Rainbow FunnFunn

Toshihiko Ito is a Japanese artist renowned for his work in the designer toy scene, particularly for his original soft vinyl (sofubi) figures. Operating under the moniker “Painter-Net,” Ito has crafted a distinctive array of characters that have garnered attention among collectors and enthusiasts. Ito’s work is characterized by a harmonious blend of traditional Japanese sofubi artistry and contemporary design elements, making his figures highly sought after in the art toy community. Funnfunn is a distinctive art toy series created by the Japanese artist duo Hatsutorin Studio, composed of Toshie and Shinji. Established in 2016 and based in Nagano Prefecture, Hatsutorin Studio is renowned for producing art toys and paintings that embody a “POP / 奇々妙々 / ゆるい” (pop, whimsical, and relaxed) aesthetic, drawing inspiration from Japanese subculture, anime, and pop surrealism.  Introduced in 2018, the Funnfunn series showcases unique soft vinyl figures characterized by their playful and imaginative designs. These figures have been featured in various exhibitions and events, reflecting their popularity within the art toy community. In 2020, Hatsutorin Studio expanded their offerings by venturing into soft vinyl toy production, further diversifying their artistic portfolio. Self-produced art toys are designer collectibles created and manufactured independently by the artist or small teams without the backing of a large toy company or mass-market brand. These toys are often highly personal, artistic expressions and are usually made in limited runs. Key Characteristics include independent creation where the artist is in control of the entire process from concept, sculpting, and painting to production and packaging. These are usually made in small batches, often 10–100 pieces, which adds to their rarity, made using materials like resin, sofubi (Japanese soft vinyl), or 3D-printed components.