Yes, they're made by that toy company, but they're designed in Japan and I know there are some fans around here. The mother is 20" and the kid is 8", so if they can get the quality ok these should be amazing. I have the smaller Gianto-fu set and they're great toys, these ones seem to be using the same sculpts.
No matter what they release or who they're working with I can not support them. Their board is useful but I hope they go out of business if only for their "QC" and overall business practices. Financially I simply can't support that corporate entity.
I don't think that will happen anytime soon. Infact, I think the opposite is happening -- what with pop rappers and pop bands wearing their clothing constantly, they just seem to be getting much, much bigger and recognized. These toys do nothing for me. To each their own, but I think the form is just far too simple, even downright boring. If someone digs 'em though, more power to them.
We actually agree Banshee. Whats super hot tends to cool off though. Teeny boppers have very short attention spans and the majority of their releases are for the bubblegum demographic. That being said I agree they are unlikely to go out of business, whether they will remain a corporate juggernaut remains to be seen. They just won't be seeing any of my money thats all.
I did say the majority. I wasn't commenting on the quality of your work with them or Tofu's. They could be working with the late Salvador Dali and I'd boycott the piece. They might be great to work with on your end but personally (as a consumer) I hate those guys.
I met them once, crazy bunch over dinner here after a design seminar. Can't get enough of their stuff. I also think that Medicom released something similar in size (can anyone confirm?) but the price is quite expensive.
If they aren't set up as a corporation or limited liability partnership they ought get on that asap. Thats a multi million dollar company right there. As far as designer toys go its up there with the big boys. They're all corporate; they have to be due to personal liability issues for the owners. They're not Microsoft but I'd bet they're a corporate entity, its just semantics anyway. No big deal. Sorry if I offended you.
This is true. Some are actually very cheap to set up. Others cost a fortune. KR is big business imo. I'd guess $100 million + gross yearly. I could be wrong just a guess. Anyway I respect you and am genuinely sorry if I offended you here.
btw, KR was on Business 2.0 magazine a year or two ago. Very good article and amazing how much money they make.
This article? http://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2005/06/01/8263450/index.htm
is nowhere near 100 million....I know what % of their sales my lines are and can extrapolate from there. Medicom is by far the largest toy company...all that Tomy product and license deals with disney etc. Kidrobot has been the easiest, fairest and best paying of all the companies to work with. I love them . Kidrobot just LOOKS professional, which is awesome, so everyone assumes theyy are Halliburton. I like toys
Think the big bucks are in apparel and I really have no idea what they're bottom line is. Frank its kinda your football with them, they damn well better treat you well. The Labbit license isn't something I'd want to lose if I had it. I'm sorry I started on KR, sucky customer reps and a NYC nightclub attitude rubbed me the wrong way and I never forgive certain stuff. It had nothing to do with your art but on my experience with them. I spend a fukton on toys, just nothing KR branded.
Yeah there's the kubrick set and a set called Gianto-fu, which is around 7 inches for the small one and maybe 14 inches for the big. The body looks exactly the same, but the face is 3D and the kidrobot ones are printed on (unless thats just a mock-up). I'm not really sure why they're making another set thats a little larger but the price isnt all that different anyway. Kidrobot does seem to have an attitude at times but all the in-person encounters I've had with them have been super friendly. There's obviously a market for their low quality stuff, and they can get their act together once in a while and make a nice toy (ie gorillaz and probably these), I dont blame anyone for staying away though. On a related note Devilrobots are going to be at the showroom in NYC on the 19th, I cant wait.
These are fine and the tofu characters are fun, but WHY? With Giantofu, did we need the exact same characters a little larger?
when I saw the ones from KR that was my immediate reaction. i think if the Medicom ones have 3D faces, I would go for those, even though both would be made in China I presume...
Not buying from a certain company because you don't like em is a bit silly I think. If I see toys that I like and want, I get em no matter who made it. Yes, 2pac gets his own [expletive deleted] and some of the staff has some strong personalities (met the Baroness once), but not buying their stuff just because they are an 'evil multi million dollar corporation' is only excluding some fine pieces to your collection. If you're running a personal vendetta, that's a different story. The Gorillaz set rocked all the way and is top quality. Now don't get me started on those crappy labbits
LOL. That might be the funniest thing ever said on a toy message board. Will you break that down for us.
