The renowned Japanese design brand Nendo has announced a unique collaboration with BE@RBRICK, the iconic collectible toy produced by Medicom Toy. The result of this partnership is BE@RBRICK Shadow, an exclusive series that plays with optical illusions and three-dimensional perception through two-dimensional printing.
BE@RBRICK, short for “Bear Brick,” is an iconic bear-shaped figure introduced in 2001 by Medicom Toy, a Japanese company specializing in collectible toys. Created to mark the 100th anniversary of the classic teddy bear, BE@RBRICK has become a symbol of pop culture and contemporary design. Each BE@RBRICK follows the rule of not modifying its nine basic parts (head, arms, wrists, body, waist, and legs), allowing customization exclusively through printed graphics. Over the years, BE@RBRICK has collaborated with numerous brands, artists, anime, and films, transforming into a canvas for artistic and design expression.
For the first time, the famous bear is customized by Nendo, a Japanese design studio founded by Oki Sato in 2002, known for its minimalist and conceptual style. On this occasion, Nendo reinterpreted the toy through a play of light and shadow, creating a three-dimensional effect using a two-dimensional technique. The idea behind BE@RBRICK Shadow is to emphasize the perception of depth without altering the original shape of the figure. To achieve this effect, two shades of gray were printed on a white base, simulating realistic shadows.
The BE@RBRICK Shadow series is available in three variations: Under, where the lighting from below creates a theatrical light effect; Behind, where the backlight simulates a glowing effect from behind; and Side, where the light comes diagonally from above, accentuating side shadows.
Even the packaging of BE@RBRICK Shadow follows Nendo‘s essential philosophy. The box is completely black, decorated only with the trajectory of the spotlight, without the traditional logo on the back. As an additional touch of originality, the collaboration logo has been printed on the sole of BE@RBRICK‘s foot, becoming visible only when the figure is seated. This collaboration represents a perfect fusion of collectible toy and artistic design.
