Theo Jansen's Mini Strandbeest Kit by Gakken

Theo Jansen's Strandbeest walks around leisurely, propelled naturally by the wind flowing through its turbines. Now you can build and enjoy your very own miniature version - a small Strandbeest that glides gracefully across surfaces without electricity or batteries.

The Strandbeest is a kinetic, wind-propelled sculpture that was designed by physicist/artist Theo Jansen. While the original was designed for the beach (strandbeest is Dutch for "beach beast"), this do-it-yourself version will work equally well on any flat surface. It's perfect for kids or adults and isn't too hard so it won't take more than an afternoon to put together.

While the instructions with this product come in Japanese, we've included the English Manual so you can quickly set up your own.

Gakken is a Japanese publishing company founded in 1946.  In the 1970s, they began selling educational toys, books, magazines, and electronic kits.  Their kits are known for their smart design and relative ease of use and have a large cult following both in Japan and the United States.