Futura 2000 - a Toy Odyssey A guide to the toys based on the artwork and characters of Futura by Rift Trooper & in collaboration with Concept Shop HK (November 2002, revised December 2002/January 2003)

American artist Futura has had a plethora of collectable toys made based on his artwork. Most of the toys made (so far) have been based on his Pointman character. The following account hopefully covers all the projects he has been involved with...

BAPE is the acronym for the Japanese multi media label A Bathing Ape. BAPEPLAY is their toy division. Most of the recent BAPEPLAY toys have been related to their Milo character, but some of their past pieces have been based on Futura’s characters. Their have been two 12” figures of James Lavelle released, wearing the Pointman mask. One figure was part of the Agent Preventative Evil series, and called J-El 77Unkle. The figures were made by Medicom, and fell under their range of “Real Action Heroes”. Plans of the boxes were turned into a single page spread Nigo contributed to an issue of The Face magazine in 2000.

The other James Lavelle 12” figure came as part of a double pack (DX / deluxe) tied in with the album Ape vs Mo’Wax. The figure is again wearing the Pointman mask and this time an American style letterman jacket. The other figure in this double pack was Nigo.

A second boxed set of figures were released for the Ape vs Mo’Wax album. The figures, again representing Nigo and James Lavelle were painted vinyl poseable figures. The figures are based on the album’s cover art, done by Futura. These same figures were later repackaged and sold separately to promote two Mo Wax albums - Nigo’s Ape Sounds and the Mo Wax Japan album Art of War. The Ape Sounds Nigo figure is entirely silver and comes in a silver die cut box. The CD, Ape Sounds, came with it. The Art of War figure is the James figure, in a brownish colour, again in a die cut box. The James figure is splattered in red paint thanks to Futura’s colleague Stash, who customised them all. The UK release of this figure didn’t come with the Art of War CD. It just goes to show if you make a figure, hang onto those dies and moulds!