Toys on Tap

Toys on Tap
  • 4.8 (40)
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A podcast that interviews artists that make toys in the professional, independent, bootleg, and designer toy scenes!

  1. Ep. 263 Toys on Tap w/ Merthewiz: From Sketch to Milk Carton

    1D AGO

    Ep. 263 Toys on Tap w/ Merthewiz: From Sketch to Milk Carton

    We sit down with M+W to trace the rise of Beefy Boy, from sketchbook idea to milk-carton-packaged art toy. A Singapore-based maker with global experience, Merick shares how American cartoons, gym culture, and He-Man proportions collided into a cow-themed character that actually moves units at shows. We talk first convention lessons, why larger figures outsold blind boxes, and what it takes to build confidence in a growing Southeast Asian toy scene. From packaging assembly with friends to future soft vinyl plans, international conventions, and 100-design ambitions, this episode is about betting on one strong character and building a world around it—intentionally and internationally. On Instagram: @merthewiz 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!

    53 min
  2. Ep. 262 Toys on Tap w/Elwa: Designing Toys That Do Something

    FEB 9

    Ep. 262 Toys on Tap w/Elwa: Designing Toys That Do Something

    We sit down with ELWA to talk about choosing creative freedom over turning passion into pressure. While holding a 9-to-5, ELWA builds toys on the side, by design and using that distance to protect experimentation and joy. We trace his path from drawing and video games to UX/UI, 3D modeling, and printing toys inspired by Astro Boy, music, and everyday objects. We dig into painting with intention, designing toys with real utility, and blending culture into cohesive characters. ELWA shares plans for his Lil Vamp line, limited-run art toys, coffin packaging, and a 2026 launch. This episode is about patience, process, and building a toy world on your own terms. On Instagram: @elwa.psd 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!

    52 min
  3. Ep. 261 Toys on Tap w/ Canary Customs:When Action Figures Become Fine Art

    FEB 2

    Ep. 261 Toys on Tap w/ Canary Customs:When Action Figures Become Fine Art

    We sit down with John of Canary Customs to talk about finding art through action figures, resin, and doing things the hard way on purpose. From growing up on Star Wars toys with his dad to discovering custom figures during the pandemic, John shares how fine art, kitbashing, and analog mold-making collided into a new creative path. We dig into bootlegs, card backs, resin casting, and the tension between one-off art and scalable production. This episode gets honest about art school realities, privilege, affordability, and why DIY approaches still matter as mass-produced figures get more expensive. It’s a conversation about learning in public, experimenting without permission, and using action figures as a serious artistic medium. On Instagram: @_canarycustoms_ 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: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehog Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    1 hr
  4. Ep. 260 Toys on Tap w/ Janky Toys: Making Art While the Ground Shifts

    JAN 26

    Ep. 260 Toys on Tap w/ Janky Toys: Making Art While the Ground Shifts

    We sit down with Christopher (Janky Toys) for a wide-ranging, deeply honest conversation about making art, surviving the market, and staying human in the process. We talk DesignerCon, orbiting the toy scene without chasing the spotlight, and why working with artists, not just collectors, changes everything. We get personal about job loss, burnout, therapy, and the cost of caring too much at work. From bootleg toys and parody art to AI’s impact on creativity, shrinking runs, and the shift toward smaller, affordable collectibles, this episode wrestles with what it means to keep creating when the ground keeps moving. We end with wonder, Yellowstone, and turning “garbage” into meaningful art. This one’s for artists navigating change without losing themselves. On Instagram: @jankytoys 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: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehog Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    1h 42m
  5. Ep. 259 Toys on Tap w/ GonKong Studios:From Tattoo Flash to Soft Vinyl

    JAN 19

    Ep. 259 Toys on Tap w/ GonKong Studios:From Tattoo Flash to Soft Vinyl

    We sit down with Josh of Gong Kong Studios to trace a path that runs from childhood anime obsessions to tattooing, and eventually into soft vinyl toy making. We talk Pokémon, Yu-Gi-Oh, obscure robot cartoons, and how discovering sofubi at a hardcore show flipped a creative switch. Josh walks us through the real learning curve of toy production; failed airbrushes, resculpting after tough feedback, scaling figures down to what actually sells, and navigating factories with help from the right people. We also dig into convention strategy, booth design, glow-in-the-dark variants, and why collaboration matters more than doing it alone. This episode is about saying yes to a new medium, learning in public, and building toys one decision at a time. On Instagram: @gonkongstudios 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: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehog Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    43 min
  6. Ep. 258 Toys on Tap w/ Nofubi Toys: Hong Kong, Kaiju, and the Quiet Build

    JAN 12

    Ep. 258 Toys on Tap w/ Nofubi Toys: Hong Kong, Kaiju, and the Quiet Build

    We sit down with Dan to explore how a life spent in Hong Kong, at the crossroads of Eastern and Western pop culture, shaped his path into toy design. From growing up surrounded by kaiju, Ultraman, and untranslated toys, to building a career in commercial design, this episode traces how creativity evolves without ever disappearing. We talk soft vinyl, 3D printing, factory precision, and why limited, in-house production matters when you want control over your work. Dan shares the story behind his first sofubi release, Goldie, selling out without online hype, and how market realities in Asia influence scale, pricing, and paint. This one’s about patience, process, and making toys quietly in a global scene. On Instagram: @nofubi 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: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehog Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    51 min
  7. Ep. 257 Toys on Tap w/ Akashik Records Toys: Ten Years Deep in the Indie Toy Grind

    JAN 5

    Ep. 257 Toys on Tap w/ Akashik Records Toys: Ten Years Deep in the Indie Toy Grind

    We’re diving deep into kaiju culture, business reality, and what it really takes to last in the indie toy world. From childhood obsessions with Pokemon to turning collection into creation, we sit down with Dave to trace a decade-long path of trial, failure, and hard-earned clarity. We talk DesignerCon strategy, why business discipline matters more than pure creativity, and how failed Kickstarters don’t have to define you. Dave opens up about gatekeeping, trusting your instincts, and building toys that are weird, wearable, and fun. This episode is about originality over trends, relationships over hype, and staying grounded while carving out your own lane in toys. Perfect for builders trying to grow without losing the joy. On Instagram: @akashikrecordstoys 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: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehog Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    1h 26m
  8. Ep. 256 Toys on Tap w/ Spumoni Toys Co: Building Toys the Hard Way

    12/29/2025

    Ep. 256 Toys on Tap w/ Spumoni Toys Co: Building Toys the Hard Way

    We’re breaking down the real indie toy grind, fresh off DesignerCon and IndyToy Show, talking vendor culture, why pre-show connection matters, and what separates good shows from great ones. Then we go deep with Spumoni Toys. From growing up in connection with a family-run toy factory producing iconic figures, to falling in love with kaiju, Power Rangers, and animation, to teaching himself 3D sculpting during lockdown, this is a raw look at building toys from obsession and grit. We unpack Kickstarter wins and scars, shipping delays, clear-neon experiments, Wonder Festival acceptance, and why smaller figures at smarter price points are hitting right now. This episode is for collectors-turned-creators, builders in the trenches, and anyone chasing the long game in toys. On Instagram: @spumonitoysco 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: @dketoys | @massiveminihorse | @dimensionxtoys @bootlegtoyco | @pocket_salsa | @dirtyyetti @dan_overdorff_art | @zimotco | @barbarian_rage @mannycartoonstudios | Shaun C. Downey | @richiemanic | @recollectiontoys | @rubbercitytoys | @acid9toys | @teneki_toys | @angryhedgehog Rate & Review the Show! Leave a rating and review wherever you listen it's the best way to help Toys on Tap grow!

    1h 18m
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4.8
out of 5
40 Ratings

About

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

Information

  • Creator
    Toys on Tap
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    286
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Abraham Musto 2021
  • Show Website
    Toys on Tap