This just in...

A weird capsule toy in a weirder package with an even weirder commercial...John sent me this link and I watched in jaw-dropped awe. You should too.



HOMIES!

My first capsule toy obsession was Homies. Certainly more well known than the anonymous toys I have featured here, Homies made it out of vending machines and into stores as cars, t-shirts, bobble heads and other toys. Created by Dave Gonzales, they represent the larger-than-life characters he observed in the Mexican American barrio of Quien Sabe in Los Angeles.

I became interested in these little guys while immersed in an exhibition project called, Chicano. The show gave me a chance to learn about Mexican American culture...everything from food to La Virgen. When I discovered Homies I thought they were smart, funny and complicated. And I was right! Homies have captivated collectors and enraged police, community groups and others that claim they encourage violence and stereotypes. You can read this article that gives you an overview of the intellectual battle.

I can see how the backlash happened, but it seems more likely to me that the toys create a stylized community portrait designed by a man with a sense of humor and a love of his culture.

My favorite Homies can be seen here out in front...



...they are (from left to right in the front row) O.G. - Set 5, AWB - Set 6, Big Dopey - Set 6, Paletero - Set 6, and Clownprince - Set 5

I always wanted Willie G from Series 4, but he eluded me. I stopped obsessively buying them when the big product boom happened and they were no longer a quiet hobby I had to myself...maybe unfair to Dave Gonzales, but I liked the novelty. Having written this post, though, maybe I'll dump out the piggy bank, pull out some quarters and go looking for a Homies vending machine!

Blockheads

So capsule toy collecting can't be all good all the time. Sometimes you twist the knob with hopeful enthusiasm and what comes out is a bubble filled with disappointment.

Blockheads have the capacity to be both. There are currently 3 of these toys in my household, and only one of them is truly awesome. Another series with 8 styles with color variants, so having your heart set on anything in the display is a bad idea. But how could anyone help but want solo silo (pictured on the lower left)?

Here you see the ones we have actually gotten...

...they are (left to right) jojo gusto, macho taco, and loco coco. Can you guess which one is the truly awesome one?

Alien Invasion

Colorful aliens fill this vending machine...

...the series, Alien Invasion, is fun and well designed. These toys have a variety of unnamed styles and each style has color variants, so collecting them all could be quite a chore!

These two are a great pair. The one on the left seems a little more sinister with his black and red coloring than the blue and yellow variant in the vending machine display. The guy on the right is sporting a friendlier purple and orange pattern and an under bite that gives him a comedic tone.

Barnyard Buddies

Barnyard Buddies is a series of farm animal capsule toys. A friend recently asked, "what makes these 'good' toys?" Well, they are well molded, the paint is in the proper places and there are no weird slabs of plastic hanging off where there shouldn't be. And, of course, they are tiny and cute.

So far my boyfriend and I have managed to collect a fair amount of these little guys. Those pictured were purchased in the entry vestibule at the 38th Street Meijer Store.

The sheep and cow are especially nice, with great details in the mold. Great capsule toys!

Toys, toys, toys

This brand new blog will document the toys collected from capsule and claw machines. Typically purchased for $.50, with a couple of twists of a knob or some skillful plucking from the machine, one of my favorites things to do is discover a fun new toy. They appear in grocery store vestibules, restaurant lobbies, and in a hundred other places. Occasionally I might also throw in a toy from the Japanese market or a designer vinyl toy that fits into the capsule category.

What qualifies me to assert opinions about capsule toys and claw machines? The countless quarters I have expended in the interest of the hobby...

Me, after winning a giant lobster from a giant claw machine

So, if you live in Indianapolis and have tips on a good locale for buying capsule toys, do tell. If you are interested in this distinctive hobby, then watch for updates!