Exclusive Interview With Timmy She Co-Founder Of Ember Toys

Introduction

The Staff of Passion4Fun works hard every day, through this website and its social media channels, to inform its audience about the fantastic pop-nerd world with news, interviews, reports, advices, reviews, live-streams and more.
To help achieve these goals, today we are pleased to share with you our exclusive interview with Timmy She, Co-Founder of Ember Toys, an incredibly promising new venture in the collectibles scene that has already amazed the international public with the quality of its products.

The Interview

As mentioned in the introduction, we offer you our exclusive interview with Timmy She, Co-Founder of Ember Toys, whom we thank for taking the time to talk with us us.

P4F Hello Timmy, could you introduce yourself and Ember Toys to our audience?
Tell us more about your personal history and how Ember Toys came to be.

TIMMY Hi, my name is Timmy She and I’m the Co-Founder of Ember Toys.
Both my partner and I come from the toy and collectibles industry, and we both have extensive careers in various fields related to the development of these products.
My partner, in particular, brings significant experience in the development of complex articulated figures and high-end collectibles.

TIMMY Ember Toys was born from this very synergy – combining our expertise with a pure passion for mecha. We wanted to create those “dream models” that we, as fans, have always wanted to own – pieces that only years of experience working closely together in production and design can bring to life.

P4F Tell us about the product lines that Ember Toys produces and the target audience they are intended for.

TIMMY “Blaze” is our premium line of collectible die-cast metal models, focusing primarily on mecha. For each project, we craft a bespoke design approach that perfectly matches the specific IP or product direction, aiming to create a wow factor that will delight both hardcore collectors and casual fans. Our goal is to present these mecha icons in their most optimized and visually stunning form.

TIMMY “Chibi Creature” is our signature line of Sofubi (soft vinyl figures). We take various characters, such as heroes, robots, and monsters, and reimagine them as “SD” (Super Deformed) figures. Combining our mastery of soft vinyl with cutting-edge painting techniques, we create officially licensed products with the signature Ember Toys touch.
Even though they’re Super Deformed, we don’t compromise on quality – you’ll find our Sofubi figures feature a high degree of intricate detail.

P4F Let’s talk about the new Blaze Mazinkaiser (Original Version).
When did development begin on the project? Why did you choose to use the original version’s design, and what challenges did you face in realizing it? Tell us more about the development process.

TIMMY We started working on this project about two years ago.
As a new company in the industry, we are incredibly grateful to Dynamic Planning for their trust in us and for the opportunity to create this high-end die-cast metal model.
Since we are big fans of the “Super Robot Wars” video game series, we chose the Original Version of Mazinkaiser – which debuted in the series – to make our model stand out from other interpretations of the subject on the market.

P4F Many people are excited and surprised by the choice to have the rotating Turbo Smasher Punches and the dynamic lighting features for the chest plate and chest emblems. Did you plan to implement these features from the beginning?
How much is technology influencing the way you develop models and figures?

TIMMY From the very beginning, we were determined to implement the rotating forearms (Turbo Smasher Punch) gimmick, and later we also decided to integrate LED lighting effects into the chest plates. These gimmicks presented our biggest challenges; the model’s sleek lines offered very little internal space, so we had to meticulously design components that implemented these functions without compromising structural integrity or poseability.

TIMMY Let me give you an idea of the scope of this development step: perfecting these two gimmicks alone took over nine months of work. Seeing the final result function so naturally was a particularly emotional moment for our team.
We hope that all Mazinkaiser fans who hold this model in their hands will feel the passion we’ve put into every millimeter of its design.

P4F Your Mazinkaiser has also received praise from Takenobu Terada (former producer of the Super Robot Wars video game series). Did you interact with him during the model’s development?

TIMMY It was a really interesting situation.
Even though the original version of Mazinkaiser debuted in the video game “Super Robot Wars F Final,” the licensing rights belong entirely to Dynamic Planning. For this reason, Mr. Terada didn’t learn about the project until we released our first teaser! To our delight, he was very encouraging and constantly reposted our updates.
We were later introduced through a mutual friend and sent him a prototype of the model; we’re now eagerly awaiting his feedback, along with some “unknown stories” from the model’s original development that we can share.

P4F You collaborated with renowned Japanese artist Alan Moriguchi to reinterpret the mecha design with a modern twist. Can you tell us more about it?

TIMMY Design-wise, working with renowned Japanese artist Alan Moriguchi was a transformative experience. We collaborated closely to reimagine the mecha with a modern twist, ensuring the form remained iconic while adding layers of complexity and mechanical functionality that today’s collectors crave.

P4F All your products are officially licensed by their respective rights holders. How do you interact with them? Have they ever asked you to review or modify something?

TIMMY We work closely with the respective rights licensors, which allows for a very streamlined and efficient oversight process. They were a great help in highlighting certain subtle design nuances and technical details that helped us stay true to the essence of the subject. At the same time, they proved to be very open-minded, giving us the freedom to experiment with innovative gimmicks that had never appeared on previous models.

P4F The next product in the Blaze line that you announced and will be produced is Dynazenon, the main mecha from the anime series “SSSS.Dynazenon.”
Can you tell us more about it? Will it be a transformable and combinable mecha?

TIMMY For Blaze Dynazenon, our primary focus is on extreme articulation and a dynamic aesthetic.
Our goal is to ensure the figure can recreate all the iconic, intense poses seen in the anime, while capturing the mechanical beauty of hand-drawn 2D animation. For this reason, Mr. Alan Moriguchi is leading the design. His unique artistic vision has truly given our Dynazenon a soul. Please stay tuned!

P4F Could you tell us if, for example, Raideen or other iconic mecha from anime series from the ’70s and ’80s will be made in the Blaze line? Are vehicle models and pilot action figures also planned in the future?

TIMMY We currently have several other exciting projects in development. While I have to keep details strictly confidential for now to ensure maximum surprise, I can promise we’re working hard to bring the community some incredible surprises.
We’re exploring a wide range of possibilities within the mecha genre.

P4F The Chibi Creature line features many different subjects, not just robots, but also video game characters and illustrated series. What’s the key to this line’s success?

TIMMY As mentioned previously, the key to the success of the Chibi Creature line lies in our “no compromise” philosophy. By reinterpreting iconic characters through the unique lens of SD style, while preserving the intricate mechanical details and exquisite Sofubi craftsmanship, we’ve created a series that’s a huge hit with collectors who appreciate the balance between cute design and high-end detailing.

P4F Could you share with us and our audience something about your future plans and projects in general?

TIMMY In the future, we will continue to deepen and expand our BLAZE and Chibi Creature lines. We have several secret projects in the works and our goal remains to deliver surprises that exceed expectations. Beyond design, we work hard to ensure that every collector receives the best product possible. We are incredibly grateful for your support: continue to follow us on our journey!