Friday, February 26, 2010

A Closer Look: 6" Asia mini-Minigod


I recently revealed one of my new "mini-Minigods", The ASIA Minigod at NY Toy Fair. I wanted to give people the opportunity to see some behind the scene pics of my latest creation. I have some 3D renderings of the ASIA minigod in progress. This would later become a rapid prototype and then made into an actual painted prototype which was shown at NY Toy Fair.

As I type out this blog the final stages of the mini-minigod Asia are being finalized and casted in VINYL GOODNESS! I hope these photos help artists and designers out there learn a little more about the process in the Vinyl Game. Enjoy!




Saturday, February 13, 2010

MG3 Japan Ninja Revealed + Vinyl Pulse Interview


Somebody once asked me which of the designer toys that I've created is my favorite and I hate to choose favorites but "THIS IS IT!" The latest minigod MG3 Japan! I truly believe that with the help of Bic Plastics, we have refined the minigod and have pushed it much further in terms of quality and sound. It was a great experience working on MG3.

Check out the specs to see all the new features!

2.0 USB connector
Mini Jack cable
100 / 240 V AC Adapter
2.5 Hour rechargeable Lithium Battery
4 Ω Power Speaker
10 Ω Tweeter
ABS Speaker Protector
GID Lens

Price still to be determined







EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH VINYL PULSE

Check out my interview with Vinyl Pulse. He's bringing you the exclusives even faster than I can!

Congratulations on the third Mini-Gods figure design. For those that might be unfamiliar with the Minigods concept, can you give us a quick overview of the concept and the inspirations behind the project ?

M27: The "minigods" are designer vinyl speakers. I call them indigenous urban vinyl because my inspiration comes from ancient cultures, like the Aztecs, Mayan, African, Asian, and many others. (g.o.d.s) is an acronym for Givers. Of. Divine. Sound. They are a fusion of ancient and street/pop culture.

Most ancient cultures have music as a major component of their lives. Music is used for
celebration, ceremonies, and rituals. I think of a minigod as a personal toy that a collector can control by choosing what music to play and what vibe they’re feeling at that moment. Minigods are a great way to express yourself through visual and audio.

How did you choose Japan as the inspiration for the MG3 design ?

M27: The Japan minigod is based on Japanese aesthetics, a combination of ninja and taiko drums which are of Chinese origin but I really liked the Japanese taiko modern drums. The large shapes on the MG3 head are shaped like the taiko drums.

With each iteration, you've upgraded the tech in the Minigods. This new figure is the first mini-god to feature not one but two speakers. MG3 also has an increased choice of both audio (USB 2.0 + mini-jack) and power connections (lithium ion rechargeable battery + AC adaptor). Have you now reached your goals in terms of usability and audio performance ?

M27: I would say we are really pleased with the Japan minigod. I think that it's a lot more challenging to meet your goals when you’re making such a small run of toys with function. All factories and suppliers have minimum requirements and for us it's been a long journey getting to the level of quality we have achieved with the latest MG3 Japan. Also the minigods are now being produced by Bic Plastics and they are known for their high standards and quality control.

Today, we're looking at the MG3 Japan Ninja edition, how many additional versions can collectors look forward to ?

M27: Ha! there’s no fun in giving up all the goods. Folks are gonna have to wait and see.

Rumor has it that you have lined up a high-profile artist crossover for MG3. Can you give us a hint or better yet, reveal the guest artist?

M27: O.K here is a hint for all you old school vinyl heads out there. I’m collaborating with an amazing talent from Hong Kong. He was the first to make a vinyl toy with a working speaker.

From the jump the Minigods project has been planned as a trio of designs. Now that MG3 is almost here, are you thinking about expanding the full-size line ?

M27: We will continue to make minigods as long as people continue to enjoy them. I also have something "HUGE" in the works and all I can say is, "Special things come in a small package". Thanks V.P for all the support, from the first Brazil minigod till now.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Tease no more! Introducing my 8" Half Dead Buddy

Last month, I gave you all a little teaser of projects being released this year and the wait is over...Introducing my Mexican Luchador design "Half-Dead Buddy", the first 8" Buddy production by Bic Plastics.




Standing at 8inches tall, this half-dead/ half- alive Mexican Luchador was a lot of fun to work on. This cabron comes with a fabric cape and some serious attitude, so don't piss him off! Limited at 150 pieces, "Half-Dead Buddy" will be displayed at the Bic Plastics Booth (No. 2866) at New York Toy Fair 2010 next week February 14-17, 2010 (Sunday – Wednesday) at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and will be released at the upcoming Buddy Custom Shows in Los Angeles (March 27th) and New York (April 9th).























Enjoy and let me know what you think!