Cherry Vinyl: A Global Approach to Sofubi Toys

Cherry Vinyl sent out its big announcement smack during SDCC, so I wanted to bring it back up, and leave it at the top of my blogroll (just like a cherry).

Pretty in Plastic & Lulubell Toys join forces to form “Cherry Vinyl”, an innovative joint creative entity with a focus on artist designed vinyl in a sofubi medium. We intend to take all the best ingredients that exist in the vinyl world today, add a big scoop of innovation, stir in a ton of whimsy and fun, and what we will hand back to the vinyl community will be decadent creations for them to sink their teeth into, savor, and most of all enjoy!

Yay! I’ve long been a fan of both the products of and people behind Pretty in Plastic and Lulubell Toy Bodega, so I’m excited about the prospects of their partnership. Above, you have Julie B and Amy dC spotted just a couple weeks ago at Comic-Con. Below, it’s a flashback photo from last year’s SDCC with Luke (who flew in from Japan) and Amy. Those two are like the White Stripes of sofubi toys.

While I’m not one to pray at the rest of the nerd herd’s shrine to Japanese vinyl, sofubi toys can be fun, and I’m definitely excited by Cherry Vinyl’s focus on “artist-designed toys.”

Cherry Vinyl has operatives in LA, NY, Tucson, Tokyo and across Europe. As a combined force, they possess “strengths in artist outreach, sculpting, design, the highly detailed Japanese manufacturing and painting processes, creative and passionate marketing and close customer contact.” Hey guys: you forgot to mention “mad skills.”

The new company had a few prototypes on display during SDCC 2011 at the DKE Booth. These included the intriguing “Le Chat” (above in green, clear and grey) by Dutch artist, Femke Heimsta; a new owl by Nathan Jurevicius (below left in white) and “Egglue the Giraffe” by Becky and Frank aka Tiny Kitten Teeth (below middle and next pic at left in grey).

It’s nice to see some new names making their way into the toy scene, as well as “classics” rendered in a new medium. I’m stoked for Cherry Vinyl. With small, skilled companies merging and previously proprietary techniques making their way into the hands of new proprietors, right now is an interesting time in toyland.