Halloween season is a natural time for horror icons to make a comeback, and Good Smile Company is bringing one of the genre's most recognizable figures back to collectors' shelves. The Sadako Nendoroid, based on the cursed-video-tape antagonist from Ring, is being re-released through Good Smile Company's US store. Pre-orders are currently open for $54.99 and are scheduled to remain available until November 11.
For fans who missed the figure the first time around, the reissue offers a considerably more approachable route to owning the chibi-styled horror collectible. Earlier copies have appeared on the resale market for prices reaching roughly $200, making the new run especially notable for collectors who would rather pay the original retail price than chase a scarce aftermarket listing.
The release is not a newly designed version of Sadako, but it retains the features that made the original Nendoroid memorable. It turns a character defined by one of horror cinema's most unsettling images into a compact, poseable figure that is somehow both adorable and unnerving. That contradiction is exactly what Nendoroids are built for, and Sadako's long dark hair, pale appearance, crawling poses, and haunted accessories make her a particularly fitting addition to the line.
A Horror Icon in Nendoroid Form
Sadako has become an enduring figure in Japanese horror and far beyond it. Her association with a mysterious VHS recording, a looming deadline, and the unforgettable image of a spectral figure emerging from a television has given her a visual identity that remains immediately recognizable decades later. A Nendoroid interpretation cannot replicate the full dread of that imagery at human scale, but it can preserve its essential details in a display-friendly form.
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The figure comes with two interchangeable face plates. One presents Sadako with a grin, while the other is an "evil face" with a wide-eyed expression intended to push the figure closer to her threatening on-screen presence. The latter option is particularly useful for collectors aiming for a more traditional horror display rather than a purely cute shelf arrangement.
As with many releases in the Nendoroid range, the appeal lies in having several parts that can be mixed, matched, and rearranged. Sadako's natural hand positions are designed to work especially well with a crawling pose, helping collectors recreate the impression that she is climbing out from her iconic setting. That attention to posture matters here: the character's body language is as important to her legacy as the cursed tape itself.
The Well Is the Centerpiece Accessory
The standout extra is Sadako's small well. It would be difficult to imagine a figure of the character without it, and the included piece gives the Nendoroid a much stronger sense of place than a standard figure stand alone could provide. The well's stonework is painted to look aged and rustic, offering a surprisingly detailed miniature backdrop for a super-deformed collectible.
Collectors can position Sadako at the edge of the well or arrange her hands and body to suggest that she is pulling herself upward. It is a compact display scene, but one that directly evokes the character's most famous imagery. For horror merchandise, accessories that tell a story are often more valuable than generic weapons or decorative bases, and this one gives the figure a clear focal point even for people who only have limited shelf space.
A miniature VHS tape is also included. It is a small accessory, but an essential one for a character whose mythology is so closely tied to obsolete physical media. The tape provides another way to build a recognizable display, whether it is placed beside the well, held in Sadako's hand, or used as a tiny prop among other horror collectibles.
The package does not include loose strands or reels of actual tape for posing around the figure. That is a feature seen on Kotobukiya's Sadako Bishoujo figure, which takes a different approach to presenting the character. Still, the Nendoroid's VHS accessory and well make a strong case for the release as a more compact, playful alternative. Its appeal is less about creating a large horror-statue centerpiece and more about giving fans a flexible, expressive version of Sadako that can be frequently re-posed.
Early Pre-Orders Include a Static TV Screen
There is an extra incentive for ordering through the official US Good Smile Company store. Pre-orders include a bonus TV screen displaying static. The accessory is a natural companion to Sadako, giving collectors another way to reference the television imagery associated with Ring.
On its own, a static screen might sound like a modest bonus, but it has considerable display value. The screen can turn the figure's shelf presentation into a miniature scene: Sadako can be arranged crawling near it, emerging from its direction, or looming beside it with the more menacing face plate attached. For collectors who enjoy photography, dioramas, or seasonal displays, the added television gives the figure a greater range of visual setups without demanding much additional space.
It also distinguishes the direct US pre-order from simply finding an older copy elsewhere. With previous versions commanding elevated prices on resale sites, the re-release already represents better value at $54.99. The bonus screen makes the official pre-order route more appealing for anyone who values completing the intended display set.
Availability and the Long Wait Ahead
There is one catch for anyone hoping to add Sadako to a Halloween display immediately: this is a pre-order, not an in-stock seasonal purchase. Good Smile Company's US listing estimates delivery between April 1 and June 30, 2027. In other words, the figure will miss the current Halloween season by a wide margin, even though the pre-order window arrives at a perfect time for horror fans.
That timeline is worth keeping in mind before ordering. Collectors will be reserving a figure well ahead of its arrival, rather than receiving it in the weeks before October 31. However, the extended wait may still be worthwhile for those who missed the original release, particularly given how costly the collectible has become through resellers.
At present, the renewed pre-order opportunity is specifically confirmed through Good Smile Company's US storefront. There is no confirmed equivalent second chance for UK collectors. Anyone outside the US should therefore be careful to check regional storefronts and shipping policies rather than assuming that the new run will be available everywhere under the same terms.
A Strong Fit for Horror and Game Collection Shelves
Although Sadako comes from film, the Nendoroid is likely to fit comfortably alongside video game collectibles. Horror game fans often build shelves around the wider language of the genre: eerie televisions, cursed objects, abandoned locations, ghostly figures, and the persistent unease of analog media. Sadako's miniature well and VHS tape make this figure an easy companion for collections featuring survival-horror series, Japanese horror-inspired games, or simply other dark pop-culture memorabilia.
The broader Nendoroid line is also well suited to mixed displays. It includes figures from games, anime, films, and other entertainment properties, allowing a horror character such as Sadako to sit beside dramatically different favorites. That contrast can be part of the fun. A shelf with colorful game heroes and a tiny figure crawling from a weathered well has a very different personality from a collection made up entirely of realistic horror statues.
For collectors who want a cheaper Sadako item while waiting, Furyu has also released a Sadako Noodle Stopper priced at $27.99. As its name suggests, that item is made to sit on top of a ramen container. It is a more unusual novelty collectible, but it offers a lower-cost way to bring the character into a collection before the Nendoroid's 2027 delivery window.
Why the Re-Release Matters
Reissues can sometimes feel routine, but this one arrives with real practical value. The Sadako Nendoroid combines an iconic horror character with a set of accessories that remain distinctive within a very crowded collectible market. The well, VHS tape, alternate faces, and bonus static television all serve the same recognizable theme rather than padding the box with unrelated extras.
More importantly, the re-release gives fans a chance to avoid the inflated prices that often follow a popular figure's disappearance from retail. Pre-orders at $54.99 remain open until November 11, while the expected arrival window runs from April 1 through June 30, 2027. For collectors willing to plan ahead, it is a rare opportunity to secure one of horror's most charmingly creepy chibi figures at standard pricing.
Sadako may be synonymous with a seven-day curse, but this particular delivery will take much longer. Even so, the figure's return is well timed for the spooky season--and its mix of cute design and classic horror imagery should make the wait easier for fans who have wanted this tiny terror on their shelf.
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