Toys on Tap

Toys on Tap
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A podcast that interviews artists that make toys in the professional, independent, bootleg, and designer toy scenes!

  1. Ep. 272 Toys on Tap w/ Sergey Safonov:How Creativity Survives Without Influence

    HACE 4 DÍAS

    Ep. 272 Toys on Tap w/ Sergey Safonov:How Creativity Survives Without Influence

    Sergey Safonov joins the show to share a completely different path into the world of character design and art toys. Growing up in the Soviet Union with limited access to toys and pop culture, Sergey developed a unique creative voice rooted in storytelling and original character creation. From early internet art collectives to building his own toy line, he walks through how his work evolved into deeply narrative-driven design. We talk about his approach to world-building, creating original IP without nostalgia, and the challenges of producing toys while being disconnected from the global scene. This episode offers a rare perspective on creativity, culture, and what it really means to build something original. On Instagram: @sergeysafonov This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    59 min
  2. Ep. 271 Toys on Tap w/ Seismic Toys: From Fans to Licensed Toy Makers

    13 ABR

    Ep. 271 Toys on Tap w/ Seismic Toys: From Fans to Licensed Toy Makers

    Chris and Alex from Seismic Toys join the show to talk about building a licensed toy company from the ground up. From meeting at G-Fest to producing officially licensed Ultraman and Astro Boy figures, they break down what it actually takes to move from collector to creator. We dive into their first toy launch, the challenges of working with factories, and the reality of scaling a toy business. They also share the story behind their Kickstarter for The Last Dinosaur, including an 8-month hunt to track down the licensing rights and why blind box toys aren’t as easy as they seem. This episode is packed with real insight for anyone serious about making toys. On Instagram: @seismictoys This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    1 h
  3. Ep. 270 Toys on Tap w/ Hakon Collectibles: Creating a Toy Scene Where None Exists

    6 ABR

    Ep. 270 Toys on Tap w/ Hakon Collectibles: Creating a Toy Scene Where None Exists

    Hakon Collectibles is doing something most people wouldn’t even attempt, building a designer toy scene in Scotland where there is much of one. In this episode, we talk about his journey from growing up on Ghostbusters and Ninja Turtles to spending 12 years teaching kids how to rollerblade… all while slowly developing his path into graphic design, streetwear, and eventually resin toys. We get into the realities of making toys, the mistakes artists make when starting out, and what it actually takes to open a shop that supports over 30 independent creators. This episode is about persistence, creativity, and choosing to build something—even when there’s no clear roadmap. On Instagram: @hakoncollectibles This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    57 min
  4. Ep. 269 Toys on Tap w/ Ali Bate: Building a Toy Scene From Scratch in South Africa

    30 MAR

    Ep. 269 Toys on Tap w/ Ali Bate: Building a Toy Scene From Scratch in South Africa

    In this episode, we sit down with South African toy maker Ali Bates, a creator pushing the boundaries of what toys can be in a place where the scene is still just beginning. From rediscovering art during lockdown to building characters like his iconic bag-head figures and emotional devil sculptures, Ali walks us through his journey of experimentation, identity, and making without limits. We talk about creating in isolation, building a toy culture from the ground up, navigating production challenges, and why staying flexible as a “maker” matters more than fitting into one lane. This is a story about starting from nothing, trusting your instincts, and creating something entirely your own. On Instagram: @alibate.makes This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    42 min
  5. Ep. 268 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 3: Just Be Genuine

    23 MAR

    Ep. 268 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 3: Just Be Genuine

    In the final episode of our three-part series with Rich of Mutant Vinyl Hardcore, we zoom out and reflect on the long game. Rich opens up about what decades in the sofubi scene have taught him about creativity, discipline, community, and what actually matters over time. We talk about the importance of isolation for creativity, how stepping away from noise (especially during his recent time in Japan) reshaped his perspective, and why being “genuine” is the foundation for a lasting career. On Instagram: @mutantvinylhardcore This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    59 min
  6. Ep. 267 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 2: The Business of Sofubi

    16 MAR

    Ep. 267 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 2: The Business of Sofubi

    In episode two with Rich of Mutant Vinyl Hardcore, we move from origin story into real growth. Rich breaks down what happened after the first Sludge Demon run, how he learned to stretch inventory, price work fairly, and slowly build MVH without pretending success came overnight. We talk about the tension between art and business, why lotteries became necessary, how hate mail accidentally helped inspire Sludge Demon DX, and the hard lessons that came from scaling too fast or making the wrong creative call. This episode is about patience, consistency, surviving mistakes, and what it actually takes to turn obsession into a lasting sofubi brand. On Instagram: @mutantvinylhardcore This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    1 h 16 min
  7. Ep. 266 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 1: The Origin Story

    9 MAR

    Ep. 266 Toys on Tap w/ Mutant Vinyl Hardcore Episode 1: The Origin Story

    We sit down with Rich of Mutant Vinyl Hardcore to dig into the roots before the legend. This episode stays in the origin story: growing up around small-business hustle, early encouragement from a Marvel Comics artist, and a childhood shaped by He-Man, G.I. Joe, fantasy films, graffiti, anime bootlegs, and lowbrow art. Rich talks about leaving high school, working in the family gym, trying art school, driving trucks, and slowly finding his way toward toys through Kidrobot, Toy Tokyo, Skullbrain, and Japanese sofubi. We get into early customs, learning hard lessons about respect for makers, discovering sculpting, and building MVH from obsession, patience, and pure love for the form. On Instagram: @mutantvinylhardcore This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    1 h 12 min
  8. Ep. 265 Toys on Tap w/ Draculazer: Touring the World, Then Making Monsters

    2 MAR

    Ep. 265 Toys on Tap w/ Draculazer: Touring the World, Then Making Monsters

    We sit down with Michael, aka Draculazor, to trace a path from childhood weird-toy obsession to becoming a mainstay in the sofubi world. He talks hand-me-down Transformers and Marvel, buying his first Japanese soft vinyl in 2005, and the brutal college house-party flood that forced him to sell almost his entire collection. From printmaking school to touring the world as the drummer for Wild Nothing, Michael breaks down how freelance illustration and drawing toys he couldn’t afford eventually became making toys for real. We dig into Japan’s slow timelines vs faster factories, Five Points, Creature Bazaar/Summer Slime, and his new love for weird minis, finger puppets and an upsized bootleg “foot” toy. Pure Draculazor. On Instagram: @draculazer This Episode is Sponsored by: Empire Blisters – Your go-to source for blister packaging! With 19+ styles and bundle deals, they’ve got everything you need to make your toys shine. Use code TOYSONTAP10 at checkout for 10% off. Patreon members get 20% off another reason to join! Support the Show on Patreon Unlock exclusive episodes, early access, and behind-the-scenes content: patreon.com/toysontap Thanks to Our Supporters Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    54 min
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A podcast that interviews artists that make toys in the professional, independent, bootleg, and designer toy scenes!

Información

  • Creador
    Toys on Tap
  • Años de actividad
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodios
    295
  • Clasificación
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Abraham Musto 2021
  • Mostrar sitio web
    Toys on Tap

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