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Tengu Toy Makes Long Hours at the Computer Less Isolating
Long hours in front of the computer and the relative somnambulism of my cat make for the need to call in reinforcements. I just found out about the Tengu USB toy, which has a cult-like YouTube following (see one of my favorite videos below). Tengu is a USB-powered character that lights up and lip syncs to music, or your voice, or whatever noise happens to be around at the time. Tengu has different facial expressions that you can match to different music. When there’s no sound he’ll simply fall asleep. As soon as he detects some noise he’ll wake up again. Tengu is a stand-alone device that does not require any additional software on the host computer. It was created by London-based designer Crispin Jones for Solid Alliance (see great graphics here). The plastic chanteuses measure 2.75h x 1.5w x .5″d and can be purchased for either $35 from Uncommon Goods or $50 from MOMA (if you need to pay more to prove it’s a piece of art). I’m gonna put one of these on my wishlist and see what it does with some Coil or my new T.W.E.R.P. Mad*L.
Oldest Japanese Toy Store in US is Closing Its Doors
12. November 2008
Lately it seems like there’s lots of use for the expression, “It’s the end of an era.” With local independent book, record and toy stores unable to compete with so-called big-box chains and economic woes, more mom and pop shops close their doors. If you’re lucky, they maintain a small online presence. Such is the case of Kimono My House, the oldest Japanese toy store in America. The shop opened in 1980 and became the first retailer to exclusively import Japanese toys and anime into the United States. The store is in an industrial section of Emeryville, a town just across the bridge from San Francisco, known primarily for housing Pixar. Over the last decade I’ve watched Emeryville fill up with condos, lofts, malls and a multi-plex. Kimono My House has remained, demarcated only by a wooden sign board, a true diamond in the rough. Located literally on the roof of an unassuming warehouse, you have to know about it or stumble upon it. Once you do, you’re transported to a musty crowded wonderland of die-cast robots and vintage toys. Kimono My House will be shutting down in January/February, but keeping its website active. If you’re in the area, go pay it some respects and pick up something at a good deal. If not, check out Kirkland’s recent photo-pilgrimmage and video at ToyBot Studios (all photos via) here.
Turn up your speakers for the Hendrix.
Kimono My House from toybot studios on Vimeo.
Me MAD*L show at D-Structure San Francisco
7. November 2008
Yeah we know there was just another big MAD*L show over at LIFT, but Delicious Drips has been curating a juried 10-inch MAD*L contest for month’s and everything has lead up to tonight’s MAD*L mania at San Francisco’s D-Structure. The show kicks off at 6:30PM in the Lower Haight (right across from Upper Playground). There will be an open bar, live DJs, and maybe even a little live painting. This is a juried contest with consideration given to style, depth of thought, execution, color feel, and WOW factor. Emerging artists from all over have taken their skills to the mighty MAD*L platform. Customizers include:
Nasty Neil, Tanki, SpankyStokes, Quest1, Willow408, Danielle Scott. Illminded1, Mtags05, GallerieDeSoto, Innaki, Dli$h, Patrick Francisco, Kelly Vetner, Del730, Codedecoinc, Selph_One, LocalHero, Voidx, CoffeeKid, DX-Psycho, RebelWookie, MUCA, Gopeder111, Darkangelraine, David Rozelle, Debut75, Dustin Cantrell, Jared Cain, Kimberley Chadwick, Mark Aviles, Viet Ngo and Ryan Hungerford.
Rebelwookiee
Check out a few previews and then go see the real thing tonight.
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- Brian Colin
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- Crestone
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- DEL730
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- Grimsheep
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- Dustin Cantrell
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- Jared Cain's Al Capone
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- Jared Cain's Alcatraz
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- Patrick Francisco
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- Rebelwookiee
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- DLi$h
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- Tanki
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- Willow408
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- John "Spanky" Stokes
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- Ryan Hungerford
And here’s the Delicious Drips commercial:
Delicious Drips Commercial from Lief Stoer on Vimeo.
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Continue reading...Los Angeles Gets First Crack at Mini King Kens at 24-Hour Department Store
6. November 2008
San Francisco’s own STRANGEco is heading south to Los Angeles for the weekend to participate in Paper Magazine’s 24 Hour Department Store. The list of participants (see flier below) includes a cool collection of artists, musicians, designers and brands, from Mr. Cartoon/Estevan Oriel, Undefeated, RVCA and Supreme to FUCT, Jeremy Scott, Citizen Citizen and The Cobrasnake. And STRANGEco is bringing the swag. A partial list of partyfavors includes: advance availability of James Jarvis/Amos Toys’ mini King Ken figures, a special edition of Julie West’s Bumble and Tweet figures, special editions of Greg “Craola” Simkin’s Cap’n Rotnclaw and Keel Haul Cleg and undisclosed goodness from tokidoki, Friends With You and Joe Ledbetter. Jim and Greg of STRANGEco have sworn to be there for the entire 24-hour shopping extravaganza. Paper Magazine’s 24-Hour Department Store opens at 6PM PST on Friday, November 7th and closes at 6PM on Saturday, November 8th in West Hollywood, CA. [If you want a visual on the STRANGEco proprietors--and to see 3 colorways of Bigfoot's vinyl in their glorious Detolfs--check out the Vimby vid below.]
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Continue reading...It’s A Trap!
5. November 2008
While I haven’t been officially diagnosed, I have a serious thing goin’ on for cephalopods. Not like a ‘disturbing internet video’ thing - I’m just inexplicably drawn to all things aquatic and betentacled. So, it’s not much surprise that I’m all tingly with the news that the Previews Exclusive Admiral Ackbar Mighty Mugg has finally been released and is fast on the way to local comic shops.
Hasbro’s sudden foray into the designer toy world has found a surprising amount of cross-genre success, with adorable Muggs spanning the Marvel, Star Wars and Indiana Jones universes. While the blank, customizable Muggs remain completely oblivious about what a customizable figure is (give us a surface that doesn’t repel paint or require a high-intensity laser to penetrate, Hasbro!), it’s a neat way to introduce the artful side of toys to your everyday artless nerd. Ackbar is only available from locations that order through the Previews catalog - so that excludes most large chain toy shops.
It’s also worth nothing that Hasbro has also recently released an exclusive Red Skull Mighty Mugg figure. While not a suitable character for your local Wal-Mart (surprisingly), I remain uneasy with the idea of interpreting a violent Nazi, however fictional he may be, into an ultra cute, displayable format.
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Continue reading...Fake Out at New York Comic Con
4. November 2008
With the fourth annual New York Comic Con creeping around the corner in February, toy companies are beginning to announce their exclusive offerings for the event. Why the event was moved from the gentle month of April into the cruel, bastard month of February is another story entirely.
Either way, Mattel’s exclusive Faker figure from their new Masters of the Universe line is an appropriate frigid blue. Fans of the 80s cartoon might remember Faker as a bizarro He-Man robot, or an imperfect clone, or possibly even a really messed up magical afterbirth. Mostly, he was a cheap way to slap a new villain into He Man by repainting an already existing He-Man mold into ‘evil’ colors.
If you can’t attend NYCC, MattyCollector.com will be offering the figure up around the time of the Con, and if the San Diego Comic Con exclusive rush from earlier this year is any indication, the site will explode in a ridiculous ball of greasy anger. So, get in their early if you’re into the blue, constipated He-Man thing.
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Continue reading...Jeremy Fish Bunny Skull New Era Cap With Ears
30. October 2008
Upper Playground and superFishal have done it again. First there was the Barbary Coast line of upscale duds and gear, and now here’s the ultimate in big-eared lowbrow toy-based toppers. It would be an understatement to say the there has never been a New Era as awesome as Jeremy Fish’s Bunny Head. There’s about 900 different ways to wear it, and each one makes you seem like a total badass. (The kind of badass who wears pink bunny ears.) Upper Playground says this may be the greatest hat in the history of the hat. “It is like wearing a small pink rabbit on your head. We all know there isn’t many things tougher than that.” Get yours for $55 at Upper Playground shops or online here. If you get one, please send us a picture of you wearing it.
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Continue reading...McDonalds Makes Me Grimace
27. October 2008
After what seems like an eternity of hot, flame-broiled anticipation, Huckleberry Toys has finally released the beginnings of their potentially extensive McDonaldland action figure line, inspired by the original 1976 Remco line. The first assortment includes updated versions of Ronald McDonald, Mayor McCheese, Grimace, the oft-forgotten Captain Crook, and The Hamburglar. Keep an eye out for special variants of as-yet-undisclosed figures.
I can’t deny the hypnotic appeal of the psychedelic McDonalds commercials from my youth, beckoning me into a world of endless french fries and meat patties, so these have a special place in my heart. Right next to the suspiciously Grimace-shaped clog. Unfortunately, don’t expect to see any of these guys on TV anymore - McDonalds stopped ‘marketing to children under 12′ due to growing obesity concerns. One little fat kid strokes out in the ball pit and we all have to suffer.
While the line was originally going to include my personal favorite fast food character, Mac Tonite, I’ve been informed that McDonalds plans to take their advertising in a different direction. So, while a second series has been planned, and last year’s Toy Fair revealed a fair number of prototype figures, time will tell if we’ll ever see The Professor, The McNuggets, Birdie, The Fry Kids, Officer Mac, or even such obscure food luminaries as CosMc or Iam Hungry.
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Continue reading...New Sam Flores Shirts and Videos for Upper Playground
23. October 2008
I’m loving the new line of Sam Flores/12 Grain t-shirts for Upper Playground. There’s something for everyone. No matter where you fall on the hipster/anti-hip spectrum, Sam Flores should have an archetype you can relate to. I’m really digging the couple listening to records. There’s also a baller, a lowrider and an Indian with the inscription, “Kill Whitey.” Check out all the shirts at your local UP or online here for $24 each.
Baller
Couple
Hustle
Kill Whitey
Lowrider Rainbow
Yaysiea
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Continue reading...Urban Paper Book and Video Coming Soon!
20. October 2008
It’s about time. A book printed on AND about paper, paper craft that is Paper Craft is one of those hobbies that totally blows my mind. The craft, the paper, the patience! There are oodles of amazing contraptions, characters and coolness. The book Urban Paper: 25 Designer Toys to Cut Out and Build was carefully put together and assembled by the very talented illustrator and cartoonist Matt Hawkins. It is being published by HOW publications. Along with all the paper and craft, there will be a DVD that will be included in the book and was done by Hawkins pal N8 Studios that is an overview of oodles of the featured designers. The video also features customizable templates, toys and more. The book won’t be available until April 19th, 2009 but you can preorder from Amazon here. So get your scissors and glue ready, Urban Paper will soon be out to steal your heart and time.
Urban Paper the Movie from Studio N8 on Vimeo.
Jason Atomic Sketches Sucklord in His Studio
17. October 2008
Wanna get lost in the depths of New York’s Chinatown, wanna hear some sweet tunes, wanna watch the one and only Sucklord posing, wearing his helmet of course, for a portrait? Oh you know you do. Found today is this YouTube video of the English artist Jason Atomic doing several sketches of Sucklord at Sucklord’s secret studio in the crowded streets of Chinatown for Atomic’s “favourite artists” series (which also includes portraits of Rockin’ Jelly bean and Savage Pencil among others.) Also in the video there is some footage of the one and only Sucklord assembling one of the Daemos, the D&D die headed doll package. The music for the video is entitled SuperVillians by Sucklord and sounds like space age porn music, which means it’s awesome. Check out the video yourself below.
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Continue reading...Make Your Own Airman
14. October 2008
Mega Man 9 has sucked me back into the vast world of retro gaming, and I’m quietly wishing for action figures based on everything from Mother Brain to Abobo, so I was psyched to come across this absolutely amazing customized Airman toy, complete with a working mini-fan, over at YouTube - and it completely kicks the ass of the JazWares prototype Airman statue that never saw retail.
Based on a Gundam Z’Gok model, and built with a whole bunch of different parts that I can’t understand because the video is entirely in Japanese, it’s an amazing feat of toy-ingenuity and a fine homage to one of the more formative games of my developmental years. Based on this other YouTube video (below), I wasn’t the only person vexed by Airman. The ingenuity behind this restores my faith in toy customizing. Like we need to see another Wolverine figure as he appeared in one panel in the back of an X-Force comic once.
Now, who’s going to carve me a Woodman out of a felled oak?
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Continue reading...Skaffs Ester Giclee Pre-Order
9. October 2008
Luke Feldman sent us a note to spread the word that he’s got a new giclee print up for pre-order at the SKAFFS site. Luke’s body of work comprises ten years of graphic design, including: prints, animation, ad campaigns, toys and gadget skins. His latest print, Ester, is limited to an edition of 30.
UPDATE: SKAFFS is a vibrantly colorful, mysterious and surrealistic world filled with wonderful creatures. Luke sent this video from his Australian sell-out show ‘Perpetual Kagemi’. Check out the original artwork, giclee prints, collector toy Maiko and live painting!
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Continue reading...Bandai Solves Open Box Problem
6. October 2008
I spotted this on the fantastic Trends in Japan blog this morning. I had woken up to the radio talking about economic woes and it soured me, but then I saw this.
The Mugen (infinite) series of toys from Bandai Asovision has now brought us the Mugen PeriPeri, a keychain toy that aims to replicate the pleasure of opening a package for the first time. Snacks, boxes, and other tear-open packages tend to reveal good things, so perhaps experiencing this sensation boosts endorphins and sends us into pleasure mode.
This is fantastic news for those of us who have pretty much stopped buying blind-box toys. Now we can still revel in the safety of buying open-box toys, but not miss out on those precious endorphins! For a brief moment, I mistook this portable device as having the practical purpose of re-sealing small boxes, but no! It really truly exists just to replicate the motion/fulfillment of tearing open a box. As you see below, there’s no need to limit this to just small boxes either; these corporate-looking dudes created the world’s biggest PeriPeri. Well, it’s not going to solve our economic crisis, but perhaps PeriPeri is a temporary panacea–the non-chemical equivalent to a Xanax. Check out the video too.
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Continue reading...Alex Pardee’s Treeple Cinematic Clothes for Hurley
1. October 2008
“Their BARK is nowhere near as bad as their BITE.” With his brand new line of hoodies and shirts, Alex Pardee combines his formative skateboarding and horror movie experiences into a killer line of streetwear for Hurley. Night of the Treeple is Alex’s first cinematic clothing line. He based it on a 1970s-style film trailer (of his own design) involving a guy named Ted and his ill-fated encounter with a toxic tree (see video below). Writes Alex, “This is the first time that I have had been involved in every aspect of the finished product from start to finish, from the art, to the cut of the shirt, to the quality of the fabric, the stitching, the tags, the marketing, everything.” And it shows. From his work with ZEROFRIENDS and Upper Playground, we know he is a man of many details. With Night of the Treeple, Alex printed the teaser story inside every shirt. Hell of a “tag line,” eh? Hoodies are going for between $65-75 and t-shirts for $32 in the Art and Music Collaborations section at Hurley Online. They’re also going to be in numerous retail locations including…Macys! There’s an elaborate (if not Flash-freezing) dedicated Treeple website with live painting videos, wallpapers, MySpace skins and a contest to win free prints happening here.
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Continue reading...Bonding Videos from Ignite What’s Next
25. September 2008
In between the Atlanta and Boston stops on the Ignite What’s Next Tour, Alex Pardee posted some pics on his blog. You could probably alternately title the tour: The Triple D tour (for Drinking, Drawing and Depravity). Looks like total fun, and damn could I use a Sparks right now after getting up early to try to secure aspects of a certain mini-figure set from online shops in different timezones. In any event, looks like Alex [tagged], Sam Flores [tagged] and N8 Van Dyke [tagged] had a blast. Meanwhile, I learned that N8 is crazy tall (and possibly just plain crazy), and one should always check behind a crappy framed painting in a seedy motel because a trio of ToyCyte’s favorite artists may have secretly enhanced it. The guys head for Phoenix next. Check ‘em out October 3rd and 4th at The Marquee Theatre.
Boston video directed and edited by Alex Tarrant
Atlanta video directed and edited by Alex Tarrant
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Continue reading...The Awesomeness of the Rotofugi Commerical
19. September 2008
I’m really sick of McDonald’s, Honda Prelude and Viagra commercials. You know what we need more of on our TVs? Commercials for things we really care about like the toy store and gallery Rotofugi. Well, you won’t see it sandwiched between My Name is Earl and The Office any time soon, but you can see an amazing ad for Rotofugi online (here).
The concept for “Collect Something” was created by Chicago’s Country Club, produced by RSA Films and directed by Acne Films. There was a contest held by the National Cinemedia with the commercial being the treasured prize. It was originally produced in 2007 but is now just making the rounds online.
Continue reading...Bleep Labs Custom Thingamagoop Robots
16. September 2008
I first saw Bleeplabs‘ Thingamagoop robots at The Maker Faire (pic of Bots at bottom of page), and thanks to a heads up from Spanky Stokes, you, too, can see (and own) a Thingamagoop.
Bleeplabs has joined forces with Delicious Drips to release the first ever DIY Thingamagoop. This version will feature a matte white or black finish for easy painting, plus a mystery bag of Thingamafaces. The Thingamagoops are simple, analog synthesizers that you control in a different way. Instead of using a keyboard, the main oscillator in the Thingamagoops is controlled by a photocell. When there is a lot of light hitting it, the resistance across the photocell goes up and the oscillator yields a higher pitch. Less light lowers the resistance and pitch. Not only can you use the speaker inside the Thingamagoops to listen to crazy beeping nonsense, you can also use the 1/4inch ouput jack to plug it up to all kinds of things. Plug it into some guitar effects and an amp for some indescribable electronic madness. Maybe now I can join Jon Burgerman’s band!
DIY Thingamagoops are made of aluminum and covered in glossy vinyl They are available in matte white and black for $120 here. You can also customize the front, back and LED light colors online and have one shipped to you directly from here.
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Continue reading...Thunderdog Studio Online Store Open for Business
15. September 2008
Get out the scissors and get ready to break the seal on a brand new ecommerce site for you to spend your hard cash at. Thunderdog Studios has just opened up their brand on-line store. Check it out here. Right now they have the following items in stock:
Thundermutt 14.5 by Tristan Eaton, Stephen Bliss, Andrew Rae and Dave Needham. This set was made in collaboration with Bernstein & Andriuli, Inc. There is a limited edition of 100 each. They also have a “Blind Assortment” works of art hidden inside the head of the figures but there are only 3 out of 10 that have the artwork in them. $30 each.
The BROTHERS IN ARMS Silk-Screen Poster features a mash-up of art by Kid Acne, 123 Klan, Calma, Tristan Eaton & David Flores. There was a limited edition of 100 of these and they were designed and produced for the Brothers In Arms Tour that went to Brasil this last summer.
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Continue reading...Kidrobot x Paramount Coming To A Theater Near You
11. September 2008
Kidrobot has branched beyond toys to jewelry, clothing and handbags and now, through a deal between Paramount Pictures and Wildbrain (the company responsible for some of KR’s adverts and Yo! Gabba Gabba!), Kidrobot’s creations will go from vinyl to celluloid.
What is being referred to as a “series of feature films mixing animation and live action” will be generated through Nickelodeon Movies and produced by Scott Aversano, who has a background with Nickelodeon and MTV. Paul Buditz will executive produce, along with Bob Higgins and Charles Rivkin of Wildbrain.
Variety reports that “the plan is to draft a writer to pen a story about ordinary kids who are transported into the edgy world populated by the Kidrobot creatures.” Hey! Writer right here!
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Continue reading...
21. November 2008
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