Mickey Mojira & Friends

MICKEY MOJIRA = Mickey Mouse + Godzilla (Gojira in Japanese)

RODONALD DUCK = Rodan + Donal Duck

GAMOOFY = Gamera + Goofy

These were a series of small paintings I did for a Kaiju ( Japanese for monsters ) show in Japan curated by
Mark Nagata a few years ago. I’m pretty passionate about Japanese monster films and toys along with American characters like Mickey Mouse and thought it would be interesting to create hybrid creatures from some of the most popular characters of the east and west. I think these would make a fun series of vinyl toys if I could get away with it. Then again it is parody so maybe it’s possible.
Click on the images to see more detail.

TPS 1975 Missile Robot

So here is a little toy gem I was able to purchase for $25. The crappy economy has some perks because years ago, this pint size robot would have cost much more.
He’s about six inches tall and his torso is chrome plated tin, the rest plastic. When you wind him up he walks and his chest sparks. He also shoots two missiles…and they go really, really far so this guy has a wicked spring action built in!

A few reasons why this is a really nice robot toy, for me anyway. Aside from purchasing it cheap and the great box art which in most cases can be better than the toy itself, this particular robot is made from one of my favorite Japanese tin toy manufacturers, T.P.S., which stands for Tokyo Plaything Shokai also known as “Toplay” pronounced “toe-play”. TPS also manufactured a lot of tin toys for US importers such as Linemar, Cragstan and other American toy companiies in the 50s and 60s.

In my research I also discovered that TPS happens to stand for “The Toyota Production System” which was developed by Toyota in 1948. This was a manufacturing philosophy that focused on “lean manufacturing” and  was embodied by a lot of Japanese companies.  I think Toplay embraced the TPS manufacturing  process and wanted that reflected in their logo, not only in the initals but also in the three fingers being held up. The whole Toyota Production System philosophy was initially based on eliminating three things;  overburden (muri),  inconsistency (mura) and waste (muda). Just my observation, I didn’t want to get sidetracked too much but I thought it was interesting enough info to share.

Anyway, TPS the toy company was a favorite of mine 15 years ago or so when I collected tin toys. They weren’t really known for making robots, this one in particular was probably made as the result of the success Horikawa was having at the time making their series of tin robots. TPS was better known for great tin lithography and making really clever, imaginative wind-up toys that involved funny animals skipping rope, golfing, playing billiards, bouncing balls and more. Below are a few examples of their more popular tin toys and my favorite wind-ups, “Comical Clara” and “Pop Eyed Pete.”

Zombie Circus

A zombie doodle.

iCade-iPad Arcade Cabinet

Ok, so no flash capability on the ipad…so what! This is fantastic! HAHA!
Flynn’s Arcade lives!  Available where?…“Think Geek” of course!

Fun-boy book sample pages

Until I get the complete animated flip book version done and uploaded…

Spectreman! 1971 Episode 1

A classic Japanese Superhero tokusatsu (special effects) show which aired in Japan from 1971 to 1972. Spectreman disguises himself as a human being, but when the Earth is in trouble, he sends a message to the Nebula Star which shoots a beam right at him transforming Jôji Gamô into a cyber super-hero.

The show uses a great combination of special effects including animation, stop motion and of course rubber suits. The inspiration for the show’s main villains, Dr. Gori and Karras, was obviously “Planet of the Apes” released a few years earlier. But the mod design of Dr. Gori and Karras’s bling riddled outfit and dance/nodding mannerisms make for some good cheesy entertainment. Ironically it’s Dr. Gori that is shocked at the polluting abuse inflicted on the Earth by it’s own people and turns our pollution… you got it, into giant menacing monsters so he can rule the Earth and enslave humans. When the show was created in 1971, pollution was an important topic in Japan because Tokyo was considered the most polluted city in the world.

In usual Japanese fashion the show has a catchy theme song that sticks with you, well me anyway. I love how so many of the tokusatsu shows from Japan utilized kids in their chorus and theme songs. It’s easy to see how theses shows were endearing to children then and cornball adults like me now.

Episode 1, Part 1

Episode 1, Part 2

Episode 1, Part 3

Bring Back the Tap! The Story of Bottled Water

If Cleveland can fight back, so can we!

AFOL a Blocumentary

We’re a family of Lego lovers so I wanted to share this fantastic documentary I came across that
Larry Fire posted on his great pop culture site “The Firewire”.

Directed by Jess Gibson, “AFOL (Adult Fans Of Lego) a Blocumentary” features candid interviews with some diehard and somewhat obsessive, adult lego fans. Not only are the interviews really interesting but Jess Gibson did an outstanding job of directing / producing the documentary. Some great music, beautifully edited and clearly shot to capture the details of all the eclectic lego creations and creators, the video is thoroughly enjoyably even if you’re not a big Lego fan.

AFOL A Blocumentary from AFOL on Vimeo.