Funko Pop Terminology Glossary

Funko Pop collecting has its own language. Whether you are searching for a vaulted grail or opening a fresh wave of exclusives, this glossary covers every term you will encounter. Track your Funko Pops at CollectionPlnr Funko. Also see What Does Vaulted Mean?

A

Ad Icon

A Funko Pop line dedicated to mascots and characters from advertising and brand culture - such as the Michelin Man, Mr. Clean, and the Pillsbury Doughboy. Ad Icons are their own numbered series within the broader Pop! universe.

Artist Proof (AP)

A signed Funko produced for internal, promotional, or convention purposes rather than retail sale. Artist Proofs are typically unpainted or in a special finish and are not widely available to collectors.

B

Box Lunch Exclusive

A Funko Pop available exclusively through Box Lunch retail stores and their website. Box Lunch exclusives carry the Box Lunch sticker on the box and are a specific tier of exclusivity within the Funko ecosystem.

C

Chase

A rare variant of a standard Funko Pop, typically appearing in roughly 1 in 6 cases shipped. Chase Pops differ from the standard version through a special finish (metallic, glow-in-the-dark, flocked) or a pose/expression variant. Chases are identified by a gold starburst on the box and command premiums of 2x-10x the standard retail price.

Common

The standard, non-variant version of a Funko Pop. A Common is the most widely produced edition of any given Pop and is available through normal retail channels without exclusivity restrictions.

Con Exclusive

A Funko Pop produced for sale at a specific convention - most commonly San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), New York Comic-Con (NYCC), or Emerald City Comic-Con (ECCC). Con exclusives are produced in limited quantities and usually carry a bright sticker identifying the convention. They are highly sought after and can appreciate significantly after the event.

Convention Sticker

See "Sticker" below. The convention sticker is the most desirable sticker variant in Funko collecting.

Crinkle

Minor dents or creases in the Funko Pop box, usually along the edges or corners. For MIB collectors, a crinkled box reduces display appeal and resale value even if the figure itself is perfect.

D

Diamond Glitter

A special Funko variant with a sparkly glitter-infused finish on the figure. Diamond Glitter Pops are typically chase or exclusive variants and are visually distinctive on display shelves.

D2C (Direct to Consumer)

Funko Pops sold directly through Funko's own website, bypassing traditional retail. D2C releases are sometimes exclusive to Funko.com and can sell out quickly at launch.

E

Exclusive

A Funko Pop that is available only through a specific retailer, event, or channel - such as Target, Walmart, Hot Topic, Amazon, GameStop, or a convention. Exclusives are identified by a retailer sticker on the box. Rarer exclusives command significant premiums on the secondary market.

F

Flocked

A variant Funko with a soft, velvety texture applied to the figure (usually the head or body) to simulate fur or similar textures. Flocked variants are frequently exclusives or chases and are popular with collectors who enjoy tactile variation.

Freddy Funko

The mascot of Funko, styled as a clown-like character. Freddy Funko Pops are among the rarest and most valuable figures, often produced in extremely limited runs (sometimes fewer than 48 pieces) for specific events or recipients.

G

Grail

A collector's most desired Funko Pop - the one figure they have been hunting. Grails are typically vaulted, rare, or personally significant. Common community grails include early SDCC exclusives, Metallic Pops, and limited glow variants.

Glow in the Dark (GITD)

A Funko variant with phosphorescent paint that glows when charged with light. GITD variants are usually exclusives or chases and are very popular with collectors.

H

Hot Topic Exclusive

A Funko Pop available exclusively through Hot Topic stores and their website. Hot Topic is one of Funko's largest exclusive retail partners, with a wide range of licensed properties.

L

Loose

A Funko Pop removed from its original box. Loose Pops sell for significantly less than boxed equivalents because the box is part of the display value and important to MIB collectors.

M

Metallic

A variant with a shiny metallic paint finish. Metallic Pops were among the earliest exclusives Funko produced and early metallic exclusives are highly sought after by vintage Funko collectors.

MIB (Mint in Box)

A Funko Pop in its original packaging in perfect condition. MIB is the standard condition that serious collectors seek for display and investment purposes.

Minor Sticker Peel

Slight lifting at the corner or edge of a retailer or convention sticker on a Funko box. Even minor peeling reduces the desirability of an exclusive for condition-focused collectors.

N

Number

Every Funko Pop within a Pop! Vinyl line has a number identifying its place in that line's sequence. Numbers are printed on the box and used by collectors to track their sets. Some collectors aim to own every number in a complete line.

O

OOAB (Out of Box)

Abbreviation for Out of Box - describing Funko Pops displayed without their original packaging. Some collectors prefer the OOAB aesthetic; others consider removing the box destructive to value.

P

Protector

A clear plastic case (usually 4mm acrylic) that fits over the Funko Pop box to protect it from dust, moisture, and box damage. Protectors are essential for MIB collectors and come in standard and hard-stack variants.

Prototype

An early production sample of a Funko Pop, often unpainted or in a non-final finish, produced during development. Prototypes occasionally appear at auction and are extremely rare and valuable.

S

Scaler

A small clip-on figure in the Funko range designed to attach to cables or similar objects. Scalers are a separate product line from standard Pops and have their own collector community.

Shared Exclusive

A Funko Pop exclusive shared across two or more retail partners simultaneously, making it more widely available than a single-retailer exclusive but still not a general release.

Sticker

The foil or paper label applied to a Funko Pop box identifying the retail channel, convention, or special edition. Stickers are crucial for exclusivity verification - a Pop with a sticker is more desirable than a sticker-free equivalent because it proves provenance. Sticker fading, peeling, or counterfeiting is a known issue in the hobby.

Super-Sized

Funko Pops larger than the standard 3.75-inch size, produced at 6 inches or 10 inches for major characters. Super-Sized figures are frequently exclusives and display prominently in collections.

T

Target Exclusive

A Funko Pop available exclusively through Target stores and Target.com. Target exclusives often feature a red circular sticker and are among the most commonly available exclusives due to Target's wide retail footprint.

V

Vaulted

A Funko Pop that Funko has permanently retired from production, meaning it will never be manufactured again. Vaulted Pops are the primary driver of long-term value in the hobby - as supply is fixed while demand from new fans continues. The word "vaulted" comes from Funko's internal terminology for retiring a product. See the full explainer at What Does Vaulted Mean for Funko Pops?

W

Walmart Exclusive

A Funko Pop available exclusively through Walmart stores and Walmart.com. Walmart exclusives are among the most widely distributed exclusives and often include popular licensed properties.

Additional Collector Vocabulary

Hard Stack

A thicker (0.5mm or higher) acrylic protector used for storing Funko Pops in stacked shelving. Hard stacks provide superior protection compared to standard 4mm protectors and are preferred by serious MIB collectors who stack boxes.

GITD (Glow in the Dark)

Shorthand abbreviation widely used in listings and community discussion for glow-in-the-dark Funko variants. GITD Pops need to be charged under light for 30 seconds to display their glow effect fully.

Variant

Any version of a Funko Pop that differs from the standard release - including Chases, metallics, flocked versions, GITD editions, and exclusives. The word "variant" is used broadly in Funko collecting to cover all non-standard editions of a given figure.

OG (Original)

Short for original - used to refer to the first release of a Funko Pop character or line, as opposed to later re-releases or recolours. OG versions are typically more desirable to collectors for historical significance.

Re-release

A Funko Pop that was vaulted and then brought back into production, sometimes with minor differences in packaging or finish. Re-releases dilute the scarcity of the original vaulted version and can significantly reduce secondary-market prices for the original.

Funko Fair

An annual online event (usually in January) where Funko announces the bulk of its upcoming releases for the year. Funko Fair is a significant date in the collector calendar, as news of new waves and exclusives drives secondary market activity on existing related Pops.

Soft Protector

A thin plastic sleeve that slips over a Funko box to protect from dust and minor handling. Soft protectors do not provide as much structural protection as hard stacks but are lighter and more affordable for large collections.

Box Condition

The state of the cardboard window box that a Funko Pop comes packaged in. Box condition grading ranges from Mint (perfect edges, corners, and window) through Very Good, Good, and Poor. For MIB collectors, a Mint box is non-negotiable. Even minor box damage can reduce resale value by 20-40% for condition-sensitive buyers.