“Can We Create a Character Loved for 100 Years?”

—The Genesis of BE@RBRICK

In the previous installment, I mentioned exploring various ideas with "KUBRICK," but it took a considerable amount of time to bring them to market. Even after conceiving a plan, the production itself was time-consuming. I was thinking about how to create a project that could keep pace with that speed. That was one factor.

Another factor was around New Year's 2000. I saw an article, perhaps in a newspaper, about the Teddy Bear's 100th anniversary. I thought it was incredible that a character could be recognized and loved worldwide for a century.

While the internet is commonplace today, back then it was just beginning to emerge, and I felt it would mature further. So, I decided to create a "digital" Teddy Bear that could properly adapt to such a market and environment.

● “The Frustrating Development Speed of KUBRICK”
● “A Character Loved for 100 Years”
● “A Digital Teddy Bear”

At the moment all these elements converged, it felt like everything clicked perfectly into place.
This was the beginning of "BE@RBRICK."

—The Distinctive Form of BE@RBRICK

Then, the conversation moved to design... I recall an idea striking me around 3 AM one night. That was the starting point, sketching it out with a pen. At a planning meeting, I presented it, saying, "How about this design?" and received a "That's interesting!" response. We then quickly developed it, with suggestions like, "We don't have time, so let's reuse the limbs from KUBRICK..." and "Let's make the head and body and turn it into a bear." Looking back, we developed it at an incredibly rapid pace, partly due to time constraints (laughs)...

Had we taken more time to refine the concept, the outcome might have been different. Ultimately, I believe the availability of "him" to everyone is a result of various coincidences and intertwined elements. Of course, he wouldn't exist without KUBRICK.

Left: A 400% BE@RBRICK, four times the standard size.
Center: The 100% size, considered the most standard. This was the first BE@RBRICK announced to the world. It was distributed as a novelty at a toy event held on May 27, 2001.
Right: A black 100% BE@RBRICK, distributed as a novelty at a toy event held on June 10, 2001.
All are now out of print.

Looking at the design, it's a very peculiar one, with a blend of cubic curves and straight lines.

Actually, after its release, a certain designer told me,
“Akashi-kun, this is strange.
From a designer's perspective, one wouldn't create a design like this.”
he said...
However,
“If you're a designer, you'd either refine it further or make it even more unconventional. But because it's a design we couldn't conceive of, it inexplicably catches our attention. Perhaps the reason for its hit is precisely that kind of 'unfamiliarity'?”
he also commented.

Now, I believe that this form, which is not just cute but also somewhat eerie, is the primary reason why "he" is so beloved by everyone.

Another key aspect of the form is the absence of a face. Because it's nothing in particular, it can be anything. It's a character with universality... though that's something I thought of retrospectively (laughs).

Next time
To be continued in ACT 3 MEET THE BE@RBRICK!!!!! (2)...

NEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“Yellow Magic Orchestra”
BE@RBRICK

A set of three luxurious figures: a BE@R in a white shirt and black pants from their world tour, designed by Yukihiro Takahashi and made by Brics Mono; a red People's Liberation Army uniform BE@R from the jacket of their second album, 'Solid State Survivor'; and a black-clad BE@R inspired by the uniform worn during their disbandment tour. Scheduled for release in July 2007 ■ ¥2940

And... Good news from Medicom Toy!!
The legendary "Xenomorph" figures are finally, finally here!

The album "Xenomorph," released in 1980, was their fourth work. The jacket, featuring three dolls seemingly "multiplying," was striking... In reality, these dolls were not generally available, yet somehow a few appeared in the world and are traded at high prices on online auctions. These elusive dolls are now being brought to life and sold by Medicom Toy in December 2007, a quarter-century later.
This is all the information available for now! We will provide further details as soon as they become available in this series.

Products introduced (c)
(c) 2007 MEDIUM,Inc. (c) 2007 KAB Inc. (c) 2007 HINTS MUSIC Inc. BE@RBRICK TM & (c) 2001-2007 MEDICOM TOY CORPORATION. All rights reserved.