Kouda Takashi creator of blues toy debuted in 2007 and was featured in "an encyclopedia of kaiju" by super7 from 2009. His work has been very hard to find the past years. I stumbeled upon it some years ago and immediately fell in love with it. Recently he returned to toy creation! I think this guy needs a thread, hope you agree!
Looks very blocky yet fun! I like the "bones" in the one in the middle, makes it kind of creepy, like the creature is flesh and bone with a robotic exoskeleton.
I like the one in the middle, too. I searched his name and could only find one other creation attributed to him, but I like it quite a bit. Based just on these two, he seems to have pretty unique vision.
Yes! So glad someone (who wasn't me) started this thread! Did a search a while back and couldn't find a thread. Also, @Hastur I've been super curious who you were on here!
Nazora-1 is a really fun toy and Mr. Takashi is incredibly cool and friendly! This toy has kind of a Zag made out of Legos feel to it (for me). The magnetic feet certainly just add to the fun/playability!
This toy is designed by Universal Pooyan (a brand focusing on dolls bodies and clothes). This is their mascott "Jamipoo". They do an outstanding work, anyone into dolls should check them. http://www.universalpooyan.jp/ There was a custom show some years ago based on this character. Maybe Blues Toy chose the vinyl color and paint on this, but nothing more.
I like the chunky robot MG, it has an interesting aesthetic, sort of a crude bootleg or a child's version of his perfect toy. The magnetic feet are a fantastic addition - something I have sort of been obsessed with my whole life (Diaclone anyone? or Starcom, for those younger kids). I love it in a big vinyl toy. I agree Maddie, the guts are really nice, but of those three the multicoloured one on the right is tops. The mixed parts and colours just add that extra bit to the 'bootleg' feel for me. I am going to have to keep my eye out for one, really seems like a fun toy.
I hope its okay for me to post sales directives? I am in no way affiliated or anything. Just in love with the toys. But fyi....Blues toy retails through mandarake sahra...
Haha, I can't believe you didn't start this thread either, Patrick Of the toys I've gotten so far this year, Nazora-1 has been the hardest to put down... I didn't phrase that sentence very well. It's not like it's a disorder, egghh you get the point. @patrickvaz is right on about his playability; he's a super fun toy in hand. I keep giving him the rubiks cube treatment, twisting parts this way and that for tank mode, etc. Aside from the obvious old ARK toys tie-in and the Diaclone reference (like @ultrakaiju mentioned), I get a strong 60's robot toy / classic Mechagodzilla and Moguera vibe. Certainly a figure that vintage toyheads can appreciate. If this thread is going to exist, we need to pull in more pictures. There are other colors, posing possibilities, and even a lil comical robo head under the outer one. The definition of "toy" is stretched in this hobby, but Nazora-1 hits all angles... Where do I vote?
The first one I bought some years ago on YJA on a whim because it looked so awesome it wouldn't leave my mind...
Lovely man! And here is a quick pic of the aforementioned Lego butt: Plenty of more pics of this fellow over on the Es Muss Sein blog, where I borrowed the above from.
Thanks for the info. If you take a look at the page I saw it on, you can see why I thought it was attributed to Takashi. There's a bolded "Kouda Takashi" at the top, and if you click that, it's just a direct link to that same page. Admittedly, I don't read Japanese, but, it does appear to be attributed to him. http://blog.livedoor.jp/c2art/archives/491610.html Still curious though, as cool as a monster w/magnet feet and a Lego butt is, since this guy was included in "an encyclopedia of kaiju" by super7", is he known for any other creations?
I think nazora1 is his first and only creation. The 1 could imply there might someday be a nazora2... I hope so! I have no idea why he was included in the encyclopedia other than the striking originality of nazora1.
Yeah, I guess, one good work merits inclusion in an overview of a subject this specific. It was also your phrase "his work has been very hard to find the past years" which led me to believe there might actually be more stuff. Do look forward to seeing new work, though. The nearly decade-long hiatus is an interesting thing to consider..
Been following this guy on IG for a little while now and never realized he's been in the game for that long! Wow! Make his stuff that much cooler, i think.
Interesting on the 3rd version, only the head and upper body are soft vinyl, the limbs and lower body are all hard plastic. Also there looks to be some potential joint spots below the top arms. So 4 arms could be used or the arms could be moved. I do like this toy and the use of different materials. The whole thing has a very "scratch built" robot feel to it.
New colour spotted on IG And four armspots clearly visible... Four arms would be "mecha" great! Also check the tiny innerhead!