We’ve written about the music of Daft Punk, Barack Obama action figures and Daft Punk designer toys, but I never imagined I’d have the occasion to write about all three in one post. In the latest mashup of politics and pop culture, UK DJ/producer Adam Freeland remixes Daft Punk in a video animated by the progressive directing team, GOLD. The stop-motion music video is meant to function as a celebration to commemorate the upcoming inauguration of Obama as the 44th president of the United States. While plastic Obama makes an appearance, designer toy fans will be interested to see Qees, Be@rbricks and other mini-figures getting down on the dancefloor. How many items from your own toy collection can you spot in the video?
We brought you word of the ART + ACTION = OBAMA ‘08 custom action figure event back in October. Following that successful benefit — and indeed the success of its central character — Jailbreak Toys will release two new Obama Action Figures. Jailbreak’s founder, Jason “J*Rock” Feinberg, gets the props for designing the Inaugural Edition, which replaces the O.G. figure’s dark duds with a “funky, fresh and very shiny gold suit, while keeping the action figure Washington, DC-ready in a classic red tie.”
The Hope Edition transforms the now-iconic image of president-elect Obama into a 3D action figure. Shepard Fairey gave his blessing to artist Nelson X Ascensio and Jailbreak Toys to produce the toy. Both new editions of the Obama Action Figure are limited to 3,000 pieces and will be available exclusively at Jailbreak’s website. The 6-inch figures have eight points of articulation and will be sold in numbered window boxes for $19.99 starting Monday, January 12th.
Jailbreak Toys, makers of the Barack Obama Action Figure, will present ART + ACTION = Obama 08 at Toy Tokyo’s gallery: The Showroom NYC on October 17th. Contemporary artists, toy designers and graf writers like Mars-1, Peat Wollaeger, kaNO, Brin Berliner, Brent Nolasco and Voltaire are just a handful of the customizers who will go to town on unpainted DIY Obama figures. Billboard bandit and pop surrealist Ron English will also be signing Abraham Obama posters at the show. ToyCyte is the media sponsor of ART + ACTION = Obama 08 and will be posting exclusive news and previews of the customs counting down to the event.
In an ideal world, a president is a true figure of action. In this world, the reverse is also true. While George W. Bush is perhaps the most parodied president in history, the current roster of candidates are spawning their share of toys too. Some, like Jailbreak Toys‘ Barack Obama figure are done with respect and a campaign donation per figure sold. Others, like Ren & Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi treated Obama, McCain and Hillary Clinton to equal opportunity charicature. To fulfill the request of a retailer who desired bipartisan balance, Jason Feinberg of Jailbreak also created a John McCain figure. Strong sales of his Obama figures allowed Jason to live the American Dream of quitting a teaching job to pursue toys full-time. Finally, seizing the opportunity, Hero Builders have customized some dolls to look like School Girl and Super Hero versions of Sarah Palin. If I were Joe Biden, I’d be calling my agent.
