KIDROBOT
PLUG-IN TOYCON REPORT DAY 1
by Gregory B
Hong
Kong, April 19, 2002 -- The
Hong Kong Plug In Toyfair is a Toycon “special,” a
mini-expo focusing on local Hong Kong artists, designers and
a few resellers. Therefore, only smaller companies and individuals.
No Medicom, Dragon or even Three Zero or Hot Toys. Only a total
of fewer than 30 booths. This toy fair been quite anticipated
with rumor and speculation in the local urban lifestyle press
(East Touch magazine, Milk magazine). The excitement was evidenced
by the line of over 100 people eagerly waiting more than an
hour before the doors opened! Some of my friends got Kidrobot
into the show an hour before the doors opened, so we got to
see what's new & talk to the artists before the rush began.
With no surprises, Michael Lau’s crazysmiles booth
immediately became the top destination inside the exhibition
hall. The green-and-white striped booth was situated on the
edge of the hall, next to the VIP room. Outside, 3 young guys
with crazysmiles t-shirts and serious expressions made sure
that no one got to the booth’s window quite yet. Another
Michael Lau-only line cued and ran more than the length of the
exhibition. These folks would get first pick of two totally
new crazysmiles figures, but they would have to wait about 2
hours to get their goodies.
As expected, a new 9” version of Lamdog was introduced.
This figure was previewed this week in East Touch and Milk magazines.
It is similar in shape and sculpting style to the 2001 “Concert
Edition,” but comes equipped with a soccer ball, jersey
and custom grassy stand. His head shape is essentially the same
as the other 9-incher, but he is fully decked-out in green-and-white-striped
soccer gear, and his legs are semi-fixed in a kicking position.
There is quite a bit of articulation in his upper-body, and
the ball goes anywhere you throw it. Finally, the box is nice
and huge (approx 10”w x 13”h x 6”d), features
a 09Lamdog shaped die cut window, and is green-and-white-striped.
There were two major surprises as well as one minor one. First
off, 09 Lamdog Soccer comes in SEVEN fully different
variants. Each has a slightly different paint treatment on its
head, primarily different styles of facial hair. As the box
has a die cut window, one can see what he/she is getting, which
is a change from the t-shirt variants of the last 9” LD.
I didn’t get a conclusive count, but it looks like they
were limited to 300 pieces per variant for the show. They were
sold out within a few hours, even with a limit of one piece
per design per customer
The minor surprise is that the Lamwing was reissued and
offered to Lamdog customers. A random assortment of variants.
At least 4 different diaper designs: white, pink, silver, and
(you guessed it) green-and-white-striped.
Finally, crazychildren #14 (d) was released! Meet the
pig, the smallest crazychild to date, and the only one with
multiple variants - 7 different colors in a blind assortment.
The pig shares “pixilated” eyes and nether reigions,
minimal fabric clothing, and a rough-hewn sculpting style with
the latest 3 crazychildren. It is approx. 2.5” tall, 3.5”
long and has minimal articulation, but may somehow be the most
endearing of all the crazychildren. The box is approx 2.75”
x 2.75” x 5” with a full-color pixilation pattern.
Each customer was limited to one piece per design, but one couldn’t
make a choice in design.
The other major vinyl celeb, Eric So and his company
Estate, was a no-show. This disappointing news was hinted
at in his absence from the earlier magazine coverage, but only
confirmed when the doors opened. I have heard no explanation
so far.
The most exciting trend at this year’s show is an abundance
of new designs featuring stylized, Urban Vinyl influenced 1/6th
scale (12”) figures. Brothersfree, Jason Siu,
Pazo Art (Pal Wong), Jason Ng and others all had
12 inch figures in various stages of development. Mostly one-off
prototypes, but there were several available for delivery within
weeks.
Brothersfree’s Smart and Seven have been
delayed a month or so, but the latest production tests were
on display, and they were beautiful. Both as carefully sculpted
and highly detailed as their predecessors, Baby, Popeye
and Bomb. Apparently, the intricate tattoo patterns have
complicated production quality issues, and thus delayed the
release. They will be available initially in a gray variant
and will be undoubtedly worth the wait.
Probably
the sweetest eye candy at the show was also found behind Brothersfree
glass. Brothersjoker, a new prototype series from these
mad geniuses, debuted today. The 7 new figures are a team of
psychotic looking clowns with absolutely mind-blowingly detailed
clothing and accessories. These guys would be at home in any
nightmare, but they are so stunningly clever and beautiful that
you will just need them when you see them. They are truly works
of art.
The Brothers’ have no idea if and when they will be produced,
but it won’t be before the entire Brothersworker series
is released. For those of us who can’t wait a minute longer
for something from the Brothers’, a new Brothersworker
vinyl Ah-uhm and Ah-gum variant is now available
in a white Milk Magazine edition. All their products are being
manufactured by Hot Toys.
Stay tuned for tomorrows update on Toy2R, Jason Siu
as well as newer artist that you might not of heard of. Oh yeah,
there might be some new crazysmiles news too...
