- Qee
Qee (pronounced "key") are a collection of
designer toys created byHong Kong -based companyToy2R , which was founded by Raymond Choy in 1995.Qee figures vary in their design. The original Qee has a body that resembles an extremely simplified human form, somewhat similar in appearance to
Playmobil or LEGO figures, though distinctively round and squat. Depending on its theme, a figure may have the head of abear with asymmetrical ears called a "BearBearQ;" acat called "KitCatQ;" adog called "DoggyQ;" amonkey called "MonQ;" or arabbit called "Bunee". The "Toyer" Qee has the same body type as the original, but a head that resembles acartoon skull. The "Knuckle Bear" Qee was created byJapan ese character designer Touma, and resembles agraffiti -stylecaricature of an anthropomorphized bear. The Qee "Egg" simply resembles an anthropomorphized egg. The standard size is 2.5" high, and these figures are packaged with an optional keychain attachment. There are also 1.5", 8", 16", 36", and 60" Qees. Additionally, Toy2R produces "Blank PlatformDIY " Qees in 2.5" and 8" sizes; these figures may be of any Qee design, but are packaged unpainted.Qees are produced in limited numbers and are highly
collectible ; they are predominantly collected by adults. Many contemporary artists and designers fromAsia ,Australia ,Europe ,North America , andSouth America have designed figures. Typically, designing a Qee figure means creating a design scheme, or deco, for one of the aforementioned molds.The casual observer may note similarities between Qees and the Kubrick and
Be@rbrick figures created by Japanese toy company MediCom. However, closer observation reveals that Qees differ not only in size, but in their overall aesthetic. Relative to MediCom, Toy2R releases very few licensed designs, such as figures based on characters from films, comic books, or other intellectual properties. Exceptions to this are Qees created forAdidas ,Benetton ,BenQ ,BMW ,Christian Lacroix ,Dark Horse ,Devo ,DKNY ,Mitsubishi ,MTV ,Nokia ,SanDisk ,Samsung ,Sony ,Starbucks ,Swatch , Target, V.S.O.P. andXbox 360 , as well as a figure created in conjunction withTokidoki forLe Sportsac , in which the figure is a design element of a women's travel bag.There are currently five series of Qees, and an anticipated total of 1000 2.5" figures.
Contributing Artists
*
Gary Baseman
*Tim Biskup
*Coop
*Phil Corbett
*Dalek (artist)
*Doink Design
*Shepard Fairey
*Doze Green
*Jaime Hayon
*Tom Hazelmyer
*David Horvath
*Nathan Jurevicius
*Sun-Min Kim
*Frank Kozik
*Joe Ledbetter
*Mark Mothersbaugh
*Mad Barbarians
*Rolito
*RUN
*Jeff Soto
*Mimic External links
* [http://www.toy2r.com/ Toy2R]
* [http://vinyl-creep.net/Qee Qee on Vinyl-Creep]
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