Materials

Toy animals have been made out of a wide variety of materials. The earliest toys were made of stone, wood, clay, and carved bone. However, after the Western Industrial Revolution and the advent of mass production, most organic materials have been phased out in favor of plastics and rubbers.

Wood

Wood has been in use as a material for toy building since ancient times. Carved animals were common during the 19th Century into the early 1900's, and is still used today to produce figurines. It is most commonly utilized in toys for young children due to the lack of chemicals involved in the manufacturing process.

For a list of companies that have produced wooden toy figurines, see Category:Wood.

Paper

Naturally associated with wood is one of its derivatives, paper. With the advent of cheaper color printing in the 19th century, it became possible to make printed animals for use as toys. Over time, paper has diversified from cutouts and "stand-ups" to complex origami models, 3D "papercraft", and heavy card booklets.

For a list of companies that have produced paper or card figurines, see Category:Paper.

Composition

Composition is any material made by mixing natural fibers (wood flour, starch, or white clay) with a binding agent (typically water or glue). Because natural materials are prone to expansion and compression, composition figures often crack or warp over time, and collectors should take care to store particularly old or valuable models in a cool, dry space.

For a list of companies that have produced composition figurines, see Category:Composition.

Plaster

Plaster is uncommonly used in the production of animal figurines, and is more often found in nativity sets and decorative statues. However, several notable companies have produced plaster-based figurines, warranting its inclusion here.

For a list of companies that have produced plaster figurines, see Category:Plaster.

Hard Rubber

Rubber is a natural material originating from the sap of select trees. Multiple companies used it to make figurines during the 1930's and 40's, but is less commonly used today as it is prone to warping over time.

For a list of companies that have produced hard rubber figurines, see Category:Hard Rubber.

Metal

- Zinnfiguren

The earliest metal figurines were made by pouring an alloy of tin and lead into a mold made from slate, a method referred to as Zinnfiguren. Although its use as decreased over time, a small number of companies still use this process to produce toys.

See Category:Zinnfiguren for a list of companies that have produced figurines using the Zinnfiguren method.

- Hollow Cast

As mold and metal technologies advanced through the 20th century, it became possible to mass produce figurines in a method known as hollow casting. This process allowed figures to be made larger and at a cheaper cost, and some well-known companies manufactured a majority of their toys in this manner. However, the metals used in hollow casting include lead and zinc (which are toxic), and the method has been discontinued.

- Die-Casting

Die Casting is a metal casting process that is characterized by the forcing of molten metal into a closed mold. Mold creation requires advanced machining, and therefore this method was one of the last to be developed for figure production. Aluminum is the most common metal used in this process, but iron or its variations have sometimes been used in the past.

See Category:Aluminum for a list of companies that have produced figurines with aluminum metals.

Companies that have used white metal for hollow or die-casting can be found in Category:Metal.

Plastic

- Celluloid

Celluloid is the oldest type of plastic, dating to 1862. Some Japanese, French and American companies used celluloid plastics to produce figurines until later, cheaper plastic types were developed.

See Category:Celluloïd for a list of companies that have produced Celluloid figurines.

- Hard Plastic

Any plastic that is brittle and does not warp when under moderate pressure is considered a hard plastic. Although a wide variety of plastics are lumped into this category, PVC and polystyrene are common examples.

- Soft Plastic

Any plastic that bends somewhat easily but cannot return to its original shape is referred to as a soft plastic. Polyethenes (LDPE and HDPE) fall under this category.

- Vinyl

Plastics with a near-rubbery texture are called vinyl. Older vinyl figurines tend to harden over time, and therefore the labeling of these figures as "vinyl" can sometimes be controversial.

See Category:Plastic for a list of companies that have produced plastic figurines.

Material terms have been defined here and are used throughout the wiki in as consistent a manner as possible.