I've got this idea for a new DIY Toy Form but I want some feedback from people that like to customize toys about its functionality, creative opportunities, mass appeal, etc.

REASONS BEHIND THE CONCEPT:

I LOVE television and film with a passion! Not a day goes by that I don't sit down, flip on the TV and watch a sitcom or a feature film while I create artwork in my studio. Some people like music while they create, I tend to lean towards television.

Why not have a DIY form that would be a recognizable shape/form to almost anyone around the world, and also allow people to create art pieces based on their favorite films/TV shows, etc.?

I'd love for people to actually take the JPEGs from this link:

http://hobbit1978.deviantart.com/art/TV ... -198567137

and try out some custom artwork using the form. (I tried to upload the image directly but it says that the board attachment quota has been reached.)

I've already tried a few ideas myself but I want to get opinions from others that might help with the design or engineering of the form. Feel free to post any artwork you create using this form. I can't wait to see where this goes!

FUTURE PLANS:

I'm planning on continuing to modify the idea and shape until I get a form that I feel has received the best feedback from you the customizing community. When I do complete the form and get the final schematic files created I'm going to begin a Kickstarter.com account and we'll see how many of you want to support the project to completion. Keep coming back here for regular updates.

Notes: I've already received feedback from several people that the antenna, knobs, and speaker areas might need to be removed so it would give people more flat areas to work with for customization as well as better production. My question would then be is it too simple a form?

I actually used one of the 2009 Tofu Dunnys to do a similar concept. I was say flattening out the buttons and speaker would make it easier to customize but the antenna is kind of a must for me. It would make the rest of the piece too simple for me. Maybe it is an accessory that can attach?

I like the idea. Good luck.

Thanks JonWalsh! That's a great idea and I think that can be achieved fairly easily. I've never seen the Tofu Dunny so thanks for sharing. I can see where that would be an easy custom change for this idea. I like TV4ME's arms better though. A bit more flat and graphic and he will have more areas to create artwork on. I've also got ideas for other accessories to fit into his arm slots on either side so we can REALLY change up his look for each edition.

Awesome. Can't wait to see what others suggest.

I like the concept but it's kinda limiting. I'm reminded of the Soopa Coin-op DIY video game figure. Fun to do up in your favorite TV show theme, but that's about it. Also there's already a TV DIY accessory that comes with the Munny. Still I like the pics I've seen thus far. I'd buy one if reasonably priced. Just not sure how successful it would be.

Rustedhalo: I've been debating on the whole "limited interest in form" versus wanting to take such a simple form as a glorified box, or canvas, and let people push the envelope of the form. Isn't that what taking a toy and customizing it is all about? Just looking for more information.

I've been in this scene for about 5+ years now and I've seen a bunch of DIY platform toys come and go. The one's that seem to stick around are the more simple designs, usually animal based for some reason. The more simple and less specific you make a piece the better. After all it's supposed to be a blank canvas. Simple geometric shapes combined to become a figure of sorts. A TV is an object everybody is familiar with and is hard to make into anything else, thus it's very limiting to the artist. I think it would be fun to do once and that's it. Great for a one time show. I think if you kept the same basic square shape with the arms and legs but got rid of the defined screen, speakers and knobs(I think the antenna could work as something else, I can see a robot head right off hand) I think the figure would do better.

I think it looks cool but yeah as a diy I think it has too many details. It actually reminds me of these a lot too: http://robotandspark.bigcartel.com/

Hilarious BALD! This is why I posted here. I knew everyone on here would be able to give me the info I needed. I've never seen those robotandsparks figures but I can see where they REALLY wouldn't be able to be seen as much of anything other than a robot. I think I'll post a revised shape image next week and see if we can something moving on getting a sculpt started.

RustedHalo: What sort of price range would you think would be fair for one of these guys if they were around 4" tall or around that size? I've got ideas that these could go larger for future releases but I don't have a ton of capitol to start really big right out of the gate.

If you're gonna do em up in vinyl then it's gonna be a matter of what factory you go with and how much they're gonna charge you and what the minimum run you can get done. Personally I wouldn't pay more then $15 for it. Unless you do em yourself and maybe roto resin. You're gonna need a lot of capitol to get this going. You're gonna need to find a factory and probably looking at $1000 up front and months of wait time to get a prototype back. These days a lot of people are just doing resin stuff on their own. Know it's not an easy undertaking. If you do this and need a good factory I can give you the info on the one my buddy uses.

"Personally I wouldn't pay more then $15 for it."

-I'd like to get the price down to $10 or below. Since this is the same sort of price range that a Dunny comes in I think I'll have to be there to be competetive.

"Unless you do em yourself and maybe roto resin."

-I'm open to all sorts of material for the end product. I'm looking into roto resin but what are peoples' feelings about each? Does a resin piece turn you off? Does it make a difference either way?

"You're gonna need a lot of capitol to get this going. You're gonna need to find a factory and probably looking at $1000 up front and months of wait time to get a prototype back."

-Don't I know it. I'm going to work with someone I know locally that worked for Hasbro for a number of years to get a prototype made and then I might start a kickstarter.com project to help with funding of the final production. Do you think there would be enough peeps here on CTU to get it the project backeD?

"These days a lot of people are just doing resin stuff on their own. Know it's not an easy undertaking. If you do this and need a good factory I can give you the info on the one my buddy uses."

- I'd appreciate any information you can provide about factories, processes, etc. That's why I'm here! To learn, to gather info/critiques, make a product that will be enjoyed and used by you all, the customizers!

Ok, new aspect to this...

Once I get this form up and running I'm going to be launching a show to premiere the toy later next year. I would like to have everyone that wants to be in the show pay a $20 entry fee up front and when the toys are produced I will be shipping the final product to the entrants. You would get the final product, customize it and get a guaranteed spot in the first show. As many as I sell, that's how many get into the show. If we get 500 entries it'll be a HUGE show. If we get 20 people to pay for their TV4ME figure up front it will be more intimate. I'm trying to work with some of the vinyl stores in Chicago or NY to give this thing a bigger flavor and perhaps get some better exposure as well.

Thoughts? Comments? Let them RIP!

Hobbit I just came across this image today you may want to take a look at it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/84568447@N00/5512770661/

I know it's been a while since I discussed this idea on here but wanted to give an update.

I've decided to approach this character from a different angle and go with WOOD as the material he'll be made out of. I can get a prototype produced quicker and the cost is ASTRONOMICALLY cheaper than vinyl or resin combined. I'm having some of the parts laser cut and others will be traditionally routed so it should give the piece a very organic natural feeling. I will be simplifying some of the forms for easier production in wood but I'm also looking forward to being able to actually get my hands dirty and help produce the pieces myself. With vinyl or resin I felt that I was going to be sending digital files back and forth with a company and then being left out of the process until I got a prototype. With the wood I can actually go to the local businesses I'm working with and watch the process, be a part of the machining of the parts, and then handle some of the actual parts before final assembly occurs.

I'm going to produce "blanks" for customization as well as an etched limited edition that will compliment the organic natural wood feeling of the material as well as follow the TV form and idea a bit further.

I'm super excited about where it's all going and I'd love to hear peoples' reactions/thoughts/suggestions as to the wood material and how it will impact your view of the product. Since the final piece will be produced in wood I'm also going to be leaving the figure unassembled so that people can paint the "arms" or the "legs" and then using wood glue complete the final attachment of their figure themselves. I know with vinyl it's easier to customize them since you can pop off attachments fairly easily and then reattach them. With wood I didn't want anyone to get frustrated with the form quickly by having to deal with solid stationary limbs.