Awesome Artists: The Magical World of Toy Maker Mel Birnkrant! PART ONE

The Magical World of Mel Birnkrant! PART ONE

.Mel Birnkrant!  One of my favorite discoveries in the past week was the discovery of SUPER talent Mel Birnkrant!  He is a awesome illustrator, a fantastic sculptor, amazing inventor and supreme toy maker GENIUS!

Be sure to check out the MAGICAL world that is www.MelBirnkrant.com !  The site is full of toys that made it into toy store shelves and toys that didn't get the chance to see the light of day.

The site is a wonderful resource for all his toy inventions.  The site includes concept art, production sculptures, promotional pitch videos that were used to sell the toy products to toy companies and lots of behind the scenes journal entries discussing the ups and downs of being a toy inventor.

Mel pulls no punches when he discusses the reality of selling toy invention ideas.  Everything from the toys that sold great and held true to his vision and the toys that the "toy executives" botched and destroyed or flat out ignored.

Mel Birnkrant is now one of my favorite artists of all time!  His toy inventions are so genius and so cool.  Had all his inventions come out in there purest form unchanged by the "toy powers that be" all the kids in the 80's and 90's would have had their minds blown and their childhoods incredibly enriched!

To start out I posted some of my favorite toy inventions of Mel's that did make it out onto the toy shelves in one form or another.  Tomorrow I will post part two of the inventions that didn't get a chance to make it out, but were just as genius (if not more than) as the toys that did make it out to the toy stores!

Enjoy the genius that is Mel Birnkrant!

The Outer Space Men

Super cool and perhaps on of Mel's biggest success "The Outer Space Men"!

MAXx FX

MAXx FX is a toy I remember well.  But according to Mel the toy company never really got off the ground with the idea he was trying to push.  These toys were still awesome none the less!

The Real Little Nursery

This toy invention was perhaps one of his coolest and most original ideas.  However, as he writes the "toy executives" in charge of the toy idea couldn't get it right and his original vision was lost.  Girls in the 80's would have lost their mind for these dolls and its heart breaking the toy manufactures botched his original vision!

Bogleech Creatures

One of my favorite of Mel's inventions.  You have to see the original pitch idea video below to see just how amazingly cool and genius these toy ideas were!  This is were Mel really shows how intense his toy genius was!  These guys did eventually come out under the "Aaahh!! Real Monsters" line.

But in my opinon the purity of his idea and coolness was really lost in the final product.  Had these toys come out in their orginal form as Mel had inteneded me and every other kid from the 80's and 90's would have lost our mind!

Invasion Earth

Another absolutely genius invention!  I think "Invasion Earth" was planned for years to come out but never did.  This such a shame!  If you get to check out the pitch videos below you get to see how amazing and genius these toy ideas were!

Be sure to check out Mel's site www.MelBirnkrant.com for tons more toys that made it out into the toy universe!  There are tons of beautiful illustrations, mock up prototype sculptures, lots of pitch and demo toy videos and tons of behind the scenes stories.  The world of Mel Birnkrant is a MAGICAL place everyone must see!

Check back tomorrow for The Magical World of Mel Birnkrant! PART TWO and discover the amazing toy ideas that never made it out that absolutely should have!  AMAZING STUFF!

all images and video copyright Mel Birnkrant

Awesome Artists: The Magical World of Toy Maker Mel Birnkrant! PART TWO

Part Two of The Magical World of Toy Maker Mel Birnkrant!  The second post is based on the AMAZING toys of Mel's that didn't get a chance to make it.  Such a shame because each of these toys is a little master piece of toy inventing GENIUS!

This post just scratches the surface of the amazing toys Mel Birnkrant has invented.  Be sure to check out his site www.MelBirnkrant.com for more great concept illustrations, prototype sculpts, pitch and promotional videos and behind the scenes stories!  Now on to the TOYS!!!!

R.C. MAN

R.C. MAN was way ahead of his time!  The figure would move his head and arms to control his vehicle.  Be sure to check out the great pitch video to see R.C. MAN in action!  The toy was ultimately made but changed to be called CYBON I and the focus was changed to be more on a fast vehicle and less on the character himself.  So the original idea was used....somewhat, haha.

MONSTER TRUCKS

Monster Trucks was a great concept!  The big wheel trucks would each feature a different monster and when the truck would crash into something the monster would pop out of the truck!  Check out the video below for the demo.  Such a cool concept but as Mel says on his site a similar toy came out before his concept and the idea was never made! NO! Say it aint so!

Whoopies

Whoopies is where I have to draw the line.  This toy should have....NO, HAS TO be made!  The fart noise to a boy in his adolescence is the single most hilarious thing on the planet.  And we didn't want to admit it but as young boys we wanted dolls too.

But not baby dolls creepy monster dolls!  Mel's invention "Whoopies" combines both these awesome ideas into one awesome toy invention!  Had this toy been made I would have made sure my parents got me all of them!  Although the Whoopies ball was made, the larger doll never got a chance to blow their steam!  What a crime!  My childhood now looks incomplete and I'm mad as hell someone stood in my way of owning my "WHOOPIES!!!!"



Tina Twinkle Doll

Now I'm not a doll collector but I can recognize a genius idea when I see one.  Girls in the 80's and 90's, even today would have lost their mind for this doll!  However, Disney came out with a similar product and Tina Twinkle never made it out!  Such a shame this doll needs to be made!  Be sure to check out the promo video to see the super cute "Tina Twinkle" and all her charm!

Tiny Tots

Tiny Tots were absolutely brilliant.  Once again this was not really a toy for boys but I can totally see their appeal and the invention and ingenuity that went into these toys is stunning!  Each of these little guys had some type of amazing action when reacting to another character.  Be sure to watch the demo video to see how cool!  Unfortunately although toy companies were very interested in putting these guys out there was already too many similar products filling the category.  This is a shame because these toys were incredible and genius!

Lock Ups

Another genius idea from Mel Birnkrant!  These were stuffed animals that you could open their mouth and put your valuables inside their soft furry stomach and then close their mouth and lock it shut with a lock on the nose!  So cool!  However, there was already a similar product on the market and this little guy was only sold over seas, sad!  Be sure to check out the promo video and his site for more concept ideas for these guys.

All in all Mel Birnkrant's inventions were amazing and so much fun.  Had the toy executives in control been able to take his original ideas and produce them in their original form so many kids childhoods would have been more awesome than they already were in the 80's and 90's!

I'm a huge fan of Mel Birnkrant's concept illustrations and prototype sculptures.  So cool, so inventive and so creative.  Be sure to check out Mel Birnkrant's website www.MelBirnkrant.com for more cool images, sculptures, promo videos and behind the scenes stories about making it as a toy inventor.  Also be sure to check out his own toy collection which is equally amazing!  Mel in my opinion has achieved what all artists want to achieve.  Which is, knowing the world is a better place because of your creations!  Long live Mel Birnkrant!

all images and video copyright Mel Birnkrant

Be sure to check out the first post on Mel Birnkrant about the toys that did make it into children's hearts!

Great Stuff: Mel Birnkrant's AMAZING FREE "Outer Space Men" Ebook!

Mel Brinkrant
website: www.MelBirnrkant.com
archive: https://archive.org/
images copyright Mel Birnkrant

I LOVE toys and there are no toys I LOVE more than action figures.  Which is why I'm so HAPPY to announce Mel Birnkrant has recently put out an AMAZING FREE ebook (with a little help from yours truly) on one of his GREATEST toy inventions and one of the very FIRST action figures ever created, "The Outer Space Men".

To understand the importance of Mel Birnkrant and the "Outer Space Men" we would have to take a look back at the history of toys and action figures specifically.  Action figures were introduced around 1964 with the creation of  Hasbro's 12"  "GI Joe" doll figure ("GI Joe" was intended to be for boys what Barbie was for girls), technically not what we would consider an "action figure" by today's standards.

 
Two years later in 1966 another type of 12" doll for boys was released called "Captain Action" by Ideal.  That year also saw the release of Mattel's "Major Matt Mason".  "Major Matt Mason" was the first figure that made the transition from 12" doll for boys to 5" to 6" poseable action figure toy.


However, in my opinion Mattel's "Major Matt Mason" was still not the first true action figure.  "Major Matt Mason" lacked imagination and fantasy elements that were needed to spark the imagination.  As the story goes the day after Mel Birnkrant saw "Major Matt Mason" for the first time he began work on creating Colorforms "Outer Space Men" which invaded toy stores in 1968.  Mel Birnkrant's Colorforms "Outer Space men" were light years ahead their time and set the standard for what an action figure should be and is still used as the standard for action figures to this day!

With Colorform's "Outer Space Men" the first COMPLETE action figure was born.  "Outer Space Men" had it all: intensely imaginative poseable characters with a wide range of shapes and sizes (where Mattel's "Major Matt Mason" characters were generally generic bodies with different heads), a wide range of awesome accessories (crossbows, guns, magical staffs, maces and more!), and the final element was a great back story for each alien character's origin to further help bring these AMAZING action figures to life!  The "Outer Space Men" were also the first cast of original fantasy characters created for an action figure toy.

Learn the entire story of the very first AWESOME action figure with Mel Birnkrant's FREE "Outer Space Men Archive" ebook!  The ebook is PHENOMENAL!  Full of tons of images covering concept art, photos of the original figures in their original packaging, original paintings by the GREAT Bob Engle, and lots of behind the scenes photos of the creation of these AWESOME action figures.  The ebook also has a ton of GREAT behind the scenes stories on the "Outer Space Men" as well as two full interviews with Mel Birnkrant!

Did I also mention this is all FREE!  Be sure to check it out!  Download (or Read Online) PDF Ebook FREE, on Archive.org

"The Outer Space Men Archive"

Mel Birnkrant and I also hope to put together a second ebook on the new "Outer Space Men" that have been recently released with the Four Hoursemen!  So be sure to check back!  A very valuable resource to this post comes from "Stinny's Toy History - Past, Present and Future" an AWESOME comprehensive view of action figures and toys from the 1960's to the present, be sure to check it out!

Artbooks: Mel Birnkrant's AWESOME FREE "The Colorforms Years" Ebook!

Mel Birnkrant
website: http://melbirnkrant.com/
images copyright Mel Birnkrant

Mel Birnkrant is one of my ALL time FAVORITE artists!  He has created decades of AMAZING art and has also collected decades of AMAZING art!  Which is why I'm so glad he has taken the time to document and preserve his art and his collection in Ebook form!

Mel and I have been working on his latest Ebook "Mel Birnkrant: The Colorforms Years" which covers "Mel Birnkrant's personal memoir of 20 years as the Creative Director of "Colorforms 1964 - 1986".  This Ebook is AMAZING and full of hundreds of great quality color images of artwork from one of the GREATEST artists of all time!  Not to mention personal stories and memories.  Be sure to check it out and get your FREE download of the Ebook!

Download (or Read Online) PDF Ebook FREE, on Archive.org

 "Mel Birnkrant: The Colorforms Years"

There are also lots more GREAT things to come!  Mel and I are also hoping to create a few more Ebooks on his art.  The next Ebook on his AMAZING contribution to the earliest known action figures with his toy inventions "The Outer Space Men"!

We are also hard at work on a full length documentary film on his AMAZING Antique Toy Collection from the 1900's to 1940's.  To learn more about his AMAZING collection from "The GREATEST Art Movement NEVER Known" be sure to check out the Ebooks Mel and I put out earlier this year (Also FREE!)!


"Greetings From Mouse Heaven"
Mel Birnkrant's lifelong Collection of Vintage Mickey Mouse and Comic Character Art, Images, and Toys 1900 - 1940


Download (or Read Online) all PDF Ebooks FREE, on Archive.org

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 1

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 2

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 3

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 4

Video: James Gurney's WONDERFUL "Toonerville Trolley Toy" Video Featuring Mel Birnkrant!

Mel Birnkrant
website: http://melbirnkrant.com/
images copyright Mel Birnkrant

James Gurney
website: www.GurneyJourney.blogspot.com
video copyright James Gurney

 What happens when LEGENDARY fantasy artist James Gurney gets together with LEGENDARY toy inventor and collector Mel Birnkrant?!  WONDERFUL things thats what!  Be sure to check out James Gurney's GREAT "Toonerville Trolley Toy" video featuring Mel Binrkrant and one of his AMAZING toys!



I have also had the AMAZING opportunity to visit with Mel and I'm currently hard at work on a full length documentary on his AMAZING collection.....details and trailer coming soon!

If you are interested in learning more about Mel's AMAZING toy collection then be sure to visit his "guided tour on his website!  Over the past year Mel has been BEAUTIFULLY documenting, photographing and writing about his INCREDIBLE toy / art collection from the 1900's to the 1940's on his website:

Greetings From Mouse Heaven: A Guided Tour of the Mel Birnkrant Collection  
http://melbirnkrant.com/collection/index.html 



In my opinion Mel has single handedly saved four decades of one of the GREATEST and most FUN unknown art movements to ever happen, toy art from 1900-1940!  An entire genre of art never before seen by most and a genre that has almost no documentation.  Incredibly sweet comic art, beautiful toy and puppet sculpture and toys that take hold of your entire imagination, no batteries needed!



The AMAZING collection is also available in a  four volume PDF Ebook of "Greetings From Mouse Heaven", which is FREE to download load from Archive.org!

"Greetings From Mouse Heaven"
Mel Birnkrant's lifelong Collection of Vintage Mickey Mouse and Comic Character Art, Images, and Toys 1900 - 1940

Download (or Read Online) all PDF Ebooks FREE, on Archive.org

 

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 1

 

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 2

 

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 3

 

Greetings from Mouse Heaven, Volume 4

Great Stuff: Mel Birnkrant's FANTASTIC "Greetings From Mouse Heaven A Guided Tour" Antique Toy / Art Collection Website!

Mel Birnkrant
website: http://melbirnkrant.com/
all videos and images copyright Mel Birnkrant

"Greetings From Mouse Heaven A Guided Tour" Antique Toy Collection


One of my FAVORITE people and artists of all time is toy inventor / toy collector Mel Birnkrant!  For the past few months Mel has secretly been working on an AMAZING section of his website called "Greetings From Mouse Heaven A Guided Tour".  The new website is an INCREDIBLY detailed and BEAUTIFULLY written and photographed document of his massive antique toy collection!



Mel Birnkrant has single handedly kept alive two decades (1930's and 1940's) of toys / art by HUNDREDS of artists with his toy collection.  Some of the most BEAUTIFUL and FUNNY works of art ever created in the form of illustrations, sculptures, toys, puppets, posters and books of early comic characters!



Take an hour or two (or ten!) and go over and enjoy the INTENSELY beautiful photos and writing of these little masterpieces on Mel's new site ("Greetings From Mouse Heaven A Guided Tour")!  You will be swept up both by the INCREDIBLE creations and Mel's intense LOVE and PASSION for these toys!



I also hope in the new year to get an opportunity to work with Mel to turn his new site into a PDF file for people to enjoy away from the computer and to preserve Mel's AMAZING document and collection!



Also be sure to check out the GREAT video interview and meet the LEGEND Mel Birnkrant and his LEGENDARY collection!