The igniter of art SOFUBI! Introducing [Sunguts Honpo]! This is a SOFUBI manufacturer run by Mr. Ichimiya Tadayoshi, whi is also the organizer of the Modern SOFUBI Market and is very famous in the industry.
The series of SOFUBI artists that sparked the art SOFUBI movement and are still active today!
This time, it's [Sunguts Honpo]!
It is no exaggeration to say that when art SOFUBI and creators SOFUBI began to become popular gradually from the early 2000s, he was one of the creators who took the lead and created the current trend of art SOFUBI!
He is a legend, having started his business at a time when there weren't that many people making SOFUBI. This is a SOFUBI manufacturer run by Mr. Ichimura Tadayoshi, who is also the organizer of the "Modern SOFUBI Market" and is very famous in the industry. [Sunguts] has been making SOFUBI since July of 2000, and before that, he was making independent films, working at an advertising production company, and as a commercial director.
SOFUBI, such as "Ultraman" and "Masked Rider" have been around for a long time, and I played when I was a kid, but as I grew up, the way I played changed and I lost it. It is also a certain way.
Ultraman SOFUBI and Kaiju SOFUBI are still immensely popular, but there is another type of art SOFUBI that is becoming popular as a Japanese culture, a toy that originated in Japan. The creators have created fictional characters with their own unique world view and settings, and made them into three-dimensional objects.
It's interesting because the world view and the modeling of the work are completely different from each artist!
"Creator SOFUBI" has a wide range of definitions, and various works are created by the artist, such as what he really wants, what is not in the world, and what he wants to express. So I personally think that one of the reasons I'm so addicted to them is that I can encounter fascinating works that are full of maniacal obsessions that I can't see in mass-produced toys. I think [Sunguts] is one of those wonderful artists who think that they can create what they like and what they want.
So, there are some creators who have been on the front lines before the boom, and who have been the igniters of the current art SOFUBI boom and have been leading the era, and one of then is [Sunguts Honpo]!
The one who has created a culture!
I'd like to introduce you to the SOFUBI of Legendary Creator [Sunguts].
Kodomo-zame (Kid Shark)
There are also variations such as "laughing face, "angry face" and "troubled face".
Actually, there are three types of faces with the setting "They were triplet!?".
I really like the loose and cute design. SUNGUTS's works are reasonably priced, which makes me want to buy them.
He is also very fond of shark motifs, and his other famous SOFUBI works include the large SOFUBI "Megalodon" and Otoko-same (Man Shark).
Otoko-Ju (Male Beast)
It's the "Hyakkiyakou Series" (Night of the Hundred Demons).
This beast series is cute, isn't it? There is also a "Biru-Ju" (Building Beast).
I want a Building Beast...
It looks like a stuffed animal, and it's funny that the face is showing out
normally. This kind of work is also unique to [Sunguts]. He also make finely
modeled monsters, so this is a wonderful work, full of originality that matches the fineness of the modeling and the cuteness.
KIGU Rumi Clear Pink Molding
It seems that the work was made under the setting that: "Rumi-chan, a shy girl, is always wearing a stuffed animal costume, so she came to be called 'KIGU Rumi'".
One of the most distinctive works made by Mr. Sunguts is the pretty girl's SOFUBI. "KIGU Rumi" is also cute! There are currently two facial expressions, and many different colors available. There are not many of these SOFUBI figures for sale, so the concept of "if you can't find it, make it yourself" is a perfect fit.
Apparition "Uraname"
It seems to be a subspecies of "Akaname", a traditional Japanese Yokai that licks off the bathtub dirt. It is a Yokai who likes to lick the "back" of various things such as the bottom of a cup and the back of a chair, and even if it licks you, it is usually "back", or "reverse side", so you don't notice it. It is said that if you get licked by this "Uraname", you will be happy or not...
I like this heart-shaped shell.
"Uraname" is also one of SUNGUTS' representative works, and it is still very
popular with new colors being released. Anyway, the gimmick of the tongue moving was shocking. How did he do that? The idea is amazing. It's truly a fun SOFUBI to play with.
Hoodie Boy / Hoodie Girl's Black Hoodie ver.
It's the "Hyakkiyakou Series" (Night of the Hundred Demons series).
These are street-style "boy" and "girl" wearing hoodies with only their tongues sticking out from inside. The gimmick where the tongue moves when you turn the bottom half of the body is like, "Wow!".
The expression of the figure changes depending on its orientation.
It's the same structure as the "Uraname" gimmick, but the idea of matching the space of the hoodie with the tongue is just amazing. Brilliant!
But compared to the early 2000s, the number of artists has increased.
And the every single one of then has a different view of the world!
Each artists has had a variety of experiences before arriving at "SOFUBI" as a way of expressing their art, worldview and the things they want to create, so that background is also an intriguing part of the worldview.
Mr. Sunguts is a pioneer in this field! If it doesn't exist, then let's make it,
and that's how he came up with the creative idea to create 135 three-dimensional works! I think there are many people who are influenced by the creation of original works that are full of ideas until they are shaped. As an artist, I think it's cool to keep making things that you want to make without paying attention to profitability.
Speaking of [Sunguts], in addition to the original SOFUBI, Shigeru Mizuki's work is also famous! "Shigeru Mizuki Bizarre Manga SOFUBI Series"! It's "Gegege no Kitaro", right?
Also, he has made various SOFUBI such as Tsuburaya Kaiju Total Advance, Hyakkiyakou Series and Mononoke Girls.
A famous example of this is "Puku-chan" from "Jikou Keisatsu". There are many fans of Kitaro and Ultra Monsters, so it's not uncommon to find a SOFUBI that you think "Oh, I like that" is made by [Sunguts]. If you include the copyrighted works, the number of works he's done is really huge. Looking at Ichimiya-san's activities, the ideas that overflow are becoming more and more three-dimensional. I think he's a really great artist, because his works are always released one after another, full of sense and ideas.