There was a time when collector's shelves were filled with countless, mint-in-box action figures based on comic and movie licenses, but in recent years, toy enthusiasts have had to make room for the newest trend in collectibles: Designer toys. Also dubbed "urban vinyl," these figures are original, limited-edition creations from cutting-edge artists. To help you navigate through the world of designer vinyl, StreetLevel gives you the rundown on these ultra-hip art toys and the top designers who make them. More after the jump.

BODY TYPES

These are a few of the most common designer toy body types you'll see again and again, but in different colors, designs and sizes.

Kubricks

The block-style figures from Japanese toy company MediCom are named after movie-maker Stanley Kubrick. Kubricks come in different sizes and are often made for specific licenses, including films, TV shows, comic books and video games.

Be@rbricks

Also produced by MediCom, Be@rbricks are anthropomorphic bear figures based on the Kubrick toy type. Simple, slightly articulated and pot-bellied, Be@rbricks range from 50% (4 cm tall) to 1000% (70 cm tall).

Dunnys/Munnys

Premier toy retailer Kidrobot's proprietary figures are soft vinyl representations of a bunny (Dunny) and a monkey (Munny). Designers are commissioned to create Dunnys, which come in at come in 3-, 8- and even 20-inch sizes. The Munny type is released as an unpainted DIY piece.

Qee

Pronounced "key," Qee is made by Hong Kong based company Toy2R. The various shapes include different anthropomorphic animals (bear, cat, dog, monkey, bunny) as well as Toyer (a skull-faced Qee), Egg (an egg with limbs) and the Touma-created Knuckle Bear. The three-inch ones also come with key chains, which can be removed by simply pulling off the head.

Trexi

Trexis premiered in 2004 from Singapore-based business Play Imaginative. Typically three-inches tall, the top half of a Trexi's head is made to spin around to allow for a multi-faceted design.

THE NAMES

They're painters, illustrators, graphic designers and graffiti artists, these are the big names you need to know and the toys they've made.

Gary Baseman

L.A.-based artist Gary Baseman started off doing illustrations for publications like The New Yorker, Time, and Rolling Stone. Now he continues to paint, illustrate, and enamor designer toy collectors with his inimitable, tongue-in-cheek creations such as Dumb Luck, Toby, Dunce and Hot Cha Cha Cha. You'll also notice his artwork on the popular board game Cranium.

Tim Biskup

SoCal painter Tim Biskup worked in animation on shows such as Cartoon Network's Time Squad. Influenced by Japanese kaiju monsters and mid-century modern design, he's created ever-popular characters like Helper, Pollard, and Calli, as well as designs for his streetwear company Gama-Go.

Mori Chack

Mori Chack is a Japanese graphic designer most known for his Chax line and Gloomy Bear, a vicious teddy that likes to eat people. Simultaneously adorable and visceral, Chack's work often expresses subtle social and political commentary.

Dalek

Brooklyn-based artist Dalek (whose real name is James Marshall) began writing graffiti where he developed a distinct, animation-inspired approach. His trademark characters are the knife-wielding Space Monkey and the scarf-clad Ice-Bot for Kidrobot.

Tristan Eaton

Eaton is the co-creator of the ubiquitous Kidrobot body type, the Dunny. He's also head of design at his toy company Thunderdog Studios, where he's made Thundermutts, Zulu Queen and Billy Bananas.

Futura 2000

A graffiti artist who started in the '70s, Futura 2000's abstract technique set him apart in the graffiti scene. Before he became known for his Pointman figures, Futura's artwork could be seen on the record sleeves of The Clash and artists on electronic music powerhouse Mo' Wax Records.

Huck Gee

Hailing from England, the work of San Francisco-based artist Mark Gee, known as Huck Gee, is inspired by Japanese and Hong Kong pop art. Gee's created the iconic Skullhead character as well as the titillating Akuma Bomb.

David Horvath

The ever-popular UglyDolls were born out of the long distance relationship between Horvath and fellow illustrator Sun-min Kim. His yearning love letters included pictures of horribly cute creatures, one of which Sun-Min crafted into a doll – an UglyDoll. Horvath is also responsible for a line of toys based on a domineering beast called Bossy Bear.

James Jarvis

London-born James Jarvis studied illustration and started his toy career by creating promotional toys for clothing line Silas. Due to popular demand, the head honchos at Silas created a toy company called Amos to distribute Jarvis' figures, including his successful In-Crowd series.

KAWS

Brooklyn-based Brian Donnelly, a.k.a. KAWS, is a former graffiti artist educated at the School of Visual Arts in New York. His instantly identifiable characters -- such as Companion, Accomplice, and Chum -- have X's for eyes, and his work is one of the most highly sought-after in the designer toy world.

Sun-min Kim

Sun-min Kim co-created UglyDolls with husband David Horvath, whom she met while they studied at New York's Parsons School of Design. Her first solo creation was a signature character named Spider Boom, a cartoony, three-eyed arachnid.

Frank Kozik

Prior to designing toys, Frank Kozik ran a punk record label, Man's Ruin, and crafted unique tour posters for bands like Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Green Day. With his music career behind him, Kozik continues to make beloved cigarette-smoking toys, like his signature Smorkin Labbit, in his San Francisco studio.

MAD

Illustrating and designing toys for over a decade, MAD (a.k.a. Jeremy Madl) is known for his MAD*L figures, which he produces under his own MAD Toy Design label.

Michael Lau

The Hong Kong illustrator is often credited with starting the "urban vinyl" designer toy craze in the late '90s with his one-of-a-kind, hip-hop-inspired figures based on G.I. Joe dolls and his comic strip, Gardener.

Joe Ledbetter

The artist's undeniably distinct style features cute animals with large black eyes, and has been seen on all kinds of Dunnys, Qees and Trexis.

Tara McPherson

The work of New York City-based illustrator, painter and comic book artist is colorful, yet gothic; recurring themes include love, loss and loneliness. She's done recognizable work for Kidrobot, Toy2R and other collectibles companies.

Seen

A pioneer in the graffiti world, Seen started painting NYC subways as a youngster growing up in the '70s. Since then, he's become a renowned tattoo artist and crafted well-known series such as Spray Can Monsters and the cop-mocking Phoney Baloney toys.

Eric So

Along with fellow Hong Kong native and friend Michael Lau, So is considered an integral part of the Hong Kong toy scene. Over the years, he's created a variety of celebrated figures that range from realistic (Bruce Lee and Chow Yun-Fat) to cartoonish (Sprite and Estate).

Touma

Schooled in 2D art and visual design, Japanese artist Touma loves to collect Lego and Playmobil, and it shows in his toy work. His most renowned character is Knuckle Bear, but his other creatures like Talon and Hellhound are no doubt Touma's classic, simple style.