A Dinosaur Plush That's More Than Just "Cute"
This Stegosaurus plush combines a cute, stylized form with key features like the plates along its back and spikes on its tail. It's a "cute dinosaur" that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
Stegosaurus Stegosaurus
Classification: Ornithischia/Stegosauria/Stegosauridae
Size: 9 meters in length
Period: Late Jurassic
The largest and most well-known of the stegosaurs. Stegosaurs are characterized by two rows of bone plates along their backs and tails, and four spikes at the tip of their tails were swung for defense. Stegosaurus can be identified by the large, rhomboid or triangular bone plates lined up on its back. Compared to its large body, its head is particularly small, and its brain is small (approximately 30g).
Interview with Supervisor Hirokazu Tokugawa
- Plush toys have a unique, stylized world of their own, and their charm and soft feel make them popular with a wide range of ages, from small children to adults. Favorite is now adding a new plush series called "Stuffed Models" to its lineup. What is your impression of plush toys, Mr. Tokugawa?
- I've always been interested in "how to design dinosaurs and animals to fit the material and size of a plush toy." Not only Japanese products, but when I visit museums overseas, one of my pleasures is seeing plush toy products in the museum shops. Through this, I've developed various ideas of "how I would do it." This time, the Stuffed Models became a long-awaited opportunity to test the image of plush dinosaur toys that I've been nurturing for many years.
- While focusing on the theme of "cute dinosaurs," we captured the inherent characteristics of dinosaurs, resulting in models that embody both individuality and loveliness. Mr. Tokugawa, you were extensively involved in the overall supervision, from the creation of the base illustrations to the characteristics of the dinosaurs and their representation. Could you tell us about the points you wanted to express and the highlights regarding the Stegosaurus?
- Since it has a very distinctive appearance, the Stegosaurus was not a difficult dinosaur to design to look like a Stegosaurus. Therefore, I wanted to "express as much of the Stegosaurus-likeness as possible" even in the small details, and the first thing I decided was to reproduce the asymmetrical arrangement of the plates on its back. I also made sure that the shape of the head was as close as possible to the actual skull.
- Regarding the colors of the dinosaurs, a calm color scheme was chosen to blend into everyday spaces. Could you tell us if there were any specific images or motifs you had in mind for the Stegosaurus's colors?
- It's a combination of green and orange, which are strong images for Stegosaurus. I chose a bright green because it's a color that suits plush toys.
- Finally, please share your overall impressions of these Stuffed Models and a message for those who will be holding them.
- My impression of working on these Stuffed Models was "difficult but fun!" Unlike creating restoration models, plush toys have significant constraints in terms of size and the fabrics/materials used, making it challenging to achieve the desired shape. Expressing the dinosaur's essence and cuteness within these constraints was difficult, but on the other hand, it was also a very enjoyable process to rediscover the dinosaur's charm. The resulting Stuffed Models, with their simple plush design, are, I believe, unique Favorite items that embody both the "coolness and cuteness of dinosaurs." I hope everyone will enjoy discovering new charms of dinosaurs through these Stuffed Models.
Supervisor Profile
Hirokazu Tokugawa(Tokugawa Hirokazu)
Paleoartist / Paleontological Restoration Model Artist
A dinosaur and paleontological restoration model artist who aims for works that fuse academic evidence with the appeal of a three-dimensional object.