Tomenosuke

Calliope Jackalope: An Anatomy, Pt. II

Previously on Calliope Jackalope, An Anatomy: Calliope is rendered in 3D and from that a prototype is made for the factory to map out the mold process. We head there now for some mold-makin’, waxin’ action!

Like Stingy Jack, the Calliope prototype was taken to Obitsu to determine how many metal molds the figure will require. Given her complexity, she, too, would require five to cover her multiple parts: head, body, legs, hat, ears and tail.

The figure is re-cast in wax and the metal molds are made. From that, we get our first test:

And from there, the header card art is submitted by Brandt and Kathie and voila! Our first packaged Calliope!

[via the Tomeno blog]

Tomenosuke 6th Anniversary Exclusive Porcelain Kosplay

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Our friends over at Tomenosuke have announced for their 6th anniversary the release of an exclusive porcelain kosplay by Ajee. This special edition will be in a stunning and vivid white with gold accents, and with an ultra low edition size of only 6. The release date and pricing has yet to be announced, but you can keep an eye on their blog for full details.

Stingy Jack, An Anatomy: An Afterword by Brandt Peters

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After years of designing characters and toys brands for Slap-Happy!,The Serv-O-Matics, Dead Bunny, The Carnies, Big Sal, and other odds and ends with almost every toy company out there, I went back to the drawing board to really consider what I was trying to accomplish and say with my characters. The public only gets to see the final result in the stores or online, but each of the above projects were months and years of my time developing and it takes a lot out of me. In order to stoke and keep the creative fire going strong, I had to reach even deeper and closer to mine and my creations’ raison d’etre.

Following a month or so of scribbling, note taking, researching, talking to my colleagues and friends, reading the industry – I reached in and figured exactly what my inspirations are, who I am and precisely what I want to leave, as far as a mark on the planet and this toy world. Stingy Jack is the first project (of many in development) that hits closest to home. I guess as a growing artist, my tastes change, I get more honest with myself, I hone in closer and closer to what makes me tick and Vintage Halloween has always thrilled me… just as much as all of my other toy subject matter: Ancient Aliens (Big Sal), Coney Island and Depression era ephemera (most of my toy designs to date).

Read More »Stingy Jack, An Anatomy: An Afterword by Brandt Peters

T+CP: Brandt Peters’ Stingy Jack Sofubi Reviewed on Kaiju Korner!

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Brandt Peters’ Stingy Jack recently received a cracking review from premier Japanese toy culture site, Kaiju Korner! In-depth, charming and deeply insightful, blogger Andy B wholly captured the essence and charm of the figure and the intent of the T+CP initiative. Now sold out at Circus Posterus and Tomenosuke, the response for Stingy from collectors worldwide has been incredible. Click here to find out why!

Stingy Jack: An Anatomy, Pt. 5

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 Previously on Stingy Jack, An Anatomy 4: We get our first look at Stingy in coloured vinyl and apply new paint mods to help show off his assets. And then, the unthinkable: the unforgiving heat of New Mexico warps Stingy’s feet, causing him to shelf dive. So, we rebuild: his feet are remodeled and repositioned for better stability. He’s tested and stands. And now: the exciting conclusion!

After a year of planning and production, 120 Stingy Jacks arrive on Tomenosuke’s doorstep from Obitsu. Half will head to New Mexico for the North American release, while the remainder will stay back for international collectors. An overwhelming feeling of relief and pride spills over Tomenosuke store owner and T+CP partner, Shinji Nakako.

“Since it took a full year to complete, I think that’s all the more strong feelings towards this piece,” Shinji reflects on the experience.

“I assumed that I had acquired plenty of experience in toy making from the resin figure Lady Butterfly and the high-end prop replica Tomenosuke Blaster, but what awaited me were the challenges and excitements unique to vinyl.

“The task at hand was to create a model for mass production without sacrificing the nuance of the original sculpture, while clearing certain limitations involved with forming from metal mold,” Shinji continues. “I thought that I knew fully well of the material’s characteristic of being sensitive to heat, but due to the high temperatures in the summer, the base of the figure’s feet had deformed and could not support itself. As a result, We had to make the feet from scratch.

It’s only sofubi, but it’s still sofubi… not something that could be done in a brief period of time.”

Up next: Brandt Peters sits down and, in a rare afterword, explains Stingy’s creation, his passion for sofubi and what’s next for Tomenosuke + Circus Posterus.

[via the Tomeno blog]

Brandt Peters’ Sofubi Stingy Jack Dropping This Weekend!

The wait is finally over! Tomenosuke-syoten and Circus Posterus are excited to announce that production on Brandt Peters’ sofubi Stingy Jack is complete and will be releasing this weekend!

A run of 120 pieces, the edition will be halved between Circus Posterus and Tomenosuke-syoten (so 60 per store). They retail for $95 each (7,600 yen) and stand around 6 inches. Each comes poly-bagged with a header card signed by Mr. Brandt Peters himself.

CP will handle North American collectors only (MUST be shipped to a North American destination). The figures will be available through Stranger Factory on Sunday, Aug. 26th at 1pm PST. The release will be treated just like a gallery request, so email strangerfactorysales@gmail.com at exactly 1pm on Aug. 26th for your chance to purchase.

*** Buyers will be notified and if payment is not received by the cut-off date, the remaining Stingy Jacks will be put up on CP.com ***

Tomenosuke-syoten will handle all other international collectors (North American orders will be denied). The figures will drop at midnight Japan time on Aug. 25th (early Sunday morning) via the Tomenosuke + CP sales page.
The figures are one per household. Both retailers reserve the right to deny requests from known resellers and flippers.

Good luck!

Stingy Jack: An Anatomy, Part 4

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 Previously on Stingy Jack, An Anatomy III: The flashing is cut, the tests are assembled and the Pantones are picked. Now: troubleshooting, colour-castin’ and package graphics!

After the test-pulls were sent to New Mexico and green-lit by Brandt, Stingy Jack took another spin through Obitsu, this time for colour-casting. What you see above is not paint application — but actual coloured vinyl which is then painted. Scroll a bit and you’ll see what I mean:

This is one of the first paint tests. Two paint masks were developed for the eyes and collar, along with applications to Stingy’s hat and hands. After this first pass it was determined that another mask would be added to Stingy’s right hand as the cigar looks like a finger. The pom-poms on his belly would also be painted for added emphasis.

Read More »Stingy Jack: An Anatomy, Part 4

Calliope Jackalope: An Anatomy, Pt. I

In continuing with our CP x Tomenosuke sofubi anatomy series, we now turn our attention to Kathie Olivas’ Calliope Jackalope, who we anticipate to see at Le Carnaval des Spectres this September at Artoyz Paris.

Unlike Brandt’s Stingy Jack, there was no pre-existing master sculpt for the Calliope Jackalope, which meant she had to be made from the ground-up. With Teodoru Badiu again at the helm of 3D rendering, he created the digital turns of the figure. Stingy Jack sculptor Yohei Kaneko of Mirock Toy would return as sculptor for this project.

One of the really interesting features of the CP sofubi project is the goal to have interchangeable heads between all of the figures. That also presents many obstacles, however, as was discovered while sculpting Calliope: in order to support Jack’s head and have it look natural, Calliope’s backline and shoulder width had to be adjusted. This element of interchangeability will have to be taken into account with each subsequent release and, while a challenge, may very well yield both impressive and playful results.

And here she is, in all her glory: after repeated modifications and adjustments to the figure to accommodate Brandt’s Stingy Jack and preserve Kathie’s signature style, the prototype was approved the evening of the Monsters & Misfits II opening in Takayama, Japan, last April.

Which means: we’re off to get waxed!

[via the Tomeno blog]

Stingy Jack: An Anatomy, Part III

Previously on Stingy Jack, An Anatomy IIStingy Jack sees double after he’s made into a wax model! Five metal molds are created and the folks at Obitsu start casting Stingy’s individual parts. Now: we return to the factory and watch as Stingy’s clone army comes to life one by one.

After all of Stingy’s parts have been poured, spun and popped, the sculptors at Obitsu are left with dozens of lone limbs that need to be reassembled. But before doing that, the flashing needs to be cut off — these are the cone-like scraps you see on the left side of the picture below. The flashing makes it easier to extract the vinyl from the mold, so it can be discarded after the figure is pulled. That’s when the fun of reanimation begins …

Read More »Stingy Jack: An Anatomy, Part III

KO’s Calliope Jackalope Coming ‘Very Soon’

Woo, all this sofubi talk is getting me antsy for some vinyl goodness and what happens to pop up on the @circusposterus Instagram just recently but a GORGEOUS shot of Kathie’s Calliope Jackalope — a few, in fact — in a beautiful spectrum of colours. The cutline beneath the photo reads a short and sweet “very soon!!”

Leading the trio is the sofubi paint master for the factory, with two resin handpaints in behind. Exactly when these beauties will be dropping is anyone’s guess. Paris, perhaps? AFA? Oh the anticipation — don’t wander too far!