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Ultimate Optimus Prime Opus
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 22, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Standing at 87 inches tall and weighing in at 485 pounds this model of Optimus Prime is for hardcore Transformers fanboys only. Produced by Robot-Models.com this sculpture will set you back a mere $4,838. Found via GeekAlerts and Nerd Approved. American Beagle: Snoopy for President
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 21, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
These Peanuts premiums from the 70s caught my eye in this election season. There’s something that’s so endearing about the characters that Charles Schultz created so many years ago. At my local subway station stop that I get off at each day (Bowery station on the J line) there’s a Peanuts calendar that’s on display in the token booth that always brings a smile to my face. Shown below are more mementos from Snoopy’s Presidential bid: Mecha Kitty on a Rampage!
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 21, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
It’s Hello Kitty meets Warhammer 40,000! Check out Katherine’s Hello Kitty Sisters of Battle… A Dick Tracy Cell Phone
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 21, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Shown above is the Special Edition Cellphone Watch (available from chinavasion.com) which reminded me a great deal of the Dick Tracy 2-Way Wrist Radio which was introduced into the comic strip in 1946. Thankfully Hollywood did an action film based on the strip in 1990 which means we won’t have to worry about a remake for at least another few years. As to the watch itself Dick Tracy would be pretty happy as it features both a still and video camera. While this watch feels like a bit of a gimmick keep in mind that if a second generation model started to combine voice recognition technology that this could evolve into a very handy device. I guess I also like the idea that the good old fashioned form factor of a watch won’t be replaced by other devices that tell you the time. Found via geekalerts.com, image found via coolest-gadgets.com. Top Flight Atlas Space Rockets
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 20, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
You’re on the launching site! $1.98 is a pretty good price for a rocket, although I think if I was a child of the era I’d be disappointed that the toy featured above isn’t a working model rocket. My guess is that the commercial was either made in the late 50s or early 60s at the start of the space race. Video found via Ira Gallen. Robots and Donuts: The Art of Eric Joyner
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 16, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Dark Horse will be publishing a collection of the works of Eric Joyner in early October. Joyner who is an illustrator and a fine artist takes his favorite objects like Japanese tin toys and yummy donuts and places them into whimsical painterly scenes of surrealistic bliss: “In the years following World War II the major export from Japan wasn’t electronic equipment, but toys, specifically tin toys. Crafted in the shapes of submarines, planes, trains, cars, and horses, one of the most popular motifs was toy robots. Constructed in virtually every shape imaginable from the 1940s throughout the 1960s, they ranged in appearance from horror to science fiction characters. Capturing this period in history became a passion for painter Eric Joyner and in Robots and Donuts he celebrates this forgotten era with images marrying the metal creations with images plucked from his imagination. And, almost always, with donuts.” …and here’s a gallery of his work:
Distressed (2007) Polar Bear Domo
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 16, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Shown above is the Polar White Domo 5.5″ Flocked Vinyl Figure which will be available from dark Horse in late October. Fan’s Best Friend: Japanese Dog Treats
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 14, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
As usual I was stumped again this year shopping for a family member who loves dogs, but as I was strolling through Books Kinokuniya which is a Japanese book store here in New York I came across some great goodies for canine fanboys and fangurls of all ages. Shown above is are some playful paper clips which are by Midori who has a wide line of interesting stationery products. Below is an amazing little gift book that I discovered which was packed with dog photos and Japanese brush typography. The name of the book is いぬだもの (単行本) which translates to “Dog’s Book” and is available at Amazon Japan. There’s also a second book in the series which is titled いぬだもの 2 (2) (単行本) which translates to “Dog to be 2” and can also be found at Amazon Japan:
1960s Toys in Space!
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 11, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
The Outer Space Men (Colorforms – Late 1960s)
Major Matt Mason: Mattel’s Man in Space: Space Crawler (Mattel – Late 1960s)
Lost In Space Robot (Remco 1966) See the entire collection here, collection curated by Frederick Barr. Lunchtime at Fanboy.com: Sci Fi Lunchboxes
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 9, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Space:1999 (Thermos 1975) The Ultimate Wall-E
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 8, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
I have to admit that I had my doubts about Disney-Pixar’s upcoming movie WALL-E, although slowly my mind is being changed on the subject. For starters a friend who saw a few clips at the recent New York Comic Con told me that he was blown away with the quality of the work that he viewed. And today I could sense the buzz building up as I spotted a poster for the film on a bus shelter here in NYC. Shown above is the Ultimate WALL-E which will sell for $190 this summer. This interactive robot comes with a remote controller and sensors that’ll allow him to respond to his environment in numerous ways, including obstacle, sound, and touch detection. This fanboy thinks that this looks like a fun toy and makes me look forward to finding out more about the film. Found via gearlog. Hello Kitty goes Punk
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 8, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Meow! Japanese horror punk rock band Balzac has adopted Hello Kitty into their act. Shown above is the result of this collaboration which includes a line of t-shirts to show off your claws of cuteness. Found via Hello Kitty Hell. Lunchtime at Fanboy.com: Japanese Toys
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 7, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
The photos shown above are of various Japanese toys: Indiana Jones: Icon Collection
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 7, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Check out these cool official Indiana Jones desktop icons designed by Anthony Piraino. 1968: Crossing a Phone with a TV Set
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 6, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
What’s funny about this Western Electric ad from 1968 is that it reminds me a great deal of the webcams of today. I suspect as the technology for those webcams becomes cheaper we’ll see those as stand alone objects disappear over time, but that signature lens will continue to be found everywhere from cell phones to TV sets. Found via Pink Ponk. Bunny Suit Gundam
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 5, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Yeah you aint goin’ to mess with us! I got my friend here in the MS-09R Rick Dom which features a large clip-fed beam cannon (often referred to as a “Beam Bazooka”)… Fukusuke-pon 福助ぽん is a cute rabbit from Japan whose adventures can be followed on Flickr. Robot XL500
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 3, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Shown above is the Robot XL500 designed by LockWasher Design. What’s great about this design is that it’s sleek and futuristic, yet when you look closer you see the everyday objects that make up the details to this delicious droid. Golgo 13: Coffee for Assassins
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 2, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
I first discovered Golgo 13 as an anime series in the 80s, but the concept dates back to a manga written and illustrated by Takao Saito in 1969. The series revolves around the adventures of Duke Togo a professional assassin, and a new animated version of the show is now running on TV Tokyo in Japan. To celebrate the series Nescafe is introducing a line of canned coffees to celebrate the stark looking sniper which is shown above (click on the image to view it at full size). Barbie Sings!
Posted by Michael Pinto on May 1, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Because girls just want to have fun! I realize that Barbie is more of a fangurl icon than fanboy material, but I was quite impressed with the above musical example of how Mattel popularized the well known fashion doll with legions of young fans back in 1961. Also as an animation fan I got a real kick out of the charming reto animated graphics used in the commercial. Here’s the actual record:
Shown below is another good example of Mattel reaching out to fangurls with an official fan club that even featured its own magazine: Tom Corbett: Space Cadet Song and March
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 30, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
From the rocket fields of the academy! I wonder when the Sci Fi channel will do a remake of Tom Corbett: Space Cadet? Shown above is the cover for a 1951 record which features Mitchell Miller who would go onto fame in his own right with his Sing-Along with Mitch records in the 60s. As for Tom Corbett the TV series ran from 1950 until 1955 and inspired additional books, comics, a radio show and other goodies. I love the level of detail in the back cover of the record which shows you a typical space academy classroom: Hello Kitty Hokkaido Lavender Bear
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 28, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
I’m sorry I just couldn’t help myself! These two little plushies were just too cute to blog about. Anyway I’ll try not to let this happen again in the future… Found via Sarah from Atlanta, GA! Indiana Jones Sofubi
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 27, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
This set of vinyl Indiana Jones statues sort of reminds me of the Muppet Babies, but in a good way: Indiana Jones Sofubi by PansonWorks “When the new Indiana Jones movie bows on May 22, Indy isn’t a young man anymore. He’s an old guy. So what’s a toy producer to do? Make an old man toy or hearken back to an earlier time? The choice is obvious in Pansonworks’ upcoming Indiana Jones sofubi (soft vinyl) toy which features a fresh-faced adventurer and his wizened dad. Indy’s also sporting about a day’s worth of stubble on his chin.” New York Comic Con 2008: Emotes
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 19, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
Emotes are a line of designer toys and graphic novels — I got a kick out of running into their oversized mascot (shown above) who’s a bit more lovable than the rad looking charter designs shown below: New York Comic Con 2008: NECA
Posted by Michael Pinto on Apr 19, 2008 in Hobbies and Collections
With great glee I had to go and visit the NECA booth to check out their prototypes for their Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection (seem above). But then I turned the corner was shocked to see a piece of my past when I spotted this Kurt Cobain lunchbox:
I though to myself “well you’re being a little bit too sacred with the music you love”, but then to my horror I spotted this sad item: |
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