Sofubi, like disco, can never die.

The law of conservation of energy assures that it will only change forms, as we have all witnessed.

The Funko's move to sofubi is just to capitalize on the fact that it's more popular than the Chinese vinyl. I'm almost certain that they're using the bigger factories like Obitsu for the job. They would have to subcontract the assembly, painting, and packaging if they didn't. The high runs alone perplexes me as to why they went with Japanese vinyl and is the giveaway that they're doing it out of popularity of Japanese vinyl. Chinese toy factories is pretty much one stop shopping. They can do your entire toy from sculpting masters, resin prototyping, wax, molds, masks, packaging, and they're even involved with shipping. You just need a design and even that they can do for you as long as you have a strong concept for your toy. One of the main reasons that I'm using Japanese vinyl is that it has a surface appearance unique only to them and more appealing is the super low runs that they can do, not to mention the undeniable artisanship the Japanese bring to the game. The Chinese factories can do complex toy designs (which generates lots of waste due to the many bad pulls per good) at a lower cost, something the Japanese are unwilling to tolerate. Its great for my robot toys but the main reason I'm putting a hold on producing my other robot designs is their unwillingness to budge on their high minimum orders. The inde guys simply cant move that high of a run in today's market unless you own or hold a license to produce merchandise for Star Wars, Marvel, DC intellectual properties. The influx of such toys coming from KR and other manufacturers is proof. To me vinyl is not dead. There was a time when there wasn't much of them around which made things easier to collect. There was allot of bad stuff that came out and the scene exploded like a big mushroom cloud. Now only the strong survive and all the bad stuff has burned away. Japanese vinyl is still going cause it has never abandoned its roots and as long as that's kept alive then it should all be good.

Amen to that

As someone who started collecting vinyl through Kidrobot/Munkyking/Strangeco, and with only a couple posts on here, my opinion will probably be ignored and/or shit on.

That being said, I kind of like what they are doing here. There are certainly a few things to criticize (especially the marketing copy/branding), but the figures themselves look like they have pretty cool paint applications and seeing licensed figures pulled with different colored vinyl/effects (though I think the glitter is kind of weird looking) is neat. I honestly would love it if more companies gave toymakers more room to experiment with their licenses (the Pushead x Devilman toys are awesome)

I may buy one or two if they look good in person, but probably not more than that. However, I do like that I might be able to get some of my friends to get interested in japanese vinyl through these. One of my best friends thinks some of the more "out there" toys I have (Mockbat, Sally Joe) are too weird and a waste of money (no disrespect to PK, i love them!). But, after she started to collect some of the more mainstream toys, she began to appreciate the unique look and feel of kaiju/sofubi, and begrudgingly now admits that she really like's Paul's Mockpilot.

These might not be for everyone but if it means more eventual support for the medium and some of the creators on this board, it might not be a bad thing. Time will tell I guess

Ah geez... Not good at all.

Still better than the new movie.

There's a new TMNT movie?? I saw something on youtube but I thought it was some stupid Shrek spinoff directed by that guy who ruined Transformers

That actually sounds about right.

I'll second that. Those aren't turtles.

True. Those of us who like the figure for the character's sake will be the ones collecting these guys, even those who might buy in to the marketing hype won't collect these unless they like em.

As for those who see "sofubi", "hand-numbered ed.", & etc. among the toy's stats, and purchase it for the sole reason of accruing value, well, they'll just have to learn that this' how commercialism works, like most of us did growing up (Ha, I like your 5th Anniversary Golden Leo there, Art-Whore). Yes, It is annoying & I hate it, but advertising on this level is far from new; forever exploiting what they can of the toy's sellig points & target demographic, in order to push their products.

At least we can find some solace in knowing that he who tries to flip these for the reason of "sofubi", yadda yadda, will fall on his flippin face. hee hee hee

I wonder who is painting the Funko 'Hikari Mark' toys... the couple that I have seen look pretty good. FYI, the above turtle sold out on Big Bad Toy Store at $50 a pop, so they seem to be moving.

I don't care for the Funko aesthetic, but the paint work seems decent...

^ I was just about to post the same thing. The paint on these looks good even if I'm not a fan of the sculpts. I saw a Batman somewhere with metallic green that was painted nice too. I'll give them credit for making interesting colorways and also wonder who is painting them.

^^^ Not sure if this is the Batman you were referring to but it does look like a nice paint job.

I still love this version https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSnunYK9fhk

^^^^
...MAN love me some Jeffrey Lewis. Him, Moldy Peaches, Dufus. All that weird ass folk stuff.

I hate that my first post here is on a Funko thread. That said Art Attack Toys has a few of these for those looking, I think they are sold out everywhere else. Apparently the retailers were only allowed to get 6 each max. That only goes for the two that have been posted above, the Leo and Batman with metallic sprays. The others are MUCH larger runs.

Turns out they did go for the ULTIMATE slamdunk! . . . Hand Made and Crafted!



Image via Datadub (with thanks)

Hahaha does it really say "Japanese Vinyl" in pretty big letters at the top, and then "Made in China" right below???

Oh shit.. Pretty sure all of the advertising was straight up claiming true Japanese Vinyl.. Most Funko fans won't even comprehend how bad that looks though..

mindstyle!! Made in china! Holy crap, what a bunch of BS. That is hilarious, but also disrespectful, and damn near false advertising. Lol!

did they pull a Pulgasari & kidnap someone from Obitsu factory to bang these out at a plant in China?

JAPANESE VINYL
Made in China

WOW

I thought MINDstyle were dead and buried? True going-the-licensed-way pioneers...

Brian just stated on my instagram that it is indeed Japanese vinyl, but made in china. So it's imported? Why the confusing label, why say "insipired by"? Why not call it Sofubi ?

So funko in officially making legit sofubi toys in their Chinese factory.