Pictoplasma

I just discovered Pictoplasma Berlin, a festival of contemporary character design and art. This my first encounter with the phrase "contemporary character design", and I think it's a very succinct way to explain the position of the toys I've been studying. Pictoplasma seems to be mainly focused on animation- their annual animation festival will take place this April. I discovered the Pictoplasma project while researching the conception of Dot Dot Dash: Designer Toys, Action Figures, Character Art, one of my main sources.

This publication was produced by the same minds behind Pictoplasma. In Spring 09 there was apparently an exhibition entitled Pictopia that "investigated the aesthetic principle of reduction and abstraction in the design of anthropomorphic characters" (taken from catalogue description). I have ordered the catalogue and am interested in reading the essays. Already, by just exploring the Pictoplasma website, I appreciate the approach and the vocabulary used in the discussion of the importance of character design to contemporary visual culture. It is very relevant to my project and am interested in using a similar approach in my writing.

Pratt DIY

The students in Pratt's digital arts program were inspired by Kidrobot's newest platform toys and appropriated the KR forms to produce this animation, the producti of a Fall 2009 course:

It's as if the Pratt students chose to digitally customize the forms of Munny, Rooz, Trikky, Raffy, and Bub. What's most interesting about this is how the characters are given personalities and come to life. There has been word that a Kidrobot feature film is in production (the date of completion is unclear). If part of the charm of these toys is that they are invented characters that exist independent of any other media, how will this feature film affect their conception and consumption? What happens when Munny becomes a movie star?

Resolutions

In 2010, and more specifically in the next two months, I resolve to post more often. I have been on a hiatus for a bit, but I am back. I just got back to New York after my hibernation in Buffalo and I'm ready to tackle this thesis head on! A draft of the first half of the paper is due on Feb 22- a rude awakening!

Just saw this post on the Kidrobot KRonikle for keychains that will be available by blink assortment in early February. I love the Murakami reference . . . .