(Ed. Note. Jeremy Brautman is a recovering toy addict and expert on art toys. He contributes toy culture trends to a handful of blogs and is editor-n-chief of ToyCyte)
One of the first questions people often ask me is, “How did you begin collecting art toys?” Once they hear the answer (the abridged version: cubicle + disposable income = toy collection), they typically follow up with “Key? What’s a Key?” They are, of course, referring to Qee, the platform figure introduced in the early 2000s by Toy2R–a figure that makes up the bulk of my collection. Raymond Choy founded Toy2R in 1995; the business initially ran on the energy of his own designer toy obsession. Nowadays, Qees are all over the globe, wearing the insignias of popular brands and the signatures of hip designers.
What separates the Qee from the other mini-figures in the pack is that they come with a keychain. Most Qee collectors (present company included) maintain a ziplock bag filled to the brim with these accessories and display the figures sans fob. However, keychains are really making a comeback, especially among the next generation of cool kids. Need I remind you of Sasha Obama and her Uglydoll keychain?
I’ve had a peek at Toy2R’s 2009 lineup, and there are some excellent items ahead. I’ll limit myself to two words: DOMO QEES. Enough said. While we wait for new figures to collect, there’s no excuse for idle hands. Recently, Rosie O’Donnell made the rounds on daytime and late-night television singing the praises of do-it-yourself toys. Rosie is a fan of Kidrobot’s 5-inch Munny figures. She says her kids customize one a day. At the rate she’s going, I‘d like to introduce her to Toy2R’s 8-inch DIY Qees. The toys are a 3D canvas, great for kids of all ages. They come shaped like blank bears, cats, bunnies, dogs, pigs, skullheads, eggs and more. Each figure includes a brush and acrylic paints. The only thing missing is some heavy magnets so you can proudly affix your kid’s finished art toy to your fridge.
–Jeremy Brautman
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