To commemorate the completion of the 4-in-1 Robot Paper Toy Project seen in Giant Robot magazine, our loveley sponsors at Scion have teamed up with Giant Robot and are challenging readers to design their own paper figures for a chance to meet the master of paper figures himself and have their paper toy template distributed at the Paper Art Show in April!

DIRECTIONS
1. Download the blank template.
2. Customize the template with your own designs — draw, paint, use photoshop — be creative!
3. Scan or color copy your customized template and save it to upload later.
4. Construct your figure and take a photo of the completed piece.
5. By March 6, upload your scanned template and image of the completed figure using the link below.
6. Upload.
7. Winners will be announced on the site by March 11th.

GRAND PRIZE
•  $500 cash
• Airfare and accommodations to attend the Interactive Paper Art show at the Scion Space in Los Angeles on April 11.
• Inclusion of the winning entry in the art show, as well as distribution of the template to all attendees.
• Giant Robot prize package including a magazine subscription, T-shirt, sticker packet, and $50 gift certificate to the Giant Robot stores.

Just in case you couldn’t make the show, check out these pics from our sponsors at The Scion Installation Space on Flickr. Now running through Feb 7th.

Scion, Asian and Asian-American pop culture magazine Giant Robot and artist Shin Tanaka bring cut-out fun to all ages and paper toy enthusiasts alike through special templates included in select Giant Robot issues.

Tanaka’s first template appeared in Giant Robot issue 56 which also featured an interview with the artist himself.  The second template followed in issue 57 which is out now, and the third will be featured in issue 58 which hits streets on February 9, 2009.  Readers can cut out the templates and fold them following the simple instructions to make their own robots.  Readers who create all three figures can assemble them to create Tanaka’s larger “4-in1 Robot” commissioned by Scion.

Tanaka, who was born in Fukuoka, Japan, is an artist who creates imaginative paper toys, figures and sneakers with precise details.  When he was younger, he began creating paper sneaker replicas with complete detail because he could not afford to buy all his favorite shoes.  Since then he has collaborated with Nike, Adidas and Reebok to create custom footwear and exhibited in Berlin, Hawaii, and Portland, Ore.  He recently participated in the Kennedy Center’s show “Japan! Culture + Hyperculture.”  Tanaka offers most of his fun templates for free at his website http://shin.co.nr/ where you can download them, to print, build and customize.