In the blue corner
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by williac.
Toy links
Shinigami type Lost.
A heavily armed Busou Shinki custom by Katarina Rina featuring Zoids accessories and a new paint job. (More: 1, 2, 3, 4.)
Acroyear: old and new.
A reissued Microman Acroyear Red Star figure alongside a custom Acroyear figure by motorrazor.
Microman Space Ghost
A very cool custom figure by TCM Hitchhiker.
World’s Finest: old school.
A fine old timey photo by Fengschwing.
World’s Finest: new school.
A neat photo by toyrewind.
Bedtime story.
An amusing photo by Zoot42.
Tim Bradley, ex-Transformers designer interviewed.
“The design of the toys is really a joint task between designers at Takara and designers and Hasbro.”
Ryan Katz, the Rubik’s Revolution designer.
“It kind of fits my personality, designing toys … I still enjoy toys today. I played with a lot of toys as a kid. I’d always take apart my toys and see how they worked, see what was inside.”
Regarding the yo-yo.
On its popularity: “Maybe it’s because they’re impractical … They don’t accomplish a lot other than going down and coming back up.”
Designing Happy Meal Toys.
“[It is] pretty cool to see someone play with the stuff you created …”
Shortcake
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by zombie.lens.
Japanese toy review roundup
The following reviews are in Japanese but they include a generous amount of photos so they’re well worth checking out.
SR../Blood Zwei reviews the MegaHouse Variable Action Mospeada (Ray version) 1/15 scale figure.
Kuronuko Yamato reviews the Takara Tomy Microman Wecker Signa Ex-Varn and Granmirror set.
Shishioh reviews the Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Appendix Aries Muu bust from the Saint Seiya series. (See also.)
Shishioh reviews the Bandai Saint Cloth Myth Aries Muu figure from the Saint Seiya series.
K3 reviews the Max Factory Figma Izumi Konata (Cosplay version) Wonder Festival and mail order exclusive figure from the Lucky Star series. (See also.)
Syuuamamori reviews the Max Factory Figma Nagato Yuki (Uniform version) figure from The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. (See also.)
Ebi reviews the Bandai Basher Magnum from the Kamen Rider Kiva series. (See also.)
Mojya and K3 review the Kaiyodo Revoltech Tetsujin 28 figure. (See also.)
Gamu reviews the MegaHouse Palm Action Knightmare Frame Lancelot figure from the Code Geass series. (See also.)
Damien Sancho reviews the CM’s Corporation Mecha Action Series Options Parts Set (part 2, part 3) from the Gaiking: Legend of Daiku-Maryu series. (See also.)
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Tomy Transformers Generation 1 Titanium Series Ultra Magnus Tomy Direct exclusive figure.
Retro reviews
Gamu reviews the Yamato Votoms Scopedog 1/12 figure.
Transformers Baka Ichidai reviews the Takara Transformers Myclone Arcee figure.
Pokotannu reviews the Takara Beast Wars Metals Waspitter figure.
Bearer of gifts
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by steve.wilde.
Toy links
Kratos, Sigma 6-style. [via]
Another excellent Jin Saotome custom.
Blind samurai.
A fine Stikfas custom by boyette.
“Quack Sparrow.”
A pirate most fowl.
On a wing and a prayer.
A beautiful photo of a Marvel Legends Angel figure.
About Robot Chicken.
“They have a team of 80, scripting, sculpting and minutely manipulating, filming and adapting 120 new toys a week for the rigorous demands of stop-motion animation.” (See also.)
Internet Smurf
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by ragnar1984.
In Optimus Prime We Trust
Optimus Prime has got Saturday Night Fever.
Optimus Prime is a grandmaster.
Optimus Prime is master and commander.
Optimus Prime has a drinking problem.
Optimus Prime needs organ transplants.
Spontaneous Combustion Smurf
A Creative Commons-licensed photo by Paul Keller.
Toy links
Mokusei frame.
A superbly articulated wooden action figure.
Bumblebee Munny custom.
A cute custom by puppylove2363 based on her own art.
Pinhead.
Boogeyman13’s excellent photo of the NECA Hellraiser figure.
What goes around.
Bumblebee is about to learn a very painful lesson.
Happy Worker figures.
“Few toy-makers play to the 20-, 30- and 40-year-old market. It’s a great subculture that didn’t exist 20 years ago and was brought on by the rise of licensed toys.” (See also.)