Towards the end of yesterday's post about claw cranes we mentioned gashapon capsule toys. Yet there are other types of machines also selling toys that you may stumble upon while walking around Taipei.
In the tunnels of the Taipei Main Station underground you may for example discover machines selling blind boxes of a wide range of toy figures – from Doraemon to Sanrio characters, Shin-Chan Dessert Time, Rolife Nanci Teatime, Lam Toys' Big Heart and Passengers of the Galaxy by 19八3 Toys.
Technically these are not gashapon as they do not come out of a plastic capsule, but the concept is the same as you're buying them in a blind box. At the same time, they are more refined than your average toys coming out of plastic capsules.
Many of these toys are indeed high-quality items, cherished collectibles, indicated in Taiwan with the term "gongzai" (meaning "human figure" or "human-shaped toy").
These small pieces have earned the adoration of passionate fans and enthusiasts who relish the urban vinyl style of these figures, as proved also by the rising popularity of Taipei Toy Festival (TTF).
Hosted by Monster Taipei, the event (that took place this year from 7th to 10th October) is becoming one of the largest and most prestigious designer toy shows in the world.
Its popularity soared as the years passed, going from 4,000 visitors in 2003 to 30,000 in recent years.
Nowadays TTF is a favourite event of local collectors and designers, but also attracts international artists and designers who converge in the city to showcase their works and share their personal experiences in toy-making.
Taiwan's toy figure culture is an amalgamation of influences from across the globe, notably the United States, Japan, and Hong Kong.
These once-simple figures, initially perceived as toys and commercial products, have undergone a remarkable transformation while toy culture turned from a hobby and a form of entertainment into an artistic movement.
Toys now stand as cherished collectibles, and treasured works of art, redefining the boundaries of creativity and craftsmanship and you can bet that in future we will see some European fashion brands developing licensed products with some of the most popular toy designers in Taiwan.
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