Suwappu is a range of characters we're letting loose today.
There are eight Suwappu in total. We've made this film introducing the first four (Badger, Tuna, Fox and Deer), and how they can behave as a new kind of TV:
As toys, each character can be split in half, and each half swapped with another half to form new hybrid characters. Suwappu means "swap".
Since discovering Mameshiba we've come across all kinds of other brilliant creatures like the Suica Penguin, Anpanman and Chiba Kun. Most Japanese prefectures, and many private companies and public services have their own mascots inspired by local produce, landmarks, legends, or attributes based on whatever they're representing (the Chiba Kun dog takes the shape of the Chiba prefecture on the map, for example.)
Suwappu facial expression sketches.
Suwappu is a group of characters that can take lots of different forms. Primarily (or initially), the toys seen in the film – a set of collectible and swappable figures, readable by connected devices, opening up a layer of content. The Suwappu's head signifies his personality, and his pants signify his environment – the app produces content according to its reading of each half.
Sketch for Deer's environment. Early character drawings.
Beyond these toys, we think Suwappu is a new kind of content platform, with various exciting social, creative and commercial possibilities.
Our project name for this has been Haitsu. Haitsu is the art of hybrid communications, a made-up idea that we find useful. It's a little bit philosophical (the belief that combining advertising, content, media and product is the future of communications), and a little bit practical (looking for interesting hybrid clashes, like analogue and digital). Project Haitsu is part of the Making Future Magic series of collaborations.
We're speaking to manufacturing, distribution, and content/media partners to bring Suwappu to market.
Hello Dentsu team, can you explain a little more more about the augmented part of your concept please? We have posted your video on our blog about your interesting project but like to know some more about this specific part. Regards, Erik Vos/GOTANIDEA
Hello Beeker, in which way augmented reality is used or is going to be used?
Looking at the characters there are lots of possibilities and I am curious to know how AR has been involved so far.
Lots of this is speculative at the moment – we are doing some dreaming (albeit feasible dreaming!) about what possibilities AR with toys could open up for us.
The realtime tests towards the end of the film show some of what we’ve tried with AR technically. But we see AR as a form of expression and communication for and with toys, essentially – about their time in the world, their environment, their nature. This could be episodic, and through all kinds of connected media.
I’m curious to know what you are tracking in frame during your tests at the end of the video. Is it just the points of interest on the character? or are some of the other images and markings on the table being used as part of a model?
This is a fascinating piece of work. Could you expand a little on the consequences of swapping heads with pants, and why you saw this as integral to the product design?
If fox’s head is paired with tuna’s body – do you foresee fox having the same thoughts or more aquatic thoughts? Or conversely, would the environment change? Thanks. Matt
This is fantastic work. We have a passionate community of toy collectors and artists in my city who would serve as a good test bed for your products, i believe. If you’re ever interested in testing them against different demographics i would be happy to help you folks out, up in here in Canada.
Have you considered developing a set of tools for individuals to customize their own, like the Munny line, and program associated behaviours?
I’m having difficulties following you guys. You move so quickly towards the future. This is brilliant, a true convergence. Your video has been posted on my blog / http://www.wolfandthiker.tumblr.com
So,
As an intermedia practitioner I’m absolutely amazed by how this works. Do you have some sort of timetable as to when these products will be completed or is everything hypothetical? If you would develop and complete this idea I would most surely buy one.
The characters are wonderful in all their permutations–and the sound design in the video is captivating…the jittery little AR demo does no justice to the great potential shown in the mysterious non-sequitor laced video “trailer” that precedes it. Lovely work!
Thanks for the awesome comments. We should have some news on this soon, which we’ll post on the blog. If you want to sign up for updates you can use the box here http://www.mcgarrybowen.co.uk/contact/ . We’ll make sure Suwappu news goes there too.
the bio concept of visual split personalities quite simply rocks my pants offffff. please explain who you intend to market this conceptual mega moon towards.
im the art director of a indipendient magazine of Colombia http://www.revistaneon.com
!we are writing an article in this moment about Suwappu ! we need a image in large size for the print of the mag !
I expect prompt response! good day !
Hi Sigmund. Wasn’t it great? They aren’t on sale just yet, if you like you can sign up here for updates and to find out when http://www.getsuwappu.com/
but we’ll also blog about it no doubt…
My 6 year old daughter is in love with this awesome character family. She suggests that if you can’t sell them everywhere how about make available to download a PDF template and print out and fold into the characters? Universal reach! Her words not mine although I endorse her thoughts! Awesome concept btw!
[...] processing and manipulating–is one of the hard problems of robotics and artificial intelligence. Suwappu, a prototype augmented-reality toy system consisting of blocky little figurines who live in their [...]
[...] Suwappu, a prototype augmented-reality toy system consisting of blocky little figurines who live in their own virtual environments, is one attempt at solving this problem. A project of design shop the agency, Suwappu explore a new approach to augmented reality play, in which an app “reads” the figurines’ simple faces and color patterns much the way we do. [...]
[...] Suwappu, a prototype augmented-reality toy system consisting of blocky little figurines who live in their own virtual environments, is one attempt at solving this problem. A project of design shop the agency, Suwappu explore a new approach to augmented reality play, in which an app “reads” the figurines’ simple faces and color patterns much the way we do. [...]
26 Comments
Hello Dentsu team, can you explain a little more more about the augmented part of your concept please? We have posted your video on our blog about your interesting project but like to know some more about this specific part. Regards, Erik Vos/GOTANIDEA
Hi Erik. What would you like to know?
Hello Beeker, in which way augmented reality is used or is going to be used?
Looking at the characters there are lots of possibilities and I am curious to know how AR has been involved so far.
Regards, Erik
Lots of this is speculative at the moment – we are doing some dreaming (albeit feasible dreaming!) about what possibilities AR with toys could open up for us.
The realtime tests towards the end of the film show some of what we’ve tried with AR technically. But we see AR as a form of expression and communication for and with toys, essentially – about their time in the world, their environment, their nature. This could be episodic, and through all kinds of connected media.
If you’d like to talk in more detail I’m at beekernortham@mcgarrybowen.co.uk
This looks really cool!
I’m curious to know what you are tracking in frame during your tests at the end of the video. Is it just the points of interest on the character? or are some of the other images and markings on the table being used as part of a model?
Either way, it looks fun
Andrew
This is a fascinating piece of work. Could you expand a little on the consequences of swapping heads with pants, and why you saw this as integral to the product design?
If fox’s head is paired with tuna’s body – do you foresee fox having the same thoughts or more aquatic thoughts? Or conversely, would the environment change? Thanks. Matt
Love the toys. They look great. Very collectable.
Not sure about the AR elements as shown at the moment but can definitely see potential there.
The video though seemed like a psilocybin induced trip. What was that all about? o_O
This is fantastic work. We have a passionate community of toy collectors and artists in my city who would serve as a good test bed for your products, i believe. If you’re ever interested in testing them against different demographics i would be happy to help you folks out, up in here in Canada.
Have you considered developing a set of tools for individuals to customize their own, like the Munny line, and program associated behaviours?
I look forward to hearing from you.
i can’t wait for the mobile phone charm! i <3 swappu!
I’m having difficulties following you guys. You move so quickly towards the future. This is brilliant, a true convergence. Your video has been posted on my blog / http://www.wolfandthiker.tumblr.com
Thanks. John
I hope these are made available soon. Definitely want the Fox as a charm and a full figurine for photos.
So,
As an intermedia practitioner I’m absolutely amazed by how this works. Do you have some sort of timetable as to when these products will be completed or is everything hypothetical? If you would develop and complete this idea I would most surely buy one.
The characters are wonderful in all their permutations–and the sound design in the video is captivating…the jittery little AR demo does no justice to the great potential shown in the mysterious non-sequitor laced video “trailer” that precedes it. Lovely work!
Great idea and nice execution !
A first step to a new generation of social universe like Habbo.
Man I so would buy this today! Love the style I 2nd that you should bring these to Canada! Is there somewhere I can sign up for updates on releases?
Thanks for the awesome comments. We should have some news on this soon, which we’ll post on the blog. If you want to sign up for updates you can use the box here http://www.mcgarrybowen.co.uk/contact/ . We’ll make sure Suwappu news goes there too.
the bio concept of visual split personalities quite simply rocks my pants offffff. please explain who you intend to market this conceptual mega moon towards.
great toys!
i’m looking forward to buy these!
im the art director of a indipendient magazine of Colombia
http://www.revistaneon.com
!we are writing an article in this moment about Suwappu ! we need a image in large size for the print of the mag !
I expect prompt response! good day !
Lovely stuff. I look forward to seeing how you develop it!
Man these are so cool. I hope to see something new on these soon! Not necessarily additions but hopefully a release date?
Hey!
Very neat little characters! Interesting that you came to use the name Suwappu. There is a swap-concept called Suwappu. Check it out. http://www.suwappu.com or https://www.facebook.com/Suwappu.
Good luck!
Saw the show at Moma NY, totally awesome. Where can I buy one? Even if just the figurine w/o the AR element.
SF, Melbourne
Hi Sigmund. Wasn’t it great? They aren’t on sale just yet, if you like you can sign up here for updates and to find out when
http://www.getsuwappu.com/
but we’ll also blog about it no doubt…
im curious about this toys, it very nicely done, and you can saw the 3D image in your phone?, is this toy accessible to all cellphone? or only apple?
My 6 year old daughter is in love with this awesome character family. She suggests that if you can’t sell them everywhere how about make available to download a PDF template and print out and fold into the characters? Universal reach! Her words not mine although I endorse her thoughts! Awesome concept btw!
4 Trackbacks
[...] the release of their strange haunting video, when I think about augmented reality, I am able to think of little other than Denstu London’s [...]
[...] processing and manipulating–is one of the hard problems of robotics and artificial intelligence. Suwappu, a prototype augmented-reality toy system consisting of blocky little figurines who live in their [...]
[...] Suwappu, a prototype augmented-reality toy system consisting of blocky little figurines who live in their own virtual environments, is one attempt at solving this problem. A project of design shop the agency, Suwappu explore a new approach to augmented reality play, in which an app “reads” the figurines’ simple faces and color patterns much the way we do. [...]
[...] Suwappu, a prototype augmented-reality toy system consisting of blocky little figurines who live in their own virtual environments, is one attempt at solving this problem. A project of design shop the agency, Suwappu explore a new approach to augmented reality play, in which an app “reads” the figurines’ simple faces and color patterns much the way we do. [...]