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:
Now let's move in for a closer look.

From the bulging eyes to the recessed gums and protruding nuts and bolts, Cadaver Kidd has a multi-layered, textured feel. The folds and scratches in its skin add to this organic quality, so what you have is a character, not a statue.

Plus, take a look at the individual stitches! It would have been easy to phone this part of the character in, but Joe didn't, and it's attention to fine details like this make the figure stand out.

Speaking of character, from the versions we've seen so far, as well as the excellent planned release for NY Comic Con, it's clear Cadaver Kid has legs. It isn't easy to craft a character that is both highly detailed, well defined, and with the potential for multiple realizations through different designs and color applications. But I think the Kid is one of those characters. (Other smaller figures with a lot of potential for variability, like Beetlar, come to mind.)

But you know, despite the Kid's ghoulish nature, you get the feeling he's more at home hanging out with friends or living it up in the great outdoors.

What a grin!

Personally, I'm really looking forward to seeing what's next with Cadaver Kid and Splurrt toys. To check out more of Joe's work, click here for his website and here for his flickr. You can also follow him on Twitter: @Splurrt

Well, I hope you enjoyed this debut installment of KK reviews. We've already got more toys line up to show you in the coming weeks. If you'd like to send in your sofubi toy for review, drop us a line: kaijukornerandy@gmail.com