I want a Munny. I want a Munny very badly, actually.
Most of you are probably going, “What the heck is a Munny?” And that’s not surprising. Unless you’re already into designer figures or you frequent comic book stores, you’re probably not on the up-and-up when it comes to the urban vinyl toy craze.
Worry not, faithful readers. I am here to educate.
This is a Munny. Munny is a simian-like toy figure made of PVC. He has poseable arms and legs, little curved hands that can hold accessories, and a big head with stick-out ears. He’s also… blank.
You can do pretty much anything with a Munny. You can color them with crayons, paint them, add clothes, whatever you want. The possibilities are endless. As a huge art lover and a toy geek to boot, I’m all over this like J’onn J’onnz on a bag of Oreos.
Another very cool thing about Munny is that KidRobot, the company that manufactures Munny, will offer a bulk discount to art teachers who want to incorporate this toy into their lesson plan. Teachers can download a PDF file of a lesson that explains pop art and the Art Toy Movement, citing pop art legends like Warhol and Lichtenstein and modern Japanese kawaii artist Chinatsu Ban. I would have killed for an art lesson like that!
The Art Toy Movement is thriving as a subculture phenomenon right now, with the toys pulling in large amounts of income from people of all ages and interests. The toys are being carried at comic and anime conventions, with some conventions like the San Diego Comic Con ( or “Nerd Prom,” to those in the know) carrying exclusive editions only available there.
My first introduction to the world of designer toys was Uglydoll, a company that manufactures designer plush dolls. And they’re, well… ugly. My personal favorite is the Gato doll, who looks like a blue cat, only… ugly. And yet, much like a bulldog, they have that so-ugly-that-they-come-back-around-to-cute thing going on. You know you want one. And they’re only like $20!
If you’re looking for more info on designer toys, ToysREvil is a great blog to check out. (Warning: there’s some profanity involved, so look at this one when the kids are elsewhere.)
Additionally, if the fine folks at KidRobot want to send me a Munny to decorate and post on my blog, I’d be more than happy to do so. (Hint, hint.)
