When I was a kid, several decades ago, there were very few shows I would faithfully sit down to watch every afternoon. One of them was Dragon Ball.
I can still remember one of those afternoons. There I was, sitting alone with some cheese curls and a good old Pop Cola, watching Goku meet Yamcha for the first time. In those days there was no streaming service, no binge-watching, no going back to an episode whenever you pleased. You watched what was on television, and if you missed something, you hoped it would be repeated.
I didn’t have that many friends growing up. Television became a small part of my routine, and Dragon Ball was the show I could always look forward to. Before I became a regular viewer of Yu Yu Hakusho, it was Goku and his friends who kept me company during those quiet afternoons.
It’s a strange thing to think about now. Decades have gone by, so much has changed, and here I am looking at a tiny Piccolo action figure that somehow brings back those memories of cheese curls, soft drinks, and an old television screen.
That’s the appeal of the S.H.Figuarts Piccolo (Mini) from Dragon Ball DAIMA. It’s not simply another small figure for my shelf. It’s a familiar character appearing in a form we almost never had the opportunity to see.
The original Dragon Ball was about growing up
The thing I remember most fondly about the original Dragon Ball wasn’t necessarily the power levels. Those became a much bigger obsession later. In the beginning, it was the adventure. Goku was a strange, innocent little boy with a tail. Bulma was out looking for the Dragon Balls. Yamcha was a desert bandit, and Krillin eventually became a friend and rival at Master Roshi’s school.
The world was populated by dinosaurs, talking animals, robots, martial artists and an assortment of characters that could be funny, menacing or just plain ridiculous. There was the thrill of not knowing who Goku would meet next. Sometimes the next episode brought a fight; sometimes it brought a joke or a strange new place.
As the story continued, we got to watch the characters change. Goku grew from a little boy into a young man and then an adult. Krillin grew alongside him. Yamcha went from the desert to the tournament arena. Bulma’s life changed, too. It felt, in a way, as though these people were growing up right beside the children watching them.
One character didn’t receive the same kind of on-screen childhood. And that character was Piccolo.
From King Piccolo’s egg to Piccolo Jr.
Who could forget the Great Demon King Piccolo? When he first appeared, he was frightening in a way that was quite different from many of the opponents Goku had faced earlier. There was little of the lighthearted adventure left when the old Demon King began terrorizing the world.
King Piccolo’s obsession with youth also stuck with me. He used the Dragon Balls to restore his youthful strength. That was a wish for youth, not eternal life, and it certainly didn’t make him invincible.
Goku eventually defeated him. But before dying, the Demon King spat out an egg. That egg would become Piccolo Jr.—a successor carrying his will and vengeance toward Goku.
As a child I hardly remembered seeing Piccolo Jr. grow up. It almost felt as though the egg had hatched and, within a couple of panels or scenes, he had already become the tall, stern Namekian we know. In the story, of course, there is a three-year gap between King Piccolo’s defeat and the 23rd World Martial Arts Tournament, where Piccolo Jr. appears.
We didn’t follow those three years the way we followed Goku’s younger adventures. Piccolo’s childhood seemed to take place somewhere off-screen.
His story became even more interesting later. A villain obsessed with vengeance became an uneasy ally, then a mentor, and finally one of the most reliable protectors around Gohan. Some of my favorite Piccolo moments aren’t even his battles. They’re the moments when his usually serious face gives way to a little concern or affection for the people he’s come to care about.
DAIMA reverses the clock
Then Dragon Ball DAIMA came along and changed the premise. Instead of seeing everyone grow up, we got to see familiar characters transformed into smaller, younger versions of themselves through a Dragon Ball wish.
It reminded me of the old Dragon Ball GT idea involving Emperor Pilaf and a wish that made Goku a child again. But DAIMA extended the idea to many of Goku’s companions, including Piccolo.
For someone who had watched the series since childhood, a small Piccolo was an especially funny sight. His proportions were different, but his personality was not. He was still stern, serious and easily recognizable. There was the same green skin, the same purple outfit with the red sash, the same white turban, and of course that wonderful white cape.
Even miniaturized, Piccolo looks like the kind of fellow who would rather stand in the corner with his arms crossed than join the others in some ridiculous adventure.
And honestly, that’s exactly how I like him.
S.H.Figuarts Piccolo (Mini): first impressions
Bandai took that smaller character design and translated it into an S.H.Figuarts action figure measuring only about 85 mm tall. Yes, only 8.5 cm. Place him beside a regular-sized Dragon Ball Figuarts release and the difference is immediately obvious.
But small doesn’t necessarily mean unimpressive.
The first thing I appreciated about my Piccolo was the combination of colors. The green skin stands out against the rich purple clothing. The red sash creates a nice separation at the waist, while the white cape and turban complete the look. It may not be a complicated design, but Bandai has captured it nicely.
There is enough definition in the face, arms, boots and folds of the clothing to make the figure interesting from close up. You can see that Piccolo’s unmistakable stern expression has survived the shrinking. He’s almost amusing to look at—this tiny fellow dressed as though he’s ready to lecture everybody in the room.
The detail is good enough for this scale, rather than astonishing. The joints are naturally visible in some poses, and the sculpt isn’t going to compete with a much larger statue for the smallest surface textures. What matters to me is whether it resembles the animated character, and I think it does.
What comes in the box?
For a miniature figure, this Piccolo comes with a pretty respectable accessory selection. According to Bandai’s official product listing, the package includes:
- The Piccolo (Mini) figure itself
- Three pairs of interchangeable hands
- Three interchangeable head parts
- Two additional interchangeable facial expressions
- Interchangeable folded-arm parts
- A wired fabric cape
The additional expressions include closed eyes and a shouting face for the appropriate turbaned head. That gives you several ways to recreate his moods and fighting poses. The crossed-arms parts are especially welcome, because that pose might be the most Piccolo thing there is.
Not every figure needs an enormous accessory tray to be enjoyable. The parts here are relevant to the character. Rather than adding gimmicks that don’t mean much, Bandai provides options that let Piccolo look serious, annoyed or ready for a fight.
These package contents and the 85 mm height are Bandai Tamashii Nations specifications; they are not separate measurements or a complete accessory inventory performed by PulseNPicks.
The wired cape is a lovely touch
One of my favorite things about Piccolo has always been that cape. In the anime, the turban and cape are part of his recognizable weighted training clothes. When he takes them off, you know the conversation is over and the fight is about to become serious.
Bandai chose a fabric cape with internal wires for this release. That was a smart decision. Instead of having a heavy, immovable piece of plastic hanging behind such a little figure, you can arrange the cape so that it drapes naturally or appears to blow in the wind.
For collectors who take photographs of their action figures, a posable cape offers more than you might initially think. A little movement in the fabric can make a standing pose feel more alive. It also means you don’t need to rely on one permanently sculpted shape for every picture.
There is a trade-off. Fabric this small doesn’t always hang perfectly, and you sometimes have to adjust it until the folds look believable. But I would rather have that freedom than a stiff cape limiting the figure’s posing.
The biggest surprise: my little Piccolo stands on his own
There is one detail about my figure that I particularly like. Despite its small size, this Piccolo can stand without a display stand.
Some collectors may shrug at that. But if you’ve spent time collecting articulated S.H.Figuarts figures, you know that standing up isn’t always as simple as it sounds. Feet can be small, ankles can be temperamental, and certain poses can put too much weight behind or ahead of the figure. A beautiful sculpt isn’t very useful if it falls over the moment you leave it alone.
For flying attacks and acrobatic poses, I understand the need for a support stand. That’s what those stands are made for. But in an ordinary neutral stance, I really appreciate it when an action figure can support itself.
This little fellow does that for me. I can place him on a level surface, adjust his stance and let him stand there without immediately reaching for a clear plastic arm. It’s a small achievement, perhaps, but at 8.5 cm it feels satisfying.
Of course, the more you move the cape or exaggerate an action pose, the more attention you have to pay to the center of balance. I wouldn’t suggest that every flying or leaning pose can be done unsupported. But for regular shelf display, the balance of my example is a genuine positive.
Bandai also designed an articulation system specifically suited to this smaller body. It allows the figure to take fighting stances, move the arms and legs and show quite a bit of personality. The tiny parts deserve a gentle hand, especially when exchanging heads and faces. This is not a toy I would carelessly twist or force into position.
What I like is that the figure is enjoyable to pose, not simply something to leave in the box.
Colors, sculpt and the little imperfections
Those familiar colors do a lot of the work here. Green, purple, red and white are all this design really needs to say “Piccolo.” The surface finish and details are attractive without trying to imitate a live-action creature. He’s supposed to look like an animated character, and that’s exactly what I want.
There are limitations. On a tiny articulated body, visible joint gaps are difficult to avoid. The white cape can draw your eye away from some of the sculpted details, and the small scale means the figure has less physical presence than a full-sized Piccolo.
But those aren’t deal-breakers for me. The sculpt and paintwork are convincing enough that the character comes across immediately, and the unusual proportions give him an identity of his own on the shelf.
Sometimes collectors look at an action figure and start measuring its worth by how many accessories are inside the box, or how many joints it has compared with another release. Those are reasonable considerations. But I also think it’s worth asking a simpler question: does looking at it make you smile?
This one does.
Why I like displaying him with other DAIMA figures
Piccolo (Mini) looks particularly good next to the other small Dragon Ball DAIMA characters. Put him beside Goku and Vegeta in their miniature forms and you get a familiar cast in unfamiliar proportions. You can almost imagine Piccolo being deeply irritated by the entire situation while everybody else runs around making trouble.
There’s also a kind of continuity there. The same characters that entertained me when I was young are still finding ways to entertain a much older collector. I once watched them in the afternoon while eating snacks. Now I can photograph them, inspect the joints and line them up on a shelf.
Different hobbies, perhaps, but the enjoyment comes from the same place.
Is S.H.Figuarts Piccolo (Mini) worth collecting?
That depends on what you expect from a figure this size. If you want the tallest Piccolo on your shelf, or the most intricately sculpted statue of the Namekian, this isn’t the one. If you want a small, recognizable DAIMA Piccolo with useful interchangeable parts, appealing colors, a posable cape and surprisingly good standing balance in my example, there is plenty to like.
What I like: The purple-and-green color combination, familiar costume, expressive alternate parts, wired cape, crossed-arm pose, and the fact that my figure can stand on its own in a simple pose.
What could be better: The small scale naturally limits surface detail and shelf presence, fabric takes some arranging, and dynamic poses may still benefit from a display stand. Like many small articulated figures, the interchangeable components require care.
For a longtime Dragon Ball fan, the nostalgia is a bonus that can’t really be measured by a specification sheet.
Final thoughts: a little Piccolo and a lot of memories
I’m not going to pretend this is the most technically impressive figure Bandai has ever made. It isn’t the largest, most detailed or most imposing version of Piccolo I’ve seen.
But I really do enjoy it.
The colors are great. The detail is good enough. The accessories are useful. The cape is a nice touch. And unlike some figures that need a support merely to remain upright, my small Piccolo can stand comfortably on his own in a normal pose.
Most importantly, he reminds me of those afternoons decades ago. Goku meeting Yamcha. The excitement of another adventure. A bag of cheese curls. A Pop Cola sitting beside me. And an afternoon spent watching a show that, without really knowing it, had become part of my childhood.
Those days are long gone. Goku grew up, I grew up, and Piccolo somehow managed to make the trip from villain to one of the most beloved mentors in the entire franchise.
Now DAIMA has made him small again.
And in a funny way, looking at this little figure brings me back to being small, too.
That, more than anything, is why this S.H.Figuarts Piccolo (Mini) has a place on my shelf.
Where to buy S.H.Figuarts Piccolo (Mini) -DAIMA-
Looking to add Piccolo (Mini) to your collection? Choose your preferred store below. Amazon is our primary shopping link, with Shopee available for Philippine buyers.
Check that the listing is for S.H.Figuarts Piccolo (Mini) -DAIMA-, and compare seller authenticity, included accessories, delivery charges, and the final checkout total. Availability and prices may change.
Manufacturer specifications: Bandai Spirits / Tamashii Nations. Character background: Dragon Ball Official Site — Piccolo from the Saiyan Arc.
Photo note: Photographs in this article are from PulseNPicks’ original hands-on Piccolo (Mini) photoshoot, lightly adjusted for lighting, white balance, and clarity, with PulseNPicks watermarks. Every product photograph links to Amazon; a Shopee alternative is provided at the end of the review.
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains Amazon and Shopee affiliate links. PulseNPicks may earn a commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.