ToyCyte: Toy Culture Collected

Along with news of Chris Ryniak’s Lake Monster and Travis Lampe’s Tear Drips comes word of another Rotofugi and Squibbles Ink collaboration. Marshall Series 1 is  a new art toy project by Michigan-based artists 64 Colors. Marshall burst onto the scene in January 2008 when 64 Colors released a letter-pressed print of their new character with Letter Pressed. Quoth Rotofugi: “The Marshall shown on the print was equal parts cute and sadistic, one of our favorite combinations.”

Like the Tear Drips, Marshall will be released as blind box toys. Bah! More blind box toys, why? I like the Letter Pressed Marshall and the other Rotofugi collabs but Marshall as a vinyl toy, how can I put this delicately…Dunny with a marshmallow head? Even the name Marshall Mashumaro recalls Korea’s answer to Sanrio, Mashimaro. This platform will depend largely on its designs since the shape itself is so similar to many cute vinyl minis already out there. There’s talk of a DIY version, which could yield some nice custom work on that wide expanse of his head. As an added bonus, Marshall’s been to Tokyo and has the photos to prove it. These are due out later this year, but “if the gods at UPS and customs smile upon us we’ll have a Marshall Special Release at Wondercon 2009 [this weekend] at booth #1135.” Like all of the new Rotofugi x Squibbles releases, Marshall has his own blog at www.marshalltoys.com.