3 Behind the Art of Funko Pops

Behind the art of Funko Pops

Funko holds over 1,000 licenses and contains almost every character from TV shows, comic books, novels, directors and singers, historical presidents and artists, and even people who help save lives like doctors and nurses. There is essentially a pop for everyone, as a slogan from Funko, “Everyone is a fan of something” (Forbes). Funko has been successful within the toy industry and has created funko products for almost over twenty-two years. There is essentially no limit to characters that Funko can make. It all requires containing the licenses for the characters.

Who is the genius of designing and creating these Funko Pops? Sean Wilkinson, the creative director of Funko, and his staff of over 80

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incredible artists, sculptures, designers, and many more. Just like the slogan of Funko, the mission is to have created many characters, so then eventually, a funko pop would be created for anyone who is a fan of the specific surface. Sean mentions in an interview, “I think our mission is to be sure that we are getting that something to everyone” (Forbes). Sean oversees the whole operation of each pop that is assembled from the concept and then to the collector’s hands.

The attention comes from the art of the box; the pop is displayed from a small window that gathers the collectors’ attention. Pops being a cute and approachable toy, it is essential to pay attention to the design package to the sculpting and painting of the pop. The process of a pop from concept, getting the licenses, the design, the detailing, the packaging, and the shelves. The time frame for each Funko Pops from start to finish usually takes between four to six months. The process begins with gathering the licenses for the character. Finding the character that needs to be created and getting the licenses is essential. After receiving character approval, it is crucial to find and gather each detail of the character, from getting the pose correctly and with outfits and carefully working closely with the creative team from Funko. It is finding an expert knowledge of the category or character from the creative team to make sure that every note or detail is finalized and correct before creating and designing. As well as getting proper feedback from fans via social media, Listening to what the fans are looking for and seeing what everyone wants to have or see from Funko. Input allows us to narrow down the search and see what role Funko needs to find for fans.

The second part of the process for the Funko pop begins with the concept. The concept of the Funko pops starts with a sketch of the character. The designers can usually create the character’s drawing with pen and paper,

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or at times the sketch begins with digital sketching. It is a challenge to create the specific character differently in the sketch process, and not something is already done with the character. Some concepts are discussed with a team, figuring out the importance of a character regarding a critical scene or type of character intrigues the audiences or the poses that would want to be created. Each sketch is the base of producing the Funko pop, and it is essential to emphasize the character with every detail. Sometimes sketches miss the mark of a character in which the creative team would go back and work on correcting the forgotten things from the first sketch. If it is capturing the pose the character does or what the character is wearing or gathering the small details of the character, it is essential to be shown within the sketch. For the following process to understand and capture the character’s identity shown within the sketch.

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Spider-Man Blacklight #802 Target Ex. After the sketch of the character is complete and done, the 3-D modeling comes to play. 3-D modeling or sculpting phase Brings the drawing to life. This phase of the funko pops, according to the sculptures, is not an easy task. (Forbes) The statues face challenges in trying to create a 2-D concept of a character into three-dimensional sculpting. Each pop contains its challenges, including helmets or pops that usually are full of small details that need to be placed with the pop. Each character must be broken down from its components because the details are shown from the sculpting process. If the details are not in the concept or the studying of the character, then the details will be missed. The creative team heavily depends on the references of each character which is putting the character into the sculpt. With any missing information, the loyal fans of the character will always find errors or mistakes, which takes a lot of time and effort not to miss a small thing from the character. Brain Mariotti mentioned, “Our job is to take these characters that people are a fan of and make them even more lovable and available and affordable” (CNBC). Sculpting also comes in a variety of sizes. Many sculptors are challenged with different types and sizes of Funko’s. The creative team must face proportions and make sure that it is suitable in the aspect of the character and with the funko style.

After the sculpture is completed, the process of coloring the sculpture begins, usually using paint to color the sculpture of funko pops. Just like gathering the details of the character, the process is similar but with colors. The creative team focuses on capturing every detail correctly with the character’s colors, bestially having color callouts and going back and forward with the licenses of the character, and making sure that the colors are correct from the outfit of the colors and the hair, and clothing. Each detail of the color needs to be accurate, the process of coloring the pop is essential, and this process allows the ability to have feedback from the licenses, and help capture the most precise detail for each character that’s being made. Even though the Funko pop captures the audience’s attention,

the packaging is also as important as the pop. Many collectors take the packaging highly seriously and are a critical aspect of Funko pops. Packaging is the last process before being shipped off to the collector’s hands. The packaging process begins with making sure the name of the character is correct. They had to correctly use the license’s design elements to be included in the box. The details from the back to the side and front are correct with fonts and the proper use of color pallets that resemble the show and character. All this packaging needs to connect with the character and show, and everything is accurate and signed off by the license for last-minute approval, then it is ready to be shipped off to the collector.

From the fan’s thoughts or wishes to the process of signing a popular fan collection, Funko needs to capture the spirit of the character in Funko Pops. Each pop is handled with care and hard work for fans to manage and to enjoy. Funko is gathering more licenses and ideas for more characters that need to be turned into a lovable and enjoyable Funko Pop Figure.

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