Janky Gnarwhal

Janky is a line of designer vinyl toys created by Superplastic, a brand known for producing high-quality, limited-edition art toys. Janky figures are stylized, anthropomorphic characters that reflect Superplastic’s bold, playful aesthetic and their focus on art-driven collectibles. The Janky line is known for its wide range of characters, often designed in collaboration with notable artists from the world of street art, pop culture, and toy design. The Janky line has made a significant impact in the designer toy and urban vinyl community, especially with its collaborative approach and its ability to bring popular artists into the world of art toys. The blind box element has contributed to a gamified experience, with collectors excited to hunt for rare and exclusive characters. With its vibrant, playful designs, Janky has become an accessible entry point for both seasoned collectors and newcomers to the world of art toys. Superplastic’s Janky line is known for its combination of fun, collectible art, and high-quality craftsmanship, making it one of the most popular and influential series in the designer toy world. Superplastic is leading a digital revolution managing a roster of globally recognized synthetic celebrities with over 19 million followers across social media. Follow along in the ever-expanding Superplastic universe and watch fresh takes and mind-blowing unconventional brand partnerships from Gucci to Fortnite be brought to life. Up until I was 21 years old, I didn’t care about the Internet. But now, 15 years later, I can pretty much credit the Internet with everything leading up to this article. I tried traditional routes of applying for art jobs back in the mid 90’s. I sent out portfolios and made multiple attempts at getting my comics published, but those only led to rejection. Around that time I started blindly experimenting with the Internet out of boredom and realized immediately that I could anonymously spread around my art on every message board and social networking site without having to face the fear of rejection because I wasn’t trying to really DO anything with my art. I just wanted people to see it in hopes of getting some feedback, even if that feedback was critical and hateful…which it was. But it was helpful. Continuing to jump on as many social networking sites as they appeared, and disciplining myself to actually UTILIZE them was, for me, the most important thing I did in establishing the art career that I have now. So when I got asked by Juxtapoz to curate this Halloween issue, and to additionally be featured and interviewed for it,