Category Archives: Toy shows

Max Toy Updates January 2018

Happy New Year, Max Toy Fans ! Ok, just a bunch of stuff to catch up .. after selling through our first shipment of Sofubi-man, we have another batch on order, so decided to take PRE ORDERS for them here: https://www.maxtoyco.com/shop_item.php?id=1371

Should have more Flesh Sofubi-man by months end, by the way

Next week, via Clutter Gallery, I painted this Galaxy “I Heart Skull” resin skull for their next gallery show ! Skull designed by the famous Ron English. Contact Clutter for Preview list and more info !

And also this very cool ( pun intended) Winter Crusher G custom by artist James Osborne has just sold !

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And finally, over the Holidays I got this stunning, original pencil art of my cats, Lulu and Trixie !!! Artist and Max Toy fan, Maya Doka is the artist – http://www.mayadoka.com/

I’m sorry my picture does not do the artwork justice .. it’s has some very subtle grey tones in the pencil work and captures the Cats purrfectlyΒ  πŸ˜‰

Sofubi-man First colorway

Happy New Year 2018 !

Sofubi-man is now ready for a wider release via our web store: https://www.maxtoyco.com/shop_item.php?id=1371

This first version is cast in Flesh (Fresh) soft vinyl (sofubi), and he stands about 6 inches tall, with articulation at the neck. Sofubi-man, is my homage to the men and women who cast soft vinyl in Japan. As many of you may (or not) know, I’ve had a life long love affair with soft vinyl kaiju since 1973. But, it wasn’t till much later that I found out more about the actual process of making and casting these types of toys. The last few years I’ve had a goal to make a Sofubi-man out of Sofubi !

Sofubi-man is magically sculpted by Cristina Ravenna, with Max Toy coordination by Yo Miyamoto and of course expertly cast in Tokyo by real Sofubi-menΒ  πŸ˜‰

Happy Holidays from Max Toy Company 2017

Thank you Everyone for your kind words and support of Max Toy Company ! As we enter our Lucky 13th year, 2018 is already booked ;-P Look for new toy projects, conventions and in September 2018 at the Japanese American National Museum, Kaiju vs Heroes – Mark Nagata’s Journey through the World of Japanese Toys (!) I’m co-curating the show with Maria Kwong ( http://www.latdamuseum.org/ ) More info coming in the new year so stay tuned and see you there !

Max Toy Updates

Just some random updates since Dcon and look for a new Sillyamnder for sale next week !

Thank you for a most awesome Dcon ! We had an amazing response and will be back next year for sureΒ  πŸ˜‰ I wanted to also thank everyone who came up to me to just say “Hello”Β  or give a kind compliment … this was the best part of the show !

Set up with booth mate Doug Hardy ! Doug also was selling his Witch Cat LuLu figure !

Max ready to go as the doors open … have no idea at this point if we’ll sell anything !

In the midst of the toy frenzy buying madness, the most famous cartoonist Thien Pham ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjvLgLvGZiQ ) surprised us with a gift… a box of Howlin Rays chicken sandwich. To be honest, I’ve never heard of it but a random guy saw the box and dashed over and told us it’s a 2 hour wait to get a box and in fact he’d never even seen the box so he had to take a picture of itΒ  ;-P Thien did warn us it might be “hot” … Later, Max really wanted to try it but we aren’t really use to spicy foods, so i went first. Lets just say while the flavor was great I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything this “hot” and my mouth was on FIRE πŸ˜‰ I told Max he’d better not try it, though he did later and had the same reaction, haha …

Good friend Mike Minjares stopped by … with some good Car stories πŸ˜‰

Photographer Brian McCarty ( http://brianmccarty.com/ ) and LATDA museum (A 10 year reunion,Β  ) / Japanese American National Museum (http://www.janm.org/) store director Maria Kwong and I reunite after 10 years and the Beyond Ultraman exhibit. I can’t say enough good things about Maria and Brian, such great people !

 

 

The show was packed both days and we nearly sold out of everything we brought ;-O Only a few items remain, which are now in the max toy web store. Next year the show moves to a bigger venue in Anaheim ( across from Disneyland ) so we will see you all there for 3 days !

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Finished the last of the @Kaiju_One, Trinity figures for a lucky collector ( below )

 

 

 

Sofubi-man Max Toy Preview

I showed a test shot of my newest character, Sofubi-man, at this past Dcon, which by the way was a fantastic show !

Awesome sculpt by Cristina Ravenna, who perfectly captured the spirit and character !

Sofubi-man stands about 6 inches tall.

Below is some info on him and pics… Pre Orders for the first version with be up in a few weeks ! Check Back !

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Sofubi-man is my homage to the men and women of
Japan, who have perfected the art of soft vinyl casting.
The process was originally brought to Japan in the 50s
by Mattel to produce their Barbie dolls. Soft vinyl — or
Sofubi, as it is known in Japan — are hand poured and
cast using heated liquid vinyl poured into iron molds.
These molds are heated up and cook the vinyl to the
desired thickness. At this point, the vinyl pieces are soft
enough to be pulled out of the mold and allowed to cool
down. Extra flash or trim is cut off these pieces and the figure
is assembled and painted.

Japanese toy collectors, and especially Kaiju collectors,
know this process through classic Ultraman & Godzilla soft
vinyl figures from the 60s & 70s.

Today this process of toy making in Japan remains basically
unchanged, though there are not as many factories left.
Max Toy Company is proud to use these craftsmen and
support this toy making tradition for the figures we make.

My initial sketches πŸ˜‰ Actually a more complex version that maybe someday I’ll get to !

Max Toy Table TE17 Dcon Preview

Well decide to dump all the images hereΒ  πŸ˜‰ Max Toy Dcon stuffs, see us at Table TE17 !!!
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Max Toys at Dcon 2017
Hi Max Toy Fans !
Phew … ! I painted a mix of micro runs of our most popular figures, a few factory paints and of course one of a kind painted figures for Dcon.
I’m packed and ready to drive down to Dcon ! Excited to be setting up there at Table TE17 πŸ˜‰ Come say Hello to Max and Myself !
As many of you may know, I have not set up at the USA show in over 9 years !
Anyways, I’m bring all the above plus a ton of smaller one offs and some Max Toy stock. A good time to see the stuff up close and of course buy ;-P
Also have stuff from Jay222, Javier Jimenez and Doug Hardy. Doug will also be the booth both days, and selling his brand new resin, Witch Cat Lulu ! Very cute hand cast and painted figure so check her out !
By the way, everything is first come, first served .. but on the Tiger Boss / Office cats it’s one of each type per person, per order.
I will have a test shot of our newest figure, Sofubi-man on display as well !! My tribute to the men & women who cast these figures in Japan. This figure will release very soon, so stay tuned for more details.
Also, excited to be finally revealing publicly at Dcon, my Japanese toy collection / art show at the Japanese American National Museum in Sept 2018 !!
Titled; Kaiju vs Heroes – Mark Nagata’s Journey through the World of Japanese Toys
I’ve worked on this for over 2 years now and we are coming down to the final months before the opening. Much more info as we get closer and some cool stuff planned so stay tuned !
Thanks so much for the support !
Your Kaiju Pal,
Mark

Max Toy Table TE17 Dcon Exclusives Part 1

Hi Folks ! Here’s the first round of Dcon ( http://www.designercon.com/ ) exclusives we’ll have at our Max Toy Company table TE17 ( end aisle ).

Also look for special micro runs and one offs from Jay222, Javier Jimenez, Doug Hardy, Michael Devera and Todd Robertson !!

Plus we’ll bring some stock items ( figures, pins, keychains ) as well. I will be at the booth pretty much all day Saturday & Sunday (minus some walking around time) so look forward to seeing you all ! As you know, I rarely attend USA shows and haven’t had a booth/table in the US in 8-9 years ? ;-P

All items are first come, first served and one item per person, please.

Exclusive Tiger Boss & Office Cat , each sold separately πŸ˜‰

Exclusive Crusher G Pink version

Micro run, Boy Karma, painted by Mark Nagata

Exclusive Squishy Micro Negora ( unpainted )

 

Exclusive Rainbow Micro Kaiju Eyezon painted by Mark Nagata. Micro run.

 

Exclusive Kaiju Drazoran micro run painted by Mark Nagata

 

 

Exclusive Kaiju Eyezon, micro run by Mark Nagata

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Next post, more exclusives and one offs !

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