Bandai

Most smartphone cases are meant as an extra layer of protection. Japanese toy company Bandai has released the second in its Crazy Case series of smartphone cases that are a bit outside the norm. These are meant to be showy creations that are more about enthusiasm for fandoms like Batman and "Back to the Future" than they are about practicality.

The "Back to the Future: Part II" DeLorean iPhone 6 case features glowing blue lights and is timed to celebrate the movie's setting in 2015. It's scheduled to ship in June and is up for preorder for around $50 (about £32, AU$64).

The case is more than just a cover. It also has some interactive parts. You slide the driver's-side front fender and wheel out of place to uncover the phone's camera. The fender on the other side opens up like a hatch to access controls. The headlights are designed to flash when you get a call. Then, you can experience the joy of chatting into the undercarriage of a DeLorean every time you have a phone conversation.

The time machine look will add a bit of bulk to your formerly sleek iPhone, but with a case like that, you'll want it to be out in the open and not hidden away in a pocket. The DeLorean is the follow-up to a just-as-bizarre Batman Batmobile Tumbler phone case. Bandai seems to have a thing for fictional vehicles hiding iPhones in their underbellies.