The fugliest toys you have seen while collecting.

Sure.

But I love King Pacara. I don't think it's fugly.

 

I think a cash grab is similar to when someone says low hanging fruit. I really enjoy that toy even if it is a Peko Chan rip off, but it is an easy idea to use to sell something. Part of anything being a cash grab I think is also the intent, working on something for an amount of time because you enjoy it vs this lazy rip off will sell. Yes of course everything is meant to sell, but it’s also part of the intent, hope people are into this so I can make more vs. I hope people drop 300 bucks on this so I can keep jacking the price up.

 

Me neither, I really like it. But isn't it interesting to see what other people find fugly? It makes for a volatile but fun thread.

 

This and definitely riding on the coattails of another person’s success. Remember when NNN came out, and everyone and their mother was making similar toys? (Heck, it’s STILL happening) Then we had Funko Hikari deciding they should swoop in with their huge runs of 200 and “Japanese” vinyl... Those were pretty obvious as cash-grabs to me.

The reason why I said the Tara McPherson sofubi seemed like a cash-grab is because she has been super successful in the KR/designer vinyl realm. It feels like she’s just shifting over to sofubi because it’s the next “cool thing.” Her fans will buy her toys no matter what material is used, though.

Also... yes, fugly is an opinion. None of us should be taking these posts seriously and getting offended. Everyone’s perception of fugly is different, and if someone dislikes something you love, who cares? People are different. (I can’t believe I even have to say this because we’re supposed to all be adults here, right?)

 

Thanks Moog! This is of great help to orient myself. I would add to this list toys that makes my blood sugar jump through the roof.

On the other hand, all toys that looks like flayed corpses and/or with tackle hanging out don't necessary belong to the fugly world. I mean, there is ugly and ugly. NNN, Retroband big corpse things, MVH trolls and some others are awesome ugly.

In the trying to hard and ending up looking like nothing category:



In the artist-doing-sofubi-for-some-reason category:
Bonus: reproductive organs ! GID !

 

Makes sense to me. However, who is to say that this is indeed a cash grab? Just by seeing the toy I can't say what the intent behind it was and the guy behind the concept is quite new. Yes, it is surfing on one of the wave of cool toys that makes cash at the moment. But it's so freakin well executed (IMHO and that sort of thing). Also noteworthy to me is that it's the project of someone, sculpted by a second, painted by a third. This might explain, at least in part, the hefty price tag.

Interesting to read some of you liking this King Pakara thingy. I find it so disturbing.

 

One thing I'd add to the Tara discussion is that sofubi tends to be far nicer, both to handle and display, than hard plastic. The detail can be close or equal to good resin work, without the stress of your toy shattering if it takes a dive, and the material feels nice in your hand. Paint also tends to be better than factory-produced designer toys, but maybe that's a consequence of working conditions or dedication to craft on the part of the painter. On the other hand, I think it's a valid argument that outsize demand from everyone and their grandmother wanting to make a sofubi doll could result in lower-quality toys, which hurts across the board.

Another facet is play. There's more stress involved with playing with a hard plastic toy, since things can snap at the joints quite easily. And to her credit, Tara's toy looks jointed for play as much as necessity. While Stella & Flux certainly isn't priced like a toy you're meant to play with, I know many of us dick around with far rarer and more expensive stuff, so the option is nice.

Point being I understand why someone might want to go with sofubi if a design works technically, for reason of detail, quality and durability. This one isn't for me at all, and I like to keep the fugly discussion light-hearted in general. Just stuff to consider.

 

Spoiler

I almost feel bad posting this. I think Don’t Cry has made a lot of fun, wacky toys, and most of them are on the charming side of the cute/ugly spectrum. This character, though...

 

Time? I don’t know. I don’t think it really matters other than to the person making the purchase.

 

Who the hell made that first thing? I don’t know what the fuck I’m even looking at.

 

Both the bland looking horror kid and the llama Ghidorah are terrible.

I define a cash grab as any newer figures made within the last 5-6 years that are marketed simply to make the most money out of soft vinyls popularity surge.... like multiple “micro runs” that manipulate the concept of supply and demand to make the most money as quickly as possible without regard to the future of the toys, the brand or the community.

 

And don’t get me wrong, I’m not against micro runs, or limited releases- the important part to me, is the long term involvement by the brand/maker. Most of these pieces “burnt turds” are made by people/companies that will be long gone from the scene in a years time. Through a combination of global good sense leading to their failure, or they make their money and move on to the next fad.

 

soooo, back to the flayed corpses with their tackle out
admittedly this is a resin piece. but still, its expensive and being marketed as a toy.

 

Mori has a lot to answer for!

Make 50 @ $50 or make 5 at $500 . . . it didn't take long for 'artists' to hop that bandwagon!

 

I’m ok with that, so long as it’s the exception, and not the rule.

 

This bastard is pretty fugly. The difference between this fugly toy and the other toys in this thread, is this one cost me 50p.
Not £130.

 

^THAT thing is actually great.
#goodfugly

 

#googly?

Or would that confuse cricket fans?

 

I'm just glad there are mechanical, two-headed frankenapes available in all mediums & price points.

 

Bigger, faster, stronger.

View this post on Instagram

 

I actually like those old Violence Toy sculpts. The Time Gore (first pic head) is one of my favorites. I'm not a huge fan of the block body but the body in the second pic works well with all of those early head sculpts. It really comes down to the paint with these. A well painted Violence Toy can be pretty cool. Just my 2 cents.

 

Satin toys will be the new wave

 

Satin or Satan?

















...OR MAYBE BOTH??

 

I'm happier with either of those than staaaaaaaaaaan toys