Awesome Dolls

A Japanese Daruma doll is a traditional symbol of Zen and Buddhism and is regarded as a bringer of good luck. Process X takes us inside the Gunma Daruma factory, makers of these hollow, round dolls since 1873. They’re cast from a slurry of recycled egg cartons and paper, smoothed, air-dried, and then handpainted in red, black, white, and gold.

Artist Mimi Kirchner makes one-of-a-kind fabric toys that are way too nice to let your kids play with. Among her works is this jolly old-timey fellow with a handlebar mustache and chinoiserie tattoos. Dressed in striped pants with a red belt, the 22-1/2″ tall figure would look great standing watch in your living room.

After being left to care for her 8-year-old niece, a roboticist decides she could use some help. So she programs her prototype toy robot to be her niece’s companion. Naturally, the thing goes nuts in this horror from writer/producer James Wan, the man behind Saw, Insidious, and The Conjuring. In theaters 1.6.2023.

Bad Girl Shenanigans’ handpainted Belcher family nesting dolls are perfect for fans of the quirky Fox animated show. We can almost hear Linda shouting “All-riiight!” The only thing better would be if Louise’s bunny ears actually stuck out.

Alex Heller’s wonderful, poignant, memorable short animation, featuring the haunting version of Creep by the Scala & Kolacny Brothers Choir, is composed of 1554 pictures, shot with a Nikon D60.

The Toy2R Forums are running a 10″ Bart Simpson Qee customs auction until August 25th. There are 49 dolls in all, and they cost from $100-$1000; the proceeds go to the Red Cross.