kidrobot's 2-Faced Dunnys (series 2) by David Horvath
with Jager

David Horvath's style can be described as simple and fun...happy even. Apply this theory to kidrobot's Dunny, and you have a fantastic little toy that can't help but make you smile. But these toys aren't just fun from one side. These little guys have two faces to add to their look! Freebento.com didn't think these guys got the respect they deserve and sent a few our way to have a look (or two) at, and I really dig these guys. Granted, I'm a Horvath fan; which isn't everyone's cup of tea. I appreciate the simplicity of his design where some find it lacking. The key to enjoying his art is to understand its subtleness.

Each of these characters has only the bare essentials needed to convey the emotion intended. This is quite a trick. Somehow, David's style makes a simple smiley face more than just a smiley face. Each of the Dunnys in this series has a different feel than its brother or sister. There are a few who take cues from other toys (Noupas for example), but in this particular series, no two are the same. This is a point of contention between collectors. I have to admit I was a bit disappointed to see so many characters similar in design to previously seen toys. But the fact is they translate great to the Dunny form. Horvath even nodded to the fact with the phrase "Pretty Much NEW" boldly printed on the box. Usually, the two faced system is used to give a ying to the yang of the character: One side happy, the other side mutated or evil. But in a few, the switch is just a change in the number of eyes or other facial features. Since the neck is jointed at an angle, when the head is spun around it can either look up or look down. Each toy is also articulated at the arms. They seem at a weird angle when pointed toward the back of the toy, but still work towards a pleasing look. Speaking of the back of the toy, more often than not there is a symbol painted on the back that isn't on the front. So this gives you four different ways to pose your Dunny. The paint apps for the most part are clean with no smudges. I found just a few thin spots in some places, but for the most part it's solid application. The biggest news of this line is the introduction of Sun Min Kim's Spider Boom as a Dunny. Sun Min and David have been working together for some time (Ugly Dolls, of course) and fans of the pair were familiar with Sun Min's Spider Boom and were VERY excited to see her as a Dunny. This was the series' rarest figure (1/25) which added to the excitement. However this series had an open run, so the chances of receiving a Spider Boom are still pretty good. She definitely is the best piece of the line with a spider scepter and her baby painted on the back of her head. Very nice!

Overall, this series is a great addition to anyone's Horvath collection, Dunny addiction, or I think they're great for introducing friends into the Designer Toy world. They have an innocent quality that appeals to most and are easy to understand and love. And if you don't like its face, just flip the head around and try again!

Freebento.com has these guys (open box and sealed), and other great Designer Toys. Plus, a huge Japanese toy section. They're worth checking out.

David Horvath has a great site with info on upcoming projects and other fun stuff.

Check out our handy-dandy Designer Toy page for all our coverage.

Article ©2006 MillionairePlayboy.com. All characters are property their original owners.