The Showroom is going to be ground zero for all things strange when kaiju assaults the Big Apple on April 19th. Toy Tokyo will be hosting an aptly named kaiju custom show called “Kaiju Invades NYC.” Since it is happening around the time of the New York Comic Con, a vast array of artists were able to contribute to this exhibition. Sun-Min Kim and David Horvath of Uglydoll fame will be dropping their customs, as well as Tim Biskup, Buff Monster, and Bwana Spoons, to name a few. More event info after the jump.

Some of you may be asking, what is kaiju? One word: Godzilla! He is the king of all kaiju. Kaiju is Japanese for “strange beast” and is often used synonymously with special effects films and monsters like Godzilla and other gigantic city-leveling denizens. Ultraman’s many nemeses are also considered kaiju, and the genre extends beyond huge mutant animals to inanimate objects that get animated…and evil.

The kaiju genre can be considered an acquired taste. Not everyone likes it at first. Given time, the hulking monstrosities will grow on you. Kaiju toys are very much the same. At first glance, they look like cheap toy aisle fodder at the local grocery store. The ridiculously bright neon colors and inconsistent spray-painted details may turn many people off. But in fact, the production quality of some designer kaiju are quite high especially if they’re made of Japanese vinyl. Also, the color combinations and spray-painting are usually premeditated and create unique pieces of art that are sure conversation starters.

Those who aren’t fans of kaiju, but are fans of designers toys, should definitely check out the exhibition. You might become helplessly addicted to these charming critters.

The Show:
Kaiju Invades NYC
Opening reception:Saturday, April 19th 2008 (8-11 PM)

Where:
The Showroom NYC
117 2nd Avenue (& 7th Street), 2nd floor
New York, NY 10003

By Aaron Young