Up until know we haven't really featured many toys (if any) here at MoCo Tokyo. It's now time to break this trend, and we do so with the Snapazoo. An old product from the eighties designed by a university professor (Ross Miller), it was re-discovered last year through eBay by vinyl-figure maker Roughtoyz, who then decided to use it as a lead-off release for their new line of kid-friendly toys, Laughtoys. Although aimed at children, it doesn't take long to realize that pretty much anyone can get addicted to this shape-making wonder, and you'll soon find yourself not only trying to create the suggested animals, but also putting your own spin on some new shapes. On top of the three regular color combinations (orange/purple, pink/brown, blue/green), a special blue/yellow version was created for last year's edition of Swedish Style (part of Tokyo Design Week). Snapazoos can be purchased at Cafe Pause in Ikebukuro, as well as the Laughtoys site. Sweden-based design unit Next Century Modern will also be selling it on their soon-to-be-launched online store (you can already contact them for purchases though).

Full disclosure: this editor participated in the design (with Next Century Modern) of the packaging for the product, and also in its inclusion as mascot of the 2005 edition of Swedish Style. The Swedish Style edition can also be purchased from this editor's personal site.

+ Laughtoys

+ Roughtoyz

+ Next Century Modern