During a team brainstorming session, we found ourselves staring at the old banyan tree outside the office window. What if dinosaurs hadn't gone extinct but had instead hidden in the forest and evolved into guardian spirits? This idea got us excited: we decided to create a "dinosaur that lives in the forest," one that combines the majestic aura of a prehistoric creature with the healing magic of nature. Our goal was clear: to develop a
sofubi toy that kids could hold and play with in their hands and that would also catch the eye of collectors. We aimed to break the tough impression of traditional dinosaur toys with its soft touch and fantastical design.
We gathered around the design table and sketched out more than twenty drafts. We debated whether the dinosaur's back shell should have leaf textures and whether its eyes should be cute and round or have a touch of mystery. Eventually, we settled on a "main emerald green hue with partial translucent gradients" concept to simulate the interplay of sunlight filtering through the leaves onto the dinosaur's body. During the material selection process, we finally chose an eco-friendly resin - based composite material that could maintain a Q - elastic feel and resist deformation. The most challenging part of the production process was the handling of details. For example, the sharpness of the dinosaur's claws had to be retained, but the edges had to be sanded smooth to prevent scratching. The scale texture on the back was first pressed with a mold, and then fine lines were manually carved to enhance the sense of realism. During the coloring process, we used a multi - layer thin - coating technique to achieve a natural transition between emerald green, light yellow, and transparent blue - green. Finally, we sprayed a layer of matte protective varnish to brighten the colors and prevent scratches.
The final Sofubi toy became the pride of our team. It feels as soft as freshly baked bread, but the joints of the dinosaur have been reinforced to keep it stable when posed in attacking or crouching positions. The semi - transparent green back shell gives off a faint glow in the sunlight, as if it hides a miniature forest. The upright horns and the round amber eyes retain the dinosaur's primitive wildness.