Our final Plastic and Plush Awards category is the Plastic Toy of the Year. While the term "plastic" encompasses a whole array of collectibles, we are mainly looking at vinyl toys here. So here are the top five plastic toys of the year 2013...
5. Oliver & Mortimer from Artoyz Originals (Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters)
Released in several colorways, the Oliver & Mortimer figures were released by Paris-based Artoyz. The husband/wife team of Kathie Olivas and Brandt Peters each designed a character in this set...both characters easily fitting in with other toys released by the artists.
4. Ion Men from AOI and turboPISTOLA
The smoky black sofubi Ion Men feature plenty of interchangeable bits and pieces. Different heads, hands, bodies, etc. And while the quality for these little guys is great, what was also special is a price point around $20.
3. Mecha Greasebat from Monster Worship (Jeff Lamm)
We've seen Monster Worship release the Real Fighting Greasebat along with the Mini and Micro Greasebats...but the Mecha Greasebat gave Jeff Lamm's character a little different twist. Looking more like an old school Japanese sofubi, it was just as popular as the other lines...like it sold out fast.
2. A Clockwork Carrot from BlackBook Toy (Frank Kozik)
This was likely the closest race in all of the categories this year. We've seen the influences of A Clockwork Orange in plenty of Frank Kozik's work, but A Clockwork Carrot is a pure homage to the iconic film. If I wasn't such a fan of Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, I likely wouldn't have been so drawn to the vinyl...or maybe I still would have.
**WINNER** 1. Tide Pool Stinky Ginger from Tomenosuke + Circus Posterus (Chris Ryniak)
Another of the T+CP - Tomenosuke + Circus Posterus - collaborations was Chris Ryniak's Stinky Ginger. I reviewed the Tide Pool Stinky Ginger on the site and was thoroughly impressed with the design and execution. It's probably one of the top crafted sofubi vinyl pieces that I've seen - from sculpt to paint. Plus it's an angry chunk of ginger...it makes me scared to eat sushi.
