designed and casted in madrid, made in china

Mukurō is a character conceived as a pseudo-kaiju figure: a creature whose hybrid nature — a blend of owl and humanoid form — may be interpreted as monstrous, yet whose essence goes far beyond the depiction of a conventional monster.

Its presence has a shamanic, symbolic and psychological quality, more closely associated with introspection and spiritual strength than with the destruction typically associated with kaiju imagery.

​

The owl, traditionally associated with wisdom and knowledge, forms the conceptual core of Mukurō. However, the character also incorporates elements of battle and protection, represented by armour-like features such as the breastplate and shoulder pads. The rest of the body combines the animal's characteristic plumage with a visual language inspired by shamanic and runic symbolism, engraved directly onto its anatomy.

​

Mukurō can therefore be understood as a tribal figure connected to nature, occupying an intermediate space between the spiritual, the animal and the warrior.

​

Its large eyes, a defining feature of the Muglet characters and a recurring element throughout A Toy Matter's work, serve as a distinctive visual signature, connecting the piece to a unique artistic language within the brand's universe.

The name Mukurō stems from this very connection. It draws on the phonetic echoes of Muglet and Mugura, combined with fukurō (フクロウ), the Japanese word for “owl”. This combination gives rise to Mukurō (ムクロウ), a name devised to preserve the phonetic identity of both concepts.

​

The design originated from a childhood drawing entitled Soul Eater, from which the runes and several other elements were recovered, eventually helping to define the character's personality and visual language.

​

The distinctive texture of the head also has an unexpected origin. While the wax model was being made in Madrid, before being sent to the factory, the heat generated by the casting wax accidentally caused a series of folds and deformations across its surface. The result was so visually compelling that it was decided to preserve it, turning an accident in the manufacturing process into an essential part of Mukurō's identity.

​

Finally, the packaging header was designed by artist and illustrator Laurafarkka using a mixed-media technique combining watercolour, dip pen and digital intervention, bringing a distinctive graphic interpretation of Mukurō's universe to the overall design.