Maybe you’ve noticed that Strawberry Shortcake is back–only this time she’s on tiny T-shirts worn by adults instead of on TV. The trappings of Reagan-era childhood are being embraced all over again by consumers between the ages of 18 and 49 who, according to Nielsen Media Research, watch more Cartoon Network than CNN. These grown-up kids are not only looking back to the Saturday-morning icons of their youth. They’re also playing Grand Theft Auto 3, reading graphic novels, and getting friendly with a new breed of toy made just for them: designer creations such as Furilla, a monocular, furry creature who comes bizarrely packaged in a FoodSaver vacuum-sealed bag. Exceptionally bendy, Furilla’s designed to be manipulated into a variety of poses. But most designer toys aren’t made to be played with. They’re better loved on display, on the workstations or bookshelves of people who feel better about buying toys when they’re called collectibles, or art.
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So you won’t find any Gameboys or Spider-Man figures at Rotofugi, which Whitney runs with her 32-year-old husband, Kirby. The cheapest thrills in the store are the Los Locos minifigures by Frank Kozik, a well-known rock-poster artist, which cost a dollar apiece. At the other end of the spectrum are the Brothersworkers–a series of 12-inch action figures made by the Hong Kong-based designers Brothersfree that tops out at $222 for Baby, a welder and part-time bartender (and one of a limited edition of 400). Their painstaking detail partially justifies the price: the teensy clasps on the war correspondent’s camera bag actually work, and her one-inch spare zoom lenses connect to her 3/8-inch-long camera.
Toward the back of the store, a sort of sub-toy movement, plush art, is represented by a family of characters created by local artist Spasmodica (aka Grace Montemar), who writes quirky bios for each. For example, Fofolokkins, a pale blue rectangular figure with stubby legs and a small patch of green hair, “always brings you cigarettes and hamburgers when you’re broke. You can trust Fofolokkins with your spare key. Be nice and tell her that you like her hair color, even if it isn’t true.”
Rotofugi had a whirlwind gestation period: the Kerrs came up with the idea for the store in early April and opened on July 3. While tracking down vendors in mid-May, they came across a related opportunity. Eddi Yip, owner of adFunture, a Shanghai-based producer of designer toys, responded to an inquiry e-mail from the Kerrs regarding his products. Yip asked if they might be interested in hosting his “Monkey Show,” a traveling exhibition of customized Fling figures, which look like monkeys crossbred with robots. “The Monkey Show” has so far hit Hong Kong, Paris, and the San Diego Comicon convention.
“The Monkey Show: A Collection of Customized Fling the Monkeys” opens on July 30 with a reception at 7 PM. The show runs till August 29. Rotofugi Flings will be on sale during the show for $59 each. Rotofugi is at 1953 W. Chicago, 312-491-9501.
