 Steven Universe
6,000 pieces
Pix! Mystery Packaged Figure
Item No.: No. n/a
Manufacturer: ThrillJoy
Includes: n/a
Action Feature: Converts from grill to Steven Universe robot
Retail: $19.99
Availability: December 2025
Other: Chase of Peridot, Super Chase is Steven with shield
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I was late to the cartoon, and now that I'm in my third viewing of all of Steven Universe I thought I should get a figure. Or, to be more accurate, my wife and I were at a Zia Records and she saw one for $10 and said "Hey, did you see this?" We sell ThrillJoy stuff at work but I haven't had a meeting with them yet, nor have I had a chance to see a figure up-close. This seemed like a good time to try one out.
ThrillJoy is staffed by some of the best ex-Funko people in the biz - I've known some of them for, geez, probably 20ish years in some cases. This line focuses on limited edition runs and chases. Pretty much everything has a chase, and the quantities are kept low on purpose - nothing is an unlimited edition. I'm not sure how that'll work, but Funko sure as heck found a zillion new ways to keep doing Batman and there's no reason to assume there won't be new varieties here too.
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I didn't ever even see a Funko Steven, so I compared this to the nearest Funko Pop! within reach - David Rose. Seven's a bit taller, a hair over 4-inches, but fills out the same basic space. The ThrillJoy body is a bit more three-dimensional, and placing him on a table he seems a lot sturdier. There's more of a sense of balance here, and it seems like Steven was designed to be displayed out of the box, but the box is surprisingly interesting.
It's bigger than Funko, and has a sleeve around it. Under the sleeve is a plastic "wax seal" indicating if it's a chase or a regular figure. Steven is inside, tied to the back with twist ties. My sample had a crack on the back of his skull. You can't see it unless you look, but you probably will. The figure looks like he has a neck joint, but as far as I can tell the neck was not meant to move. Or at least, since it was cracked, I'm not going to force it. The head has a satisfying hollow feel, and I like how the unique character design translated to this different format. The pose is distinct from what Funko did, and he's much goofier. The eyes are ovals instead of circles, and as a one-off I'd say this is the one to get. (If you want a collection, get Funko, they have a deeper bench.)
The paint seems pretty crisp and the assembly appears good. There are no moving parts, but if what you want is basically a stylized vinyl statue? This is pretty great. The hair has more body to it, the ears are more developed, and the individual fingers look better than the arms-straight-down fists on the Funko release. (But also, if you want a Smoky Quartz, you'll find Funko's newer designs to be equally impressive.) As I write this, the Pix! figure has the edge on being cheaper (and possibly in a store) so I'm just going to be happy with that.
As probably the only person in America who took this figure to the register along with a 40-year-old copy of Frank Zappa's Them or Us, I assume this is a figure with a very specific audience. I'd like to see their interpretations of other characters, but I hope they won't lock them behind a chase box. I was glad to get Steven, not that I'd have minded a Peridot, but it's nice to have the choice. I'll keep an eye on Pix! for other stuff, their artists are making some pretty great little figures.
--Adam Pawlus
Additional Images
See more ThrillJoy in Figure of the Day:
Day 3,033: ThrillJoy Pix! Steven Universe Vinyl Figure
See more Steven Universe in Figure of the Day:
Day 3,033: ThrillJoy Pix! Steven Universe Vinyl Figure
