Crazy Clowns used to be a Japanese website dedicated to different kinds of gaming. In winter of 1997, Arai Jin, webmaster of Crazy Clowns, decided to create token cards for Magic: The Gathering.
The cards were printed by the Kansai Art Printing corporation and were sold primarily on Comic Market (Comiket) 66.
FIRST THREE SERIES: DECEMBER 1997 - DECEMBER 1998
The first three series had a white backside, square corners, and thin cardstock. They featured artwork exclusively of Jun Minagishi, elder sister of Arai Jin. The cards were sold in packs.
Packs of the first series contained 3x4 cards with a print run of 200 packs, packs of the second and third series contained 2x8 and 4x4 cards respectively with a print run of 400 packs.
FOURTH AND FIFTH SERIES: AUGUST 1999 - DECEMBER 1999
The fourth and fifth series introduced foil and double-sided tokens, a colored backside depicting a star that was designed by Arika Itsugamai, new artists: Keito Matsushita, Risono-Roma, thicker cardstock and still square corners.
The fourth series is unique in that it was split up in two different packs, one containing 4x3 white-bordered cards with a red leaflet and 4x3 black-bordered cards with a green leaflet.
Packs from the fifth series contained 4x3 double-sided cards and a blue leaflet. Additionally, in every tenth booster of the fourth and fifth edition packs, a special card was inserted.
For the red and green pack, this was one of two double-sided tokens, for the blue pack, this was one of two foil token cards.
Both series had a print run of 400 packs each, but there is evidence that the special cards were printed more often and leaked to the market in other ways.
SIXTH SERIES: AUGUST 2000
The sixth series was the first to feature round corners. Packs contained 4x4 cards with a print run of 200 packs. Some token cards from this series have their glossy layer accidentally printed on their backside.
While the cards were designed earlier, the sixth series was released together with the seventh series token cards.
JOSE MAGIC SERIES: 2001
Some time in 2001, a series of four token cards were commissioned by a former Magic store in Florida called Jose Magic and owned by Osmin Jose Cintra with a print run of 100 sets.
Previous illustrations were used: Elephant from Elephant (Eighth Series 2000), Goblin from Five Goblins (Fourth Series 1999), Squirrel from Squirrel (Fourth Series 1999), Zombie from Five Zombies (Fourth Series 1999).
Further details are unknown yet.
PROMOTIONAL FOIL: 2001
In 2001, two special token cards, a foil Minion Token and a foil Squirrel Token with a MTG back, were produced in very small quantities and were handed to friends of Arai Jin as a gift.
SEVENTH AND EIGHT SERIES: AUGUST 2000 - DECEMBER 2000
The seventh and eighth series introduced a new backside reading Collector's Edition and are unique in that they were not sold in packs, but as single cards. The total print run is unknown, but several runs seem to have been made.
As a result, seventh series token cards differ in color, there are light and dark versions, and some have their glossy layer accidentally printed on their backside.
The Collector's Edition series represented the pinnacle of the Crazy Clowns token production both in numbers and popularity.
It abruptly ended on the 1st of April 2001 when Arai Jin was accused of copyright infringement and the production of token cards was shut down.
IMITATIONS: 2003
A Wurm Token, looking similar to Crazy Clowns token cards, appeared in 2003. Its real origin is currently unknown, but there is evidence that it has been produced in Italy.
Two variants exist, one with black borders (Only 8 are known to exist), while the other one is with brownish borders (at least 100 are known to exist). They have also different coloring Collector's Edition backs.
Illustration looks like Furude Rika the true main protagonist of the Higurashi no Naku Koro ni series (To be verified).
NINTH SERIES: MAY 2003
After two years of inactivity, Arai Jin revised his token cards layout and appeared with a new set of token cards at the Pro Tour Yokohama in 2003.
This ninth series was distributed in packs of 1x4 cards with a print run of 100 packs and was given out there as a gift for the attending judges or traded, but not sold.
One of the cards was meant to be a table marker to remind all players of the turn order in draft tournaments. Front of the token is glossy while the back is matte.
TENTH SERIES: MAY 2004
Another series was released in May 2004, covering to a large degree tokens from the Mirrodin cycle. The overall quality of these tokens was inferior to earlier series with thin cardstock, a white backside, square corners and a lack of lamination.
The series was distributed in packs of 1x10 cards with a print run of 100 packs.
One card in each pack was signed and had been assigned a number between 1 and 100. The first ten signed cards additionally featured an artist sketch on their backside.
The series was supposed to be sold by a friend of Arai Jin at Pro Tour San Diego, but Jim Bruso, former executive buyer of Troll & Toad, managed to buy the whole print run and resold the cards exclusively to members of this website.
Some Promotional tokens are known to exist with white borders and square corners.
ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH SERIES: AUGUST 2004 - DECEMBER 2004
For the eleventh and twelfth series, Arai Jin joined forces with G-Kun and a troup of new artists: Aira Namegawa, Gyojya-Busyo, Kaosyo-Rochishin, Kumonryu-Shishin and switched to a new website.
The overall appearance of the token cards was changed again and now emphasized a professional layout to be on par with products from other companies.
The eleventh series was sold in packs containing 1x12 cards with a print run of 400 packs. In 120 packs, one token card was signed by the appropriate artist. In addition, 12 packs included an extra artist sketch card.
The eleventh series was again bought and resold by Jim Bruso to the members of this website. Some Promotional tokens are known to exist with square corners and white back.
The twelfth series was sold in packs containing 2x5 cards with a print run of 400 packs.
THIRTEENTH SERIES: AUGUST 2000
Thirteenth Series consists of 5 tokens and were available at Worlds 2005 in Yokohama, Japan. 2 were illustrated by Jun Minahishi, while the 3 others by different Japanese artists: Aira Namegawa, Jiro Yamaoka, Kaosyo-Rochishin.
The Thirteenth series was again bought and resold by Jim Bruso to the members of this website. Some Promotional tokens are known to exist as a Foil version.
OTHER SERIES: AUGUST 2007 - DECEMBER 2007
At Comiket 72 (the world's largest dojinshi fair) that took place on 17–19 August, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan, a Chronozoa and Foil Foil Chronozoa were offered at the the booth of Arai Jin.
Few monthes later a Tarmogoyf was also offered at Comiket 73 that took place on 29–31 December, 2007 in Tokyo, Japan.
The Tarmogoyf illustration was the one used as the Beast token from the Eleventh Series in August 2004. Those are amongst the rarest in existence.
    
First Card Back - White back: First Series (December 1997), Second Series (August 1998), Third Series (December 1998).
Also used in Fifth Series Foil tokens (December 1999), Tenth Series (May 2004), Promotional Tenth Series (May 2004), Promotional Eleventh (August 2004), and Other (August-December 2007).
Second Card Back - Colored backside depicting a star: Fourth Series (August 1999 ) and Sixth Series (August 2000). A matte and glossy version do exist.
Third Card Back - Magic the Gathering Collector's Edition: Seventh Series (August 2000) and Eighth Series (December 2000). A matte and glossy version do exist.
Fourth Card Back - Jose Magic: Jose Magic Series (2001).
Fifth Card Back - Crazy Clowns: Eleventh Series (August 2004), Twelfth Series (December 2004), Thirteenth Series (November 2005) and Promotional Thirteenth Series (November 2005).
 
Green Crazy Clowns booster sheet Fourth Series, front and back. 8 August 1999.
 
Pink Crazy Clowns booster sheet Fourth Series, front and back. 8 August 1999.
 
Blue Crazy Clowns booster sheet Fifth Series, front and back. 24 December 1999.
 
Eleventh Series Crazy Clowns booster sheet, front and back. 13 August 2004.
Crazy Clowns advertisement card.
Web — Site Crazy Clowns
Web ? — ARAI Jin
Funny Token Card Making
URL: www.ing.voice.ne.jp/arajin/
(Japanese Only)
E-Mail: araijin@ing.voice.ne.jp
Illus. Jun Minagishi
 
Preliminary Sketches for Angel Token (December 2000) by Jun Minagishi. The second one was used as an illustration for the Draft Turn Order Table Marker (May 2005)
  
Kaldra, Memnarch, Silver Myr illustrations from Jun Minagishi at Bankahai MTG convention in Tokyo, Japan.
Illusion Token (Thirteenth Series 2005) full art by Kaosyo-Rochishin (Kotetsu Yamanaka).
EXTERNAL LINKS - ALL FIXED
Crazy Clowns
Bankahai 2004 magic convention in Japan Broken Link
Doujin Set and Tokens: Part 1 (Japanese text); Wayback Machine
Doujin Set and Tokens: Part 2 (Japanese text); Wayback Machine
Comic Cornucopia
INTERNAL LINKS
Crazy Clowns Tokens 6th and 7th Series; December 21, 2003 - Topic on the forum
Jun Minagishi tokens - 10th Series; May 17, 2004 - Topic on the forum
10th Series Crazy Clowns - Do sketches belong?; May 22, 2004 - Topic on the forum
10th series Minagishi-should we track all?; June 4, 2004 - Topic on the forum
prize for fake wurm; June 27, 2004 - Topic on the forum
new Crazy Clowns token series with interview from Arai Jin; September 10, 2004 - Topic on the forum
7th Edition Jun Minageshi Square Cut; January 20, 2005 - Topic on the forum
Jun Minagishi Tokens; June 10, 2005 - Topic on the forum
The Foil Minagishi Counting Project; June 10, 2005 - Topic on the forum
Fake Jun Minagishi tokens; Oct 16, 2008 - Topic on the forum
7th and 8th series Crazy Clown (Minagishi) Variations; Mar 12, 2010 - Topic on the forum |
