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Photos: Figurines of pro-democracy protestors a major hit in Hong Kong

Intricately detailed Hong Kong protester figurines have become the latest must-have collectables as toy stores recreate the pro-democracy movement's street battles with police in their shop displays. Among their 1:6 scale figures are white-collar workers who hold regular lunchtime rallies outside their offices, elderly "silver-haired" protesters and a demonstrator wearing an oversized Pepe the Frog mask.

Updated on: Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM IST

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1:6 scale action figures depicting characters involved in the Hong Kong protests, in Hong Kong. Stacked on shelves next to comic book superheroes, the models come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some holding makeshift shields and flags, others extinguishing tear gas rounds or playing instruments in protest orchestras. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

1:6 scale action figures depicting characters involved in the Hong Kong protests, in Hong Kong. Stacked on shelves next to comic book superheroes, the models come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some holding makeshift shields and flags, others extinguishing tear gas rounds or playing instruments in protest orchestras. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Figurine enthusiast Charlie, who asked to use a pseudonym, posing with action figures depicting characters involved in the Hong Kong protests. This local figurine enthusiast and his friend designed dozens of characters based on their own experiences of attending months of protests. “We hope the figurines can reconstruct the situation with authenticity,” Charlie, a 30-year-old freelance photographer by day told AFP. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

Figurine enthusiast Charlie, who asked to use a pseudonym, posing with action figures depicting characters involved in the Hong Kong protests. This local figurine enthusiast and his friend designed dozens of characters based on their own experiences of attending months of protests. “We hope the figurines can reconstruct the situation with authenticity,” Charlie, a 30-year-old freelance photographer by day told AFP. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Their models boast many features of the street protests, which have upended Hong Kong for the last seven months in the most serious challenge to Beijing’s rule since the city’s 1997 handover. Slogans have been painstakingly painted onto small helmets and some models have cling film wrapped around their arms—a method protesters use to defend against police pepper spray. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

Their models boast many features of the street protests, which have upended Hong Kong for the last seven months in the most serious challenge to Beijing’s rule since the city’s 1997 handover. Slogans have been painstakingly painted onto small helmets and some models have cling film wrapped around their arms—a method protesters use to defend against police pepper spray. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Some of the parts came from the duo’s own military toy collections or were made with 3D printers. Other elements were built from scratch. For a reporter figurine, the pair hand-stitched a tiny camera bag while popsicle sticks have been transformed into wooden shields used by hardcore activists. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

Some of the parts came from the duo’s own military toy collections or were made with 3D printers. Other elements were built from scratch. For a reporter figurine, the pair hand-stitched a tiny camera bag while popsicle sticks have been transformed into wooden shields used by hardcore activists. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Details of injury scars on an action figure. Some figurines have scrapes on their legs from street skirmishes and almost all have removable gas masks that have become ubiquitous during the protests. “We want to make them as detailed as possible so that they can evoke empathy in people,” Charlie said. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

Details of injury scars on an action figure. Some figurines have scrapes on their legs from street skirmishes and almost all have removable gas masks that have become ubiquitous during the protests. “We want to make them as detailed as possible so that they can evoke empathy in people,” Charlie said. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Miniature face masks for action figures. Two of their frontline figure characters—named after the lyrics of the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong”—have gone into mass production after the pair became a hit online. “I want to raise peoples’ awareness within the movement and hopefully the figurines will allow more people to know what has happened in Hong Kong,” Charlie said. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

Miniature face masks for action figures. Two of their frontline figure characters—named after the lyrics of the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong”—have gone into mass production after the pair became a hit online. “I want to raise peoples’ awareness within the movement and hopefully the figurines will allow more people to know what has happened in Hong Kong,” Charlie said. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Priced at about HK$900 (US$116) per set, the different parts of their products had to be manufactured in seven countries to avoid political sensitivities—especially in mainland China. “A water bottle or a helmet is not sensitive by itself. But after this movement began, they are seen as sensitive... This is self-censorship,” said Charlie. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

Priced at about HK$900 (US$116) per set, the different parts of their products had to be manufactured in seven countries to avoid political sensitivities—especially in mainland China. “A water bottle or a helmet is not sensitive by itself. But after this movement began, they are seen as sensitive... This is self-censorship,” said Charlie. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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Shadows cast by action figures onto a poster. At one shop in Wanchai district, the owner has created an action-packed diorama of a clash outside a subway station, complete with ranks of riot police and protesters smashing up a taxi. “People play with toys in pursuit of happiness, especially during hard times,” the shop owner told AFP, asking for anonymity fearing reprisals in the febrile political atmosphere. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

Shadows cast by action figures onto a poster. At one shop in Wanchai district, the owner has created an action-packed diorama of a clash outside a subway station, complete with ranks of riot police and protesters smashing up a taxi. “People play with toys in pursuit of happiness, especially during hard times,” the shop owner told AFP, asking for anonymity fearing reprisals in the febrile political atmosphere. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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A scale action figure depicting Pepe the Frog, a character used by pro-democracy activists. Charlie said he primarily sells his models online after some toy stores received threatening calls telling them not to sell political products. Around 1,000 sets of figurines they designed have been sold so far, with the profits going to groups that support the pro-democracy movement. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

A scale action figure depicting Pepe the Frog, a character used by pro-democracy activists. Charlie said he primarily sells his models online after some toy stores received threatening calls telling them not to sell political products. Around 1,000 sets of figurines they designed have been sold so far, with the profits going to groups that support the pro-democracy movement. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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“Hong Kong people gave us the opportunity to create these figures and we hope to use the money to help protesters in return,” Charlie said. In darks times, he added, the models can raise spirits. “We hope they can console people emotionally,” he said. (Philip Fong / AFP)

Updated on Jan 21, 2020 5:25 PM

“Hong Kong people gave us the opportunity to create these figures and we hope to use the money to help protesters in return,” Charlie said. In darks times, he added, the models can raise spirits. “We hope they can console people emotionally,” he said. (Philip Fong / AFP)

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