I just wanted to give props to my good ol' friend Clark, one half of the Mura Mura Clothing team. Clark's a perennial student, philosopher, baller, and t-shirt pusher. During the many occasions I got my ankles turned by Clark's killer cross-over, I didn't know he had a t-shirt business brewing in that noggin of his. In the last year he's released a series of tees under his Mura Mura clothing line. I'm proud of the dude for taking the road less travelled. I'm SUPER proud that that journey includes one of the smoothest renditions of the fabled tanuki (hairless sack and all...) and a mighty fine blog on all things fashion, pop culture, and basketball. CLICK HERE for the Mura Mura blog and information on how to order your own Mura Mura t-shirt.

Angus MacLane is a Pop Culture Jack-Of-All-Trades. By day he works as a Pixar Animator. By night he builds some of the coolest and cutest Lego figures inspired by favorite Pop Culture characters. The Flickr Photostream of his creations spans the gamut of all the things we loved as a kid: Star Wars, Transformers (the cool, original designs), Marvel & DC Superheroes, Mecha... and all in the spirit of creativity! The CubeDudes (as MacLane calls them) are some of the coolest figures I've seen made with Legos. MacLane uses 100% real Lego parts in their original colors. Every character is instantly recognizable and adorable. Some of my favorites are included below. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND checking out MacLane's Flickr Photostream for many more amazing CubeDudes!

COMBO is the collaborative art animation short by Blu & David Ellis. I posted about Blu's brilliant Muto piece about a year and a half ago (time flies!). David Ellis does his own form of "motion painting". When the two met up in Italy for the FAME festival, they decided to spend 10 days to paint, animate, and film the ambitious elements of COMBO. Although it's not as refined as Blu's MUTO animation, there's a rawness and spontaneity to COMBO. It's style is akin to improv jazz. Some bits may seem a little drawn out or unnecessary... but it regularly all comes together with its playfulness and creativity. I find these street art animations fascinating. It's like you're watching the shadows of ghost art. The real time process is excruciatingly repetitive... but when you see it on film everything comes alive to reveal a rich world of wet paint, bright colors, and the occasional bout of property damage.

Originally discovered via Street Level's Awesome Post!

There must be something special about the water those Belgians are drinking... cause there are way too many talented designers coming out of that little country. The ashamedly Belgian-born Jerry Frissen claims that it may just be the dreaded sense of gloom and boredom that gets the more creatively-inclined Belgians to tinker with things. Whatever it is, it's sure got Kristof Saelen to create a very impressive line of pixel personalities called VIPs (Very Important Pixels). Stand-outs for me are the 80s heroes and Michael Jacksons. Rest In Peace, El Rey of Pop... but seeing Saelen's many incarnations reminds me of Kanye West's "Slow Jams" song: "She got a light skinned friend look like Michael Jackson, Got a dark skinned friend look like Michael Jackson". Some of the others (like James Bonds and Blondes) are a bit too subtle to get most people excited (which sort of bums me out because I was raised by my dad on James Bond films!). More can be found at the original blog site. I hope he continues to update it frequently!

I got some more beautiful pics from SouthernDrawl of his amazing Tequila Tupac Minotaur Custom. It may sound a little zany, but somehow it all comes together in a beautiful Custom of 100% badassery. I love all the tattoo details. SouthernDrawl also took it to the next level with the sculpted details like the crazy Minotaur head and hooves. It's customs like this one that make our jobs as toymakers worthwhile! For more pics of SouthernDrawl's custom be sure to check out our Fan Art Page. I also recommend you check out SouthernDrawl's Blog.

I special thanks to Charles 'heebysdaman' Hannon for the amazing pictures!

Here are some dope illustrations from our good man Gobi (the illustrator behind our fabulous Tequila, El Panda, and Mini Gobi characters). You can't go wrong with some savage-lookin' scissor blade action and a majestic white owl ninja! As always, you can peak at Gobi's infrequent but always entertaining French mumblings over at the Goblog. Gobi's mind works far quicker than his hands. He's got universes in his head that he's just screaming to let out. It's scary to think that as great as the stuff he produces is... there's plenty more waiting anxiously to be unleashed.