So, What's Your Toy-Story?

Video feature from MsMojo showcases "5 Collectibles That Will Explode in 2026 & 5 Set to Decline" ... I am always interested to see what the "general public" sees in / thinks about "collectibles", by far different in perspectives to our own "(indie) designer / art toy"-persuasions, of course.



What is the difference between "buying a toy" versus "buying a dream"?

We judge and place a dollar value to a piece of painted sculpt, but we might never ever hear the story of how the plastic/resin/wood sculpt was manifested and made.

In the early days of toy-collecting for me, I purchased based on my self-centred need to own figures which fulfilled my dreams and desires. The "connection" I had felt then, was strictly one-side, pointed/directed towards myself.

It was not until "discovering" Michael Lau, that I gradually discovered I had bought into his "dream(s)", in wanting to be a part of his dream-fulfilment.

It started with the first time I laid my hands on a Crazy Children figure - more likely FATBACK (Images above via milo-style.com) unboxed at a skate shop in Peninsula Plaza ... I remembered holding unto it and looking at the SG$60 price tag, thinking "how much again for this piece of plastic?" - with the sculpt vastly different from the 1/6th-scaled hobby I was deep into, as well at the tailend of McFarlane's intensely detailed sculpts... "who would pay for this? OMG!"

At this point in my life, "toys" for me meant "play/played-wth", not wholly for "display only" behind a glass window, not to be touched... growing up with Playmobil and model cars, and moving into 1/6th, I physically touched my toys. But the notion of "untouched collectibility" begun with McFarlane toys MOC, actually LOL

The physically touching aspect of the toy - in my mind - does not diminish the value, in fact it increases the value in that they are able to be played with, hence "added value", IMHO.

But since learning the terms "M.I.B." or "M.O.C." truly did impact how I viewed and collected toys subsequently, until now too. For collectibles I want to keep, I don't really worry about MIB or MOC, But I recognise to SELL some of my toys, folks do sometimes indeed look towards MIB or MOC to determine the value as well. Hawking my wares currently at Miku Market might have changed my perceptions a bit, but I am not in-tuned to the genre to recognise otherwise, alas...

It was not too long after, when the notion stuck with me when I delved a little bit deeper into WHO Michael Lau was and what he did, did I discovered and admired what he had tried to do (in my mind), and in a weird way could relate to what I was doing in my "day-job" - I art directed and designed for films and television, and had often compromised my visions to suit the director's and productions' needs/requirements (a absolute necessity, I insist), while singularly, ML was able to manifest his dreams unto the creation of collectible toys that was essentially unlike most in the Hong Kong market, was such a ideal dream for me.

His work on GARDENERGALA 1/6th-figure immediately appealed to me too, especially since I was actively collecting "urban wear" back then too, so connection established immediately too LOL

Michael Lau's creations manifested my lack of (absolute) achievement in my field, and I have no qualms of admitting that. I am proud of my work done, of course, but this was another plane of existence and joy, IMHO.

Of course I used to want to create toys of my own (!), but never felt my creations were compelling enough to be manifested unto collectible ... but there's another whole story to this I will not share this time, cheers.

Within this sphere of "designer / art toys", I have since learnt to appreciate the aspects that goes into a creation of a collectible. Who dreamt and designed it. Who sculpted it. Who made it. The production chain becomes as important to the depth of the collectible, as it does to general licensed public "action figures / toys" (for example), because in place of WHO created/designed/sculpted it, we are instead introduced to it via the movie/animation/media that comes with/before the licensed item.



I have a very distinct memory of this little girl (possibly 8/10 yers old?), who was right next to me in a hospital waiting lobby, pointing to the television screen showing a trailer for Michael Bay's Transformers film (the first one, I think) coming to local tv channel, and called out "Optimus Prime" recognising immediately the massive mecha transforming on screen. This has always stayed with me, the "power of media", and of the retention ability of kids LOL ... but then again, don't we adults all retain our toy-dreams of our collective youths anyways?



Do non-fans know who originally created "Transformers"? Not the product line, but the actual creator? Do we know the story of Japanese products versus American releases? We instantly recognise the colors and forms, enough for a kid to identify, so that in itself is a WIN already.

This post was partially "triggered" by a Instagram-post by Portland-based creator Bwana Spoons (below), where he shared the history of his production toy, and that coupled with the above/top video, made a immediate "connection" for me :)

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brandon Bwana Spoons (@bananapoons)

In many ways, I am intrigued to know more about creators/designers' motivation and toy-story origins, which led to their creations we adore, collect and maybe even revere. Honestly when I started this blog featuring toys, I'd asked more than should, but seems folks then were not keen enough to share more, versus decades (take "twenty years") later, when creators are more comfortable to do so at their own time and pace, share on their own personal socials, and honestly I am utterly grateful they (finally) do...!

Do we need to know EVERYONE's toy-story? That's the beauty of social media, as you have a choice to read thru our simply scroll thru, innit?

I am not a "toy-creator" of any measure to be able to directly "connect" with other creators, and might well be a "outsider looking in", and most times is my "value as a toy-collector" be determined by the amount of money I spend on toys/collectibles? A comment had since been etched/scarred into my being: An acquaintance had commented (in the distant past) that I was a "fake collector", as I "did not spend enough $$$ on toys" ... and while I do not agree at all with him, but there's only so much I can build a wall over to protect myself - which essentially leads to a solitary collecting experience, alas.

Remembering the early 2000s, where there were plenty of SG-based blogs talking about and reviewing toys, which in reality were collectors who reviewed their own actual purchases, therefore well regarded (in that aspect) ... versus when I started out, sharing my flea market purchases and not necessarily viewed in any capacity beyond "basic pedestrian hobby" (LOL), ironically until I started blogging about other folks toys AKA "toynews", where folks might have recognised my "free advertising" (LOL), plus what I had hoped to be being able to amplify and showcase more collectibles than folks might know of too...! At least in my mind that was the justification of my online-existence ~ heh.

Thinking back to ML and my first impressions of his "urban vinyl", it helps if there is "education" about who, where and how these came from, to be able to provide a history, and perhaps even a shared memory of, and feel less like "a outsider looking in", perhaps?

And technically, you are buying someone else's dream(s), innit?

Have a wonderful Toy-Day, everyone!
Andy TOYSREVIL