New from Real Head (1.31.2012)

New Chaos Fighter Next:

Plus its clear!

 More after the jump:

New from Real Head (1.30.2012)

New releases:

 Kamen Rider tribute colorway, based on Kamen Rider Meteor from the currently airing season, Kamen Rider Fourze. (Thanks for the info Hatetriot!)

Just one of these

There were a couple of these with slightly different color apps

Peter Kato resins

I don't often get a chance to cover resin figures, mostly because they rarely cross my desk. But recently New York-based artist Peter Kato sent over a couple of his super cool figures, which are a ton of fun.

I first met Peter and covered his work at an exhibition he had at Studio Uamou last year. More recently, I posted info about his initial Turtle Tetsujin release.

His figures are 1-2" tall and feature well made resin with detailed sculpts and line work.

Onto the images!

Intial Turtle Tetsujin (with custom lettering by Peter) and Jet Black Fright Night.

 Closeups:

This fellow would make a cool sofubi figure too!

 More after the jump:

Miazawa-san (Shikaruna) painting Tetsujin-28 (video)

The other day I visited the Shikaruna studio. While there, Miazawa-san was kind enough to let me film him painting some Tetsujin-28s, one of the figures in Shikaruna's popular anime line.



A couple of still shots:

Tokyo Toy Shop Map Updated! (1.28.2011)

I've added Shikaruna to my Tokyo Toy Shop map, with the store hours, website, etc. I've also added all that info to yesterday's store visit post. Make sure to stop by the shop if you're in Koiwa. Third Uncle is also nearby.

Plus, you can take a very nice walk from Koiwa to Aoto (takes 45 minutes), to visit Shinto Gangu and Real Headz! (But remember to check Mori's Twitter feed to make sure one of the shops is open.)

Also, alas, I've removed Thrashout from the map. One store closes, one store opens.

Rampage Toys x Splurrt Cadaver Kid

Rampage Toys + Splurrt have teamed up for a fantastic collaboration, entitled the Guardian Daemon Cadaver Kid.

The release, which is limited to 10 pieces, features an excellent paint job by Jon of Rampage Toys on a flesh base vinyl Cadaver Kid.

base vinyl

The highly detailed paint work contains a mixture of nicely blended broad and fine spray with very precise brushwork. Jon really went to town on the figures, and they came out great with fantastic color balance and an intricate, though not overblown palette.

top down view

Can't say I'm crazy about the pentagram on the chest plate, since it seems like kind of a cheap effect that doesn't really add to the design (yeah I get that it's a demon), but it's a small point, and I do like the application of shapes and stencils on vinyl, which Jon has been working with in recent months.

front/back look

The figures are priced at $65 each, and they'll be available on Jon's Big Cartel site sometime around 10:00 PM EST on Thursday January 26. Good bet they'll sell out within minutes, so to all those F5ers out there - ganbatte!

New from Real Head (1.25.2012)

New releases:

New cupee body! It's the Jolly Green ChaoQ! Six parts + super soft sofubi.

Blobpus x MVH x Medicom Enma Ollie

Today, pre-orders opened for the latest Enma, which features a head sculpted by Blobpus on MVH's Ollie. This version is on a blue base vinyl with gold, black, red, green, and silver spray. Though it's a Project 1/6 exclusive, pre-orders are up online, starting today and continuing through February 10.

The cost is 13,800 yen. The good news for overseas fans is the release is open to worldwide orders! However, the order page states that buyers will be chosen by lottery in mid-February, which suggests that this is not an "open" pre-order but rather a limited run.

Click here for Japanese ordering instructions.
Click here for English/overseas ordering instructions.

Clutter Issue 16 + The Fort

Clutter Issue 16, which is now out, contains my 6 page article/photo essay on The Fort, where Grody Shogun + Velocitron ply their trade and produce some of the world's best known sofubi. I also go into the sofubi making process, and there are a couple of dozen nice hi res photos which I shot at the Fort. So, lots of good stuff in there.

The mag (which can be ordered from the Clutter site here) is a beautiful glossy publication and only costs something like 10 bucks (full disclosure - I don't see any of the moolah).

Here are thumbnails of my piece:

Karoshi - featuring Velocitron + Grody Shogun - show at TAG gallery

Karoshi, a two man show featuring the work of Velocitron (Ricky Wilson) and Grody Shogun (Luke Rook) opens at the TAG Gallery in Hollywood on February 3. The show kicks off with an opening reception at 7 PM.

Paul Kaiju x Real Head Biterman Side by Side

Biterman features a Paul Kaiju head design on an adult Real Head body.

The Biterman on the left was released at Shinto Gangu sold on 12.16.2011. The one on the right was sold at Shinto Gangu on 1.18.2012.

 More after the jump:

New Blobpus x Yamomark figures

Blobpus continues his run of Yamomark collaborations with two new figures:

Nikulu Kamen

Chulantara

The figures will be sold via lottery, with entries accepted from January 25 to January 29. Ordering details will go up later on the Blobpus website.

Disney @ Mandarake Akiba

Mandarake's Akihabara Complex mega store has a nice Disney display on the first floor. They've got toys, statues, pins, etc. One of the great things about Mandarake's display is it's all up for grabs - like the candy growing on the trees in Willy Wonka's factory. Except it isn't free. And there aren't any Oompa Loompas. Come to think of it, in Akiba...

Anyway, here are some pics from the home of the Everlasting Yenstopper:

 More after the jump:

New from Real Head (1.18.2012)

It was a good day at the Gangu.

OG Chaos colors!!

Just 1 of these

This one too. Check out the tin foil brains!

Sofubi paint masks

Most sofubi is done free spray, but a lot of makers also have masks made to spray certain areas of their figures. Masks allow for very precise paint work as well as complex designs. The downside is they're very expensive, costing hundreds of dollars for even very small masks.

Here are a few masks used by Luke Rook (Grody Shogun Lulubell).

Masks for Betty Hairy Honey:

Note there are 3 masks just for the eyes!

More after the jump:

Goodbye Thrashout

Today, Gargamel's flagship store in Tokyo - Thrashout - closed its doors permanently. Most of the group is moving to Fukuoka, and they plan to keep making toys. But the loss of Thrashout is a big one in the indy sofubi world, as the shop has been a major center of activity for more than 7 years.

Two days ago, Gargamel had a final sale, to clear out some old stock. There were some nice figures and great prices, and it was a good chance to say thank you and good luck to the crew. Pics from the event:

 More after the jump: