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Customizer Willie Takatosi
Location: St. Louis, MO
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Superman |
What is it that you create?
I create anything out of paper. Cars, planes, figures, spaceships, Star Wars vehicles, I made a Speed Racer vehicle, anyway you want it to move, I can make it.
How did you start doing this?
I've been doing it since I was ten so anything that was popular since I was ten and now I've made. My first figure was a Voltron believe it or not I made both versions, reason I did that was because they didn't come out with the Voltron toy until like a few years after the cartoon came out so I just did it because of that. Mostly your a kid, you dont get every toy that you want for Christmas or your birthday so I just kind of made it, eventually it got to the point to where my stuff was better than the toy because I could make it do what I want it to do.
What I find interesting about you is that while most customizers create out
of resin, plastic or wood you chose paper, why?
It was easy to get when I was a kid, easier than plastic, we were on kind of a fixed income so those resources werent available to me.
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Daredevil |
What is the process when creating oneof your figures for example a
Spiderman?
First I usually start with the most defining feature to at least give me a base on what to work around, for Spiderman it was the face and the head. I think the most identifying part of Spiderman would be his mask , his eyes, his head and I just built around that. Most of my designs are designs that I've had for a long time I kind of innovate them everytime I do a change and evrerytime I do it I do it better.
I see that you also make weapons like guns and sticks are those also made
out of paper?
yeah, I even made Wolvereine's claws out of needles that I bent and they were able to retract from his hands.
You also make Transformers that Transform from robot to vehicle and back?
Yeah, I also have a Optimus Prime that Transforms.
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Autobot Ratchet |
How long does each figure take to make?
you know the funny thing is I just timed one this weekend. I'm doing a Veriteck fighter Robotech and it took me 26 hrs to do that one and I'm not even done yet, I mean I'm still detailing it. I havent gotten it yet to where i want it.
What kind of tools do you use when making these figures?
Papers, scissors, glue and an ink pen thats all.
Do you know anyone else who does what you do?
No, the only person I've ever heard of doing this is that guy Liquidisk, he said he made one when he was a kid, that fully transformed, of Optimus Prime. I thought that was pretty neat. I've never heard of anybody doing it and anybody I show it to acts like they've never seen it before either. Actually I'm just now showing everyone, I was ashamed for it for a long time I mean you got to imagine not having a life cause that takes up so much of your time growing up, I mean I have a life but you know it doesnt leave much time for anything else.
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Bruce Lee |
When you make these figures do you keep any for yourself or do you sell
them?
Actually I just sold my first three my whole life a couple of weeks ago . I just started.
So, there is an interest out there in what you create?
yeah, I did notice that.
So this is something you will continue to do, making and selling them?
yeah , yeah definitely I want to put a better product out there. The ones I make now as oppose to the ones a year ago are better.
Where do you hope something like this will take you?
I hope to start an entirely different artistic genre.
Have you gotten any requests or commishioned work as of yet?
I got one, there's this guy down in Texas, he plays a superhero in some variety show for kids and he asked, this is my first customer , he asked for a customized version of himself , dont know the name of the character I'm just finishing it now and sending it tomorrow.
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Spiderman vs The Lizard |
What do you charge for these?
This is my first time doing it and I think I charge too little, I was just trying to get it out there, I charged him $35 which to me it's not worth it considering the time that I put into it but like I said that was my first time and I was just seeing if there was an interest.
Any last words for our readers?
There are no boundaries, I can make anything, anything. You just have to make sure I know what you want and I'll can get it to you.
Thank you Willie for your time.
Click here to see more of his creations.
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Venom |
