Art Asylum is a New York City based design studio and toy company.
Originally started by Digger Mesch and Donna Soldano in 1996, Art Asylum was initially just a work-for-hire sculpting studio which designed various action figures, busts and statues for numerous toy companies such as ToyCom and Playmates. A notable job in this period was the design and production of the "Scuba Steve" action figure prop for the 1999 Adam Sandler film Big Daddy.
With an increasingly profitable segment of the toy market being older collectors seeking heavily detailed quality designs, Art Asylum decided to enter the market as a full toy company, partnering with Adam Unger and Play Along Toys in 2001 for production. Its continued partnerships with companies like Diamond Select Toys and DC Direct have given it access to popular licenses such as Marvel Comics, Star Trek and DC Comics.
Being a smaller company compared to industry giants like Hasbro and Mattel with a higher collector and niche focus, Art Asylum's choice of licenses can be at best described as eclectic, ranging from well known brands as Star Trek and Marvel Comics, through to things like Kung Faux and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon to Madballs.
One of company's enduring brands are the block-style miniature figures Minimates.
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