I’m the kind of art toy collector who gets hyped when I discover bold designs, imagination-grabbing concepts, and vivid colorways that stand out from the crowd because they dare to do something different. That’s exactly what the team at Kaleidos Creative is all about: The incredible diversity of toys found in Japanese Gashapon capsules has pulled my attention from western artists as of late, but the impressive range of genuinely cool designs caught my eye here, and I wanted to see if they look as good in my office as they do online.
So far, I’m nothing but impressed. From chunky dessert dinosaurs and soccer-cats to berry adorable wildlife and spacefaring canines, there really is an unconventional, yet genuinely lovable toy for everyone to be found in their extensive collection.
Wait, What Is Kaleidos Creative?
The core of Kaleidos Creative formed when a crew of talented artists, sculptors, and illustrators from Funko, Pixar, and other studios came together to do something new in the indie designer toy scene, crafting a range of vinyl figures, plushies, and blind boxes that have huge personalities and tell mini-stories, both in their designs and poses (and literally, in some cases). They’re endearing and vibrant; some include hidden features you may not have expected until you open the box, and they all feel thoughtfully crafted to be sturdy little characters.
Pros
- Thoughtfully designed art toys that stand out from their shelfmates like a neon sign.
- Gigantic array of designs to choose from.
- Price points range from $12.99 to $29.99.
- Well-packaged order.
- Excellent gifting idea.
- Each model includes a collectible card.
- Toys are inside an opaque black bag so scalpers can’t claim rarer figures.
Cons
- It’s true that you have no control over which model will be in your Blind Box, but that’s okay, it’s part of the fun!
I’m always on the hunt for innovative new characters that resonate with me, and the little worlds and charming casts are so wide-ranging in their tones, textures, colors, and styles, I can promise the average toy fan that there’s something special waiting for them in Kaleidos’ ever-expanding lineup.
Unboxing with Kaleidos Creative
I’m happy to report that my order of figures was caringly packed, and their iconic eye logo-adorned wrapping paper was a cute touch. One little issue I have, as someone who takes toys out of the package to pose and display, is how most toy packages have to be ripped, bent, and shredded to some extent or another to get to my prize, since, when the packaging is attractively made, I like to keep it for a little while and set it out, too. Kaleidos gets a bonus 500 points for integrating a little red pull strip on top of every blind box, which made it a snap to effortlessly “rip” open each one without mangling the adorable box.
I was also glad to see that each model is enclosed in a solid black bag, so re-sellers can’t pick out the rare edition that may only appear in only one out of every 36 boxes or so. Speaking of surprises, please do yourself a favor and tear into the bag to see what treasure you’ve found, before investigating the matching collector’s card that comes with each Kaleidos Creative figure. That way, the surprise isn’t spoiled!
Kaleidos Creative kindly sent me samples from seven of the 48 different blind box series currently available from their website, and I have plenty to say about these guys:
I can’t help but start off with my favorite, the biggest, heaviest, and most calorie-dense of the bunch, Kaiju Cookies! I got the pastel green and creamy-colored Matcha Macadamia edition, and as someone who loves dinosaurs and sweet treats, this chunky, messy-faced monster has the perfect balance of cute and attitude (even though I would prefer to imagine it as the Key Lime version, as I’m not particularly fond of matcha or macadamia nuts!). Standing at 4.4 inches tall and easily the heaviest of the bunch, this adorable Kaiju Cookies dino is absolutely worth the price of admission.
Pricklepuss The Cactus Cat is what it says on the tin (or rather, box): he’s a weighty, glossy, and cartoony kitty/succulent hybrid, and whether you get one who’s napping, ready to pounce, or snuggled in a spiky bun pose, I’m sure that cat lovers will appreciate having Pricklepuss around to lounge on their desktops. I certainly do!
What grabbed my attention about the Big Top Chomps was the fun implication that whether they’re giant lions or tigers, they’re all goofy kitties on the inside, and my gigantic Main Coon is no different! I’m a fan of the intricate and charming paint jobs that remind me of the children’s books I grew up with, and the classic “pull them back, and watch ‘em roll” feature was a fun surprise, too.
My award for the cutest toys in Kaleidos’ collection goes to the Little Bearries; each species of bear-fruit has a clear personality, a vibrant semi-transparent shell, and a collection of loose berries that jostle around whenever the Bearrie is moved. I’m not normally into toys with a sad expression, but how could I resist the blue Bearrie?
For those still excited by the World Cup, Kaleidos has let a curated collection of Catscans representing 12 nations (and a very rare mystery model) out of the bag. I unboxed the Spain and Italy variants, and they get bonus points in my book by giving Charlie six dynamic soccer poses instead of painting the same kitty in 12 different colorways. The jangly glow-in-the-dark mini soccer balls inside his belly is a stellar added touch that gave my Catscans a special place under my desktop lamp.
Aliens treating Earth as the must-probe tourist destination is a fun concept, and they ran wild with the idea by including a collection of swappable accessories, props, and stickers to help totally customize your alien visitor. Mine hung out in New York City, grabbed a hot dog to go, and finally brought the infamous Pizza Rat to justice. This one’s a bit of a balancing act due to the many pieces included, so your intergalactic friend deserves a spot on the shelf where it probably won’t get bumped by mistake.
Finally, there’s the dogged adventures of “Space Case: On the Chase,” where Space Case the puppy is on a solar system-spanning adventure to find the right home for him. Unfortunately, he’s clearly unhappy with his first stop at Earth’s moon! While I’d rather see a much happier variant of Space Chase, I love his design, the way the lunar greys were used to color this model, and the idea to make his round space-themed seat a literal beanbag cushion, which is a stroke of brilliance.
Kaleidos Creative’s toys are overflowing with personality that makes them feel like they came from a classic story or animated film you loved as a kid, and it’s far too easy to apply my own headcanon to these lovable characters. This is but a sampling of what they have to offer, and I can’t emphasize enough that there’s something for everyone’s tastes, and with more models added often, you’ll want to keep checking in to see what Kaleidos Creative adds to the menu next.
