400% / 100% Bearbrick Rockin’ Jelly Bean

DesignerCon is an annual art and design convention that smashes together collectible toys, customs, plush, designer apparel and so much more with urban, underground and pop art! We are a celebration of all aspects from the world of design. Bearbrick (rendered Be@rbrick) is a collectible toy designed and produced by the Japanese company MediCom Toy Incorporated. The name is derived from the fact that the figure is a cartoon-style representation of a bear and that it is a variation of MediCom's Kubrick design. The at sign in the place of the letter a is a visual device that is a part of the Bearbrick brand, and as such, a trademark of MediCom Toy. The first figure was released 27 May 2001 as a free gift to visitors of the World Character Convention 12 in Tokyo. Since then Bearbricks have been released in several different sizes using a variety of materials, including wood, felt, and glow-in-the-dark plastic. The standard size is seven centimeters high, and these figures are referred to as 100% Bearbricks. Other Bearbricks are named for their size relative to the standard: 50% are four centimeters high, 70% are five centimeters high, 400% are 28 centimeters high, and 1000% are 70 centimeters high. A 200% size chogokin Bearbrick has also been produced standing 14 centimeters tall. A 150% size "Bearbrick Light" has also been produced in 2012, standing 10.5 centimeters tall with a key chain on its head. The name "Jelly Bean" originated as an alias derived from a childhood nickname given to him by his grandmother. A series of birthmarks located on the back of his shoulder appears to look like jellybeans, hence the name Rockin' Jelly Bean. Jelly was born in a year unknown on the sandy beaches of Hawaii, an island paradise where he spent his early years to later migrate to Japan during his adolescence. Growing up in the city of Kyoto, his family first noticed his ability to draw, particularly cartoons. In Junior High School, he discovered Playboy magazine, an inspirational publication in the eyes of Jelly. He then began creating his own versions of beautiful, often naked, female subjects. He became astute at mixing and matching his favourite anatomical features with his favourite actresses, thus creating his own creature of beauty and burlesque. Working as a free-lance artist as he, simultaneously, established surf band Jackie and the Cedrics (and of course made all the flyers and record art). Later he went on to create his own art and design studio Erosty Pop. Jelly's desire to establish a new base for his artistic activity in Los Angeles and befriend the likes of American Lowbrow artists