Craig Anthony Perkins recently had the great honor and pleasure to be invited, along with a few other artists and toy designers, to sign Brian McCarty’s forthcoming book “Art-Toys: Photographs by Brian McCarty“. Craig’s “Broken Heart Robot” as photographed by Brian McCarty, is one of the many toys featured in the book. Mr. McCarty is the premier toy photographer in the world and we congratulate him on the release of the monograph of his work!

The signing took place at the Switcheroo Gallery and Workshop. In attendance at the signing and included in the book along with Craig were Gary Baseman, Tim Biskup, Luke Chueh, Frank Kozik, MARS-1, Mark Ryden, Michelle Valigura, Amanda Visell, Yoskay Yamamoto and many more artists and toy designers.

The book is available at Amazon.com, Brian’s website as well as at the San Diego Comic-Con if you happen to be down there this week.

Issue 67 of Advanced Photoshop magazine is now out and features a career-guide article entitled So You Want To Be A Vinyl Toy Designer featuring Genshi Media Group founder and toy designer Craig Anthony Perkins. Craig answers questions and gives insight on the industry, the tools and his own experience as an indie toy designer with his toy label GENSHI:TOY. The article also features prolific lowbrow artist Ron English and Kidrobot founder Paul Budnitz.

Check your local newsstand for this issue of Advanced Photoshop – The magazine for Adobe® Photoshop professionals.

So You Want To Be A Vinyl Toy Designer...

Genshi Media Group’s designer toy label, GENSHI:TOY, is proud to announce the release of our latest creation, Kricky The Alien Frog. Kricky is the lovable side-kick to our first toy, the Broken Heart Robot and has been redesigned and re-sculpted from the previous prototype.

Conceived of and designed by Genshi Media Group founder Craig Anthony Perkins, Kricky is distributed world-wide by DKE Toys and will be available at your favorite vinyl toy retailer shortly (and if it’s not, please ask for it by name!) In addition, a Blank White version of Kricky, for those of you who like to customize your vinyl toys, will be available exclusively on the KrickyTheAlienFrog.com website.

Please visit Kricky’s site for more information and photos of the design process.

I discovered an interesting article today in the U.K edition of Wired Magazine. It talks of how researchers are experimenting with giving robots the ability to “sense” when their human owners are upset and to then avoid their angry owners.

What caught my eye though was that the picture they used for the article was one I took of my Broken Heart Robot toys! I’m very honored that Wired Magazine chose my Broken Heart Robot as the image (inspiration?) for the story.

Broken Heart Robot in Wired Magazine

Coincidentally, I’ve been experimenting with the Arduino platform; thinking about making an actual, autonomous robot… maybe I should program it to fear me as well!

The article was written by Katie Scott for Wired U.K. (Online editing by Holden Firth.) Article link: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2009-03/30/robots-taught-to-hide-from-grumpy-humans.aspx

Kricky The Alien Frog will be the second toy produced by GENSHI:TOY. We have been refining the prototype and coming up with new colorways! These colorways will be considered for the Series One version of Kricky. If Series One does well, then Series Two will have some special guest surprises!

Kricky The Alien Frog

We are currently looking for funding for this project and based on the success of our first toy, the Broken Heart Robot, Kricky is sure to be a huge success as well!

Issue 35 Wonkavision Magazine

Issue 35 of independent music magazine Wonkavision is now out and features a special Art Toy design issue available in 3 different covers. The issue also includes an interview with Genshi Media Group’s Craig Anthony Perkins on his process and thoughts on designing toys as well as a stellar review of his Broken Heart Robot design:

“The simple, clean lines and curves, and soft, solid colors of all editions distinguish the Broken Heart Robot from the busy details and overflowing colors saturating the designer toy market…”

The magazine is available at newsstands now as well as on Wonkavision Magazine’s own website.

Genshi Media Group’s new designer toy division, GENSHI:TOY, has just released it’s first creation, the Broken Heart Robot! Designed and produced by label owner Craig Anthony Perkins, the Broken Heart Robot can be found at your favorite toy boutique or comic book store world wide!

Broken Heart Robot

On his home planet of Xerbix 319, the Broken Heart Robot was one of the rare robots built without a purpose. Sadden by this, he fled Xerbix 319 and traveled the galaxy to seek out his purpose.

Along the way, the Broken Heart Robot met many interesting characters on various planets, moons and asteroids, and eventually landed on a small planet known as Earth. Though he has yet to find his purpose, he may just find a few new friends to help him with his quest!