Destroy All Wallets-Monster Addiction

Destroy All Wallets- Monster Addiction-

The history of Sofubi—-

by Honey Morales

Sofubi has been around for a while and came into their own after WWII. A large portion of these sofubi were made specifically for shipment to the United States. Soft vinyl toys surged in popularity in the 1960s due to the kaiju phenomenon, which was followed by other fads including superheroes, and robots.

By fusing the words “soft” and “vinyl,” the term “sofubi” describes PVC figurines. They draw inspiration from classic folkloric characters and Japanese motifs like kaiju monsters, but their vibrant, psychedelic colours, glitter inlays, and gradations take them to a whole new level.

Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, was first created in Germany in 1872 and subsequently plasticized in 1926 through a combination of several elements. This is the material that sofubi is constructed of. Conventional Japanese manufacturing involves melting a wax prototype to create a metal mould.

Traditional methods for making Sofubi figurines include utilizing a copper mould and a process called rotational moulding. This process requires spinning a heated mould around so that the vinyl can coat the inside and take the form of the figure.

When the vinyl has hardened, the figurine is taken out of the mould and painted.

The sofubi world is similar to the street culture must-haves like sneakers and T-shirts in that there are usually limited releases. Their rarity makes them more appealing. Makers have a deep awareness of the market and how consumers behave.

Among the many advantages of this production method is the great degree of personalization and diversity it permits. Figures can be made in a variety of sizes and shapes, and manufacturers can play around with various paints and colours.

This has resulted in a vast array of sofubi figurines, from monsters and robots with simple forms to those with elaborate and detailed patterns.

For many years, sofubi vinyl figurines have played a significant role in Japanese toy culture as a distinct and interesting subset of collectible vinyl figures. They have captivated collectors worldwide. No matter if you like monsters, robots, or popular culture.

Godzilla Sofubi was the gateway drug and destroyer of my wallet that started my years-long battle with an addiction to Japanese toys. Please, please, please, give me every hue of monster.