Esquire

An art form born of nostalgia, these action figures are built using spare parts and silicone molds. Bootlegs. Counterfeits. Knockoffs. For toy manufacturers, they are an absolute nightmare but can be pure joy for a jaded collector. It would appear that the affordability, availability, and aesthetics all complement each other to create the ideal toy. Even though the toy industry attempts to repress bootlegs, they have become common among collectors. They have a quirky appeal that licensed toys cannot compare with, thanks to their colourful packaging, off-model character representation, and blatant lying on the packaging.  Pato P, also known as...

Artist behind John Lloyd Cruz, Dolphy action figures: It's an ode to Pinoy pop culture Jan Milo Severo (Philstar.com) - May 6, 2021 - 1:19pm MANILA, Philippines — A Popoy Gonzales action figure, inspired by John Lloyd Cruz’s character in the hit movie “One More Chance,” recently went viral on social media. In Gooeyduck’s Facebook page, the toy creator said that the action figure is a resin figure, hand-painted and hand-crafted.  "Si Derek talaga..." it wrote in the caption.  Apart from John Lloyd, Dolphy’s iconic roles Darna Kuno and his character in a movie who drank the Banayad Whisky were also...

When it comes to Western pop culture toys, we’re spoilt for choice—there are Funko Pops, action figures, and even lifelike statues. It’s too bad we can’t say the same for Pinoy pop culture. But Instagram account Gooeyduckph is looking to fill in the gap with his handmade bootleg toys.... LINK