Fatcap series 3 launch at Kidrobot LDN…

Last night saw the worldwide release of the much anticipated third series of Kidrobot’s Fatcaps. Celebrating the launch, Kidrobot LDN (along with a host of other official Kidrobot retailers across the globe) held a trading party at their central London store, with featured artist Jon Paul Kaiser on hand to kick proceedings off. We headed down to the massive event to have a quick chat with the man himself, score a case of Fatcaps, and hunt down Rich of UME to find out a little more about that upcoming JPK x Run DMB x UME project X (more to come later today!)…

(Myself and JPK @Fatcap series 3 launch, Kidrobot LDN)

The 20 designs (plus 2 case exclusives) are some of the strongest we’ve seen so far (Kronk’s Stormtrooper and JPK’s spaceman are quite simply AWESOME!), so make sure you pick up a few before they disappear. Priced at $9.95 each, the blind boxed 3″ vinyl figures can be procured from any official Kidrobot retailer, or alternatively, Kidrobot.com as from today (January 27th)…

(2 Kronk Stormtroopers and the JPK variant from last night’s hoard!)

Featured Fatcap series 3 artists: Devious, Flying Fortress, Jon Paul Kaiser, Julie West, KaNO, Kronk, MCA, Montana Colors, Pez, Queen Andrea, Quisp, Scribe, Shok 1, and Sket One.

Check back next week for an exclusive interview with man-of-the-moment, Jon Paul Kaiser, on his latest Kidrobot and Toy2R releases, his legendary b/w style, and what we can expect in 2012…

Tiger and Cow ‘stache Labbit plushes from Frank Kozik x Kidrobot…

Set to drop February 9th at all Kidrobot retailers, the Tiger and Cow ‘stache Labbit plushes are the latest additions to Frank Kozik’s massive line. Both Tiger and Cow editions come in 7″ and 14″ sizes, retailing at $17.95 and $39.95 respectively.

Tiger ‘stache Labbit-

Cuddly and dangerous, the Tiger Labbit (aka Labittus Tigrus Rotundii) is the ferociously furry plush version of the iconic Kozik character we love. Looking dashing in front of any fireplace, Tiger Labbit has a fire orange coat, black stripes, white belly, and swanky brown stache’. Totally harmless unless he attacks, Tiger Labbit will keep you warm at night… just sleep with your tranquilizer gun loaded.

Cow ‘stache Labbit-

Who could ask for anything more in a plush pal? With a signature swanky stache’, the Cow Labbit (akaLabbitus Bos Taurus) is a furry bullish version of the iconic Kozik character we love. Great for tipping and delicious with Worcestershire, Cow Labbit is an important part of the nutritional pyramid, and really the only friend you need.


America’s Back: Obama x Hulk sculpt from Ron English…

Recently revealed over at Clutter Magazine, America’s Back is the latest sculpture to come from Ron English. Coinciding with the release of his latest song (lyrics below) of the same name, there is no news as to wether the Obama x Hulk sculpt will ever make it to production- we’re keeping fingers and toes crossed, this could be the ultimate addition to anyone’s pop-centric toy collection!

Check out the link here to have a listen to the track…

Wall Street still runs on greed

The North still wants the South to secede

Justice swings from the Judas tree

Hope is still what the country needs

 

Turn the page, fade to black

Look out world, America’s back

 

Attack Iran, attack Iraq

Now we can’t put the toothpaste back

Back back back back

Who’s got your back?

 

The world got smaller, the world got flatter

The rich got richer, the poor got fatter

What does it prove, what does it matter

When the whole world’s mad as a hatter

 

Mind over matter, matter of fact

Mad as a hatter, to be exact

She’s back back back back back

America’s back


Voltaire’s Deadly Bunee Mini Qees from Toy2R…

After much speculation, the latest additions to Voltaire’s extensive range of 5″ Mini Qees have been confirmed as Deady and arch-nemesis Sleetzer in Bunee form. Coming from Toy2R sometime this April, edition size and availability are still to be confirmed, but we’re guessing that regardless of quantity, these, as with all Voltaire/Toy2R releases, will sell out quick.

Head over to Toy2R’s site for more details…

Sleezter Bunny (Deady’s comic book nemisis) is coming and hes bringing his posse of evil legions of Death Bunnies with him to help take over da worldddddd!

 

New Feature// The custom round-up…

Whilst we endeavour to cover all of the latest production and self-made projects the art toy movement has to offer, one of the most important aspects of the scene is often neglected- custom toys. In our new weekly feature, we’ll be rounding up the best custom pieces the scene has to offer, including further links to featured artist’s work, availability, and pricing…

To kick the feature off, we be delving into the latest work from NemO, Matt Jones, Chris Ryniak, and Kevin Gosselin to name but a few… Hope you enjoy!

Mr. AZ custom 5″ MAD*L by Kevin Gosselin

Heralded as one of the most skilled and imaginative customisers in the scene, Kevin Gosselin has just revealed his latest privately commissioned piece, the custom 5″ MAD*L Mr. AZ. Head over to Kevin’s site here for custom commission requests and one-off pieces.

Mr. AZ backstory-

It is not known who Mr. AZ is but the Hopi people in Kykotsmovi Village will tell you that one day this outsider began showing up asking for food and water. The outsider would appear every few days for about half of a year.  When he stopped the Hopi feared for his safety and set out to locate him.  They found he had created a permanent camp a few miles from their Village.  As he was not disturbing anyone they let him be but kept a careful watch over him.  In the next few years they would learn little of him. Where he came from and why he was here? Who was he protecting himself from with his primitive stone spear?  These are questions the Hopi have no answer for.

The Hopi would tell Mr. AZ that he was being cared for by Madl. In Hopi mythology, Madl is the Kachina spirit dedicated to the troubled soul seeking penance.  Madl watches over these souls and keeps them safe until they find inner peace.

Over time the Hopi believed Mr AZ did find peace and he devoted his life to the Kachina spirit Madl.  He has built a monument dedicated to the spirit and dwells within.

Boba Fett 10″ Teddy Troop custom by Jon Paul Kaiser

Revealed on Clutter Magazine, Jon Paul Kaiser treated us all to yet another beautiful custom piece this week, in the form of the privately commissioned Boba Fett 10″ Teddy Troop. Coming in his trademark graphic b/w style, the piece’s red accents really help to make this one stand out. JPK x Star Wars = guaranteed success!

Head over to Jon’s twitter feed for any custom requests, and check his Flickr for a huge collection of past works. We’ll be posting an exclusive interview with the man himself next week, so stay tuned!

The “156st Dskunk Squad” custom Squadt by Dust

Previewed last week, German customiser Dust has finally revealed full pics of his latest custom, the “156st Dskunk Squad” custom Squadt. Currently winging its way to one lucky collector, the custom Squadt comes replete with custom guns, knives, and diorama, finished in Dust’s trademark weathered style. Head over to the artist’s site here for more details on custom requests.

JuJu the Witch Doctor Clown custom 8″ Dunny by JFury

Coming with one of the first customs of Jesse Hernandez’s new “Calavera” Dunny, artist Justin P. aka JFury revealed his latest piece this week, JuJu the Witch Doctor. Painted in a beautiful white, blue, red, and gold colour scheme, there’s no news yet as to the availability of the toy, but check Justin’s twitter feed for more info on his work.

“Lapin dans une Tasse de Thé“ custom Eeerz by Matt Jones

Coinciding with Thursday’s launch of the second leg of the Eeerz DIY Tour at Artoyz, Matt Jones aka Lunartik, has just revealed his second custom for the show, the  “Lapin dans une Tasse de Thé“. A mixture of Eeerz Rabbid and Lunartik in a Cup of Tea, the “French impressionist artist” should be available to purchase through Matt’s store at the end of the tour.

The Navigator custom 8″ Dunny from Hugh Rose

Revealed on the Kidrobot forums yesterday, The Navigator is the latest custom 8″ Dunny from Guernsey based artist, Hugh Rose. Created to reflect the nautical history of his island, the stunningly painted figure was inspired by the artist’s contribution to the ‘Icons’ custom toy show at Leeds back in October.

No news as to the availability of the toy, but head over to Hugh’s site with any custom requests.

The Navigator backstory-

The navigator is a mysterious fisherman who can sometimes be seen fishing off the coast of Guernsey, my island home. His knowledge of the treacherous local reefs and submerged rocks is unrivalled, and he has been fishing for so long that his beard is woven into a fishing net.

The fish he has caught in his beard is a fully functional wind-up toy, although it looks like his swimming days are over!

Doodle Budz customs from NemO

Bad Applez INC’s Mike Mendez aka NemO revealed his latest Doodle Budz customs in the form of Doodle Bat and Bluebud (the first of three tribesmen). Both of the 3.5″ vinyl toys are available to purchase now- the bat through the Bad Applez store for $45, and Bluebud through Tenacious Toys for $50.

Custom Horselington from Rsin

Just finished by Rsin this week comes the first of three Horselington customs that the artist will be working on in 2012. Unfortunately, this one was for a private commission, but head over to his twitter feed to find out the availability of the other two. Based on the beautiful sculpt and painting work of the first, we doubt they’ll be around for long…

Custom Bee Skelve by Chrisosaur

After the overwhelming response to his first custom Bee Skelve, Chrisosaur has announced that he will be working on a further three this year on top of the original privately commissioned piece. Available to pre-order through Chrisosaur’s shop here from Friday (January 27th), the figures will set you back $150 a piece.

Flocked Dog custom Stitch from Motorbot

Revealed on Motorbot’s twitter feed yesterday comes the latest, and sadly penultimate Stitch custom to come from the talented artist. Re-sculpting the muzzle and eyes, Motorbot has coated the dog custom in good, old fashioned black and white flocking, resulting in one of our favourite customs from the artist so far. No news as to the availability of the toy, but expect it to land on the Deadbear shop for around $110 soon.

Baby Blewgle custom Stitch from Chris Ryniak

Yet another Stitch custom was brought to light this week, in the form of Chris Ryniak’s Baby Blewgle. Created for Dragatomi’s Year of the Dragon show (launching February 11th), the intricately sculpted figure will be available to purchase at the end of the show on the Dragatomi store. Check their site here for more details…

Finger Five finger puppet art toys from Fig-Lab…

Just announced on the twitter feed of Fig-Lab’s head honcho, Datadub, the Finger Five series is the most unique art toy project from the company to date. Featuring five ‘finger puppet’ style figures, the series of 5 1.5″ tall toys have been designed by some of the scene’s biggest characters- Paul Kaiju, Suckadelic, MonstreHero, Onell Design, and L’amour Supreme, with 4 out of the 5 sculpts being created by Kaiju himself. Stay tuned for more info…

Red & black Rebel Ink vinyl toys from Secret-Base x SuperFest 58…

Released at TOYSHOW in Japan earlier this month (January 9th), Secret Base’s latest collaboration with Usugrow, the Rebel Ink figure, is now available to all who couldn’t attend the event. Coming in an exclusive red and black colourway, the 4″ tall vinyl toy can be purchased either through phone order (03-3403-8188), or via the online store for 11,500 JPY (around £90), with orders limited to one per customer.

Update// This week’s releases from Rampage Toys…

Today we bring you a few more details and near complete pics of the latest collaboration with Rampage Toys and Splurrt, the Cadaver kid. Limited to an edition of 10, the pink, yellow, white, and silver hand sprayed vinyl toys will be available exclusively through Rampage Toys’ Big Cartel here on Friday morning (January 27th, Japan time). There’s been a huge amount of interest in the figure, so be sure to check back regularly to be in with a chance of making the score!

Alongside Friday’s Cadaver Kids drop, Thursday will also see a release in the form of the RAMPAGE x Blurble “Pretty Ugly Unicorns”. Painted by Blurble with all manner of metallic and colour changing Monster Kolor paints, the 5 custom Ugly Unicorns will be available through the Toxic Kaiju Big Cartel here from 12 noon PST.

Updated// Siberian Tigrowl and Evil Lion-oh!! vinyl toys from Rotobox Vinyl x Kuso…

Posted on Kuso’s Facebook yesterday come the latest colourways from their popular collaboration with Rotobox Vinyl, the Thundercraps. Based on Rotobox’s trademark Spiki toy, the latest monochrome edition comes in the form of Siberian Tigrowl and Evil Lion-oh!!. Edition size, availability, and pricing are still to be confirmed, but guessing from the teaser pics there should be at least 50 of each of the two figures.

Head over to the Rotobox blog for more info…

UPDATE// Kuso have also announced the release of a completely new figure in the Thundercraps line in the form of Cheatarah. Pricing and edition size on the 3″ vinyl toy is unknown, but we’ll bring you more news as soon as it hits…

‘Strength’ custom resin Tuttz from Emily Bee…

Following her recent ‘Destroy’ custom Pharoah Hound (featured here last week), Emily Bee has just revealed photos of her latest custom project, the ‘Strength’ Tuttz (sculpted and cast by Eric of Argonaut Resins). The fourth in her series of Tuttz figures (see the rest of them here), ‘Strength’ will be available for purchase on Wednesday, January 25th 3pm EST at Emily’s store here (pricing undisclosed).

Strength may have a black heart, but he is surely not weak.  His name wraps around his neck, exuding power in a vulnerable area.  Strength stands strong during hard times that challenge him to the core, never wavering.

KAWS’ Partners by Original Fake x Medicom Toys…

KAWS’ latest release has just been revealed as the ‘Partners’ statuette from Original Fake x Medicom Toys. Featuring artist KAWS aka Brian Connelly and a cowering (beaten?!) Companion character, the sculpt is a take on Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse’s Disneyland statue of the same name (pictured below).

Whilst the subject matter is undeniably strange (what the hell is KAWS trying to say with this piece?!), no one can argue the quality of sculpt and finish- this is true Original Fake through and through. Priced at around $220, the statuette is set for release January 28th, with pre-orders now being taken through Toy Qube’s site here.

Exclusive// Interview with toy designer/creator Tesselate…

One of the UK art toy scene’s longest standing contributors, Tesselate’s beautifully minimal approach to design has cemented him as one of the most unique artists in the industry. Originally entering the ring as a customiser almost a decade ago, Tesselate has since gone on to produce several lines of hand made toys including the Keyeyes Yo, Metlex, and his most long running series, the Heartheads.

2012 has seen somewhat of a comeback for the artist, with the last 2 weeks seeing new batches of both the Keyeyes Yo and Valentine Heartheads, along with new additions, the Pressbots, arriving exclusively on his store. We managed to grab some time with the man himself to talk about his latest work, his inspirations, and the thinking behind his trademark ‘key’ design…

You’re one of the longest serving artists in the UK art toy scene, but what got you into the industry? 

I’ve always been into art and making things ever since I was a kid, so after finishing school I went into college on a basic Art & Design BTEC and was always interested in the 3d projects. This continued through to University where I completed an Industrial Design degree, where I had access to workshops and materials to my hearts desire.

My final major project was a kids music device called ED-IT, which along with some other earlier projects really began to define the style and feel of my designs since then. I love bold colours and characters.

(ED-IT by Tesselate)

Then in 2003 I was up in London and paid a visit to Playlounge and my girlfriend bought me a couple of QEE Series 3 figures. Once I was home I looked them up online and came across other people interested in the same stuff. I then got into the customising scene at first, working on the 3inch Qee’s which then inspired me to create my own characters.

(Custom/standard Question what? Trexi design, 2004- Tru:Tek personal collection)

What artists have inspired your work? Are there any particular people/collectives that you’re following at the moment?

I wouldn’t really say I’m directly inspired by any individual designers but more from my history of graphic /product design, but you could say designers such as Dieter Rams with his use of crisp shapes and minimalism, and Otl Aicher with a similar calculated feel and an amazing colour choice, have left their mark on me.

On the designer toy front, Map-Map always has me amazed with what he does, the level of detail is so insane they must take him so long. Eric over at Argonaut Resins really has an eye for sculpting and colourways, and I love the warped illustrations of Okimi (Kimiaki Yaegashi).

Also handy resources for visual goodness, like the Flickr stream of Insect54 (damn what a collection he must have) : http://www.flickr.com/photos/insect54

I also have to thank the 1980’s for being so amazing and always being a massive source of inspiration.

(Tesselate’s work space)

What challenges do you face as an independent toy designer/creator? How important is it to you to have full control over the processes involved?

I am someone who likes to have as much control over what I do, so it’s always great to find other likeminded people or suppliers who you know you can rely on. Plus it’s always fun taking a design from an initial sketch to the finished resin cast. You can’t beat it…

(George and his amazing blue dispensing machine by Tesselate)

Keyboard keys have featured heavily in your work over the past few years (various Keyeyes Yo, and the recently announced Keyth), is there a meaning behind their use?

I just love keys and buttons, and a physical press of a key will always beat any touchscreen for me. The key theme throughout some of my work began with the Tiny Hearthead Series Zero, which was a wooden character with steel arms and legs and two keyboard keys for eyes.

(Tiny Heartheads series 0 from Tesselate)

I had the idea whilst I was working for BT (spit) in a call centre, and they always had loads and loads of old pc’s / keyboards etc waiting to be chucked out. So one lunchtime I got hold of ten or so keyboards and plucked off all the keys into a bag and took them home. Then whilst messing around at home with concepts for my first figure, the keys just crept into the design.

(Keyeyes Yo- new series by Tesselate)

What can we expect from you in the future? Can you tell us a bit about your recently revealed Keyth project?

The upcoming design Keyth is basically a large oversize key. I haven’t got a lot further than that in finalising what the character will look like, but it’s on the way. I’ll drop some more works in progress on my Twitter and Flickr streams.

(Keyth WIP by Tesselate)

Any final words?

“Your jacket is now dry.”

(Chip custom Dunny by Tesselate)

Head over to Tesselate’s store for a wide selection of custom and hand made toys, including the latest batch of Keyeyes Yo, customisable Valentine Heartheads, and the newly released Pressbot 3 pack.

Website : http://madebytesselate.com/

Tesselate shop: http://tesselate.bigcartel.com/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/tesselate

Update// The Dominant Species from Hoakser…

Revealed in the Tru:Teknology Files a couple of weeks back, Hoaker’s Dominant Species custom wrestler figures are now available to purchase through his store here. Both standing at around 16cm tall, “Jack” and “Why Front?” come with 9 points of articulation for your posing pleasure…

Priced at £69.99 and £64.99 respectively, each figure comes with their own hand drawn sketch/piece that can be customised to order if you so wish. Check them out now- they’re not going to be around for long!

Union Jack was the first one I finished, he’s proud to be British and everything he sprays comes from inside..I handpainted him with acylics, after burning and mutilating him badly.. Something as graffiti artists we always try to do – burn toys!

Why front? Comes complete with a hand drawn illustration and certificate,  and is a completely unique model..to see how I made these figures check my blog post here.. He has loads of detail, including some nike trainers, battle damage and loads of gore.. -Hoakser

Pressbot resin toys from Tesselate…

Continuing his recent onslaught of toy releases, UK based artist Tesselate is proud to present his latest figure set, the Pressbots. Consisting of a pink, yellow, and blue figure, the hand cast and painted Pressbots come with a header card and two hand cut vinyl stickers. Retailing at £9 a set, the limited edition three pack can be purchased exclusively through Tesselate’s store here.

Pressbots are a mobile recording crew. With their high level audio and visual sensors, they record everything and anything they see. The only downside is that they will not share what they capture.

They mainly keep it for blackmail purposes.

Check back later today to read our exclusive interview with the man himself!

Website : http://madebytesselate.com/

Tesselate shop: http://tesselate.bigcartel.com/

Twitter : https://twitter.com/tesselate

Chinese New Year 2012 Android Mini Collectibles from DYZ Plastic…

Back after the success of last year’s God of Wealth Android mini figure, DYZ Plastic has just revealed their latest Chinese New Year edition Androids in the form of Fortune (祿), Blessing (福)  and Longevity (壽). Primarily intended for the Asian market, the 3 pack will be available in limited quantities at the following times/places-

The first batch will be available in the Dead Zebra Shop starting Wednesday, January 25th at 11AM Eastern Standard Time, whilst the second batch will go online Wednesday, January 25th at 11PM Eastern Standard Time. Sets will start shipping the week after…

Due to limited quantities, ordering is limited to one set per household. Head over to DYZ Plastic’s blog for more information…

The Cadaver Kid vinyl toy from Rampage Toys x Splurrt…

Revealed through Jon Malmstedt’s twitter feed yesterday, Rampage Toys are gearing up for another Friday drop this week in the form of Splurrt collaboration, the Cadaver Kids. Coming hand cast and sprayed by Jon, the figures have been limited to an edition of only 10- so be sure to hover around the Rampage store this coming Friday (January 27th) as these will fly fast!

No news yet of pricing or individual colour schemes, but we’ll feature any updates as soon as they hit…

THUG/SH Stormhammer vinyl toy from Unison Lab…

Chillean designer toy house Unison Lab has just revealed details of the second release in their THUG series, the THUG/SH Stormhammer “vehicle of extreme conflict”. Designed to be riden by Unison Lab’s THUG-GY 01 figure (available seperately), the 8″ tall figure has two points of articulation, comes with detachable drill, hammer, and robot hands, and is made from 100% eco-friendly vinyl (phthalate free, non toxic). Coming in two colourways, Red Fury Unit and DIY Black Unit, the figure can be purchased from DKE Toys’ registered retailers for $100 and $90 respectively.

To coincide with the Stormhammer’s release, an oversized DIY version of the original THUG-GY figure will also be made available. Standing at 5″ tall, the figure comes with a wide selection of accessories including a mask, body protector, glasses, nightvision goggles, and weapons.

Check the Unison Lab page for more info…

UPDATE// The Glyos “Buildstation” style vinyl Blocks from Onell Design…

Featured here in the Tru:Teknology Files a couple of weeks back, the Glyos Block finally went on sale through Onell Design’s store on Friday (January 20th), selling out within a matter of minutes. In our last post we found it hard to explain the overwhelming potential that these seemingly simple vinyl blocks had for customisation, so we’ve decided to include some examples that Onell Design’s in-house team have already created for your viewing pleasure.

Anyone still interested in purchasing the Block should head over to Onell’s blog for further information- whilst currently out of stock, I doubt it will be the last we see of  Glyos’ ultimate “Buildstation” style block…

Heavy Armored Block Trooper-Cane’s Custom Version! (below)

This meatball was created by lots of cutting and fitting, but using no adhesives. Everything was measured and installed using a knife and heat gun. Temperature manipulation makes things 100% easier when customizing with vinyl (and the regular PVC parts for that matter).

This figure is comprised of Armodoc parts, Rig parts, Block parts and Runner parts. I’ll have an exploded view up in the next few days. The Phase Cannons can slide off, revealing Armodoc arms. The Phase Blockers can be removed, as well as the Block “skirt” -which rests over an Armodoc inner pelvis assembly. The “head” is made from the back of the Runner (WARP Bike) and was originally conceived to be used for things like this. You can actually see a trace of a mechanical looking Pheyden face on this small piece, right down to the three “teeth”.

Makes sense that the front of a Warp Bike has the tough face of Callgrim and the bum is based on Pheyden’s bulbous noggin!

7Bones Crew’s Queeny from 3A Toys…

Regrettably missed out of our weekly toy round up yesterday, we thought we’d give you a quick run down on the latest Bambaland Store exclusive from 3A Toys. Coming in the form of the 1/6 scale Queeny, the beautifully detailed figure will be available to pre-order on January 30th at 9.00am HK for $120 (price includes worldwide shipping).

Hailing from the world of Popbot, the third member of the 7Bones crew, is also it’s first female- welcome, Queeny!

Custom Gold Unchartered Drake vinyl toy from ESCToy…

Just revealed by the guys over at ESCToy, the latest incarnation of their Unchartered Drake figure is set to drop next week on the ESCToy store here. Coming in a super limited custom gold paint job, the 7.5″ tall vinyl figure’s price point and edition size are still to be confirmed. Keep an eye on the ESCToy twitter feed and store for more information in the coming days.

Created by ESCToy’s Erick Scarecrow to celebrate the launch of Unchartered 3 on PS3, both the Scarecrow Blue and Naughty Dog editions of Drake are available to buy through the ESCToy store for $50 each.