At the New York 2018 International Toy Fair, a series of new Ron English figurines are being shown.
The figurines are adaptations of the Japanese toys that are thought to bring good fortune to their owner, however English provides them with eerie-looking toothy grins, making them much less cute than more traditional variations. Like many of English's creations, the toothy grins expose much of the bone structure that might lie beneath the surface, with the intricate gum lines and jaw bones of the cats also exposed, giving them an undead aesthetic.
The works of Ron English and other renowned artists will be shown at the 2018 International Toy Fair from February 17th until the 20th at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.
Image Credit: Instagram @ronenglishart
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Eerie Adapted Lucky Cats
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Explore the market for dark and eerie adaptations of traditional lucky cat figurines.
- Undead Aesthetic
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Create collectible items with an undead aesthetic by exposing bone structures and intricate details.
- Artistic Figurines
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Combine art and toys by showcasing works of renowned artists in the form of figurines.
Where This Applies
- Art Collectibles
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Develop a market for unique and artistically designed collectible figurines.
- Toy Manufacturing
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporate dark and eerie designs in traditional toy manufacturing to appeal to alternative tastes.
- Art Exhibitions
- Disruptive innovation opportunity: Collaborate with artists to showcase their works in unconventional formats, such as toy fairs.
