Toys on Tap and Depressed Monsters have officially revealed the first-ever mass-produced soft vinyl figure of Yerman. Born from the deeply personal experiences of artist Ryan Brunty, the emotionally resonant character is making the leap into the world of 6-inch sofubi vinyl. The highly anticipated Kickstarter campaign is scheduled to launch on June 12, 2026, at 12:00 PM PST, following a pre-launch preview phase that began on May 12, 2026.

The Origin of Yerman

To understand the significance of this release, one must look back to the character’s origins. Ryan Brunty originally created Yerman in 2012 during one of the most challenging chapters of his life. Facing a heavy season marked by grief, isolation, unemployment, and severe depression, Brunty painted the character as a self-portrait. What started as a therapeutic creative outlet quickly took on a life of its own.

Over the last decade, Yerman has evolved from a personal healing exercise into a massive underground phenomenon. The character has been featured across apparel lines, massive public murals, art galleries, television appearances, and small-batch designer toys. Through it all, the character has built a deeply personal, empathetic connection with fans around the world who see their own mental health journeys reflected in the design.

“Yerman started as a self portrait during one of the hardest periods of my life,” said Ryan Brunty, creator of Depressed Monsters, in a statement accompanying the announcement. “Seeing it become a vinyl figure after all these years feels surreal.”

Figure Details and Variants

The upcoming Yerman soft vinyl figure stands at 6 inches tall and remains meticulously faithful to Brunty’s original line art. Capturing the bittersweet essence of the character, the figure is depicted holding Yerman’s signature Skele-Heart.

To honor the mental health roots of the brand, the campaign will feature multiple distinct editions, each specifically inspired by different emotional experiences tied to depression:

• Original Colorway: The classic look that started it all.
• Blank Edition (Blank Expression): Representing the numbness and emotional void often felt during tough times.
• Monochrome Variant (I Feel Gray): A stark, black-and-white edition limited to just 50 pieces.
• Clear Variant (I Feel Invisible): A translucent edition limited to just 50 pieces.

Additionally, the team has revealed a special fifth edition, titled Kintsugi (I Feel Fragile). Inspired by the traditional Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold, this variant will unlock as a Kickstarter stretch goal once the campaign crosses the $8,000 funding milestone.

A Labor of Love for the Indie Toy Community

The production of this figure represents a massive collaborative effort among celebrated indie toy creators. The physical piece was expertly sculpted by Mark Pendley (known online as @morehorrific), while the striking packaging was designed by Oriel Van der Lugt (@orielgoch). While Yerman has previously materialized in resin and extremely small, handcrafted runs, this project marks the first official mass-produced, high-quality sofubi-style release for the property.

“Some characters deserve more than a release, they deserve preservation for what they mean,” said Abraham Musto of Toys on Tap. “Yerman already meant something deeply to people before this toy ever existed.”

Campaign Details and Timeline

The Kickstarter campaign is launching with an incredibly attainable initial funding goal of $4,000 to cover the specialized tooling and manufacturing costs of soft vinyl production. With production plans already locked in, Toys on Tap estimates a rapid fulfillment window, with shipping to backers expected to begin in September 2026.

For designer toy fans, the opportunity to own a piece of therapeutic art history represents a milestone moment for the Depressed Monsters brand. Collectors can sign up for launch notifications and track the campaign by visiting the official websites at Toys on Tap (https://www.toysontap.co) and Depressed Monsters (https://depressedmonsters.com).