January 16, 2005

{ James Jarvis: The In Crowd toys }

I hope America listens when I say: you must immediately experience the work of James Jarvis. Specifically, you must get your hands on one or more of his series of toys, called The In Crowd. Produced in England by Amos Toy Company, and designed solely by Mr. Jarvis, these small (3+ inches or so) figures are ruffians with heart. They look tough at first glance, what with their bloody gashes, axes, and leather jackets, but upon closer inspection are soft, rounded, and highly non-threatening - a sweet and well-meaning bunch who just like to party. As of April, The In Crowd will be up to its ninth series of six toys. There was the first: a group of punk-rock zombies, spattered in blood and missing several eyes among them, looking like they're on their way to a really bad punker show. There's the third series, The Ages of Metal, a group of rock-and-roll wildmen, including Axl and Angus, decked in the stagewear of their respective heydays. And there's the sixth series, a crowd of ancient warriors, complete with adorable, non-toxic weapons, called The Old Guard. The ninth series is said to be titled Major Moulty's Amazing Magical Plastic Band, a 'counter counter-culture personification of the second wave of the British Invasion.' Like the Beatles, minus the drugs and mind expansion. Right now, Mr. Jarvis' toys are only available at a few select shops sprinkled around the U.S. and Canada. Lobby your local toymonger! - Written by Vikki Warner

     » Ogle The In Crowd at Amos Toys' website
     » For Jarvis' portfolio
     » For an interview with the very witty Mr. Jarvis

By Vikki in Toys | Comments:

Comments

Oh I am a HUGE fan of the In-Crowd toys!! Can't wait for the "...Plastic Band". Thanks for sharing this.

- http://agentchin.typepad.com/cutethings

Posted by: lili at January 17, 2005 7:54 AM

word. jarvis plastics are always incredible....

Posted by: Shane at January 23, 2005 4:25 AM

Woohoo!

StrangeCo is currently running one of the best give-aways ever! You can win a complete set of Jarvis' "Office Archetypes" series, just by signing up for their mailing list (which you need to do anyway if you loves the plastic like I loves the plastic.)

Here's the link-

http://strangeco.com/blogs/news/jarvisgiveaway.html

Even if you're not signing up, you need to at least see them. Imagine them sitting in your cubicle at your crappy office job- a microverse of your macroverse. It boggles the mind....

Posted by: Adam at February 9, 2005 10:24 PM