makers introduction

MTU

MTU, a classic toy company from Korea that brought joy to kids in the 1960s and 70s with their charming wind-up tin toys. Known for their colorful lithographed metal designs, MTU created a wide range of mechanical toys—from cowboys and robots to space guns, trains, and more.

One of their most beloved creations?

The “Happy Days” tricycle —a delightful wind-up tin toy that captured the spirit of playtime during a simpler era. Made in Korea, these nostalgic trikes are now prized by collectors around the world.

Whether you’re a vintage toy lover or just rediscovering childhood favorites, MTU’s toys are timeless treasures that are popular among vintage toy enthusiasts.

PLEX

In Japan, PLEX (株式会社プレックス, Kabushiki Gaisha Purekkusu) is a design company that specializes in creating toy products, including the designs for the costumes, robots, and merchandise for shows like Super Sentai and Power Rangers. The company, originally a successor to Popy, has been part of Bandai Namco Holdings throughout its history and is known for its innovative designs and deep involvement in the creation of many popular Japanese toys and characters.

Key Aspects of PLEX in Japan:

Toy and Character Design:PLEX is responsible for designing visual elements that are then developed into toys and merchandise, playing a significant role in the success of franchises like Super Sentai and Power Rangers.
Bandai Namco Connection:The company is a subsidiary of Bandai Namco Holdings, ensuring that its designs are developed into tangible products from a major toy manufacturer.
Mergers and Evolution:PLEX merged with WiZ Co., Ltd. in 2019 but continues to operate under the PLEX brand, maintaining its legacy as a key player in the toy industry.
Behind-the-Scenes Innovation:PLEX works behind the scenes to bring Japanese fantasies to life, designing characters and mechs that are both visually appealing on screen and practical for mass production as toys.

The company's roots began when the Popy Planning Office Company was set up in 1981. When Popy was merged back into Bandai in 1983 it effectively became Bandai's in-house design workshop. In 1985 it was renamed Studio PLEX and then in 1990 simply PLEX. At around this time the studio's name began appearing on the packaging, paperwork and copyright stamps for the Bandai toys the studio designed.

Art Storm Co., Ltd.

Art Storm Co., Ltd. (アート・ストーム) is a Japanese company that manufactures licensed action figures and statues of characters, primarily mecha, from 1970s and 1980s super robot and hero anime. The company's products are released under the brand Fewture Models (フューチャーモデルズ). Fewture Models brand Fewture Models is Art Storm's primary brand for its licensed products.

The fewturemodels.com domain redirects to the official Art Storm website.
Some of their most popular product lines include characters from classic series like:
- Mazinger Z
- Getter Robo
- Gatchaman (Science Ninja Team Gatchaman)
- Guyver
- Special Armored Battalion Dorvack

M1-Go

M1-GO refers to Yuji Nishimura, a Japanese designer and toy artist specializing in creating retro-style vinyl toys of classic kaiju (Japanese monster movie) characters, often reinterpreting vintage Bullmark figures. His work, created in partnership with TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS, includes popular re-designs of monsters like Mechagodzilla, Mothra, and Megalon.

Key Aspects of M1GO:

The Artist:M1GO is the name used by Yuji Nishimura for his design work, especially in the realm of vinyl toys.
Art Style:Nishimura creates distinct, contemporary versions of classic kaiju from Japanese films.
Inspiration:His designs often take inspiration from or are re-imagined versions of vintage Bullmark figures, which were originally popular in the era of classic kaiju films.
Collaborations:He collaborates with TOKYO CULTUART by BEAMS to produce and distribute these limited-edition, designer collectibles.
Popularity:M1GO's work is highly sought after by fans of kaiju culture and retro design for its unique aesthetic and limited production runs.
Products:Examples of M1GO's work include vinyl toys of Mechagodzilla, Mothra, and Megalon,often released in various colors and limited editions.

Since releasing the first M1 soft vinyl Kemurman, M1 have been producing soft vinyl figures for about 30 years, focusing on Toho and Tsuburaya monsters. They also have a lineup of tricycles. All M1 products are hand-painted one by one in-house.

An M1 soft vinyl Kemurman is a soft vinyl toy figure of the alien Kemur Seijin from the Japanese sci-fi tokusatsu series Ultra Q, produced by the company M1-GO. These figures are a type of sofubi (soft vinyl) toy, often featuring detailed reproductions of the original costume and are popular among collectors of classic kaiju and Japanese toys

Shima-X

Shima-X is a Japanese company that produces collectible vinyl toys, often large-scale reproductions of classic Japanese monster and robot designs, such as the Rokuron Q9 figure. The name can also refer to the company "SHIMA-X," which is the producer of these toys. What Shima-x Does

Manufactures Vinyl Toys:Shima-x specializes in creating large-format "jumbo" vinyl figures and collectibles.
Retro Designs:They often produce figures based on classic Japanese characters from manga and anime, like the Rokuron Q9 villain from Mazinger Z.
Collaboration with Bear Model:Shima-x has collaborated with Bear Model, another company that produces similar toys, to create figures like the Shima x Dragon Boy.

How to Identify a Shima-x Product

Size:Their products are often large, with a "jumbo" size of approximately 20 to 24 inches.
Brand Name:Look for "SHIMA-X" or "Shima-x" on the packaging, as seen in product descriptions for the Rokuron Q9 figure.
Retro Style:The toys and their packaging have a distinct retro aesthetic, evoking the original designs from the 1970s and 80s.

Maverick Create LLC

In Japan, Maverick Create LLC (マーベリッククリエイト合同会社) is a design company that creates toys, industrial art, and OEM products. It was established as a spin-off from the company Shimax Co., Ltd.

Key facts about Maverick Create LLC in Japan:

Specialization: The company designs and creates molded products like toys, develops industrial art, plans OEM projects, and manages a gallery.
Parent company: It was founded by spinning off from Shimax Co., Ltd.

• Products: Maverick Create LLC has been involved in the design and production of collectible vinyl figures (sofubi), including figures from the Ultraman series.