You’ve heard of James Jarvis, right? He’s one of these kooky british dudes that’s like, way more artistic than you or I. I’m probably way off and will start a flame war with the following comment, but I kind of get him confused with Bansky for some reason. Not that their stuff looks anything alike. And not that I really super-duper get Bansky anyway…I guess I just figured I’d throw that little tidbit in for flavor. Niche Flavor.

Current—’modern’—James Jarvis toys are licensed primarily through Strangeco, a company that’s responsible for bringing all sorts of goodies and awesomeness to toy shelves everywhere. They do a fantastic job with all the Jim Woodring stuff, and, well, they’re sort of like Martian Manhunter to Kidrobot’s Superman. They more or less do the exact same thing (‘western’, Chinese vinyl and PVC factory toys based on licensed intellectual property from artists both widely known and widely unknown) but I guess they’re not as much of a polarizing force as that latter son from another sun. They just quietly do their thing. Or something.

Prior to having his toys produced by Strangeco, Jarvis funneled most of his creative toy juices through his company Amos, which, as you may or may not know, is big in Japan. I would love to prove this to you in some way shape or form, but, sadly, I cannot. Amos is just one of those labels: very cool. Very true to what they do. Very singularly visual. Lots of character crossover. Lots of apparel crossover. Etc. And yeah, they still make toys, and yeah, they still make Jarvis’ toys, but, well, I’m weaving. Dream-weaving. Like a mummy on a skateboard.

Anyway. Back in like 2002 or so, Amos (at that time [speaking from MY IMPRESSION ONLY] more or less another name for James Jarvis) released a series of series of toys under the ‘In-Crowd‘ heading. There was the ‘In-Crowd House of Horrors’, ‘In-Crowd Zombies’, ‘In-Crowd Ages of Metal’…and so on. Really, really fantastic toys. At the time, I was doing some freelance web work for a company who just happened to a) not have money to pay me and b) have access to all of these toys. So guess what? I’ve got a shit ton of them.

Through moves and houses and offices and marriages and dogs and what soon will be babies, these little things have remained some of my coolest, most interesting, and just shit-ton-of-fun toys. And I can’t even really tell you why. Maybe it’s that crazy weird british humor that just oozes out of their expressions. They look like little Plimptoons running around or something. Actually, not at all, but they just look. British.

To me. I don’t know, either, why something looking British means that I like it or think it’s funny or whatever, but, well, I guess that’s where it helps that they’re little zombies and draculas and shit. Helps, too, that the wolfman is wearing overalls. I think that’s hilarious.

Anyway. I recently had chance to watch the totally fantastic (but by now old…but I am currency-challenged) Jarvis animated short ‘Onwards‘ that was done for Nike, and it got me thinking about these toys again, and last week, I sat down at my business partner’s desk and made a little movie. Starring them. The In-Crowd. And a few other fine folks.

This is my fetish. Playing cat’s cradle with obscure, uber-personal references and then spewing them out onto you, O kind reader. I’m sure by this time next month I’ll be talking to you about civil war buttons or turn of the century marbles. Or vintage 70′s space program postage. All of which—oddly—are a part of my life. Go fig.

- Hateball