At first listen, “Papertoys,” sounds a lot like something my cheap-ass uncle came up with for Christmas one year. In reality it’s “The ultimate community based art form,” says artist/animator Castleforte. He’s the creator of NicePaperToys.com. Which is the web o’verse’s first and only papertoy social network on which users can exchange, collaborate, and download templates of characters for personalization. It’s paper airplanes, meets origami, meets Kid Robot. Take a peek.

Castleforte is also the creator and curator of “PAPERTOY MONSTERS,” the Da Vinci’s notebook of the papertoy world. This breakthrough paper-folding craft book for kids of all ages includes 100 sheets of the sickest die-cut designs from 25 of the top papertoy designers. Artists with great sounding names like Horrorwood, Sjors Trimbach, and the lovely Nana Pong, aka ROOMISM. Each character is ready to pop out, fold, and get glue. Win! PTM is already in its second printing and has barely just begun at only 3 months old.

Check out the Papertoy Monsters signing with Castleforte at Munky King 1/22/11 between 2 and 4 PM.

Words and photos by Dustin Downing.

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