy who likes wearing all sorts of headgear.” They are blind boxes that offer you a one in twelve chance of getting the figurine that you actually want.
Sonny Angels have been around for a while, although their original design was very ugly. They were originally dolls that stood seven inches tall, but they were later transformed into the mini-figures we all know today, which are somehow only three inches in length. Toru Soeya created these mini-figures, and their name came from his nickname, Sonny.
I personally collect Sonny Angel figurines, specifically the hippers, because you can attach them to your phone, tablet, or laptop. But these tiny dolls are extremely overpriced.
If you decide to buy one from a reseller, like Tokyo Japanese Lifestyle, one mini-figure ranges in price from $26 to $60, not including tax. The most expensive Sonny Angel dolls are typically limited-series ones, as well as hippers. I’ll admit that I’ve probably spent over $200 on these ridiculous mini-figures.
Do they serve me any purpose?
No, they don’t.
I just buy them because they look so cute, but I understand when people say they are ugly and distracting.
Sonny Angel figurines made a huge splash on TikTok in 2023, and people started buying them en masse. However, on their official website, they are almost always out of stock. If they are in stock, there is always just ONE series available for purchase. Even when you go to buy one, there is only a limited number available.
When the hipper series is in stock, there is a limit of one per customer; for the normal figures, there’s typically a limit of one to four. Some series aren’t even available on their website anymore. Specifically, the ones that cannot be found online are the Dreaming series, the Cat series, and the Dog Time series. These are exclusively available only for in-person purchase, but there are also re-seller websites where they are DOUBLE or TRIPLE the regular price.
So are these little guys worth it? No, they are not. And this is coming from someone who loves to collect them.
People just buy them all and resell them on websites like Depop, Mercari, and eBay. People have also gone to the extent of just making fake ones and selling them for five to ten dollars each. Most people don’t care whether their Sonny Angel dolls are fake or real, but hardcore lovers care about their authenticity. But I mean, if you’re paying five dollars for one of these things, you’re getting what you’ve paid for.
These figurines are not for everyone, and not everyone will enjoy the sensation of opening one. But the best way I can put this is that it’s the girl’s version of collecting Pokemon cards. These mini figures mainly target girls and Gen Z, but they are open to anyone to collect. There are also other items you can start to collect on their website, including the Smiski.
The creator of Sonny Angels also previously sold figures in a box set of twelve. The price of one box would be $120, but it was the equivalent of buying twelve figurines individually. The only difference was that there were no chances of you getting a replica.
Upon purchase, you immediately have the urge to open them because you NEED to know which one you’ve gotten. And you have to make sure that you absolutely don’t hate it.
Even if you get one that you hate, you keep it anyway, because you paid so much money for it. People always seem to want the Secret, but I think the Secret is the ugliest one. On Depop, people resell this figurine for over $150.
Sonny Angel continues to discontinue certain series so that their prices go up. One popular series that has been discounted is the Dreaming Series. These are a hipper version of the animal series, but they are in pastel colors. Since these are no longer being manufactured, the cost of one is anywhere between $36 and $60, but these are only the American prices. Since shipping to the U.S. is much more expensive, they are actually triple the regular price.
People have such a high demand for these figures, that the creator has also put out Smiski hippers. These figures are the little green guys you see on TikTok. Although these resellers have the normal price ranging from $16 to $31, they are still more expensive than the originals. People have even gone to the point of super-gluing their Smiski dolls onto their phones.
People have made Sonny Angels look aesthetically pleasing so that people engage with these videos and want one of their own. People post pictures of their coffee and lipgloss, and the Sonny Angel matches their aesthetic. People also sell them as a custom item. This is where you can either send your figure in, or buy one directly, and vendors will add charms to it and make it a keychain. The price depends on the vendor and their commission.
Now if you decide to purchase one of these, be aware that they can be an addiction, especially if you already like collecting figures. Do your research if you decide to buy one. If you download the Sonny Angel app, there is a section where you can see their authorized resellers.
The hype around Sonny Angel hasn’t been worth it, and they will forever be in high demand. The price of a mini figure should not be over fifteen dollars, especially for something you will probably leave behind when you need room for the next trendy collectible.
