I am often amazed by the style, design and humor of these little asian inspired dudes, check out some of these sites, if your into this sort of design suggest some links etc
KidRobot
http://www.kidrobot.com/shop.php
Kidrobot is planet Earth’s premier creator and retailer of limited-edition art toys, mini-figures, posters, clothing, action figures and more!
Kubrick
http://www.kubrick.nl/
Imagine strolling through Tokyo, the epicentre for any anime–, videogame–, or toyfan. You’re shopping in the Harajuku district and you already have your backpack filled to the brim with cellphone straps, dvd’s, figures from all the vending machine you just can’t avoid and a couple of new games. Then, when you think it’s been a great day and decide to go to a McDonald’s for a quick Teriyaki burger, you pass a little shopwindow displaying Star Wars figures like you’ve never seen before. They remind you of Lego and Playmobil, but these are way cooler..
PodBrix
http://podbrix.com/index.php
PodBrix sells modified minifigs inspired by the popular ad campaign for portable music players. In the future we may branch out to other related minifigs. He starts with a standard LEGO® brand minifig and modify it by hand to create the desired appearance. Each one is slightly different.
Ugly Dolls
http://www.uglydolls.com/
Artist created Uglydolls by Pretty Ugly, LLC the entire line of plush stuffed characters including uglydoll keychains. etc
Few Many
http://www.fewmany.com/features/20051010/index_e.htm
Few Many has a show in Tokyo called "TOY2R EXPO" (Toys Save Children). Half the profits will be donated directly to the UNICEF. This is really the most interesting collection of 'designer' toys I've ever seen-- with literally dozens to choose from. All the toys are originals and are for sale online through PayPal. If you're a hardcore toy collector, you should be all over this-- there are some really great designs. The show starts Monday October 10th and runs through Sunday the 16th.
http://www.kubrickworld.com/resources.php
Another Online Store, this time in the US
And a great show of Lunch boxes that have been used by designers, artists etc as their canvas...
http://www.lalalandgallery.com/
http://www.strangeco.com/index_home.html
THE STRANGECO MANIFESTO
STRANGEco liberates mass-produced products from the ordinary confines of the toy box. We love toys, and we love art. Can't they just get along? Sure can, right here at STRANGEco!
STRANGEco produces original art toys, distributes new and original design objects and commisions exclusive versions of the best designs from the new breed of toy artists worldwide.
STRANGEco will continue to promote art toys wherever they are designed and produced. Our website is the source for fresh information about the intersection of contemporary art, designer toys, curious happenings and beyond.
STRANGEco won't stop until every freedom-loving comrade has a Designer Toy on their shelf, computer, kitchen counter or hi-fi console.
Toy Culture - TOY SHOWS & EXHIBITS, PROFILES, ETC
http://www.strangeco.com/ToyCulture.html
Check out their links page
http://www.strangeco.com/links.html
Here are some more vinyl stuff, a blog with ton's of stuff, and tokidoki which is cool, but they have even moved product into the myer basement... to they are looking very commercial... which may or may not be a good thing...
Daily News About Designer Toys
http://www.vinylpulse.com
Pixie Gallery and Concept Shop in Taipei, Taiwan.
http://www.pixie.com.tw/
blog in taiwanese http://www.pixie.com.tw/blog/
Mooooooooooofia! at pixie... tw
Theme by tokidoki
http://www.customize.org/details/32866
You can use this code on your own blog or on millions of other sites on the internet. Simply copy and paste the code below the image you want to use into your blog post or other website that accepts basic HTML, then write your thoughts above or below it.
http://www.threadless.com/blogproduct/42/Tokidoki
Tokidoki
Italian illustrator Simone Legno. His world and creations for a concept he calls ‘tokidoki’ (Japanese for ’sometimes’) are visually arresting. Color, whimsy, anime, wonder, sex–it’s all a part of Legno’s philosophy. He says he chose the name because:
‘Everyone waits for moments that change one’s destiny. By simple chance or meeting a new person, tokidoki is the hope, the hidden energy everyone has inside that gives us the strength to face a new day and dream something positive, that something magical will happen to us.’
If you haven’t seen any of Legno’s work previously, that’s about to change. His images are currently being licensed for everything from handbags to iPod cases.
handbags
http://www.lesportsac.com/external/toki … pring.html
iPod cases
http://www.iskin.com/vibes_features.html
He created recently a set of three vinyl figurines produced by STRANGEco. The collection is called ‘Cactus Friends’. My favorite is the dog, who is affectionately known as Bastardino. Here he is along with his friends Sandy and Sabochan:
via http://www.obliquity65.com
Here is a designer site with some great character styles.... 2D flat world
watchme
character design
http://www.azuldecorso.com.ar/watchme/index.htm
US Seller of vinyl toys... has online store, forum and blog...
http://www.fugitivetoys.com/
Art and CULTURE BLOG
http://www.juxtapoz.com
ToyTokyo's Showroom NYC
http://www.theshowroomnyc.com/
In High St Malvern Melbourne | Mainstream stuff
http://www.gofigurecollectables.com.au/
Pee and Poo: The Unflushables
I know some of you wouldn’t as much as entertain the idea of buying someone the gift of Pee and Poo; I however, wouldn’t think twice– especially after the amazing feedback I got from people the other night when I brought Pee and Poo as a gift to a charity toy drive as part of the Fox Theater’s Christmas party. I kept a vigilant eye on Pee and Poo in the toy bin, and it was amusing — to say the least — to see peoples’ reactions when they went to drop the standard board game or Barbie off at the bin. Pee and Poo were so popular in fact, that they remained on the very top of the pile throughout the night, displayed prominently, with a circle of ‘fans’ huddling around them. True, drunk adults have an affinity for dirty humor, but I would even buy these guys for a child. I did, after all, grow up reading books like ‘Everyone Poops,‘ by Taro Gomi. Didn’t you all? Either way, I take my hat off to Swedish designer Emma Megitt for having such a healthy sense of humor.
http://shop.peeandpoo.com/shopfront.asp
Everyone Poops
Author: Gomi, Taro
Illustrator: Gomi, Taro
http://www.kanemiller.com/book.asp?sku=25&sc=1
http://www.medialynx.co.jp/artists/gomi … mtr-e.html
Here are some more good stores etc online....
http://www.fuzzyballsapparel.com/
http://www.bravelanddesign.com/
http://www.myplasticheart.com/
http://www.dreamlandtoyworks.com/
http://www.robotsalad.com
http://www.scifu.com
Website | home
http://www.joyengine.com/
Online store
http://www.joyengine.com/joystore/index.aspx
Our good friends at Joy Engine (Boulder’s buzziest boutique and art gallery)have been running high on zing and low on zzz’s as they put the final touches on freshest addition to the family: an online extension of the store that will share the store’s designer toys, men’s and women’s clothing, and original artwork with parts of the planet not lucky enough to actually walk into the magic that is Joy Engine. So far, a decent selection of their merchandise is represented online, with artwork from favorites like Jason Thielke and Shannon Bonatakis, tons of toys, and some of Joy’s own “most raddest” clothing designs. The severely talented artists/designers that keep the Engine purring like a kitty are always working hard on new designs, so as the weeks go by keep an eye out for the latest– things come in limited quantities over there, and the good stuff never lasts long.
http://www.joshspear.com/?s=thielke&x=0&y=0
http://www.shannonbonatakis.com/
http://www.fusshop.co.uk
FUSSSHOP UK some nice stuff... enjoy
This is our blog... Here you will find the latest news and additions to the FUSShop, as well as general stuff that we just wanted to tell you about. To keep up to date with the news, click the orange icon and paste the RSS link into your newsreader. If you haven't got one, we recommend you do.
http://www.fusshop.co.uk/blog.html
Our friends over the pond at FUSShop have released their new Saviour T-shirt designs for Summer 07, and amongst the new lineup is this, the famous U.K. graffiti artist Banksy in his infamous disguise. The close up shots of the T’s reveal their worn and comfy feel, and you have to love what they’ve done with an icon here– celebrating the guy who single handedly raised property values in London’s trendy Shoreditch area with his stencils and spray can. While everything in Banksy’s personal shop is free, this T is going to cost you a pretty penny once you convert 29.99 Pounds Sterling to U.S. D’s, but for you hard core Banksy fans out there, I’d say it’s well worth the cost. BTW– it also comes in kelly green.