KK collab updates

Just a wee update that both the current KK exclusive collabs (with Max Toy and Grody Shogun) have made huge jumps forward this week. Sometimes projects take a while to come together, but we are definitely getting there! :O)

KK Reviews: Cadaver Kid

Welcome to the first edition of Kajju Korner's newest series: KK Reviews. We're proud to start the series off with a bang by showing you this amazing one-off Cadaver Kid, sent in by Splurrt.


Cadaver Kid is Splurrt's first sofubi toy. The character, which debuted just a few months ago, is already proving a big hit with fans from Tokyo to New York (aka Splurrt HQ). Versions have been quickly snatched up online and at shows, including its most recent showing at Super Festival 57.

The figure is about 4" tall, but don't let its size fool you. Cadaver Kid is tremendously detailed and, with three points of articulation (head and both arms) it has a lot of poseability.

In addition to an eye for very fine detail, Joe, the mastermind behind Splurrt, has a subtle paint palette. So to do the figure justice, I shot it outside, on a beautiful fall afternoon under a gorgeous blue Tokyo sky.

One of the things I really like about this toy is, no matter how you pose it, it stands firmly and doesn't topple over. That's a testament to excellent design work, since the figure has a robust head and body, but small feet. The weight balance is excellent.

These shots reveal the level of care that went into the sculpt and design from all sides. From the lumpy skull to the protruding musculature of the lower left side of Kid's face, you really get a sense that this creature was patched together from different body parts.

More after the jump:

Blobpus x MVH Debut Enma

Kaji-san (Blobpus) recently rolled out his debut production version of Enma, which features Kaji-san's head sculpt on Mutant Vinyl Hardcore's Ollie body. (Click here for my write up on the Enma back story and here to see the first Enma customs by Kaji-san.)

For the debut production release, the whole run, which was made to order, was painted by Kaji-san. Here are some bagged, loose, and close up shots of this phenomenal figure.

 Header close ups:

From all sides:

More after the jump:

Real Head Triple Headers

Baseball has double headers. Transformers has triple changers. And Real Head has triple headers.

Over the last two years, some of the most exciting figures from RxH have come from collaborations with a group of very talented artists. They've painted RxH figures, re-envisioned core characters, and designed heads, body parts, and weapons to attach to RxH bodies.

I thought it might be fun to take a look at a unique group of these figures: the Triple headers.

The first of these (and one of the earliest RxH crossovers), was this head by Skulltoys:

Not only does the sculpt go perfectly with the body, but the figure has a very literal demonic character. It's like something that walked out of the shadows of a hellish nightmare.

Recently, Mirock Toys (one of my very favorite RxH collab gurus) designed three new Asroman heads for the core RxH standard sized body.

These three were released at Super Festival 57. From left to right: Asroman #2, #3, and #1

What I love about these is the way they continue with the religious iconography Mirock toys has become known for. The slightly bulging, bulky heads, as well as their matching headdresses, conjure images of a wood or stone temple idol (available now at iTunes).

More after the jump:

Super Festival 57

Today's Super Festival was held on a gorgeous autumn day. Maybe because of the season, or because enough time has passed since 3/11, but this event had far more new releases, new sculpts, and new exhibitors than the previous SF. Everyone was in good spirits, and, like with all SFs, once the opening rush died down, people just hung around, chatted, and had a good time.

This was the first time I was able to put my new camera to the test, and it pulled through really nicely. I was able to take some creative angled and macro shots that I wouldn't even dare try with my previous rig.

One of the highlights of the show for me was meeting Mr. Tatsuhiko Akashi, Medicom's boss. I thanked him for everything he's done to support indie sofubi, and he surprised me by saying he's a Kaiju Korner reader!

Well, without further ado, here's Kaiju Korner's SF 57 report (about 240 photos this time), with pics arranged by maker. (Click on each pic to see the full size.) Enjoy!

Astrozombies

Only the blue and brown (both GID) were sold at SF.

Pushead signing a header card

200+ pics after the jump:

Bwana Spoons x Martin Ontiveros Sleep it Off show @ Thrashout

Today, Bwana and Martin's new custom/art show opened at Thrashout, Gargamel's flagship store in Koenji. This may be the last show at the shop, which may be closing for good soon. The pair gave the legendary store a mighty send off with loads of customs and paintings.

The waitroom.

Pulled a nice number this time. :)

Customs and paintings:

More after the jump:

New from Uamou (9.23.2011)

Didn't take us long to get back on the sofubi track!

Here's the latest from Uamou. (And also the first photo shoot using my new camera. Huzzah!)



Lurvely!

 More after the jump:

Back in Tokyo..

Sorry for the lack of new content recently. I just got back to Tokyo yesterday, on the heels of a massive typhoon. Still playing catch up. The good news, toy wise, is this weekend is a doozy. There's the Bwana/Martin show at Thrashout, followed by SF 57 Sunday. I'm also going to try to make it out to Aoto one day, so hopefully a nice Real Head update for you too. Plus next week I'll start rolling out a new Review series.

Up next: Bwana Spoons x Martin Ontiveros show @ Thrashout

Assuming the upcoming typhoon doesn't throw the week's flights for too much of a loop, I should be able to make it to the upcoming Thrashout show, which will feature Bwana and Martin's work. In a nod to everyone's nocturnal, rays of morn fearing ways, the show (which opens on Saturday) starts at 3:00 PM.

Looking forward to using the S95 in the ultimate low-light shop challenge. ISO 1000 this! ^_^

Stickers and updates!

The new stickers are in! Shot with a new camera and posted on a new laptop. I'll be adding these and the "classic" KK stickers to upcoming exclusive shipments. Also, if you see the KK crew at a toy show, give us a holler, and we'll hook you up.

Also just got some good news about one of the upcoming KK exclusive releases. So that's moving forward nicely.

While in Taipei, I've snapped shots of the big toy shops. I'll get those up in a bit.

Finally, KK is about to launch a new Reviews section. With my shiny new Canon S95 in hand, the colors and clarity should be really nice, so I can do the figures justice.

So, lots going on recently, and there are a couple of shows next week in Tokyo. I'll try to make it to Bwana/Martin's Sleep it Off show at Thrashout on 9/24. Then of course Superfestival 57 is on 9/25.

Ganbarimasu!

Velocitron x Splurrt for Superfestival 57

Ricky of Velocitron sent in pics of this special edition of Cadaver Kid that's being released at the upcoming Superfestival 57. The figures, painted by Ricky, will retail at 4000 yen at the show. A few pieces will also be sold in the US through Splurrt.

Juicy!

Itokin Park Robo Suit Boy resin figure

Itokin Park's earliest toys were a series of resin toys. Some were later redesigned and made into sofubi figures. Others, like Kawadouji, were only released in resin. Here's a look at Robo Suit Boy, a resin figure that was the precursor to the sofubi character Nano.

Like other IP resin figures, Robo Suit Boy came with a backdrop.

 Closeups:

 More after the jump:

Ugly Unicorn first painted releases

Jon of Rampage Toys sent in these shots of the first painted releases of Ugly Unicorn, which will be released at Superfestival 57 on 9.25.2011. Really digging the purple one. Nice work, Jon!

The blue/purple/pink/white figure is called "Allsorts Liquorice Ugly." (limited to 5 pcs)

The brown rub/red/green/etc figure is called "Poppy Goji Ugly." (limited to 7 pcs)

New banner!

Designed by Kaiju Korner Irene. We hope you like it!

Next article: Playtimes magazine

My next article will be a piece for Playtimes magazine. It will be a pictoral guide to Tokyo's biggest toy shows. The landscape has changed quite a lot in recent years, so toy hunters traveling to Japan will want to check it out for the run down on how/when/where to get the newest toys!

The piece is slotted to appear in Playimes 4, scheduled for a November release.

Yokata!

Gargamel Micros

 

Despite their 1" size, Gargamel's growing line of micro figures features highly detailed sculpts. Most are released unpainted. The painted versions are tough to get, but they're really well done. In the past, micros have been sold in gatcha machines, lucky bags, and as bagged/carded single figures or in multi-figure sets. Sometimes, members of the Gargamel crew also paint one-offs and micro runs.

Here's a closeup look at some classic and recently released micros:

Unpainted

 Painted

The newest micro characters from 2011 SDCC

Heading to Taiwan...

I'm flying to Taiwan tomorrow, so the blog posts may be a wee scant over the next week. I'll do my best to put up photos and info, and of course if I see anything interesting toy wise in Taipei. I'll post it up!

Paul Kaiju Toy Karma 3 customs

Toy Karma 3, which opened on Saturday, September 10, looks like an amazing show. Paul Kaiju sent in these shots of 3 customs he did for the show:

“Amoeba Face” Salamander Joe

“Ape Phase” Salamander Joe

Citrus Boss