Pads & Panels

Last month, Bill took a whole bunch of toys over to the Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn, Ill., on behalf of Pads & Panels. To be fair, we were sort of re-gifting the donation. We attended the Chicago Toy and Game Fair (CHITAG) in November, and got hooked up with a bag full of games. Some of them we kept for coverage, but many of them were young children’s games, not really appropriate for the type of stuff we cover on the site. So we elected to donate a bunch of them to some sort of . We meant to do it around the holidays, but like many things, we got a bit behind. So Bill took over a bag earlier this year containing a Hot Wheels Wheel Track Pack, Zibits Gunk, Cool Rides Funrings, Muscle Car Garage, Battle Bands, a 3D Floor Puzzle, World on the Street, and The Ultimate Truth of Dare Game: Toss It To Me Edition. So thanks to all of those companies, and know that your gifts went to help a good cause. Bill’s name was on the letter because the house required one for the donation, but this really comes from the people who provided the games, and everyone at the site who decided this would be a good route to go with them. So the “thank you” letter we received is scanned and posted for all to see. Enjoy!

Following our post last week about Mezco “summer exclusive” Hellboy and Living Dead Dolls figures, the company sent word our way that Toys ‘R Us is exclusively carrying two seriesOne rotocast 6-inch vinylcast collectibles – Hellboy and Abe Sapien. The Mez-Itz figures are designed from Hellboy 2: The Golden Army. They run $10.99 each, according to the Toys ‘R Us website.

For more info, see www.mezcotoyz.com

Shawnimals Earth Day Interview

Interview by: Bill Jones

Shawn Smith, aka Shawnimal, is the Chicago artist behind the designer toy line Shawnimals and last year’s critical Nintendo DS hit Ninjatown. Smith launched a new limited-edition toy series this year based around the anthropologist Professor Fliggins, and today heralds the release of a special eco-friendly plush in honor of Earth Day, the Forest Spirit Wee Ninja. Pads & Panels caught up with Smith last week at New Wave Coffee in Chicago during the Bits + Pieces collaborative art show with fellow Chicago artist Blutt. Smith chatted about everything from Earth Day, to Professor Fliggins to Ninjatown. (more…)