With a chubby face and always showing off its bare bottom, "PP BABY" has frequently appeared at major toy exhibitions in recent years, becoming a popular darling in the toy world. The creator behind this mischievous, bare-bottomed baby who dreams of becoming a monster, "AAAZ," is not only a delicate-looking, craft-loving girl from Guangzhou but also a talented creative who works as both an illustrator and a tattoo artist! After collaborating with the Hong Kong toy brand TOYZEROPLUS, she officially entered the designer toy scene, launching highly acclaimed designer toys such as "Daruma PP BABY" and "PP Lucky Cat Daruma," capturing the hearts of countless toy enthusiasts with its adorable backside.
The Toy People editorial team has specially interviewed this popular designer, AAAZ, to share more about the creative philosophy behind "PP BABY" and to help everyone get to know AAAZ and her designs better!
Toy People: What is the meaning of your name, 'AAAZ'?
AAAZ: I've been using this name for a very long time; I've forgotten how it started. Later, I thought that from A to Z could encompass everything, so it seemed quite good.
Toy People: What was your major in school? What kind of work did you do before becoming a toy designer?
AAAZ: I've been drawing since I was a child, and I also enjoy making things by hand. Later, I entered a comprehensive design program in university, where I explored different materials and mediums like ceramics and textiles, while also considering my career path after graduation. During holidays, I interned in graphic design, and by the later stages, I was able to independently take on some brand visual design projects.
Based on my self-observation, whether it's handicrafts or design, drawing has always been my starting point. If I were to work at a design company after graduation, I might not be able to continue drawing what I wanted. At that time, I also happened to fall in love with tattooing, a job whose main content is drawing, which suited me perfectly then. Looking back, many choices at different stages were determined by the thought, "Can I continue drawing if I do this?"
Toy People: How long have you been a tattoo artist? Please share your favorite tattoo work with us and tell us why you like it the most!
AAAZ: I've been officially a tattoo artist for about five or six years. It's hard to pick a single favorite piece, and each tattoo is also a connection with a client, each having different meanings. Tattoo designs often come in series, and that's when I started creating around a central character, such as the Little Reaper series that many clients love. Clients also imagine and describe stories related to their lives with these characters.
AAAZ: The "GAME PLAYER" series, drawn as if it were a character selection interface in an imagined game.
AAAZ: That's when I started creating various characters, and the concept for PP BABY also began there.
Toy People: Why was the toy named PP BABY? Are there any differences in your mindset between these two distinct creative forms: tattooing and toy design?
AAAZ: In traditional American tattooing, there are classic elements and themes, and tattoo artists develop their unique styles and visual languages within them. BABY (or Kewpie) is one of these classic elements.
Image credit:Gurney Journey
AAAZ: From this, I imagined creating a BABY that is a monster BABY, wearing different monster masks. And it just so happens to be showing its butt, a mischievous little rascal, which is why it's called "PP BABY."
AAAZ: There are still many differences between tattoo creation and toy creation. In my mind, tattooing begins with drawing the design, and it's only complete when it's presented on the skin. Often, the client is also an important part of the creative process. Typically, it's a design and a communication between two people. Toy creation, on the other hand, can be more personal; I start designing purely from my own preferences and intuition. On the other hand, it also requires more people to collaborate before it can finally reach the hands of collectors.
Toy design involves more mediums: 3D sculpting, color schemes and painting, story conception, packaging presentation, and so on. It feels like all my accumulated experience has been put to use, and it's another kind of challenge for me. I think the common ground is that in both areas, I am both a creator and an enthusiast. Besides creating my own work, buying toys I love and getting new tattoos from my favorite tattoo artists are both joyful experiences.
Toy People: How do you usually find inspiration for creating toys? Do you have any special rituals?
AAAZ: Inspiration can come from many sources. The initial spark for an idea might come from past experiences or daily feelings. For example, some color schemes are influenced by different feelings during summer and winter, and choosing a certain theme might be a recent interest. For instance, before designing the gardener colorway, I was obsessed with growing plants for a period.
AAAZ: I can't imagine drawing without music; I always have to choose an album before starting work. Recently, I've been listening a lot to El Michels Affair, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, and BADBADNOTGOOD. Overall, my preference is for musicians who build upon funk/jazz foundations, incorporating a large number of other musical elements, and whose final expression is surprisingly rich.
AAAZ: Speaking of strange rituals, every time I spray paint, I listen to Wu Bai's albums. There's no logical reason for it, but amidst the slight rumbling background noise of the spray booth, it's a strangely fitting background music. Additionally, retaining handmade elements during the design process also provides a lot of inspiration; some painting details are difficult to express with computer software. Most of the fonts and patterns in the design are also hand-drawn.
Toy People: What was the opportunity that led to your collaboration with TOYZEROPLUS? And how do you divide the work with TOYZEROPLUS?
AAAZ: It's quite a coincidence, but the very first designer toy I ever bought, a long time ago, happened to be produced by TOYZEROPLUS. At that time, I was also updating my BABY drawings on Instagram. With this serendipitous connection, TOYZEROPLUS contacted me, asking if I was interested in creating toys together. In our subsequent collaboration, it became even clearer that both sides shared the same vision and desire to create excellent works.
Because I collaborate with TOYZEROPLUS, I can focus more on the creative process itself. Typically, when a project begins, everyone discusses initial ideas together, and then we arrange the division of labor based on details and timelines. After I design the drafts or paint samples, there are still many stages before a toy is displayed and finally reaches the hands of enthusiasts. These stages require everyone in the team to leverage their strengths and maintain strict control over details. The time and energy of a single individual are limited, and during these days of working with TOYZEROPLUS, many "ideas" have become reality, making it a very pleasant collaboration.
Toy People: Please share with us your very first toy creation!~
AAAZ: This is the first original color version of PP BABY that I created after collaborating with TOYZEROPLUS.
Toy People: Among all the works you've created so far, which one is your favorite? Why? Which one left the deepest impression on you during the creation process?
AAAZ: Every newly designed piece has that fresh-out-of-the-oven feeling of affection, making it truly difficult to choose a single favorite. One that left a deeper impression was the previous anniversary edition Boxer PP BABY. It had small bruises on its face. Even the most skilled boxer gets hit sometimes. I wanted to show that scars don't signify failure; beyond the win-loss outcome, the process itself is worth seeing.
Toy People: What kind of environment do you prefer for your creative work? Please share a glimpse of your studio with everyone~
AAAZ: My current studio is a small loft. The first floor is for drawing and design work, and the second floor is the tattooing area. As long as the work environment allows for quiet contemplation, it's good.
Toy People: Besides your own creations, do you collect other toys or anything else?
AAAZ: I've been slowly collecting toys. Tattoos are also a form of collection; I follow many tattoo artists from all over the world on Instagram whom I admire, and if the opportunity arises, I will continue to add new tattoos.
AAAZ: I'm also quite fascinated by printed materials. Besides books, I collect stamps, labels, color cards, etc. Whenever I see paper with special craftsmanship, I want to keep it.
Toy People: What are your interests outside of creation? Please give your fans a chance to get to know you better!
AAAZ: Basically, I'm a bit of a homebody. Cats, coffee, books, and spending time with friends are very important parts of my life.
Toy People: From the humanoid PP BABY to the Lucky Cat Daruma, are there any other themes or characters you'd like to try? Could you reveal any upcoming future plans to your fans?
AAAZ: In the future, I hope to create more monster friends for the world of PP BABY. My future plan is for PP BABY to accompany everyone in forms other than just toys.
Toy People: Please write down your answer (or draw it) by hand: What does 'toy' mean to you?
AAAZ: Looking back, my childhood was filled with the companionship of toys and books. If things continue this way, I might become a ninety-year-old lady whose home is piled high with toys and books, and I look forward to becoming an elderly toy enthusiast.
Toy People 10th Anniversary Lottery Sale Information: TOYZEROPLUS × Toy People PP Lucky Cat Daruma (TOY PEOPLE edition)