# Extreme Sports Soldiers Steve Nishimoto Shows War Heroes With a Taste for Skateboarding By Matt Ho | Published 2011-07-14 | Life-Stages Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/steve-nishimoto References: [slamxhype](http://slamxhype.com/art-design/steve-nishimoto-skate-toy-soldiers/) & [nish.net](http://nish.net/) Steve Nishimoto suggests with these newest designs that back in the days of war, soldiers did other things than smoking to kill the time. These Steve Nishimoto [toy soldier figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thrilljoy-pix) depict green army men taking on an unconventional activity. Each of these war heroes are depicted interacting with a skateboard, which is quite an unusual sight. It's a completely different take on the [military figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ukrainian-brand-rbtnk) most of us are used to seeing and definitely a lot less violent. Besides, the sight of a soldier trying to pull off a [skateboard stunt](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/united-through-skateboarding) during the downtime of war is quite a refreshing concept. So far, Steve Nishimoto has made three different models of the toy soldiers. Hopefully more will follow -- perhaps one of a soldier doing a kick-flip mid-air? ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.3/10 - Popularity: 42% | Activity: 18% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 90% men, 10% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages) > [Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/toys) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Toy Soldier Skateboarding:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Creating a line of toy soldiers that engage in skateboard activities, offering a unique and less violent alternative to traditional military figurines. - **Unconventional Depictions:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Challenging traditional portrayals of soldiers by showcasing them in unexpected situations, such as engaging in extreme sports like skateboarding. - **Refreshing Concepts:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introducing refreshing and unexpected concepts to the toy industry, such as depicting soldiers performing skateboard stunts during wartime downtime. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Toy Manufacturing:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Expanding the toy manufacturing industry by producing unique toy soldier figurines that engage in unconventional activities, appealing to a wider audience. - **Sports Equipment:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring collaborations between the sports equipment industry and toy manufacturers to create toy skateboards specifically designed for toy soldier figurines, catering to a niche market. - **Military Collectibles:** Disruptive innovation opportunity: Reinventing the military collectibles industry by offering alternative and less violent portrayals of soldiers, appealing to collectors looking for unique and unconventional pieces. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Artful Motion Toy Sculptures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nina-chanel-abney-bravo.md) - [Artist-Designed Toy Lineups](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/art-toy-series.md) - [Iconic Pop Art Skateboards](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skateroom-x-andy-warhol-foundation.md) - [Rebellious Camo Boot Collabs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/soldier-x-timberland.md) - [Travel-Inspired Canvas Paintings](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-passport-series.md) - [Limited-Edition Vinyl Figures](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/limitededition-vinyl-figures.md) - [Designer Pop Culture Figurines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kkplus.md) - [Skateboard-Inspired Stamp Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/skateboard-inspired-stamp-collection.md) - [Anniversary-Celebrating Arty Skateboard Decks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/stevie-williams1.md)