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Background

Alison Perez, who also goes by the name Miss Zukie, has released her first production vinyl. The DIY Zukie is based on her handmade resin figures of the same name. You've likely seen them stuck in bottles or small, plexiglass cubes as a part of a custom diorama.

And here is how Alison describes the Zukies:

Zukies are mysterious characters that do not talk; they have thought bubbles and facial expressions. Zukies are about color. In my life color has always been a way to express feelings. i want people to understand that using the vocal fold for communicating is not necessary. Nonverbal behavior increases the bond between people and is an intimate way of communicating with each other. Zukies intend to generate emotions through their visual thoughts and thats how they create that bond with us.

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The Facts

DIY Zukie
Manufacturer: Multiways Industrial Limited
Artist: Alison Perez
Material: Rotocast Vinyl
Dimensions: 3.75” tall
Points of Articulation: 1 (Neck)
Pricing: $9.95

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Packaging

The black, white and gray themed box features a boatload of tiny illustrated Zukies alongside the Zukie logo. There are larger illustrations, which closer resemble the toy, on the sides of the box.

The Zukie website mentions that you can not only customize the vinyl, but you can customize the box as well – color the little white Zukies with some markers.

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Our Opinion

I've always said that the most difficult toy to critique is a DIY blank. You need to both look at the design as well as imagine what an artist can do with that design. A simple design can look amazing with some production paint...similarly, a complex sculpt could fall flat as a DIY variant.

The Zukies started out as handmade resin toys. And artist Alison Perez has made sure that this vinyl production piece is a good reproduction of those original designs. Although there is a major difference...the handmade pieces have an asymmetrical (handmade) look to them, while the DIY Zukie is clean and smooth.

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With so many mini figure platforms out there, it's tough to stand out from the pack. And while I'm still not entirely sure whether the Zukies do, I like the character design. Why? It's the portly physique. It will be interesting to see what artists produce using the DIY Zukie platform.

Another thing to like is the price. At only $9.95, it's around the same price as blind box figures that are half its size. Of course, the big question is “will there be any other Zukies joining the DIY version?”

You can purchase one at the following:

Zukie Shop: $9.95

DIY Zukie Grades
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