What is the art toy?
Art toys, also known as designer toys, are collectible items created by artists and designers. Unlike children's toys, art toys are generally intended for collectors aged 14 and up. These toys are either handmade by individual designers or artists, such as Tristan Eaton (with whom we have collaborated), or produced by independent toy companies like MEDICOM TOY, KIDROBOT and MIGHTY JAXX—all of which we have worked with on numerous projects. Art toys are special-interest collectibles, often produced in limited quantities. Their exclusivity and craftsmanship contribute to their higher retail prices.
What is the art toy made of?
Art toys are made from a variety of materials, such as ABS, PVC, wood, metal, latex, plush and resin.
What is the vinyl toy?
The most popular art toys on the market are what we usually call vinyl toys. Vinyl is not the name of the material, but rather a production process, the base material is still PVC.
What is the Sofubi?
Sofubi is a Japanese abbreviation for soft vinyl, also known as Japanese soft plastic. Sofubi not only refers to the material but also to the design style and finishing process. Classic Sofubi pieces are produced using tooling and are hand-painted, sprayed or decorated with brushes to create various designs.
The art toy is toy or art?
The debate on this question has never ceased. An art toy is not merely an assembly-line product, it is the embodiment of the designer's abstract thinking and ideas. The designs of art toys often draw from children's cartoon imagery, but after secondary creation, they target a different adult market. They have become a personal interest and a display of taste and are no longer simply meant for playing with.
Does the blind box an art toy?
In my opinion, yes. Looking back at the definition and characteristics of art toys, blind boxes do belong to this category. If someone believes that a blind box is not an art toy, it might be due to perceived quality standards. In fact, a blind box represents the designer's creative diversification of a character and usually serves as an entry-level product for well-known art toy series. Blind boxes lower the entry threshold for art toys, allowing more people to participate. This is one of the reasons why art toys are so popular in the market.