Jimmy Yu's TOP TEN TOYS OF 2020
Continuing my TOP TEN TOYS OF 2020-feature, let us welcome JIMMY YU, with his toy-collecting focus on action figures, and his active repairing and upgrading of them = all viewable via instagram.com/jimmy_yu! Along with his list is a lil'Q&A, to get to know the collector better ~ ENJOY!
Bandai Sodo Candy toy Kamen Rider Zero One Magias
TOYSREVIL: Can you share with us, who you are and what you do
JIMMY YU: My name is Jimmy Yu, I’m a creative director of a Indonesian Toy company (*cough~Good Guys Never Win Toys~cough*), a copywriter and Pop culture event specialist.
Bandai Sodo Candy toy Kamen Rider Zio and Build Ninjas
TOYSREVIL: How long have you been buying toys? What type/genre of toys do you prefer to collect?
JIMMY YU: I’ve been collecting for as long as I remember. I’m into figures mostly and is a sucker for Sci fi, monsters and ninjas. Combine any of those, I’m sold.
2020 Super7 TMNT Disguised Turtles
TOYSREVIL: Where do you normally purchase your toys? Online? Offline from Stores? Events? Which do you prefer? And why?
JIMMY YU: I prefer offline, always. You can’t replace the feeling of holding a toy in your hand and deciding to get it then and there but unfortunately nowadays, it’s all online.
I try to pick up something everytime I’m at an event. It serves as physical representation of my experience.
1990 Playmates TMNT Undercover Don
1994 Hasbro GI JOE STREET FIGHTER Van Damme movie series
TOYSREVIL: Do you have "toy-grails"? And did you manage to score a “toy-grail” this year (2020)?
JIMMY YU: We always do, don’t we? My biggest toy grail has to be the 1989 Transformers Pretenders Bludgeon! Totally scored it in 2020, it only took 31 years!
TOYSREVIL: Any particular focus or toy-aims this year (2020)? Starting any new line in 2021?
JIMMY YU: Still focusing on vintage toys but Super7 has tricked my mind into bending my rules. I’m aiming to complete their TMNT line, still missing April, Baxter and Krang!
1994 Hasbro GI JOE Mortal Kombat series
1994 Hasbro GI JOE Street fighter series
TOYSREVIL: Has your collecting preference changed during this year? If so what are they? And why the change?
JIMMY YU: Yes and no, I’m into vintage toys and customizing. In 2020, I got into Kamen Rider Candy toys because they look and feel like vintage toys.
They are also relatively cheap with more characters than the higher end models. I’ve been painting them religiously throughout 2020, it’s like therapy. I’ve completed 44 at the time of this writing.
Bandai Sodo Candy toy Kamen rider Zero One Televi Kun Magazine exclusive Hopping Kangaroo form
TOYSREVIL: Do you belong to any particular or dedicated toy-groups (online or offline)? Do you have "toy-buying buddies"?
JIMMY YU: Tons but I’m not too active online. Still old school, I enjoy meeting up or talking toys with some like minded collectors. That’s a very small circle as our mindset grew more sophisticated.
I enjoy people who "play" with their toys. That can be customizing, display, mix and match, etc. Most online groups "show" their toy and doesn’t generate much discussion or knowledge. Toys became like a bragging right, which is strange to me.
1985 Select Toys Ninja Assassins
TOYSREVIL: "Toy Buying these days is a solitary affair" = Do you agree with this? How do you feel about this?
JIMMY YU: It’s sadly true, I miss the days where I get to run around several toy shops with friends just to hunt. Today everything is online so it has switched to ordering toys together with friends.
I did get to relive that experience on my last SG trip with artist Daniel Yu, right before Covid hit.
1989 Hasbro Transformers Pretenders Bludgeon
Stay connected to Insta @jimmy_yu to view MORE of his collection, and his "upgrading" of his action figures! And if you decide to commission him, tell him 'TOYSREVIL SENT YOU'! LOL
