# Tangible Toon Sculptures (UPDATE) Darick Maasen Continues to Bring Fictional Characters to Life By Jason Soy | Published 2012-03-22 | Pop Culture Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/darick-maasen1 References: [blog.thaeger](http://blog.thaeger.com/2012/03/21/real-fictional-characters/) & [darickmaasen](http://www.darickmaasen.com/) Darick Maasen won’t rest until he’s brought all popular cartoon characters to the real world with his exceptional realistic sculptures. Thus far, he’s already made a Koopa Paratroopa from the Super Mario games using what looks like an actual turtle shell, as well as Bebop from the original [Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-tmnt) series. With his latest creation, it wasn’t enough for Darick Maasen to replicate a character; he put his own spin on things. Thus this realistic and wrinkly version of Mickey Mouse was born. The classic [Disney](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cryptoys-1) character is now rather frightening to look at as his once adorable cheeks and upbeat expression have been replaced with sagging skin and sorrowful eyes. It’s both a disheartening and thrilling work of art, making me extremely excited for Maasen’s next tangible cartoon creation. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.2/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 53% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Pop Culture](https://www.trendhunter.com/popculture) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Realistic Toon Sculptures:** The trend of artists creating realistic sculptures of popular cartoon characters using unconventional materials creates opportunities for innovation in the art and toy industries. - **Redefining Iconic Characters:** The trend of artists reimagining classic cartoon characters in a more realistic and sometimes disturbing way presents opportunities for innovation in the entertainment, fashion and advertising industries. - **Mixed Reality Fan Art:** The trend of artists creating realistic sculptures of fictional characters that mix storytelling and augmented reality present opportunities for disruptive innovation in the marketing, game and comic book industries. ### Where This Applies - **Art:** Artists can use unconventional materials to create realistic sculptures of popular cartoon characters. - **Toy:** Toy companies can capitalize on the trend of artists creating realistic sculptures of popular cartoon characters to produce unique and creative products. - **Entertainment:** Entertainment companies can use reimagined realistic versions of classic cartoon characters in movies, TV shows, or merchandise that appeal to a wider range of audiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cartoon Turtle Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/teljesnegyzet.md) - [Digital Archetype Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/christian-rex-van-minnen-1.md) - [Sci-Fi Show Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yusuke-hanai-1.md) - [Anime Creature-Inspired Crystalized Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/anime-creatureinspired-crystalized-sculpture.md) - [NFT-Enabled Cartoon Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cryptoys-1.md) - [Reimagined Beloved Character Comics](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/marvel-and-disney.md) - [Artful Anime-Blending Split Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/split-bust.md) - [Soup-Themed Bunny Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kidrobot-2.md) - [Character Crossover Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skullpanda-x-sanrio.md)