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· Bryan Ke

McDonald’s in Japan Starts Using Trays Made Form Recycled Plastic Toys

McDonald’s in Japan are using trays recycled from plastic toys as part of the fast food chain’s attempt to reduce plastic waste.

· Heather Johnson Yu

24 Chinese Bootleg Toys Naughty Kids Better Pray They Won’t Get This Christmas

Christmas is just around the corner, and while everyone is busy hanging up their stockings and chugging hot cocoa, Santa is busy making his list and checking it twice. If you’ve been good this year, you’re bound to get that … ohh, what is it that kids are playing with these…

· Ryan General

7-Year-Old Asian Boy Makes $11 Million A Year Reviewing Toys on YouTube

A 7-year-old Asian American boy has been raking in millions by reviewing toy cars, action figures, Play-Doh, and other toys on YouTube. Ryan, the fun-loving son of Vietnamese mom Loann and Japanese dad Sean, is the adorable “host” of “Ryan ToysReview” a popular toy-review…

· Ryan General

Chinese Netizens Outraged Over a Claw Machine That Uses Live Cats Instead of Toys

Netizens are not a bit happy about a claw machine which uses live cats instead of plush toys at an arcade in an unidentified city in China. The mechanism of the controversial machine lets customers pick up cats and drop them into a funnel like a normal claw machine.

· Carl Samson

McDonald’s is Partnering With Nintendo to Bring Back the Best Happy Meal Toys Ever

If you happen to visit any McDonald’s branch between April 26 and May 22, chances are you’ll find yourself traveling back in time. That’s literally the case when you ask for a Happy Meal, which features eight Nintendo toys that strike a chord among nostalgic fans.

· Carl Samson

Donald Trump is Trying to Make iPhones, Jeans, and Sex Toys Way More Expensive

A looming trade war between the United States and China has been speculated since Donald Trump claimed that the east Asian giant is “stealing” American jobs. That comment, among other remarks, pushed many to contemplate consequences for both countries, whether favorable or not.…

· Ryan General

14-Year-Old Australian Boy Earns $10,000 In One Week Reselling Chinese-Made Toys

A 14-year-old Australian teenager has made thousands of dollars re-selling Chinese toys in Australia. Will Deeth, a Toowoomba Christian College student, buys toys in China during trips with his parents and then sells them online and through his pop up shops back at home.…

· Editorial Staff

The Kaplan Twins: These Sisters ‘Sleep’ With Superhero Toys and Sell Them for $333 on Instagram

Identical twin sisters who are “sleeping” with children’s superhero figurines are posting suggestive photos on Instagram and selling each one for $333 a pop. The Kaplan Twins are young artists based in Los Angeles who are currently working on a project called Boy Toys. The work…

· Ryan General

Chinese ‘Claw Machine God’ Grabs Over 3,000 Stuffed Toys, Becomes Arcade Owners’ Worst Nightmare

The claw machine, while looking deceptively easy, is arguably one of the most challenging games in any arcade. If you are the competitive type who does not like losing, it is best to stay away — unless, of course, you are as skillful as Chen Zhitong from China who is considered…

· Riley Schatzle

Tech Employee Spends $476,000 on Online Strippers and Sex Toys Using Company Card

A “national solutions architect” for a St. Louis-based company was indicted last week by federal authorities for using nearly half a million dollars in company funds to pay for online strippers. John David Berrett, 40, is accused of falsifying expense reports from September 2013…

· Bryan Ke

Ally Maki is the First Asian American Woman Cast in ‘Toy Story’

Ally Maki, who voices Giggle McDimples in “Toy Story 4,” was shocked when she found out that she was the first Asian American woman to join the franchise. The 32-year-old actress couldn’t believe she became a part of the animated film that she has loved since she was a child.

· Ryan General

Tiny Rice Cooker Collectibles Are Perfect for Rice Enthusiasts

A toy company specializing in miniature collectible pieces in Japan has come up with a variety of adorable mini rice cooker cases. Capsule toy maker Kitan Club has unveiled the rice cookers that are super tiny they can fit in the palm of your hand.

· Ryan General

Japanese Mathmetician Creates the Most Mind-Blowing Optical Illusion

Strange “optical toys” that appear to change form right before the viewers’ eyes have mesmerized many netizens in Japan. Designed by Japanese mathematician Kokichi Sugihara, the pieces of acrylic objects offer mind-bending optical illusions that make them look entirely different…

· Bryan Ke

‘Sailor Moon’ Monopoly Board Game is Now Here to Destroy Friendships for $40

If you are an avid fan of the hit ‘90s anime “Sailor Moon,” or just a die-hard collector of anything related to the show, then you are in luck as a Monopoly board game based on the show is now available for purchase online. The “Sailor Moon” Monopoly game, created by The OP…

· Bryan Ke

Arcade Claw Machine Angers Twitter After Using Live Puppies for Prizes

Many netizens are calling out an arcade claw machine for using real live puppies after a video of it has gone viral online. It is unclear where the viral video was shot, but according to the Mirror, it is believed to have been taken somewhere in China. Elisa Allen, the director…

· Carl Samson

Serial Killer in Cyprus Killed Asian Women for Years When Police Allegedly Ignored Immigrant Murders

A series of murders targeting several Filipino women in Cyprus sparked accusations of police racism due to the lack of subsequent investigations. For nearly three years, Nikos Metaxas, a 35-year-old army officer, roamed free to execute the “first serial killings” in the island…

· Ryan General

Woman Loses Her Totoro’s Eyes, Asks the Internet for Help

Alice Kim, a university student from Toronto, Canada, ran into a minor crisis over a week ago after washing her four-year-old Totoro plushie. Shocked to discover that her stuffed toy had lost its eyes, Kim panicked a bit and shared her misfortune on Facebook group Subtle Asian…

· Ryan General

This 25-Year-Old YouTuber Made Over $100,000 in 8 Months By Eating Tons of Food

Based on current trends, some of the most lucrative ways for YouTube Creators to earn money often involve playing video games, reviewing toys or teaching others which sponsored item they should be buying next. However, for 25-year-old YouTuber Kim Thai, it has been about eating…

· Esther Zhuang

Bananas: Learning to Love Being Asian Growing Up in a Whitewashed Society

Editor’s Note: The following piece was chosen as the runner-up of NextShark’s personal Essay Contest 2019. The views expressed in story are the writer’s own. My Granddad loved bananas. Whether they were pale yellow just blossomed from green or a golden yellow with black and…

· Ryan General

BTS ARMY Responds to Mattel’s BTS Dolls With Hilarious Memes

Mattel, the maker of Barbie dolls, recently unveiled its new doll line up featuring South Korean boyband Bangtan Sonyeondan (BTS). Many believe that getting the toy treatment from the renowned doll manufacturer just made sense due to the KPop act’s skyrocketing global popularity.

Anime → Toei Animation

Anime connects to Sony, Toei Animation, and Bandai Namco through streaming, studios, licensing, merch, and games.

Toei AnimationTYO:4816·platform / produces / licenses

If anime for you means Crunchyroll, soundtracks, figures, games, or theater releases, these are some of the companies sitting behind it.

People & Works

Culture surface · Anime

Toys

Toys is a culture-first entry point into the listed company behind it.

Open the culture page.
Open

Culture surface · Consumer

Designer Toys

Designer Toys connects to Pop Mart and the broader consumer story around it.

Company: Pop Mart
Open

Results

Company · Japan · TYO:7832

Bandai Namco Holdings

Bandai Namco sits behind toys, anime IP, games, and licensing that turn fandom into everyday consumer products.

Known for: Gundam · Pac-Man · Tekken
Anime
Open

Company · China · HKEX:9992

Pop Mart

Pop Mart turned blind-box designer toys into a global craze — Labubu queues, resale markups, and sold-out drops from Bangkok to Los Angeles.

Known for: Labubu (The Monsters) · Molly · Skullpanda
Consumer
Open

Company · Japan · TYO:4816

Toei Animation

Toei Animation is tied to some of the biggest anime franchises and the global licensing machine around them.

Known for: One Piece · Dragon Ball · Sailor Moon
Anime
Open