Our illustrious host, Mr. Peter Go, recently asked if I’d like to make a few contributions to the newly revamped AFHub. Peter is such a class act, how could I refuse? My only problem was what to write about first. There are a lot of directions I could take this, and plenty of things I’d like to share and discuss. It then occurred to me that, while I’ve had an internet presence for as long as collectors have used it to discuss toys, there’s a new generation that may not be aware of who I am and what I’ve done. So at the risk of delving into narcissism, I thought I’d spend a moment introducing myself before we move on to meatier fare.

So, who is Casimir?

Casimir is my internet handle, me being Cason Pilliod. I’m most commonly known as a customizer and proprietor of Inanimate Objects, my on-line gallery of creations. But I’ve been a collector all my life. Like so many other children of the 1980s in America, I lived for Star Wars, G.I. Joe and Transformers. Side interests included Masters of the Universe, Robotech, and some DC and Marvel stuff. Even as a kid I would disassemble Joes and reassemble the pieces as new and interesting characters. (I had a lot of homemade Drednoks!) In the MOTU cartoon, the characters travelled around in a flying ship that was never produced as a toy (the name of the ship escapes me), but I had my own version made from cardboard. I (with help from my dad) built some terrific wooden playsets for Transformers and Joes. My mom forbade the purchase of the U.S.S. Flagg (“It’s too big. It’s a piece of furniture.”), so I built my own, slightly more humble version from wood, hangers and styrofoam cups. So I’ve been manipulating my toy environment since childhood.

Of course, back then no once called such things “customizing.” I was just a creative kid who made his own stuff. This inevitably led to an interest in prop making for stage and screen, effects make-up, and puppets. I even served a stint on Sesame Street, but that’s a subject for another post.

In the days before the internet, toy collectors relied on a smattering of local and national magazines to stay current on the latest releases and trends. At some point I saw photos of some “custom” figures, as we would define them today. These were carded customs of Biggs Darklighter on a vintage Star Wars card, and Harley Quinn (then only two years old) on a Batman: The Animated Series card. I thought “Hey, I can do that.” And I did.

(Years later, I got to know world-renowned customizer Scooter, and discovered that was his Harley that started me down this road. I now own that Harley. You can read more about that here.)

A few years later the internet took off, and customizing as we know it went right along with it. More people than ever before could share ideas and “recipes.” The art and knowledge spread like wildfire. I’d like to think I’ve been able to make some positive contributions through the years, helping artists get started. I’ve also learned a great deal by watching what others make and how they make it.

Inanimate Objects began in 2003. In addition to being a gallery, it’s chock full of tips and techniques. The customs have won some awards as well, including the prestigious “Best of D Magazine” in 2007. Inanimate Objects is also host to the Custom Coalition, the only published ethics for customizers. It has members all over the world, and continues to grow.

Nowadays, I don’t collect as many figures as I did ten years ago. Rising prices and shifting priorities see to that. Now it’s more about quality than quantity. I love to add to the Timm-verse shelf, whether that means customs or something Matty deigned to bestow upon us. I greatly enjoy artist- and story-specific Batman characters. Most Transformer Classics and Ghostbusters find their way to my shelves. I’ve long long since parted with my “modern” Star Wars collection (the vintage is still around), but now I’m enjoying the line again through my son’s experience. (He also digs Transformers and Batman, so we’re off to a good start!) And don’t even get me started on the maquettes.

And that’s my toy collecting world in a nutshell. I’d like to thank Peter again for the opportunity to share my views. I hope to explore myriad topics about toys, customs, artists, manufactures, and anything else that might relate. If you’ve got something you’d like to see discussed, don’t hesitate to drop me a line.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got some sanding and sculpting to do.

My animated Batman villains shelf as of August 2011.

 

About the Author: Casimir Not satisfied with the limited options available at retail, award-winning customizer Cason Pilliod has been crafting his own toys since he was a child. His passion for toys merges with his background as a theatrical prop designer, allowing him to find unique customizing solutions, which he shares with the ever-growing customizing community via Inanimate Objects. Cason is also an armchair pop-culture historian, Swing dancer, DJ, daddy, and was once a Muppet wrangler, so he's got a unique spin on life. He also worked for Microsoft once, but let's just keep that a secret.

 

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