2016 done and dusted here are my own top picks of 2016. It’s been a great year of releases for sure, some that got away and wasn’t fast enough to get hold of or not enough money to make the purchase. Still, these top picks are what I remember and appreciate or have in my own collection. Please note I couldn’t add a few to the list even though they were released on pre-order for 2016 as they haven’t physically arrived in 2016.
Top Western vinyl releases
PERMANENT GUEST By COARSE
Loved everything about it, right down to the story behind Permanent Guest.
ABOMINABLE SNOWCONE By JASON LIMON x MARTIAN TOYS
Looks great in the photos but wait till you see it in person.
Top Eastern vinyl releases
THE 10 YEARS ANNIVERSARY SET TREESON & REN By BUBI AU YEUNG x FLUFFY HOUSE
Waited many years for a revamp and the 10-year anniversary set was a blessing for Bubi fans like myself. Glad I was able to secure one.
POOKIE CIRCUS By PUCKY STUDIO x UNBOX INDUSTRIES
Top 2 cute resin collectables
BREADCAT by Rato Kim
Don’t need an intro for BREADCAT by Rato Kim
WOOTKOWSKI By SCOTT WILKOWSKI x WOOT BEAR
Cute and creepy at the same time had to make it on to my list, another year of Scott BRING IT ON.
Top resin collectables
NO 1 HUSTLER XINYUAN MONKEY KING By NAUGHTYBRAIN
Shanghai-based designers CuriousBoy & O’YanRu killed it with this Monkey King! Edgy figure with a pose that hipsters would run away from.
JIM MCKENZIE – THE SCARECROW
We suggest you watching it as you’ll appreciate Jim Mckenzie and ToyQube making this replica figurine even more. The half scale version of the original Scarecrow sculpture it maybe, but it looks as beautiful as the original.
Skullhead Blanks By Huck Gee
Biased it may seem but come one The Toy Chronicle Blue Skullhead Blank!
SKATEBOARDER HAZARD By NOLAZY JONG HUN HA
Darn cool release from South Koren Jong Hun Ha. Bould edgy design and Jong demonstrating superb craftsmanship by making the balancing factor within Skateboarder HAZARD.
GOLDENBABY PURE GOLD VERSION By GOLDEN8OY STUDIO
Goldenbaby could have so many meanings to it, does’t need a storyline yet it looks so beautiful and not overly cute. Mixed with a spot of elegance the gold and white has to be the best version of Goldenbaby ever released.
JIANGSHI: PUTREFACTION By CHUNKEE STUDIOS
If this wasn’t so pricey it would be one for my collection for sure. Scary as hell and one eye-catching piece for anyone’s collection.
ADORABLE CIRCLE OF LIFE ART COLLECTABLES By ALEX SOLIS
I jumped at the chance to own these and wasn’t left disappointed when they arrived. Cute, funny and sinister all rolled into one.
Top 3 cute sofubi
INU-HARIGON By TERESA CHIBA
Adorable and dashes of folk law all rolled into one figure.
BYRON AND RANGERON By KORATERS SHOKO NAKAZAWA x T9G
Managed to own a couple and the hype is still strong and no sign of ending.
JOBI THE MOON FOX By OK LUNA
Absolutely lovable and I predict Jobi will be just as admired as Shoko’s Byron.
Top 3 sofubi kaiju
RUK YOM PROTOTYPE By RECYCLEC X MIYAZAWA
One of my most wanted sofubi Kiju was RUK YOM PROTOTYPE By RecycleC and Miyazawa making the transition from resin to Sofubi. I thought being made in sofubi would make my own chances of owning the set would be greater but they’ve sold out so quick people are running riots for demanding more.
Candie Bolton x ToyArtGallery’s Bake Kujira
Highly unlikely this needs any form of introduction. If I had space and went with my collection then this huge ass Bake Kujira would be in my collection for sure. Nothing that I’ve seen before and loved the fact it has folk law tied into the design.
GOG VINYL FIGURE BY ANIMAL RUMMY x UNBOX INDUSTRIES
This was right out of the blue and every colourway was amazing. Seeing it in person made my jaw drop! trust me, if you’ve not seen it you must check it out.
Top 2 Blindbox Series
SHAH MAT DUNNY CHESS SERIES BY OTTO BJORNIK X KIDROBOT
What a series, very clever having an entire series as a chess set. Otto’s trademark style running deep within.
Smiski Series 2! finally got hold of them and the poses in series are great and they GLOW, Ha. Simple and cute but you can’t doubt how cool they look.
TOP “if I could afford” fine Art Sculpture
JUMPER by COLUS
This beautiful design is kinda sad yet elegant. The perspective from any angle is simply beautiful.
Greg “Craola” Simkins x Silent Stage “BEYOND THE SEA”
Incredible detail without standing production from Silent Stage being able to turn “BEYOND THE SEA” 2d into 3D.
Wood Meat Dress By Mark Rayden
Gobsmacked all I can say, would love to own it and see this in person.
Top 2 toy pick of the year
MAGURO BY MAME MOYASHI 豆もやし社長
Left me gobsmacked when I first saw this at TTE 2016 and knew I had to have one. Maybe It connected to me more as I’m a sushi chef. No doubt top quality and design, 2017 will be another year for the guys at MAME MOYASHI. I simply can’t get enough.
CHUNK By Jim Dreams x Unbox Industries
Jim Dreams x Unbox Industries smashed it near to the end of 2016 and driving collectors crazy with this uber cool design which reminded me of myself, Ha. Selling out faster than free doughnuts.
Coolest mass mecha of 2016
Q-MECH AGGY BY INSON SONG OF WAZZUP FAMILY X FANMADE
This Chicken caused all sorts of internet shut down when this was teased and released. Cutest Chicken with weaponry that could start WW3.
MAZINGER Z DEVILMAN EDITION By ERIC SO x KINGDOME COME x UNBOX INDUSTRIES
Taking a classic and turning it into something so modern and cool! One of my most wanted tried to sell one of my kidneys to fund this one, sadly no takers.
Top 2 bootleg figures/ licenced inspired
WE ALL NEED A HOBBY DARTH By WETWORKS
This custom Coarse “Casting shadows” is a beauty. Changing the overall look from the Casting Shadows. Carlos used the body from Casting Shadows and a sideshow platform for the base, Those micro tie-fighters look to use that they are micro machine figures and dismantled. Pretty cool for scale, very clever and imaginative from Carlos.
ADULTHOOD By OASIM KARMIEH
Adulthood has humour and quirkiness dropped into one sculpture. Great take on Donald Duck, tho we do feel slightly sorry for the poor chap.
My top custom that I OWN
Jon Paul Kaiser’s custom MAGURO 豆もやし社長 – by Mame Moyashi “Wokou” took one of my fav releases and smashed it!
Top 3 high-end action figure
TEQ63 1/6 Scale Bu QUICCS x DEVIL TOYS
Saw the prototype and fell in love, Mech style figure with plenty of accessories. Hardest part was which version.
HIDDEN x RIDERS x JOHN By HIDDEN FOO
The handmade figure that got away……. Sign watching him make this series made me want one even more.
MONKEY KING WREAKS HAVOC BY J.T STUDIO
Made me think back to the good old days of watching Monkey King Journey to the west films and when grandparents telling us the stories of Chinese culture – Journey To The West.
Plush/ Soft toys
Droolwool THE FABULOUS CREATIONS OF MARIA FILIPE
A style that I’ve never seen before and food always wins me over.
WORRY THE AROMATHERAPY PLUSH BY TAYLORED CURIOSITIES
Simple it may seem but a wonderful message.
Ceramic art toy
ToiNz Teeyo and Friends
Simply adorable, wonderful shapes to win my heart over.
ZUNBO By SAKUBO DESIGN
Reminded me of myself especially the sexy body shape 🙂
Hope you enjoyed my top picks. Look out for more Top Picks from our TTC family over the next few days.
Byron by Koraters is no hype for sure! It is mad dope, I can’t wait to get my hands on a few more, wish they could ramp up production and put out more units!!!