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A bold graphic is usually what stops you scrolling. A Toy Machine sect eye, a Birdhouse skull, a Santa Cruz Pokemon deck, a Godzilla print stomping across the tail - these boards get attention for good reason. But the graphic is only the surface. The brand behind it tells you a lot about how the board rides, who it's built for, and whether it's the right choice for your skating right now.
This guide breaks down four of the most popular branded and novelty-graphic ranges we stock - Toy Machine, Birdhouse, Enuff and Santa Cruz's collaboration decks - so you can buy on more than just the artwork.
A cool graphic doesn't tell you deck width, concave, pop, or whether the trucks and wheels on a complete are actually suited to a beginner. Two decks can carry equally striking artwork and ride completely differently, because the brand behind the graphic has its own approach to construction, sizing and price point.
Before anything else, work out what you actually need: are you buying a first skateboard, or upgrading gear for someone who's already riding confidently? That answer matters more than which cartoon or monster is on the bottom. If you're not sure where to start, our beginner's guide to buying your first skateboard covers the basics before you get into brand comparisons.
Toy Machine has been a fixture of street skateboarding since the 1990s, known for its dark, slightly odd artwork - sect eyes, monsters, and Ed Templeton's distinctive illustration style. It's a brand built by skaters, for skaters, with a strong team riding history behind it.
Toy Machine decks are built as proper street and park-ready boards. They're not soft or gimmicky - the shapes, concave and pop are aimed at riders who want to skate transition, street obstacles and technical tricks, not just cruise. That makes Toy Machine a strong choice for someone who's already found their footing and wants a deck with more personality and skate credibility than a plain shape.
Is Toy Machine ideal for a total beginner? It can work, but it's not specifically designed as an easy-learning setup the way some beginner completes are. If you're buying for someone just starting out, pair a Toy Machine deck with a build tailored for learning, or start them on a straightforward complete first. You can shop the full Toy Machine range to see current decks and completes.
Birdhouse was founded by Tony Hawk in 1992 and has stayed a genuinely respected street and vert brand ever since, not just a name that trades on his fame. The graphics range from the brand's signature falcon logo to bold, colourful artwork, and the decks are built to a standard that holds up to serious use.
Birdhouse suits riders who've moved past their very first board and are starting to push their skating - learning flip tricks, skating ramps, or just wanting gear that will take a proper beating. The construction is solid and dependable rather than flashy, which is exactly what you want once you're skating regularly and landing tricks with more force. Take a look at Birdhouse skateboards for the current range.
Enuff sits in a different space entirely. It's a UK-based brand built around affordability and accessibility, and its completes are a genuinely sensible choice for beginners and younger riders. Rather than chasing pro-level performance, Enuff focuses on getting people rolling with decks that are properly built - not toy-shop rubbish - at a price that doesn't sting if a first attempt at skateboarding doesn't stick.
Enuff completes come in a range of sizes, including narrower widths that suit smaller riders, which makes the range a solid option for parents buying for kids or teens. The trucks and wheels on Enuff completes are matched sensibly to the deck, so you're not left having to upgrade parts straight away. If you're kitting out a young or first-time skater, Enuff skateboards is a good place to start, alongside our complete skateboards for beginners collection more broadly.
Santa Cruz is one of the oldest and most respected names in skateboarding, dating back to 1973, and its screaming hand logo is iconic in its own right. What makes Santa Cruz stand out in the novelty space is its run of official collaboration decks - Pokemon, Godzilla, and other licensed graphics that go well beyond a generic cartoon print.
These aren't knock-off graphics slapped on a blank deck. The Santa Cruz Pokemon skateboard range and the Santa Cruz Godzilla deck are officially licensed collaborations, built on the same quality construction Santa Cruz uses across its standard range - proper maple deck construction, sensible concave, and completes built to actually skate, not just display.
Because these are licensed collaborations, certain graphics and colourways often sell out and don't come back, which is part of what makes them appealing to collectors as well as riders. If you're after a specific Pokemon skateboard deck or Godzilla graphic, it's worth checking stock rather than waiting. For background on how these ranges came about, read more on the Santa Cruz x Pokemon collaboration decks and Godzilla vs Santa Cruz skateboards. You can browse the wider Santa Cruz skateboards range too, including non-collaboration decks.
Rather than choosing purely on graphic, work backwards from where you're at:
If you want to compare across the full range of brands we stock rather than just these four, you can browse all skateboard brands to see everything available.
All four of these brands are available through Skatewarehouse as genuine stock, not just a handful of hero graphics. Whether you're after a first Enuff complete for a young rider, a Birdhouse deck to mark real progress, a Toy Machine board with proper street pedigree, or a Santa Cruz Pokemon or Godzilla graphic before it sells out, our complete skateboards collection brings everything together in one place. If you're still unsure which fits your riding, get in touch and we'll point you towards the right one.
Is Toy Machine a good beginner skateboard brand? Toy Machine decks are built for street and park riding rather than specifically for absolute beginners. They're a great choice once you've got some experience and want a deck with more skate culture behind it. For a true first board, a dedicated beginner complete is usually the easier starting point.
What's the difference between a novelty graphic deck and a standard complete? The construction is usually the same - it's the artwork that differs. A novelty or licensed graphic, like Santa Cruz's Pokemon or Godzilla decks, sits on the same quality deck as the brand's standard range. The graphic doesn't change the ride, but licensed runs can be limited and sell out.
Are Santa Cruz Pokemon and Godzilla boards limited edition? Many of these collaboration graphics and colourways are released in limited runs and don't always come back once they sell out. If you want a specific Pokemon skateboard deck or Godzilla graphic, it's worth checking current stock rather than waiting.
Does Enuff make skateboards suitable for kids? Yes. Enuff's range includes narrower decks that suit smaller riders well, and the completes are built with learning in mind rather than performance extremes, which makes them a sensible choice for kids and teens starting out.
Is Birdhouse a good brand for improving skaters? Yes. Birdhouse decks are solidly built and hold up well as tricks get more demanding, making the brand a good step up once a rider has moved past their very first board.
Do branded complete skateboards perform differently to unbranded ones? Not necessarily because of the branding itself - performance comes down to deck construction, concave, trucks and wheels, not the name or graphic. What branded ranges like these often offer is more consistent quality control and a clearer sense of who the deck is designed for, which makes choosing the right one easier.
