Star Wars Day | Bespin Luke is Home

Growing up there was one time that I became a Star Wars fan, but I didn’t see the movies on the big screens. I only saw them through the Betamax rental copy from a family relative who has them. I didn’t even see Star Wars in cinemas until The Phantom Menace came out and around that time it was the biggest thing ever. The toys of course are what made the franchise partly known for. I never owned the figures, vehicles, or playsets. Well, until I was old enough to buy some of them. But I did own one figure in less than 24 hours. Unfortunately, it was stolen from me in the morning of 1983. It was Luke Skywalker in Bespin outfit from the Empire Strike Back that Mum bought at the Santa Ana Market and that was it.

MOTU Origins DLX | Battle Armor Skeletor

When you talk about major baddies in an animated series there’s nothing like Skeletor, the dark lord of destruction. But of course due to TV ratings and making it kid-friendly they made him a bumbling heap of comedy in the Filmation produced animation that put the Masters of the Universe franchise into the stratosphere for the general public to take notice to know more about his backastory. The characterization was for intent ‘for kids’ but there are depictions of him being this terrible baddie, and not just about calling King Randor a ‘boob’ as the toys came with mini-comics that paints Skeletor as this evil monster from another dimension. This kept those kids that are now adults excited and curious that the action figures a must have for their collection.

Temple of Darkness | Sorceress

Masters of the Universe is one of the popular 1980s franchise is currently is at its peak of its revival due to being represented in their current retro play featuring their MOTU Origins toyline that takes inspiration from the vintage 5.5 vintage action figures. Despite the mix reaction to the Netflix animation series, Masters of the Universe: Revelation the popularity of the toyline continue to entice old and new collectors to the local mass market toy isle. Recently, I acquired a major playset in Castle Grayskull from the Origins toyline that plays an important role to MOTU mythology, which also includes an exclusive action figure that is the “Temple of Darkness” Sorceress.

Totally Turtles | Jokester Mikey

Almost thirty two years ago I spent my hard earned lunch money to acquire Michelangelo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles by Playmates toys. For a time, I was ecstatic because of the new cartoon airing on my local channel every weekends and the allure of the action figures shown in their TV commercials got me all hooked. Recalling in my youth buying toys almost in your teens should have changed to becoming a little bit responsible as an adult, but the freight train of would-be future franchises was sort of at the tail end of the golden age of that era’s pop culture status. TMNT was radical that would be often getting imitated but never duplicated.

Visual Narratives | The Return of G.I. Joe!

02.28.2020 - Prior to the leaks revealing the latest G.I. Joe Classified series of six inch action figures there have been rumblings about the brands return. It has been almost seven years since the last live-action movie “G.I. Joe: Retaliation” came out in the big screen in March 2013 and of course a plethora of 4-inch action figures were produced. There have been rumors that Hasbro might farm the G.I. Joe brand to another toy manufacturer the way they did with their Tonka IP previously with Funrise and now being produced by Basic Fun. Those rumors of Jazwares producing the 4-inch range was quickly dashed during this past weekend’s New York Toy Fair.

Bravestarr | Space Cowboy & Supernatural

03.01.2019 – Animated movies currently has evolved the way live-action films have been produced. Spider-Man into the Spider-Verse has recently won an Academy Award for Best Animated Picture would consider a gold standard in what it is today. The quality of animation in films in terms of narrative, aesthetics, and character design as well as execution of these elements will result on how viewers will react to the final product is depends on their perspective. Back in the 1980s it is rarely an animated films would have a big impact on its viewers as animation is more geared to younger audience not‘kids at heart.’ Some of them are obviously produced just to sell toys. But even though they appear to be made solely to market the product based on the animation the quality is still at par and one example is the Filmation and Mattel’s Braverstarr. Filmation is a defunct animation studio well-known to produce memorable cartoon series like He-Man, She-Ra, and other shows based from the toys produced by Mattel. Prior to that, Filmation also had previous collaboration with DC Comics in producing Captain Marvel (Now known as Shazam) and a Batman series that was voiced by the great Adam West and Burt Ward, a sort of continuation of the 1960 live action series. But delving further to Filmation’s collaboration of Mattel was something non-existent back in the day.

TF Generations | The Ballad of Drift

11.09. 2018 – Finding time to do some photography again, but rarely with robots as subject matter. Action Figures and Figurines are much easier to take due to the environment where I often go to. Mostly the nearby parks are still good even though sixty percent of it is more concrete than natural green. The Transformers is a staple brand and when you talk about alien robots that turn to anything you’re quite fascinated by any form they take. There are A LOT of characters now if you’re not following the comic books, but one bot sticks out and that is Drift!

TF PotP | Beachin' Beachcomber

03.10.2018 – Every kid who grew up their first Transformers means something. Personally back in the cool looking TFs where expensive as presently now. But Hasbro made it possible to bring these characters in a more modern aesthetics with impressive details and articulation for some action packed poses. Some may be impressive others were downright forgettable. Beachcomber is an Autobot geologist and would be considered a true blue hippy hence the description in the characters original bio file being a pacifist that tries to avoid conflict. In the cartoons the Autobot speaks like a surfer dude as voiced by Alan Oppenheimer best known for invigorating the personality of Skeletor from He-Man and the Masters of the Universe. The Power of the Primes version is also cool!

What Aussies Throw Out on their Lawn...

12.10.2017 – Whenever you need to let go old things like furniture or dining table usually they end up being sold in online sites like OLX, Lazada or even sold on eBay. But in Australia that seems to be the same though not entirely you’d expect. For some who hasn’t had the time to go online or have a garage sale they would just leave their old stuff in the front lawn. It’s surprising that there are others who just don’t need to profit and sell their old stuff. But what if they put out things beyond furniture, appliances or even toys?!

That Brown Box from The Bay Has Arrived.

10.22.2012 – How often do you receive something that you never expected? Rarely you would really appreciate it for all its worth. But for something you no longer crave or being materialistic you put value more on the people who make it possible. In the case of my friends who find the time to remember what I used to be into. They know how to make your day without ANY expectations. I no longer find the time or the interest to have those “wants” which some who personally knows me have said that I have outgrown that stage.

When a Bat came to Hell's Kitchen & a Devil went to Gotham.

07.22.2012 – There’s a few things I talked about that I’m excited to read and anticipate to wait. Admitted I’m a comic book fan but never put “I” myself in the direction of this discussion rather share you something that I find interesting. The unauthorized company crossover between Batman and Daredevil which I’m sure some of you are excited or having mixed reactions from the big two that won’t even happen. Rarely this would be a discussion here since THIS IS my personal space where I share limited engagements of what I think it’s cool for me other than your usual blog post from here and there.

Marvelous: New Toys for the Summer

03.16.2012 – I rarely share about my toy collections or what I got today here and mostly the general stuff that goes out here is unrelated to my other blog. But I have previously shared to you the stuff I get from close friends based outside the country. Some of them where unexpected since I never asked for them and out of friendship they just surprise me. I stopped buying toys in a long time and I can only get them when I’m willing and able to afford them. I get them through the gift checks that I receive as a token from previous blog events but rarely buy as I have enough.

Care Package: Post-Christmas Toy Box!

12.27.2011 – Monday was not Post-Christmas Holiday and the experience is like the usual day. It was like the normal routine but there was no heavy traffic as some have been back to work. I got word that the “care package” sent to me from San Francisco has arrived earlier in the day. The last minute decision to leave the house in the late afternoon was such a grind. It took me to three different places. But the day was such a great rewarding moment that I forgot the feeling of tiredness. My good friend who sent the package was more excited than me to open this.

The First Imperfect Panorama Toy Photography!

01.10.2011 - There are many versions, concepts, and imaginations done in Toy Photography. From my perspective, I try to make them into artwork using a camera rather than a pencil or paintbrush for most talented artists out there. The concept can be indoors or outdoors capturing one image with toys as the subject of its narrative that you put together from your imagination that could mean a lot of expressions. I've been doing Toy Photography since 2007 and have been pushing the envelope of coming up with new ideas that some might have done way better than I could have first thought about.

Cobra Wants You.

05.17.2009 - Last night's Jack TV Animation Festival was rocked by band performances from Manibela, Earnville, Duster, Pedicab, and Imago. But before the hoopla and the music it was another affair with viewers, fans, geeks, and everyone in between the pop culture.

So during those hours some of us, where having a little bit of down time. As usual the eye of a Toy Photographer never eludes a good spot.

Cobra Commander was seen making a marketing ad for Cobra Wants You inside the Terror Dome. Which was actually those side lights at the stairs inside the newly built Sky Garden at SM North Edsa.

Gotta love doing these toy shoots.

Levi's EK Adventure.

05.10.2009 - After a challenging tour through the rides courtesy of Enchanted Kingdom, and announcing the winning team for their Magicalympics event, which features invited guests that teamed up for this special gathering. There were a few hours to spare for ourselves to look around, and explore some parts od the theme park. Also, try take advantage of the rides that were not part of the activity. Of course, taking this opportunity to manage a quick toy shoot around EK with the toys I brought along with me for this trip. It was certainly something I was looking forward to learning the techniques in the art of toy photography.