Toy-Review: RxH Nibbler by The Tarantulas
TOY-STORY: RxH Nibbler is a triple collaboration between Onell Design from USA, Real x Head from Japan, and the UK's The Tarantulas. The original design by Chris was interpreted into RxH style by Mori and sculpted / manufactured in Japan by Real x Head. Two unpainted "Mutagenesis"-editions were released on February 25th, 2010, in Anti-Matter Black and Molten Pink. The version I am reviewing here today, is the hot-Pink version, without the "white-eyes"!
The header-tag comes courtesy of Real x Head, and FigLab is credited on it as well, who no doubt was the bridge across the oceans for this collabo. Do note that this is the first vinyl version to be released, and was quickly snapped up upon release. And frankly, at £25 per, this figure is a steal.
This is an excerpt of the "origin story" of the RxH Nibbler (from The Tarantulas' blogpost):
"I saw Real X Head toys for the first time in 2008 & picked up a couple while I was working in the US.. Co-incidentally just before I headed back to the UK Matt Doughty showed me a Real Head Mini he was playing around with - he'd just got back from Japan fired up from meeting Mori for the first time.. Right after I got back ( fired up from meeting Matt! ) I sculpted the first Nibbler..
Cut to 2010 & enter the Real X Nibbler !! I still can't believe this amazing triple collab happened.. Working with Mori has been pretty amazing.. Not just a creative visionary but truly a master craftsman Mori took my initial design and re-interpreted it RxH style - creating the most amazing piece of vinyl - right in every proportion & impossible to put down.. My thanks to Mori & also to sculptor Tsuke who realized the design flawlessly…"
[Above: Articulation Details on Video]
Simply put, this cross-continent crossover led to an extreme cool result in a toy-figure produced. Standing 4 1/4 ounces tall (10.5cm), this is a decent sized "art toy" in any sense (similar height to Leecifer's Honoo The Flame too) and would be well welcomed into a collection, which bridges Western and Eastern design sensibilities, with this borg-form skimming the razor edges of kaiju-toys, and blasting through retro-infused sense of "play". I cannot imagine how this RxH Nibbler would look, if it was fully painted" though! What can I say that is obvious by now: SNAG IT whenever you can!
Cheers
Andy
