Every time I think things are getting out of hand over here, all it takes is a quick peak at Japan to remind me that it's just the tip of the iceberg.
Let's look at Be@rbricks:
First off here's an awesome buy, a Chogokin (metal) 200% Be@rbrick in black. Medicom's been hitting the Chogokin lately, (the tofuoyako one was great too,) tipping the scales at 400g at 14.5cm. All diecast metal, cant wait to see how it moves, & screw holes in the back ...check.
They started with a white version, but this black looks way better, it seems that it was the hottest item at the recent Medicom show. Easy to find as a preorder at your favorite retailer.
On the other end of the spectrum we have the Karimoku 'Piano Black' 400%.
It's made out of wood, then given the black piano finish paint job, then to make sure you have buyers remorse when you realize that the same figure could have been executed in plastic, they attached a one grand price tag. Although if you're buying 1000$ 400%'s then you're probably not worried about it. Might make a statement all by itself in some posh pad somewhere, but it would just get lost in a normal be@rbrick collection. Besides Karimoku is just some mid-range furniture store, this luxury item seems a bit mis-matched with it's host brand.
For a grand how about a Be@rbrick made of walnut with a transparent finish? Still out of reach for the most of us, but at least that would be worth it.
You can even buy Be@rbricks for your iPhone.Cayto offers cheap apps (.99) that have a Be@rbrick that you can interact with, along with a clock & weather forecast while it's running.
It looks like they're even Trying to make them collectible, once a series has sold for a while it's gone replaced by a new wave of Be@rbricks (all recreations of previously published designs.) looks like the Japanese version of the site has links to the older apps though...
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click through for a video of the app in motion)
This post could be endless because there really is no end to the Be@rbrick madness, but here are a few Japanese sites if you want to delve deeper, and trust me this rabbit hole goes DEEP.
Be@rbrick mania Awesome blog run by a desperate collector, almost every post is focused on a different individual Be@rbrick release and 99% of them have pics so you don't need to read Japanese to enjoy it. He does post some blasts from the past now and then so if you're just following the pics some of them might not be upcoming releases so don't be too upset if you can't find them on preorder.
Bearbrick.hk Slick flash site being constructed with pics of Be@rbricks by Nupchu. With a little time & filling out the series it might be a good resource.
