Kidrobot
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Kidrobot (intentionally spelled as one word rather than two) is a producer and retailer of designer toys founded in 2002 by Paul Budnitz. Kidrobot has a commercial website, as well as retail stores in New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, specializing in artist-created toys and imports from Japan, Hong Kong, and Europe. Most items are produced in limited numbers and are, or become, collector's items. Each of the three retail stores features a gallery of designer toys and related art, and often host artist signings to commemorate the release of limited edition figures, such as the Bondage Labbit by Frank Kozik.
As a producer of designer toys, Kidrobot is known for its proprietary Dunny and Munny figures, soft vinyl figurines which resemble cartoon animals based on urban graffiti and stencil art. Artists and designers are commissioned to create Dunnys, while some figures are released unpainted as do-it-yourself pieces. Contributing artists include Ed Templeton ( Toy Machine), Mike Shinoda (Linkin Park, Fort Minor), Shepard Fairey (Obey Giant), Jamie Hewlett (Tank Girl, Gorillaz), MF DOOM (Madvillain), and Mark Hoppus (blink-182, Atticus). A selection of Kidrobot figures are carried by Urban Outfitters, both online and in its retail stores across the U.S.
In addition to toys and dolls, Kidrobot produces limited edition apparel, particularly screen-printed t-shirts and hoodies (typically in editions of 256) featuring Kidrobot characters. These garments often sell-through within minutes online, and are known to create long lines at their stores. Although Kidrobot apparel is primarily sold in its stores, some garments are also sold in Barneys NY stores.[1]
Kidrobot is not affiliated with Giant Robot, the magazine of Asian American pop culture, or its own retail stores in some of the same American cities.
