I'll take photos of this when it comes in. Stoked that these old MINDstyle colorways were a warehouse find. SKWAK is one of the most underrated artists in this scene. His art feels like the inside of my head.
This is a sweet piece, and you can find them pretty cheaply on eBay due to some distributor clearance. They were originally priced at upwards of $100, and they're going at around $30 now. LOVE SKWAK! Even without all the color, he's great :)
actually, as far as I know, Mindstyle bad name is due to their shadiness in the relation with the artists (not paying them, not sending their APs), not about quality. I own toys from 2 series by Mindstyle (Mechtorians & serv-o-matics) and the quality is great.
Yeah same as amavevera, I've been told TONS of awful stuff about MINDstyle's ethics and operations, but if it's possible to put all that aside, the toys themselves are done really well. If you compare SKWAK's Maniac to SKWAK's KR Dunny, you can see what I mean. I only wish 1) MINDstyle didn't treat its artists so badly and 2) There was a green colorway of this piece :)
Me too. I'm trying to find time to write an article about it, but in the meantime, ask any artist who has worked with MINDstyle. I've found most to be quite open to talking about it. For instance, Sket One and SKWAK.
It would make an interesting article! I wonder what they will say? It may be hard for the toy producers to write up a contract for correct payment? Especially considering they are bearing all the risk!
But my approach is from a product design background. Many designers work on products that don't sell but then you get one that sells like mad. Its great for portfolio (if the company lets you use it) but you were only paid an hourly rate (and/or lump sum) and the company is making millions off of a product you designed as they did all the extra legwork.
Yet as a toy, you are directly selling it for art,you would think the payment would be something like this: (A lump sum upfront) + (% royalties) + (Correct exposure, such as artists name on box)
Who knows, looking forward to your article when you do it (check out some product designer horror stories too :P)
OMG Mindstyle is my favorite toy maker. I love their toy quality and the boxes that toys come in are amazing and high quality. I haven't heard of this shadi-ness though I can tell you, that I emailed Skwak a year ago to ask if he had any of the Maniac colorways and he emailed me back to say no, but if I ever found them, he'd like one. So apparently he didn't get his artists proofs. I just bought the black/black and the black/blue off ebay for 29.95 SCORE. I have ALL Skwaks stuffz. :)
More info re: my post above. I talked to Skwak via email. He told me he never authorized the release of any of the Maniac Colorways (not blue, not black, not red). And he never got any proofs or any of the productions. Tsk. Tsk. Mindstyle. Tsk. Tsk.
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jeremyriad
566 356 245
14 years ago
I'll take photos of this when it comes in. Stoked that these old MINDstyle colorways were a warehouse find. SKWAK is one of the most underrated artists in this scene. His art feels like the inside of my head.
jeremyriad
566 356 245
14 years ago
This is a sweet piece, and you can find them pretty cheaply on eBay due to some distributor clearance. They were originally priced at upwards of $100, and they're going at around $30 now. LOVE SKWAK! Even without all the color, he's great :)
amavevera
329 75 1144
14 years ago
actually, as far as I know, Mindstyle bad name is due to their shadiness in the relation with the artists (not paying them, not sending their APs), not about quality. I own toys from 2 series by Mindstyle (Mechtorians & serv-o-matics) and the quality is great.
jeremyriad
566 356 245
14 years ago
Yeah same as amavevera, I've been told TONS of awful stuff about MINDstyle's ethics and operations, but if it's possible to put all that aside, the toys themselves are done really well. If you compare SKWAK's Maniac to SKWAK's KR Dunny, you can see what I mean. I only wish 1) MINDstyle didn't treat its artists so badly and 2) There was a green colorway of this piece :)
CoMus
171 468 619
14 years ago
How do they treat them bad? Not pay them for their work? Do they say "we are making a toy of your artwork, that is your payment"?
Interested in this I am.
jeremyriad
566 356 245
14 years ago
Me too. I'm trying to find time to write an article about it, but in the meantime, ask any artist who has worked with MINDstyle. I've found most to be quite open to talking about it. For instance, Sket One and SKWAK.
CoMus
171 468 619
14 years ago
It would make an interesting article! I wonder what they will say? It may be hard for the toy producers to write up a contract for correct payment? Especially considering they are bearing all the risk!
But my approach is from a product design background. Many designers work on products that don't sell but then you get one that sells like mad. Its great for portfolio (if the company lets you use it) but you were only paid an hourly rate (and/or lump sum) and the company is making millions off of a product you designed as they did all the extra legwork.
Yet as a toy, you are directly selling it for art,you would think the payment would be something like this: (A lump sum upfront) + (% royalties) + (Correct exposure, such as artists name on box)
Who knows, looking forward to your article when you do it (check out some product designer horror stories too :P)
yourjello
235 215 55
14 years ago
OMG Mindstyle is my favorite toy maker. I love their toy quality and the boxes that toys come in are amazing and high quality. I haven't heard of this shadi-ness though I can tell you, that I emailed Skwak a year ago to ask if he had any of the Maniac colorways and he emailed me back to say no, but if I ever found them, he'd like one. So apparently he didn't get his artists proofs.
I just bought the black/black and the black/blue off ebay for 29.95 SCORE. I have ALL Skwaks stuffz. :)
LoungeCore
101 265 128
14 years ago
http://www.actionfigurecheckl...
hu8o
850 1828 327
14 years ago
I need the red one!
yourjello
235 215 55
14 years ago
More info re: my post above. I talked to Skwak via email. He told me he never authorized the release of any of the Maniac Colorways (not blue, not black, not red). And he never got any proofs or any of the productions. Tsk. Tsk. Mindstyle. Tsk. Tsk.
jeremyriad
566 356 245
14 years ago
Yep, this is what I'm hearing from several of the MINDstyle artists. Tsk tsk indeed. And I am writing an article.
yourjello
235 215 55
14 years ago
You go J!!