WTF is BE@RBRICK?

[VeeArrrSix]

And why are they 150 bucks?

[flatisflat]

@veearrrsix Oversized, stylized, pseudo-Lego sculpture for adults?

[ClassicDatsunDebate]

@veearrrsix
They're collectable toys for adult children.

Would you like to see my Gundam collection?

[CarsOfFortLangley]

@classicdatsundebate said in WTF is BE@RBRICK?:

They're collectable toys for adult children.

Isn't that what cars are for?

[ClassicDatsunDebate]

@carsoffortlangley said in WTF is BE@RBRICK?:

@classicdatsundebate said in WTF is BE@RBRICK?:

They're collectable toys for adult children.

Isn't that what cars are for?

ok boomer

[VeeArrrSix]

@flatisflat Ok, but there is a more expensive one too... $500!

[Skyfire77]

@veearrrsix > Bearbrick (rendered Be@rbrick) is a collectible toy designed and produced by the Japanese company MediCom Toy Incorporated. The name is derived from the fact that the figure is a cartoon-style representation of a bear and that it is a variation of MediCom's Kubrick design. The at sign in the place of the letter a is a visual device that is a part of the Bearbrick brand, and as such, a trademark of MediCom Toy.

As for the secondary market prices:

Bearbricks are most often sold individually in "blind box" assortments, in which figures are packed in small boxes, and the only way to know which particular figure is inside a particular box is to purchase and open the box. The box states the frequency of each figure in percentages: Basic, 14.58 percent; Jellybean, 11.45 percent; Pattern, 11.45 percent; Flag 9.37 percent; Horror, 9.37 percent; SF, 10.41 percent; Cute, 13.54 percent; Animal, 8.33 percent; Hero, 7.29 percent; first Artist, 4.16 percent; and second Artist, 1.04 percent. While many retailers sell Bearbricks in blind boxes, each for the same price, other retailers calculate the frequency of the figures, and sell them at prices that vary accordingly; in this instance, the Basic figure would be the least expensive, as it occurs most often in a case, and the second of the two Artist figures would be the most expensive, as it occurs least often in a case. The figures most valued by collectors are "chase" figures, which are unannounced and not shown in advertisements or on the box alongside other figures in the series.

Many contemporary artists and designers from Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America have designed figures. Designing a Bearbrick figure means creating a design scheme, or deco, for the standard mold. Contributors range from visual artists such as H. R. Giger to illustrators such as Pushead, graffiti artists such as Stash, and fashion designers including Karl Lagerfeld, Vivienne Westwood and Ivana Helsinki. As a result of their limited production, and the participation of artists, Bearbricks are generally considered designer toys.

MediCom also produces Bearbricks outside the regular release schedule of the basic figures. For example, a Kill Bill Bearbrick was created in 2003 as a promotional piece for customers who purchased pre-sale tickets to see the film Kill Bill Volume 2 in Japan. Another Kill Bill Bearbrick, called Murder Bride, was included in the packaging for the Japanese DVD release of Kill Bill Volume 1, released in April 2004. Exclusive pieces such as these are highly sought after and difficult to obtain for collectors outside Japan; they are often purchased on the secondary market, especially online auctions.

[Skyfire77]

@classicdatsundebate I resemble that remark. Also, my Lego collection, models, Masterpiece Transformers...

[VeeArrrSix]

@classicdatsundebate I know what those are!

[flatisflat]

@skyfire77 So it's Beanie Babies for adults...

[Skyfire77]

@flatisflat Worse, they're imports (so markup on top of markup).

[Skyfire77]

@flatisflat Oh, and they're working with DreamWorks to develop a TV series.

[HFV_Junkyardin]

@veearrrsix an “investment “

[Exage03040]

@veearrrsix

Figurines to hold your vape pen

[Manwich]

@veearrrsix

When I see that, it makes me hope it has the same fate as the hitchbot...

[Exage03040]

@manwich

It received too much brotherly love from the city of Philadelphia!

[Cash Rewards]

@manwich what the hell you got against hitchbot?

[Manwich]

@cash-rewards said in WTF is BE@RBRICK?:

@manwich what the hell you got against hitchbot?

It was mocking us!!!

[Cash Rewards]

@manwich as someone who grew up in new york with a distinct disdain for Philadelphia, that robot made it halfway across the world before it gets beat up and left for trash where? Of fucking course it was Philadelphia.

[Skyfire77]

@cash-rewards As a native Pittsburgher, can concur, nothing good happens in Filthadelphia.