Fariboles, Pixi, Aroutcheff, Attakus: which comic book figurine manufacturer should you choose?

TL;DR – In a nutshell. There are four leading comic book figurine manufacturers in France: Fariboles (resin, Darnétal, EPV label), Pixi (metal and bronze, founded in 1982), Aroutcheff (wood and resin, specialising in Tintin) and Attakus (large-format resin, based in Montpellier). Leblon Delienne rounds off the line-up with The Smurfs and Spirou. Each has its own materials, licences and positioning within the collector’s market. Choosing the right manufacturer means choosing the long-term value of your collection.

Why the manufacturer matters just as much as the character

A savvy collector doesn’t just ask ‘which character?’, but ‘who made it, under which licence, from what material and in what number of pieces?’. It is these four criteria that determine the true value of a collectable comic book figurine.

Firstly, the official licence. A comic book resin statuette produced without a signed agreement with the rights holder (Moulinsart for Tintin, Albert René for Asterix, Dupuis for Spirou, etc.) is not an official comic book figurine: it cannot be resold as such and holds no value on the secondary market.

Next, the material. Hand-painted resin, metal, bronze, lacquered wood: each material has its own properties in terms of durability, colour rendering and weight. Resin allows for fine detail and vivid colours; metal offers a density and patina that resin cannot replicate; Aroutcheff’s lacquered wood is in a class of its own.

Finally, the print run. A limited edition comic book, numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity, is, by definition, rarer than a piece produced in an open run. It is this print run that determines the demand on the pre-owned market and, ultimately, the value.

Fariboles Productions – high-end French resin

Fariboles is the leading workshop for French-made comic book resin statuettes. Founded in September 1993 by Pascal Rodier in Darnétal, in Seine-Maritime, the Normandy-based workshop has never relocated its production – a rarity in Europe, which the company itself highlights on its official website.

What sets Fariboles apart:

• Exclusive material: resin painted entirely by hand, from sculpture to assembly, in the Darnétal workshop.
• Awarded the ‘Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant’ (EPV) label in 2019, an official distinction from the French government reserved for rare and exceptional craftsmanship.
• Over 200 original sculptures since the company’s inception (source: fariboles.fr/fr/content/4-l-atelier).
• Main licences: Asterix, Spirou and Fantasio, The Smurfs, Lucky Luke, Gomer Goof – with recent forays into the worlds of Disney, comics and manga.
• Each piece is produced in a limited print run numbered with a certificate of authenticity.

According to *Le Parisien* (20 November 2023), it is in this Normandy workshop that the Asterix collectable figurines are created, sculpted, moulded and painted on site. Pascal Rodier has built a workshop that resembles an art studio more than a production line. For a collector seeking a French comic-book figurine brand that is traceable and certified, Fariboles is the most well-established choice. Discover our selection of Fariboles statuettes.

Pixi – metal and bronze in the service of Franco-Belgian comics

Pixi is a French brand, founded in 1982 by Alexis Poliakoff and Philippe-Antoine Guénard – the name ‘Pixi’ is, in fact, a contraction of Pierre and Alexis, evoking the elves of Anglo-Saxon folklore (source: pixietcie.com/fr/marque-Pixi).

Key facts:

• Materials: metal, alloys, bronze and resin depending on the series – the brand has historically been associated with hand-painted metal figurines.
• The brand entered the comic book market in 1988 with the Tintin licence, followed by Gomer Goof and Blake and Mortimer in 1989, then Asterix, Lucky Luke, Spirou and the Smurfs (source: ligneclaire.info).
• Pixi series are often small in size, packed with content, and highly sought after by vintage collectors.

Pixi’s strength lies in the depth of its catalogue. There are dozens of items per franchise, numbered series with certificates, and a very active pre-owned market – particularly at auctions. For a collector wishing to cover an entire comic book universe with metal or bronze pieces, Pixi remains a must-have. See our Pixi figurines in bronze and pewter.

Aroutcheff – wood and resin craftsmanship inspired by Tintin

Michel Aroutcheff was born in 1946 in Paris to a father who was an architect of Russian origin and a naturalised French citizen. After studying at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and spending five years in Quebec, he returned to France, where he made lacquered wooden furniture and toys, before founding his own company in 1986 specialising in comic-related items (source: lefictionaute.com).

His speciality is unique: vehicles and settings from Hergé’s universe, crafted from lacquered wood and complemented by hand-painted resin parts when the shapes become too complex for wood. Aroutcheff himself explains that he uses resin ‘when the shapes are a bit too complicated to make out of wood’. Each piece is assembled from separate components (bumpers, radiator grille, dashboard) that are painted individually by hand.

Key points:

• The first to secure a Tintin licence, even before Moulinsart was founded – a pioneering position he clearly claims as his own.
• His creations were subsequently distributed under licence from Moulinsart, before relations soured in the early years of the 2000s.
• Speciality: vehicles and settings from the Hergé universe – the rocket from *Destination Moon*, the seaplanes from *King Ottokar’s Sceptre*, and the car from *Cigars of the Pharaoh*.
• In June 2024, a 1.60-metre Aroutcheff rocket put up for auction in Rennes was estimated to be worth between 3,000 and 5,000 euros (source: 20 Minutes, 23 June 2024).

Michel Aroutcheff is now retired in Brest. Production has ceased. His pieces are found exclusively on the pre-owned market – which makes them collector’s items in their own right, with an inherent rarity. View our available Aroutcheff statuettes.

Attakus – collectable resin figurines from Montpellier

The story of Attakus began in 1988 with a group of Parisian sculptors who pooled their talents in a model-making workshop. The Attakus Collection brand was officially launched in 1997; the company then moved from Montreuil-sous-Bois to Montpellier in September 2011, where it remains based today (source: attakus.art/attakus-collection-la-story/).

What sets Attakus apart:

• Material: hand-painted resin, limited numbered editions – originally also porcelain and lead, depending on the series.
• Franco-Belgian comic book licences: Gai-Luron, Valerian and Laureline, Blacksad, Asterix (50th-anniversary dispute with Uderzo), The Quest for the Time Bird, Les Vieux Fourneaux…
• International licences: Marvel (Spider-Man, Silver Surfer) and Star Wars (Lucasfilm Ltd licence), with worldwide editions of 1,500 or 1,700 pieces.
• Focus on large-format, highly detailed publications aimed at adult collectors – some pieces, such as the ‘Pelisse’ from *The Quest for the Time Bird*, measure up to 70 cm.

Attakus is still in business and continues to release new collaborations with artists such as Régis Loisel, Lewis Trondheim and Alberto Varanda. Discover our Attakus pieces.

Leblon Delienne – further information

Leblon Delienne is a French workshop specialising in official comic book resin figurines, particularly renowned for its Smurfs and Spirou collections. The pieces are produced in limited editions (often 500 pieces), each accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. The workshop has notably collaborated with Zédibulle Éditions on the production of ‘La Sassette’, sculpted in Normandy and hand-painted by the Leblon Delienne workshops – a concrete example of what a specialist company can achieve with a demanding licence.

How to choose a manufacturer based on your collector’s profile

A few simple rules:

• If you’re just starting out on a tight budget → Pixi (small format) or Leblon Delienne offer the most affordable options.
• You want 100% French-made, certified items → Fariboles (EPV label, produced in Darnétal).
• If you’re collecting Hergé items and looking for rare pieces → Aroutcheff on the pre-owned market, paying particular attention to the condition of the lacquer.
• You want highly detailed large-scale statuettes → Attakus, still active and in production.

Where can you find official figurines from these manufacturers?

New items:

• The manufacturers’ official websites (Fariboles.fr, Attakus.art, Leblon Delienne.com) sell directly or list their authorised retailers.
• Specialist comic bookshops (the Canal BD, Album and BDFugue networks) regularly stock new arrivals from Fariboles and Attakus.
• Comic book fairs – Angoulême in January, Paris in May – are prime places to buy, sometimes featuring fair-exclusive items.

Pre-owned:

• Catawiki, eBay and Le Bon Coin account for the vast majority of Pixi and Aroutcheff items currently on the market.
• Specialist auctions (Artcurial, Ivoire France, regional auction houses) regularly offer comic-related lots, sometimes with published estimates.
• Collectors’ forums and groups (BDGest’, dedicated Facebook groups) facilitate transactions between private individuals with community-based traceability.

A word of caution: always check for the original certificate of authenticity and the edition number. An official comic book figurine without these details loses some of its documentary value on the secondary market. To explore all these worlds, head to our selection of collectable comic book figurines.

FAQ – Your questions about comic book figurine manufacturers

What is the difference between Fariboles and Pixi? The material and the era. Fariboles works exclusively with hand-painted resin in its Normandy workshop, with pieces in active production since 1993. Pixi has historically been associated with metal and bronze, with a comic book catalogue dating back to 1988 – the brand is less active in producing new items, and its pieces are mainly found on the pre-owned market. Both companies are French and officially licensed.

Does Aroutcheff still make figurines? No. Michel Aroutcheff has been retired since the early years of the 2010s. His production has ceased for good. The pieces available are found exclusively on the pre-owned market – which automatically increases their rarity and appeal to collectors.

Is Attakus still active? Yes. Attakus Collection, based in Montpellier, is still in business and continues to release new limited-edition resin statuettes, particularly based on Franco-Belgian comics. The website attakus.art lists new arrivals and flash sales.

How can you recognise an official figurine? Three elements are essential: the certificate of authenticity signed or stamped by the manufacturer, the edition number engraved or printed on the item (e.g. ‘147/500’), and the licence details (name of the rights holder). The absence of any one of these elements does not necessarily mean the item is a counterfeit, but should raise a red flag for the buyer.

Which manufacturer should you choose to start a collection? Fariboles is often recommended as a good place to start: active production, a wide selection of Franco-Belgian comic book licences, items available from authorised retailers, and the EPV label, which guarantees the traceability of the craftsmanship. Leblon Delienne is a solid alternative for Smurfs enthusiasts, offering a variety of formats and price points.

To see these manufacturers at work in specific universes, check out our guides dedicated to Blake and Mortimer figurines and Marsupilami figurines. And if you’re just starting your collection, our beginner’s guide to collecting comic book figurines covers the essentials you need to know about these companies.

Useful sources

• Fariboles.fr – L’Atelier – official presentation of the Normandy-based workshop, EPV label, licences and production figures.
• pixietcie.com – The Pixi brand – official history of the brand, founders, market positioning.
• attakus.art – The Story – a complete chronology of Attakus Collection from 1988 to the present day.
• lefictionaute.com – Meeting with Michel Aroutcheff – in-depth interview with the sculptor, materials, licences and history of the company.
• 20minutes.fr – Aroutcheff Tintin rocket up for auction (23 June 2024) – estimate and market context.
• bullesenboite.com – Aroutcheff Tintin – reference catalogue of pre-owned Aroutcheff pieces available.
• Le Parisien, 20 November 2023 – feature on the Fariboles workshop in Darnétal.