It’s obvious that I’m late getting to our end of the year Plastic and Plush Awards (PAPAs) – like 6 months late. And we’ve actually taken some time off handing out our yearly awards – oh, like four year. And while I’ve voted in both the Designer Toy Awards and the Poppies, I wanted to make sure that the PAPAs recognized some of the best collectibles and artists that might have been overlooked by others.
And the rules, to be considered, I’ve either had to have reviewed the collectibles or have seen them first hand. It’s difficult to determine actual product quality in the age of Photoshop. Unfortunately, I’ve seen a number of things look great in photos only to disappoint in real life. Secondly, the collectibles had to have been released in 2016 (or thereabouts).
So, without further ado…
Customizer of the Year
Bob Conge (Plaseebo)
It’s tough to continuously impress with one’s work…for over a decade. But Bob Conge, under his nom de plume – Plaseebo, continues to inspire collectors and other customizers with his creepy mash-ups, use of electronics inside of his customs, and consistent quality.
Artist of the Year
Ashley Wood (3A Toys)
Artist and toy designer Ashley Wood had another solid year with releases from his own series, putting his spin on various Marvel characters, a series of Destiny figures, and the announcement of collectibles based on Die Antwoord.
Mini Figure Series of the Year
OYO Sports Minifigures by OYO Sports
If you’re looking for block figures from any of the for major American sports, you’ve likely heard of OYO Sports. Not only do they have player figures from all of the teams in the NFL, NHL, and MLB, but they recently added the NBA.
Collectible Series of the Year
One:12 Collective by Mezco Toyz
One of my favorite collectible series of 2016 was Mezco’s One:12 Collective. In a unique scale, which Mezco has easily conquered, the collection of figures has taken on characters from DC, Marvel, Star Trek, and other licenses. And you can add in the types of accessories you’ll find in 1/6th scale figures…for ½ of the price.
Plush Toy of the Year
Jelly the Robot by The Jelly Empire
2016 saw Selina Briggs’ Jelly the Robot Kickstarter project successfully funded. It helped to produce her 9-inch tall Jelly the Robot plush toy. The character, which we’ve often seen in resin form, transcended materials this past year.
Vinyl Toy of the Year
Alex DeLarge Pop! by Funko
Hey…I love Kubrick’s take on A Clockwork Orange. I still remember the details of seeing it for the first time in 9th grade. I wasn’t so sure about combining the psychopath Alex DeLarge and Funko’s cutesy Pop! Line, but it does work.
Resin Toy of the Year
Kosrobot by Kosrobot
Kosrobot’s 3-inch tall namesake resin figure features 5 points of articulation achieved via magnetic joints. The robot with the 80’s inspired wardrobe gives resin enthusiasts hope that resin doesn’t have to equal unarticulated statues.
1/6th Scale Toy of the Year
Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones) by threezero
One of threezero’s main collectible lines is the 1/6th scale Game of Thrones series featuring characters from the HBO television series. To date, they’ve released four figures, with several other available to pre-order. But 2016 saw the release of the Kingslayer Jaime Lannister and his incredible suit of armor (or you can go the non-armor route).
