Toy-Review: Standard Green Google Android Mini Collectible by DYZ Plastic
TOY-STORY: Google collaborated with DYZ Plastic to produce their internationally known online icon-mascot and made it into a vinyl toy. Posted here is the "Green Standard version" of the icon, measuring 3" high, and features swivel arms and a rotating head. Designed in New York by Andrew Bell and California by the Android Team, this version is part of the first mini series released. SRP is US$7.50 for a blind-boxed figure - quantity is unrevealed for this version.
Current releases of this Standard Green version (along with the DIY / Do-It-Yourself Android) comes along with their own dedicated boxes, so there is no need to try your luck if you not need to.
BOXED: Possessing a silver-foil sealed-pack within, there is no way you can ascertain what the design is within. Series One (in which this Green version is from) includes 10 designs to collect (including one "chase" aka harder-to-find figure). To see the set, CLICK HERE for our previous blog-coverage. Now let's take a look at the figure itself! And for a adapted-figure, this is such a delight!
FIGURE: As mentioned earlier above, the figure possess two points of articulation: a rotating head, and swivel-"arms". The figure also has the word "Android" embossed into the side. Beware of getting bootlegs tho, because they already DO EXIST! Check out this dedicated post on DYZPlastic-blog to see the differences yourself.
There is no particular design aspect I can shout to the hills about, only the fact that it had been adapted admirably from a 2D-mascot! Major kudos come forth a plenty when this figure-form had been adapted with other skin-designs and treatment beyond this standard version, which is actually really kinda cool - of both the form and the folks at Google!
WRAP-UP: A highly sort-after toy, predominately from folks who do not necessarily dwell in the traditional "art toy world", as the iconic visage of the Google Android transcends everything "toy" unto a "collectible" from customers far and wide - who recognize the icon moreso than the desire of collecting an "art toy". As a vinyl collectible adaptation of an existing PC-mascot, this figurine is no great shakes, no offense. But as a figure-form applicable for interpretation of skin designs by artists? Is an extraordinary opportunity to showcase said artists outside of the low-brow art an/or toy-culture, IMHO. And that, is extreme "gold", methinks!
Two series have the Android-form has been released thus far, with the Second Mini Series featuring a total of 4 x invited artists with their own interpretation of the Android-form - including Scott Tolleson, Gary Ham and Doktor A joining Andrew Bell. A total of three "special" / festive-themed Androids were released in-between both Series One and Two: for Halloween, Winter and Chinese New Year. We will be featuring them individually in the next few days. Have you gotten into Android toys yet?
