Qee

Qee (pronounced "key") are a collection of designer toys created by Hong Kong-based company Toy2R, which was founded by Raymond Choy in 1995.

Qee figures vary in their design. The original Qee has a body that resembles an extremely simplified human form, somewhat similar in appearance to Playmobil or LEGO figures, though distinctively round and squat. Depending on its theme, a figure may have the head of a bear with asymmetrical ears called a "BearBearQ;" a cat called "KitCatQ;" a dog called "DoggyQ;" a monkey called "MonQ;" or a rabbit called "Bunee". The "Toyer" Qee has the same body type as the original, but a head that resembles a cartoon skull. The "Knuckle Bear" Qee was created by Japanese character designer Touma, and resembles a graffiti-style caricature of an anthropomorphized bear. The Qee "Egg" simply resembles an anthropomorphized egg. The standard size is 2.5" high, and these figures are packaged with an optional keychain attachment. There are also 1.5", 8", 16", 36", and 60" Qees. Additionally, Toy2R produces "Blank Platform DIY" Qees in 2.5" and 8" sizes; these figures may be of any Qee design, but are packaged unpainted.

Qees are produced in limited numbers and are highly collectible; they are predominantly collected by adults. Many contemporary artists and designers from Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America have designed figures. Typically, designing a Qee figure means creating a design scheme, or deco, for one of the aforementioned molds.

The casual observer may note similarities between Qees and the Kubrick and Be@rbrick figures created by Japanese toy company MediCom. However, closer observation reveals that Qees differ not only in size, but in their overall aesthetic. Relative to MediCom, Toy2R releases very few licensed designs, such as figures based on characters from films, comic books, or other intellectual properties. Exceptions to this are Qees created for Adidas, Benetton, BenQ, BMW, Christian Lacroix, Dark Horse, Devo, DKNY, Mitsubishi, MTV, Nokia, SanDisk, Samsung, Sony, Starbucks, Swatch, Target, V.S.O.P. and Xbox 360, as well as a figure created in conjunction with Tokidoki for Le Sportsac, in which the figure is a design element of a women's travel bag.

There are currently five series of Qees, and an anticipated total of 1000 2.5" figures.

Contributing Artists

*Gary Baseman
*Tim Biskup　
*Coop
*Phil Corbett
*Dalek (artist)　
*Doink Design
*Shepard Fairey
*Doze Green
*Jaime Hayon
*Tom Hazelmyer
*David Horvath
*Nathan Jurevicius
*Sun-Min Kim
*Frank Kozik
*Joe Ledbetter
*Mark Mothersbaugh
*Mad Barbarians
*Rolito
*RUN
*Jeff Soto
*Mimic

External links

* [http://www.toy2r.com/ Toy2R]
* [http://vinyl-creep.net/Qee Qee on Vinyl-Creep]