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UNKLE & FUTURA LABORATORIES


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Futura 2000 - a Toy Odyssey

 

American artist Futura has had a plethora of collectable toys made based on his artwork. Most of the toys made (so far) have been based on his Pointman character. The following account hopefully covers all the projects he has been involved with...

 

 

 

BAPE is the acronym for the Japanese multi media label A Bathing Ape. BAPEPLAY is their toy division. Most of the recent BAPEPLAY toys have been related to their Milo character, but some of their past pieces have been based on Futura’s characters. Their have been two 12” figures of James Lavelle released, wearing the Pointman mask. One figure was part of the Agent Preventative Evil series, and called J-El 77Unkle. The figures were made by Medicom, and fell under their range of “Real Action Heroes”. Plans of the boxes were turned into a single page spread Nigo contributed to an issue of The Face magazine in 2000.

 

 

 

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The other James Lavelle 12” figure came as part of a double pack (DX / deluxe) tied in with the album Ape vs Mo’Wax. The figure is again wearing the Pointman mask and this time an American style letterman jacket. The other figure in this double pack was Nigo.

 

 

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A second boxed set of figures were released for the Ape vs Mo’Wax album. The figures, again representing Nigo and James Lavelle were painted vinyl poseable figures. The figures are based on the album’s cover art, done by Futura. These same figures were later repackaged and sold separately to promote two Mo Wax albums - Nigo’s Ape Sounds and the Mo Wax Japan album Art of War.

 

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The Ape Sounds Nigo figure is entirely silver and comes in a silver die cut box. The CD, Ape Sounds, came with it. The Art of War figure is the James figure, in a brownish colour, again in a die cut box. The James figure is splattered in red paint thanks to Futura’s colleague Stash, who customised them all. The UK release of this figure didn’t come with the Art of War CD. It just goes to show if you make a figure, hang onto those dies and moulds!

 

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To promote the UNKLE album Psyence Fiction, two Pointman action figures were produced. One green and the other blue. A word of warning if considering buying one of these via mail order/eBay etc - they are VERY fragile and VERY easily damaged in the post. I wonder how many of these aren’t actually broken?!

 

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An art exhibition held at the store Nowhere, Tokyo in November 2000, entitled Command Z, saw the release of three figures based on Futura’s work. The exhibition was of the work of Futura and Stash. BAPE T shirts produced for the event cost big money on the secondary market. The figures came in clear containers resembling spray cans. The three figures are called The Pointman, El Nigo and Le James, representing Futura, Nigo and James Lavelle respectively.

 

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Futura’s Pointman has also been given the Kubrick treatment. Kubricks are a range of miniature figures, often compared with Lego (although differing in their detail, articulation and wide subject matter), made by the Japanese toy firm Medicom. As an aside, the name “Kubrick” came from combining “cube” and “brick” into one nicely catchy, and copywritable word. The UNKLE figure is as yet unreleased, although it was mentioned and subsequently first pictured in the Japanese magazine Relax, in the James Lavelle Limited Edtition section.

 

The UNKLE Kubricks are now available for preorder in the US, Japan and Singapore. Whether the UK gets any love...one can only hope. The figures look set to be released as two double packs, with one containing a blue pointman and a black one, the other pack containing a red and a purple one. Whether this is how they will be sold time will tell.

 

Furthermore, Futura has a Be@rbrick in series 5 of this off shoot of Kubricks. As the name suggests, they are figures of bears. The Be@rbricks come randomly boxed, and like swapcards there are those rarer than others. The rarity is easy to check as Medicom print the proportion of a particular figure on the box. The Series 4 figure by US artist Kaws has been extremely sought after.

 

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There are two Futura Be@rbricks - a black one and a white one. The black one is called "Strallor Patroller" and features a baby's pram accross the chest. The white one is called "No Spank". In using the bear, a classic symbol of childhood, to address the issues of violence against children and child safety, I feel Futura has delivered a considered addition to the toy world.

 

 

 

As early as 2000 a photograph (again, in Relax magazine) appeared of a new prototype Futura designed figure. The figure is a Mo Wax project. The actual figure is 1/6 scale (12”) and was made by Neil Holdham from the UK company SID Ltd. The folks at SID Ltd are best known for their figure of Sid Viscous based on the cartoon images of Mr Beverley. The figures clothing fabric is by Maharishi. An obscure angle of the figure appeared in issue 29 of German magazine, Lodown. The figure remains unreleased, but fans can only wonder why.

 

 

 

For completeness three more items are mentioned. On the cover of issue one of Educated Communtiy, Futura is pictured holding a Pointman figure - any more information on this is appreciated! Another promotional item released for the UNKLE album was an inflatable punch bag featuring Pointmen (hmm, not quite a figure I agree). Finally, whilst it is Stash's operation, some might argue that the Recon Kubrick also be included, as Futura is involved with Recon.

 

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Beyond these figures are those made by fans themselves, and rumours of bootlegs. Unable to wait for the real deal, home-made mini Pointman figures have already appeared on eBay. Others with a flair for sculpting have tried their hand at making their own Pointman-like figures.

 

 

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from:

http://www.rift-trooper.co.uk/

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I like futura's work. He 'keeps it real'. The shoes look really hot, usually I would not buy that trendy splattered paint look, but this is different. I love the album, it isnt just instrumental hip hop, its something new. I like the whole concept, some one is doing design I like and all the money is going to the right people.

 

*edit, other than it being trendy I see no problem here.

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JL77 UNKLE Forces

'Art Of War'

Designed By Futura with colour manipulation by Stash (Hand sprayed so all 500 figures are unique). Probably one of the hardest to find figures, it was only available in Japan as a promo for the 'Art Of War' album

 

Average Price - £100

 

JL77

Proportion: Adjustable

Mission: Stealth

License: Artistic

Weapon: Sound Barrage

Accomplices: UNKLE 77

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UNKLE

'Kubrick'

Designed By Medicom Toys, available at UNKLE's ICA

(Institute Of Contemporary Arts) Exhibition in London (29/9/2003).

Limited to 2000 worldwide, 900 of which were sold at the ICA and the remaining at a Toy exhibition in Japan.

 

Average Price - £30

 

 

Features

- Sealed Packet

- UNKLE Kubrick

- Blaster Gun

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Ape vs Mo'Wax

'Art Of War'

 

Average Price - £100

 

Limited Edition figure set released in Japan as a promotion for the

Ape vs Mo'Wax album on Toys Factory.

 

James Nigo

Proportion: Adjustable Variable

Mission: Stealth Top Secret

License: Artistic Creative

Weapon: Sound Barrage Apex Blaster

Accomplices: Unkle 77 El Pointman

 

all Figures from: http://www.dustystylus.com

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4 Unkle big fans!!! The new released Unkle 3D Cushion by Medicom definitely A MUST NOT MISS item in your collection. This cushion will be released in June available in 2 sizes (Large and Small) and available at Zozotown after the new Medicom shop open comin month. By the way another Porter shop just opened last week in Zozotown do check out the gears not bad tho. more

 

stolen

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