Zeitgeist Toys: Gorgeous toys made from porcelain and precious metals. More pictures at Beautiful Life.

The new Buckyballs packaging is fantastic. So happy for Jake and the Zoomdoggle crew. Want to win a set? Comment below and we’ll pick some winners later this week.

Disclosure, I’m a part owner in Zoomdoggle, which is a part owner in Buckyballs.

Okay, I have absolutely no idea what this is (and I don’t speak Russian), but it’s amazing work by Korean artist Jin Young Yu.

Dustin Cantrell’s handmade Plasma Dunnys (as seen here on JS last February) sent a ripple through the art toy community–and beyond. First appearing on custoMONDAYs (a series of 20 emerging toy artists curated by yours truly), Dustin’s Dunny quickly attracted attention from Gizmodo to Kanye. Everybody wanted one, but only 4 existed, and they sold out fast. Enter Kidrobot, makers of the Dunny toy. They tapped Dustin to create 3 more Plasma Dunnys in metallic gold with wood bases. The Dunnys are currently on display in Kidrobot’s New York store and for sale at $600 each in the custom art section of Kidrobot’s website. This puts Dustin in the same category previously occupied by Tara McPherson’s sculptures. Congratulations to Dustin, and let this be an inspirational story for those who tweak their toys worldwide!

Update: They sold out in less than 24 hours. At $600 each. By an unknown/emerging artist. What recession?

An interesting/odd project by atelier Alessio Blanco for Walt Disney Company:

Mickey Mouse was born as anthropomorphic mouse and from its origins until today has evolved to meet the aesthetic taste of a society in constant transformation. Continuing this process, now Mickey Mouse wants to complete his transformation into a man and then turns to plastic surgery.

Of all the wacky cross-culture mash-ups that come out of Japan, this one gets serious chutzpah points: Phenomenon paired seminal post-punk band, Public Image Limited, with animated feline time-traveler, Doraemon on two new T-shirts. The graphic mixes PiL’s logo with a more subtle reference to the cat’s colors, whiskers and collar. Of course if it takes you a minute to make the connection, Phenomenon sends it home by titling the shirt Pilemon. I think it’s both brilliant and bizarre to pay combined homage to an important band that released its greatest hits (so far) album in 1990 and an anime icon who fell into the shadow of Sanrio, but it does beg three questions: 1) Precisely how many people listen to post-punk and watch anime? 2) Why now? And 3) How quickly is John Lydon going to call his lawyer about this? Looks like white is already sold out. Black is available here.

The Empire Muggs Back: Art for a Mighty Good Cause:

Artists, comic book creators, toy designers, and celebrity fans are getting out their markers, paint brushes and glue guns to transform blank Mighty Muggs into one-of-a-kind Star Wars art to be auctioned by The Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Almost as awesome as Wookieepedia. Via BB

Born in Norway, educated in London and now back in Oslo, Bard Hole Standal aka Bard Vandal is a designer, illustrator and unofficial educator. The tutorials on his blog, and photos on his Flickr have inspired would-be toy artists to get casting. Bard’s latest creation is Deinos, a dragon-dinosaur character who represents good luck and happiness. After about a year of work on Deinos (sculpted in Maya on a Mac, printed on a Eden 260V PolyJet 3d-printer and molded and hand-painted in a kitchen), Bard will debut the creature at Ouchi Gallery in Brooklyn. In association with The ShadowPlastic Label, the first five figures will be available for sale (along with a series of prints). Each numbered resin art toy costs $125 and is a unique piece. The show opens July 14th and runs through July 19th. Special version after the jump!

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Nestled beneath the Manhattan Bridge overpass in the DUMBO area of Brooklyn is a haven for fans of Japanese art and subculture. It’s called Zakka, and it’s home to an awesome array of art books and more. We’re talking tomes on toys, street art, graphic design, package design and much more stretching across an entire wall of the shop. As for the toys, this is the spot for Kubricks– this is no Kidrobot. Rare figures by Michael Lau and wacky characters from Japanese gameshows fill glass display cases. They’ve even got Mugen’s Pop Pop, which replicates the sensation of popping bubble wrap. Recently Zakka collaborated with New York-based bilingual art magazine, COOL, on a series of in-store events surrounding the decorated eco-bag (”decob”). You could bring your old clothes, and they’ll transform them into decobs. I could spend a whole afternoon here, easily. Thanks to Steve Talkowski for the tour!

Sudokid: Shape. Solve. Share! I love this 6 kids version of Soduku, with shapes instead of numbers. It’s designed and developed by the Quirky community. This product requires 300 commitments to buy before it goes into production and is made (priced at $14.99). 23 have been pre-sold so far, and fairly quickly. You’re not charged until the threshold is met. Who is in?

Re-Ment’s Puchi Petite Collections are tiny, incredibly detailed, and often food-focused toys from Japan. The global cuisine includes assortments ranging from Luxury French to American Kitchen. One of my personal favorites, The Re-Ment Sushi Bar, features campy titles like “Wasabi Makes my Eyes Watery” and “I Want to Eat Sweet Grilled Egg!” Each box is sold blind-style and contains mouth-watering miniatures like avocado rolls and fatty tuna, as well as the necessities like chopsticks, hand towels and tea. You can find Puchi Petites in many toy stores and of course, on eBay. And as you might imagine, there are several Re-Ment Flickr groups. From a 1cm. perfectly-formed donut to a 1-inch plate of oysters on ice, Re-Ment puts the kitch in kitchen. Yum.

A good vinyl toy should be more than a status symbol or dust collector: it should connect with you as an art form, and in an ideal situation, you should feel something. When I look at Andrew Bell’s upcoming O-No Sushi figure, I feel the polarity of consumption: desire and guilt simultaneously. Based on Andrew’s Never Look Back artwork, these toys will be one of the must-have items of the San Diego Comic-Con and summer in general. Each figure (exclusive blue and standard red) has articulated limbs, severed tentacles, extra eyes, sushi, bowl and terrific packaging. This is the second sushi toy I’ve reviewed in as many days. Sushi toy trending? Check out many more snaps of O-No Sushi here. � More delicious pictures after the jump.

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Road Kill Toys are designer plush toys (stuffed animals, really) representing the undiscussed but often past rodents and animals of our highways and streets. Toys with a twist. I’d say so. Grind the rabbit on the left felt the tread of a 16 wheeler. And Twitch, the Raccoon on the run didn’t quite make it to the other side of the road. Each animal comes complete with body bag and toe tag. I kid you not. Sick, and awesome.

Connecticut artist Valerie Leonard created an American flag out of more than six thousand toy soldiers. She also does hilarious classic pet portraits. Like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Very talented and funny.

Detailed pictures of the American flag after the jump.

 

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It’s been over 2 years since we brought you word of Tristan Eaton’s Billy Bananas figures. Tristan’s been busy with Thunderdog Studios, but Billy is back in five new colorways you can grab at the Jonathan Levine Gallery here in New York. The Billy Bananas Show kicks off Thursday night, featuring new paintings and prints, the Billy Bananas 5-inch vinyl toy and a special Billy Bananas video installation by INTERSPECTACULAR. Each edition of Billy (Toxic Glow, Medic, Lucky, Billy for Girls and Classic) is limited to 150 pieces or less, and Tristan will be on the scene to sign toys from 6-9PM. Get ‘em while you can.