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Wananeko Soft Vinyl Toy by Javier Jimenez

Let's make Wananeko as a Japanese soft vinyl toy!

Wananeko Soft Vinyl Toy by Javier Jimenez

Let's make Wananeko as a Japanese soft vinyl toy!

1 Campaign |

Granada, Spain

$11,662 USD 154 backers

194% of $6,000 Fixed Goal Fixed Goal

Story

FAQ

Updates 29

Comments 16

My name is Javier Jiménez, and I'm a self taught artist from a small city in the south of Spain called Granada. I've loved toys since I was a kid, and a couple of years ago I started creating my own figures of my original characters. In 2014 I created Wananeko, and its resin version made a lot of fans, but after all the comments from these fans, who said it would make a good vinyl figure, I decided to start working on a new sofubi version and my goal is to make it happen this year! I know we can do this!

StickUp Monsters is a new toy line that combines the urban world with classic folk stories mainly from Japanese culture but also from other cultures of the world. Wananeko will be the first figure from this line, but its universe will expand with new characters and creepy stories.

Previously released as a 5" resin figure, the new Wananeko will be made in sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), standing 5,9" and with 5 points of articulation and interchangeable hands.
The new figure was adapted from the original (sculpted by Cristina Ravenna) for vinyl production by Victor Marin from Invictus Designs, who worked on the digital 3D sculpt that later was 3D printed. The figure will be packed in a plastic bag with a full color header card, following the style of the classic Japanese toys from the 60s.

Wananeko has the ability to transform his whole body or any part he wants into objects and weapons. He wanted to smash things and unleash his fury, so he turned his hand into a spiked ball. But now he has realized that shooting stuff is fun, so he's started transforming his hand into a parasite-like gun called the Ghost Blaster too! Of course he can use the spiked ball and the blaster at the same time to cause even more destruction!

Ok, here's what you were all looking forward! the cool part! the loot!
Your donations are highly appreciated, and to show you to which extent they are appreciated, I've been working on lots of cool rewards worth your money. Take a look at the different levels. You can get more than one at the same time.

The main rewards are the vinyl versions of Wananeko. You can get vinyl Wananeko factory painted in his original colorway, a white DIY blank, and a beautiful clear pink version that will be exclusive to this IndieGoGo campaign and won't be available anywhere else. Ever!

Original colorway version.
Since I don't have a 3D render to show you how the original colorway vinyl will look like, I have used pictures of the resin version, but these are just to give you an idea of how it will look like. You will receive the vinyl version.

White DIY version

Clear Pink Vinyl version (Only available through IndieGoGo!)

There will also be some super exclusive resin pieces customized and painted by me and two guest artists: Candie Bolton and Mark Nagata. Grab these before they're gone for good!

I've been secretly working very hard on this project for a few months, trying to make it as cool as possible. So I thought: why not make a new figure for this occasion? one that would fit in the StickUp Monsters line and match nicely with the vinyl figure. Then I came up with the idea of making the Baby Wananeko figure. Designed by me and culpted by Cristina Ravenna, the resin figure will be exclusive to this IndieGoGo campaign, so this is your only chance to score one of the many versions I've prepared for you!

Baby Wananeko (Original colorway)

The lower rewards include exclusive T-Shirts, keychains, badge packs and stickers. You can add them to the bigger rewards by making a new contribution.

Producing a figure in sofubi is more expensive than producing a resin toy. You have to get an prototype sculpt done and sent over to Japan. Then they do a wax copy and use it to make metal molds that are pretty expensive. Then they pull some test shots, and the paint factory needs paint masks as well. These can get very costy.

I've already done a lot of work and I've also paid for the prototype, so after that I need $4,500-$5,000 to get the wax, metal molds, paint masks and test pulls, then $1,000 or so to pay for the rewards, IndieGoGo and Paypal fees and other expenses that will surely arise.

Now that the project is funded, it's time to start unveiling new goals!
And the one we're announcing now is one many people have asked for. I've received lots of emails asking me to make the Baby Wananeko in soft vinyl too...so let's do it!

The resin will remain as an IndieGoGo exclusive, so all the cool close editions released here will be gone for good and no more resins of the Baby will be made ever. But we have the chance of making it a soft vinyl figure that everyone can have!

So the new goal is set at $8,000. If we manage to get that money, the Baby will be made in soft vinyl, and everyone who pledged for the regular Wananeko in soft vinyl will get a vinyl Baby added to their perk for free!

So please note that if you bought the Crazy Cat Lady perk, you will get x3 vinyl Babies!

There's a new goal of $10,000 I'm announcing today (March 2nd)...

That's right! If we hit $10,000 I will make vinyl guts for the Wananeko soft vinyl figure. Clear with guts sofubi toys are beautiful additions to any collection, as the clear figure lets you see the crazy organs inside perfectly making them really unique.
Guts have to be sculpted with a soft vinyl figure as a reference for size, so I don't have anything physical to show you. But what I do have is an anatomy of Wananeko illustration I did as a tribute to Japanese artist and yokai master Shigeru Mizuki.
The vinyl guts will be very similar to those you can see in the illustration below:

If we reach the $10,000 goal, as soon as I get the first vinyl figures we will start sculpting the guts, and then ship them to Japan to be produced in vinyl. When they are done, a first clear with guts edition of Wananeko will be produced and offered first to those who backed this project, no matter what reward they chose. Backers will be able to get this version for $50 plus shipping, while the retail price for everybody else will be $75 , and I will contact all of you via email to ask if you are interested in purchasing it.
Please keep in mind that this will happen after the vinyl figure is made so the November estimate does not apply for this, and it might be ready by the end of the year. Of course I will keep everyone posted with info and pics.

There are also stretch goals for $12,500 and $15,000!

As simple as that. As soon as we hit $12,500, everyone who ordered a vinyl Wananeko (any kind) will also get a set of 5 stickers for free. If you already bought the stickers too, you will get an extra set.

Yes!! Let's try to make one more vinyl figure of our beloved vengeful cat!
If we hit the $15,000 stretch goal, I will make a 2,5" tall micro version of Wananeko in Japanese soft vinyl based on the following concept:

This figure will make a nice addition to your Wananeko collection!
Although for now I just have the concept, work on the sculpt will start soon and I will keep you posted with pics and info.
As with the clear with guts Wananeko, this figure will be available for backers first at a discounted price. At this point I can't give an official price, but I can guarantee it will have a nice discount from the normal retail price.

In order to make it easier to reach our new goal, I've unlocked a new reward too: the "Custom Wananeko set"! This is actually a commission where I will paint a set of Baby + Regular Wananeko in any colors you like. You and I will work together on these pieces to make sure you love them. Both the regular Wananeko and the Baby will be soft vinyl figures.

There's only 10 slots so if you're interested please hurry up!

Q: "Ok, so I backed your project...now what? when can we expect the sofubi to be ready?"
A: I've created the following graphic explaining the process production will follow. I will update regularly to let you know at which stage the figure is!

The guys taking care of this production have a ton of experience in toy production and I have full confidence in them. I've been told the vinyl figures will be ready by November, but as in any project that involves factories and the work of many different people, there could be delays. I'm positive this will all go smooth, but I will make sure to let backers know of any delays or problems.