1
00:00:12,595 --> 00:00:14,555
[man 1] The childhood me,
2
00:00:14,639 --> 00:00:17,809
if you were to tell him
that I would do what I am doing now,
3
00:00:17,892 --> 00:00:19,692
I don't think he would believe it at all.
4
00:00:19,769 --> 00:00:22,269
To be honest with you,
some days I don't even believe it.
5
00:00:23,606 --> 00:00:27,106
[woman]
The toy industry is populated with people
6
00:00:27,193 --> 00:00:31,873
who never completely let go
of their intellectual child.
7
00:00:32,449 --> 00:00:37,409
A lot of people leave that sense
of wonder behind,
8
00:00:37,996 --> 00:00:39,746
and toy people don't.
9
00:00:40,457 --> 00:00:42,207
[man 2] I remember the stories I created.
10
00:00:42,292 --> 00:00:47,762
I remember the hours spent building
my own version of the Marvel Universe.
11
00:00:48,923 --> 00:00:52,513
[man 3] Marvel Comics has created
an entire universe,
12
00:00:52,594 --> 00:00:55,934
and they really humanize,
quite well, all of their characters.
13
00:00:56,014 --> 00:00:57,774
And I think that's what the appeal is.
14
00:00:57,849 --> 00:01:02,849
The storytelling in the comics 100%
influenced our approach to making toys.
15
00:01:03,355 --> 00:01:05,855
[man 4] Now you can actually,
in three-dimensional form,
16
00:01:05,940 --> 00:01:09,690
have this figure pulled straight
from the comic book pages in your hand,
17
00:01:09,778 --> 00:01:12,608
and now you can move it around,
and you can articulate it.
18
00:01:12,697 --> 00:01:15,737
You can have it hanging around,
swinging, doing all kinds of stuff
19
00:01:15,825 --> 00:01:19,695
that played out in your mind
in between the pages.
20
00:01:19,788 --> 00:01:22,578
[man 5] You can't underestimate
the power of an action figure
21
00:01:22,665 --> 00:01:24,785
and what that means to the user.
22
00:01:24,876 --> 00:01:27,956
To a kid, it can be a gateway
to alternate universes
23
00:01:28,046 --> 00:01:29,836
and imaginary worlds in their minds.
24
00:01:30,507 --> 00:01:32,677
That's the coolest thing
about these characters.
25
00:01:32,759 --> 00:01:34,929
Once you put the toy into a kid's hands,
26
00:01:35,011 --> 00:01:39,521
they can create their own stories,
and more power to 'em. That's awesome.
27
00:02:40,910 --> 00:02:44,290
I shoot toys. I tell stories
through photography of toys.
28
00:02:44,372 --> 00:02:46,542
It's a hobby, and it's a passion.
29
00:02:47,542 --> 00:02:50,382
A lot of the reason
that I shoot Marvel toys today
30
00:02:50,462 --> 00:02:53,052
is because of comics
that I read growing up.
31
00:02:53,882 --> 00:02:57,932
I liked Iron Man, and I read
those comic books as a kid,
32
00:02:58,011 --> 00:03:00,971
and somehow,
by creating stories with these toys,
33
00:03:01,056 --> 00:03:03,266
it just brings me back to that childhood.
34
00:03:04,684 --> 00:03:06,814
When I was growing up
and reading these comic books,
35
00:03:06,895 --> 00:03:10,225
I didn't even know
toy photography existed.
36
00:03:10,899 --> 00:03:14,779
I ended up as a wedding photographer.
I shot hundreds of weddings.
37
00:03:15,528 --> 00:03:19,368
But it wasn't coming
from a place of deep creativity.
38
00:03:20,658 --> 00:03:24,288
My nephew, Johnny, says, "Uncle Mitch,
next time you come up to San Francisco,
39
00:03:24,371 --> 00:03:26,871
bring your camera.
I'll take you out and shoot some toys."
40
00:03:26,956 --> 00:03:29,706
I went up there, and I just thought,
"Sure. Why not? I'll try it."
41
00:03:29,793 --> 00:03:32,213
And from the very first
click of the shutter,
42
00:03:32,295 --> 00:03:35,375
I realized that there was potential
to make it into a career.
43
00:03:36,174 --> 00:03:39,764
I went from shooting "bridezilla"
to shooting Godzilla,
44
00:03:39,844 --> 00:03:40,894
and I couldn't be happier.
45
00:03:42,639 --> 00:03:45,729
I like to show characters in ways
that people aren't used to seeing them.
46
00:03:46,601 --> 00:03:50,061
Squirrel Girl's superpower
is being able to control squirrels.
47
00:03:50,146 --> 00:03:52,316
And the fact
that she has a big bushy tail,
48
00:03:52,399 --> 00:03:55,239
I knew that
that character has a lot of possibilities.
49
00:03:55,318 --> 00:03:59,318
I know there's a precedent
for her having fought Thanos.
50
00:03:59,406 --> 00:04:03,946
So I thought if I could create this image
where she's battling this villain
51
00:04:04,035 --> 00:04:07,365
who is so much larger than her,
especially to see her come out on top,
52
00:04:07,455 --> 00:04:09,245
that might surprise somebody a little.
53
00:04:09,332 --> 00:04:11,382
Okay, I'm gonna create two splashes.
54
00:04:11,459 --> 00:04:15,799
And to do it in a
dynamic water-splashing environment,
55
00:04:15,880 --> 00:04:18,300
it's gonna make
a much more engaging image.
56
00:04:21,219 --> 00:04:25,099
I do feel like I'm using
my imagination the same way
57
00:04:25,181 --> 00:04:27,021
that a kid uses his imagination.
58
00:04:27,517 --> 00:04:30,517
You're creating stories and you get
so wrapped up in these stories,
59
00:04:30,603 --> 00:04:32,813
that you live in that world
for a little while.
60
00:04:33,398 --> 00:04:36,228
I'm living in that world
and capturing it through my camera.
61
00:04:44,951 --> 00:04:47,541
[male announcer]
The Incredible Hulk meets Spider-Man.
62
00:04:47,620 --> 00:04:51,040
[Wu] Through the years,
Marvel's been creating so many toys.
63
00:04:51,124 --> 00:04:54,964
[male announcer] Captain America,
fighting injustice the world over.
64
00:04:55,837 --> 00:04:59,717
Thor, using his Viking power against evil.
65
00:04:59,799 --> 00:05:02,679
They're creating the characters.
They're giving you the story.
66
00:05:02,761 --> 00:05:07,021
And then different toy companies
bring their own unique style.
67
00:05:07,432 --> 00:05:10,942
♪ Webs, webs, web-spinning Spider-Man ♪
68
00:05:12,103 --> 00:05:14,653
In the '80s, Mattel had the idea
69
00:05:14,731 --> 00:05:17,031
to partner with Marvel
to make action figures.
70
00:05:17,108 --> 00:05:18,108
They challenged them.
71
00:05:18,193 --> 00:05:22,573
They said, "Let's develop a comic book
where all of the core characters,
72
00:05:22,655 --> 00:05:26,525
the most famous characters, are thrown
into one giant adventure together,
73
00:05:26,618 --> 00:05:28,618
and they have to fight one villain."
74
00:05:28,953 --> 00:05:32,043
And Marvel said, "We're gonna make
a thing called Secret Wars."
75
00:05:32,123 --> 00:05:37,003
So all of the books, Spider-Man, X-Men,
Fantastic Four, Avengers,
76
00:05:37,087 --> 00:05:40,587
they all crossed over
in this giant overarching story.
77
00:05:40,674 --> 00:05:44,394
It was very successful, and kids loved it.
78
00:05:44,469 --> 00:05:46,809
[male announcer]
Marvel's supervillains are coming.
79
00:05:46,888 --> 00:05:48,808
[man] Secret Wars.
80
00:05:48,890 --> 00:05:51,180
[announcer]
Can the Marvel superheroes stop them?
81
00:05:51,768 --> 00:05:54,478
Marvel's supervillains and
superheroes figures each sold separately.
82
00:05:55,522 --> 00:05:58,232
[Falcon] I think it was exciting
because it was really the first time
83
00:05:58,316 --> 00:06:02,026
that kids really saw this comingling
of all of these characters.
84
00:06:02,112 --> 00:06:04,242
How do we stop them, Captain America?
85
00:06:04,322 --> 00:06:05,912
That's our secret, Spider-Man.
86
00:06:05,990 --> 00:06:09,700
The other thing that they had done, from
a toy perspective that was really smart,
87
00:06:09,786 --> 00:06:12,496
they gave their number one character
a brand-new costume.
88
00:06:13,289 --> 00:06:15,379
So on the cover of Secret Wars,
89
00:06:15,458 --> 00:06:18,378
we see Spider-Man
in his black-and-white costume,
90
00:06:18,461 --> 00:06:22,551
and that costume would end up
becoming a major part of his history.
91
00:06:23,091 --> 00:06:26,971
Eventually, that black costume ended up
becoming the character Venom,
92
00:06:27,053 --> 00:06:29,893
who spun off into his own franchise
93
00:06:29,973 --> 00:06:32,813
and has become super popular
in and of himself.
94
00:06:33,643 --> 00:06:37,903
It was at the beginning
of what was to come for Marvel and toys.
95
00:06:40,233 --> 00:06:43,903
[Vonner] But in the '90s,
the comic book industry just bottomed out.
96
00:06:44,946 --> 00:06:48,236
And Marvel, at the time,
was the big player.
97
00:06:48,742 --> 00:06:53,252
So, you know, long story short,
they wind up going through bankruptcy.
98
00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:56,920
[Falcon]
A company called Toy Biz purchased Marvel,
99
00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,000
and then Toy Biz started making
all of the toys for Marvel.
100
00:07:01,546 --> 00:07:04,586
And Toy Biz had
this really awesome responsibility
101
00:07:04,674 --> 00:07:06,514
to bring these characters to life,
102
00:07:06,593 --> 00:07:11,603
and I felt that they had never really been
made in toy form the way they could be.
103
00:07:11,681 --> 00:07:13,641
The way that they're depicted
in the comics.
104
00:07:15,852 --> 00:07:19,192
[whistling]
105
00:07:21,775 --> 00:07:25,195
[Jasperson]
In the '80s and '90s, I worked for Toy Biz
106
00:07:25,278 --> 00:07:29,278
doing art for hundreds
of Marvel action figures.
107
00:07:30,367 --> 00:07:34,497
I think I drew at least 200,
300 characters,
108
00:07:34,579 --> 00:07:38,039
but then with all the iterations,
it seems like hundreds more.
109
00:07:39,834 --> 00:07:43,214
I never knew the Marvel Universe
was that big.
110
00:07:43,296 --> 00:07:47,126
I mean,
just biblical proportions of characters.
111
00:07:47,759 --> 00:07:53,009
As a kid,
I just dreamed of being an artist.
112
00:07:53,807 --> 00:07:57,387
My mom used to joke
that I was born with a pencil in my hand
113
00:07:57,477 --> 00:08:01,767
'cause, as soon as I found a piece
of paper as a kid, that's all I'd do.
114
00:08:02,524 --> 00:08:05,404
But I never, in my wildest dreams,
115
00:08:05,485 --> 00:08:09,735
thought I could make a living drawing
and working for Toy Biz.
116
00:08:09,823 --> 00:08:12,243
We used to joke
we're professional children.
117
00:08:13,034 --> 00:08:18,544
We were a lot of artistic rebels,
you know? And comic book geeks.
118
00:08:19,332 --> 00:08:23,042
My mom didn't read me bedtime stories.
I always had comic books around.
119
00:08:23,128 --> 00:08:27,548
She was into Norse mythology.
So she would tell me stories about Thor.
120
00:08:28,049 --> 00:08:32,549
So, Toy Biz to me,
that was like a university.
121
00:08:32,637 --> 00:08:36,427
It was like going through
this whole new growth process,
122
00:08:36,516 --> 00:08:39,096
and we were kinda
on the ground floor of that.
123
00:08:39,769 --> 00:08:42,189
[Falcon]
I started making toys when I was a kid.
124
00:08:42,272 --> 00:08:45,402
I would see versions of the characters
in different comic books I had,
125
00:08:45,483 --> 00:08:46,693
and I would cut them out.
126
00:08:46,776 --> 00:08:49,856
And I would play
with the flat paper cutout.
127
00:08:49,946 --> 00:08:52,526
Cut to years later,
I'm in my college dorm room,
128
00:08:52,615 --> 00:08:55,325
feverishly whittling away at Milliput,
129
00:08:55,410 --> 00:08:57,910
a bonding agent that you use to fix leaks,
130
00:08:57,996 --> 00:09:00,956
to create heads and hands
of different characters
131
00:09:01,041 --> 00:09:03,211
that had not been made into toys yet.
132
00:09:03,752 --> 00:09:06,212
I brought a lot of those things
to my very first interview
133
00:09:06,296 --> 00:09:07,836
at a company called Toy Biz.
134
00:09:07,922 --> 00:09:11,842
The gentleman I was interviewing with
looked at what I'd brought in that day.
135
00:09:11,926 --> 00:09:14,296
He said, "Did you make these?"
I said, "Yes." He said, "You're hired."
136
00:09:16,097 --> 00:09:18,767
Marvel was just at the beginning
of rolling out
137
00:09:18,850 --> 00:09:24,360
all of this insanely popular content
that they've made over the past 25 years.
138
00:09:25,398 --> 00:09:30,698
[woman] At that point, action figures were
all pretty much the same size and scale.
139
00:09:30,779 --> 00:09:32,699
That's really not what the world is about.
140
00:09:32,781 --> 00:09:36,871
When you look at a comic book, characters
are taller and a lot bigger than others.
141
00:09:36,951 --> 00:09:38,081
[Falcon] JoAnn said, "Listen,
142
00:09:38,161 --> 00:09:41,621
I think we should do something
for our Spider-Man collector."
143
00:09:42,332 --> 00:09:45,382
[McLaughlin] We decided that we were
gonna do figures to scale and form.
144
00:09:45,460 --> 00:09:48,800
So they were different heights,
different body shapes.
145
00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:50,800
They were more true to the character.
146
00:09:51,758 --> 00:09:54,588
[Jasperson] There was a lot
of interesting mechanism and movement
147
00:09:54,678 --> 00:09:57,058
that we designed into the figures,
148
00:09:57,138 --> 00:09:59,678
that really weren't
that big of a thing before.
149
00:10:00,308 --> 00:10:03,438
As the production process
became more sophisticated,
150
00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:05,650
now we can have
different points of movement.
151
00:10:05,730 --> 00:10:08,320
[Falcon]
He was so flexible, he could do yoga.
152
00:10:12,737 --> 00:10:15,907
[Vonner] We really pushed it with
the other extremities, like the fingers.
153
00:10:15,990 --> 00:10:17,990
So now you can have
Spider-Man come at you.
154
00:10:18,451 --> 00:10:19,871
[Falcon] It was a runaway success.
155
00:10:19,953 --> 00:10:21,503
And then JoAnn looked at me,
156
00:10:21,579 --> 00:10:24,209
and we both agreed that we should
open this up for all of Marvel.
157
00:10:24,290 --> 00:10:26,290
It was her idea to call it Marvel Legends.
158
00:10:27,919 --> 00:10:31,879
[Vonner] It was uncharted territory,
a whole line of characters
159
00:10:31,965 --> 00:10:34,425
that look like they've fallen
right out the comic book.
160
00:10:39,431 --> 00:10:43,981
Bringing the characters to life,
you just immersed yourself
161
00:10:44,060 --> 00:10:48,820
in what the action figure was supposed
to do and how the character would do it.
162
00:10:48,898 --> 00:10:51,148
These are some original control drawings.
163
00:10:52,152 --> 00:10:55,742
What this basically does
is give the sculptor an idea
164
00:10:55,822 --> 00:10:58,662
of what the action figure looks like.
165
00:10:59,117 --> 00:11:03,707
A control drawing starts with you go
to The Marvel Universe Handbook,
166
00:11:03,788 --> 00:11:06,208
and you look up a particular character
167
00:11:06,291 --> 00:11:09,631
that you've been asked to do
the technical drawing on.
168
00:11:10,337 --> 00:11:14,967
The Marvel Universe is, sort of,
the bible for every character.
169
00:11:15,467 --> 00:11:19,637
The amount of backstory and detail
is just awe-inspiring.
170
00:11:21,056 --> 00:11:22,886
This is Iron Man,
171
00:11:22,974 --> 00:11:28,234
and Iron Man's suits come
with really specific qualities
172
00:11:28,313 --> 00:11:30,233
depending on what he's doing with them.
173
00:11:30,690 --> 00:11:34,070
Each character has
this really significant look
174
00:11:34,152 --> 00:11:37,162
that you really have to honor
in the control drawings.
175
00:11:38,782 --> 00:11:42,792
You start to very roughly draw.
176
00:11:43,578 --> 00:11:48,328
And there's a really specific silhouette
within Marvel,
177
00:11:48,416 --> 00:11:54,046
a certain proportion across the shoulders
and a certain stance on the legs.
178
00:11:54,130 --> 00:11:59,010
And you always,
always exaggerate the muscles. Big time.
179
00:11:59,094 --> 00:12:01,814
That's, sort of, one of those huge things.
180
00:12:01,888 --> 00:12:05,308
I mean, you do not have small biceps
on a Marvel action figure.
181
00:12:05,892 --> 00:12:08,312
Once I get through doing all of this,
182
00:12:08,895 --> 00:12:14,145
then I go to my side view,
and I line everything up.
183
00:12:14,234 --> 00:12:16,574
I try and keep it straight.
184
00:12:16,653 --> 00:12:20,073
I'm gonna line up
the detail of the helmet.
185
00:12:20,573 --> 00:12:23,203
And after I do this really rough,
186
00:12:23,284 --> 00:12:28,084
then I would just go ahead
and do this final,
187
00:12:28,164 --> 00:12:31,924
very clean ink,
with permanent fine marker.
188
00:12:32,836 --> 00:12:34,086
As you can see,
189
00:12:34,170 --> 00:12:38,590
all of these particular details
have to match on the same plane.
190
00:12:39,259 --> 00:12:43,759
So, everything is exactly the same
all the way across.
191
00:12:43,847 --> 00:12:48,687
So that you end up with, basically,
a three-dimensional view that's done flat.
192
00:12:51,521 --> 00:12:53,061
[Vonner] We started to see certain comics,
193
00:12:53,148 --> 00:12:56,318
and I would say, "That looks exactly like
our action figure right there."
194
00:12:56,401 --> 00:12:59,701
The toys started to influence the comics,
and once that started to happen,
195
00:12:59,779 --> 00:13:02,779
it's like now
we kinda pumping on all cylinders.
196
00:13:06,036 --> 00:13:10,206
[McLaughlin] Toy Biz passed the torch
to Hasbro in 2007.
197
00:13:10,290 --> 00:13:13,420
Many of the things
that we invented at Toy Biz,
198
00:13:13,501 --> 00:13:17,511
they have taken those products
and really treated them with great respect
199
00:13:17,589 --> 00:13:19,509
and really have taken them to new heights.
200
00:13:23,887 --> 00:13:25,887
[Stall] I've been at Hasbro for 18 years.
201
00:13:26,723 --> 00:13:29,853
Started here straight out of college,
and I've been here ever since.
202
00:13:29,934 --> 00:13:31,394
-Morning.
-Morning, Dwight.
203
00:13:31,478 --> 00:13:35,068
Growing up, reading comics
definitely helped spark the interest
204
00:13:35,148 --> 00:13:37,648
that I am able to tap into today.
205
00:13:38,651 --> 00:13:41,781
I had some rough years
from my seventh and eighth grade.
206
00:13:41,863 --> 00:13:44,453
That's when I really started
to draw a lot,
207
00:13:44,532 --> 00:13:47,582
and I remember my best friend
and I went to the store,
208
00:13:47,660 --> 00:13:50,960
and we saw X-Men comics.
And it blew my mind.
209
00:13:51,706 --> 00:13:54,746
It was just about the X-Men
coming together to try to fight something
210
00:13:54,834 --> 00:13:57,424
that was way bigger and more powerful
than they were alone
211
00:13:57,504 --> 00:14:00,304
and the sacrifices they had to make
to overcome it.
212
00:14:01,049 --> 00:14:05,299
The poison shot through my veins,
and it's just-- I couldn't let it go.
213
00:14:06,221 --> 00:14:10,931
There's a lot of like-minded weirdos here
at Hasbro and that makes it fun.
214
00:14:13,144 --> 00:14:15,614
[Ting] I joke that I had given
thousands of dollars
215
00:14:15,689 --> 00:14:18,899
to Hasbro of my own money
before I started working here,
216
00:14:18,983 --> 00:14:22,783
because I've always really had a passion
for the collector's side of the business.
217
00:14:23,947 --> 00:14:26,617
Got my start with Marvel trading cards.
218
00:14:26,700 --> 00:14:29,410
This was my bread and butter,
and it still is to this day.
219
00:14:29,494 --> 00:14:35,544
I have a collection of sealed boxes
at home, in case of a rainy day.
220
00:14:35,625 --> 00:14:36,625
I may need some more.
221
00:14:37,252 --> 00:14:41,092
My wife deals with a lot of boxes,
and she would say,
222
00:14:41,172 --> 00:14:43,802
"Do you realize,
every night when you brush your teeth,
223
00:14:43,883 --> 00:14:47,603
you wander into that room
and you just look around for a few minutes
224
00:14:47,679 --> 00:14:48,849
and then you come out?"
225
00:14:48,930 --> 00:14:51,980
I said, "Yeah, I never thought about it,
but yeah, I guess I do."
226
00:14:52,767 --> 00:14:55,687
These pictures
were from my third grade expo.
227
00:14:55,770 --> 00:14:57,900
"The X-po's X-Men X-hibit,"
228
00:14:58,481 --> 00:15:01,111
with each word starting with the letter X.
229
00:15:01,609 --> 00:15:03,399
Being around it just makes me happy.
230
00:15:04,988 --> 00:15:07,408
Now I am working on the Marvel Legends.
231
00:15:07,490 --> 00:15:10,200
I work on photography for the packaging.
232
00:15:10,285 --> 00:15:12,945
I'm designing stuff
that I want in my collection too.
233
00:15:14,372 --> 00:15:16,422
[director]
234
00:15:16,750 --> 00:15:18,210
[clicks tongue, inhales]
235
00:15:18,293 --> 00:15:21,713
Why don't we lower his right arm
a little bit and have his left arm higher?
236
00:15:21,796 --> 00:15:25,296
Do you think we could tilt his head
slightly so he's looking at his hand?
237
00:15:25,383 --> 00:15:28,013
On Thing, could we raise his right hand?
238
00:15:28,094 --> 00:15:29,264
Is this piece flexible?
239
00:15:29,763 --> 00:15:33,393
It's never just good enough. It's like,
"Well what if I-- What if we did this?"
240
00:15:33,475 --> 00:15:37,645
I wanna keep pushing myself
to try to incrementally make things
241
00:15:37,729 --> 00:15:40,769
better and better until finally,
you have to call it.
242
00:15:41,900 --> 00:15:46,070
One of Toy Biz's biggest legacy points
is the creating of Marvel Legends.
243
00:15:46,863 --> 00:15:49,283
When Hasbro started making Marvel Legends,
244
00:15:49,366 --> 00:15:51,446
initially we stumbled a little bit
out of the blocks.
245
00:15:52,285 --> 00:15:56,115
Well, we hadn't done a six inch,
super realistic line.
246
00:15:56,206 --> 00:15:59,876
We tried to just do what Toy Biz did
but with some differences,
247
00:15:59,959 --> 00:16:01,539
and that wasn't working.
248
00:16:01,628 --> 00:16:05,628
In 2012, we decided we wanted
to relaunch in a big way.
249
00:16:06,675 --> 00:16:08,635
We built a whole bunch
of new bodies, new sculpts,
250
00:16:08,718 --> 00:16:12,098
to start from scratch
and give a new era to it.
251
00:16:12,722 --> 00:16:15,602
[Ting] Improved and more lifelike deco
on the faces.
252
00:16:15,684 --> 00:16:19,314
The greater "posability,"
the greater play you can have.
253
00:16:19,396 --> 00:16:22,816
Launching new things like vehicles
for the first time in the six inch scale.
254
00:16:23,358 --> 00:16:27,858
Ghost Rider and his motorcycle
or Professor X and his hover chair.
255
00:16:27,946 --> 00:16:30,156
We know that the fans
love that kind of stuff.
256
00:16:47,048 --> 00:16:49,428
[Wu] Sometimes a good idea
will just come out of thin air.
257
00:16:49,509 --> 00:16:52,719
When that happens, you have
to drop everything that you're doing,
258
00:16:52,804 --> 00:16:56,274
get your toy, get your gear out,
and just make that happen.
259
00:16:56,975 --> 00:16:58,055
This is a hover chair.
260
00:16:58,143 --> 00:17:01,443
It definitely needs to be up on wires
to give it the effect of floating.
261
00:17:02,397 --> 00:17:05,817
These figures,
they are mutants from the X-Men.
262
00:17:07,152 --> 00:17:09,612
Professor X, he's got telepathy.
263
00:17:09,696 --> 00:17:14,656
He can affect people's thoughts and how
they act by getting into their heads.
264
00:17:15,243 --> 00:17:17,703
Dazzler can convert sound waves.
265
00:17:17,787 --> 00:17:20,367
I was really drawn to her
because of the roller skates.
266
00:17:20,457 --> 00:17:24,287
Storm is a really rad character.
She can control the weather.
267
00:17:24,753 --> 00:17:28,173
And Psylocke,
one of her powers is telekinesis,
268
00:17:28,256 --> 00:17:30,586
so she can create weapons
from psychic energy.
269
00:17:30,675 --> 00:17:34,885
I will use a remote shutter release
so that I can take the pictures
270
00:17:34,971 --> 00:17:36,891
and also do some effects at the same time.
271
00:17:38,516 --> 00:17:41,976
I want it to be a little misty,
so I'm gonna use this spray.
272
00:17:42,062 --> 00:17:44,902
It's Atmosphere Aerosol.
It's basically fog in a can.
273
00:17:46,941 --> 00:17:49,321
[rapid clicking]
274
00:17:49,402 --> 00:17:51,572
I'm actually gonna have
two effects going on here.
275
00:17:51,654 --> 00:17:53,914
One is gonna be the dirt
that's gonna be kicked up
276
00:17:53,990 --> 00:17:55,830
in his turbulence from the hover chair.
277
00:17:59,329 --> 00:18:03,419
If we can have the story
plus some kind of practical effects,
278
00:18:03,500 --> 00:18:06,630
the dirt and debris being kicked up
by his hover chair,
279
00:18:06,711 --> 00:18:10,721
the fog that we created with
the Atmosphere Aerosol in the background,
280
00:18:10,799 --> 00:18:13,889
it's just really gonna make the person
become engaged with the image.
281
00:18:20,350 --> 00:18:23,730
Right now I'm erasing
the compressed air can,
282
00:18:23,812 --> 00:18:27,152
as well as a bit of my hand,
and that red straw.
283
00:18:27,732 --> 00:18:30,072
A good toy photograph, in my opinion,
284
00:18:30,151 --> 00:18:33,741
means the technical aspect
of the photography has to be spot on,
285
00:18:33,822 --> 00:18:36,572
which means, exposure, color,
all of those things.
286
00:18:36,658 --> 00:18:39,158
The composition has to be amazing,
287
00:18:39,244 --> 00:18:42,914
and some type of effects,
whether that's digital or practical.
288
00:18:43,540 --> 00:18:45,630
I try to get all of those things together
289
00:18:45,709 --> 00:18:49,459
because I think it's gonna make
a much more dynamic and engaging image.
290
00:18:50,255 --> 00:18:53,795
[Falcon] There are several different
communities where people build sets,
291
00:18:53,883 --> 00:18:56,513
pose the action figures out,
put special effects into them.
292
00:18:56,594 --> 00:19:00,974
It's so exciting to see people
engaging with a product
293
00:19:01,057 --> 00:19:02,677
that you've worked on to that level
294
00:19:02,767 --> 00:19:06,397
and challenging and expanding
who those characters can be.
295
00:19:08,440 --> 00:19:11,440
Companies like Funko have leaned
into that in a big way,
296
00:19:11,526 --> 00:19:13,026
and it's worked incredibly well.
297
00:19:13,611 --> 00:19:16,701
Funko's approach to making toys
has a lot more to do with pop culture
298
00:19:16,781 --> 00:19:19,831
than actual mechanics
in the way that Hasbro does.
299
00:19:19,909 --> 00:19:23,329
They like to play in the more whimsical
nature of who our characters are.
300
00:19:25,832 --> 00:19:28,922
They really love to pivot
inside of a character.
301
00:19:29,002 --> 00:19:31,922
You know, if there's a way
to bring the character to life
302
00:19:32,005 --> 00:19:34,835
in a new and unexpected way,
that's their forte.
303
00:19:35,967 --> 00:19:37,637
[Wilkinson]
I've been here since the beginning,
304
00:19:37,719 --> 00:19:40,559
since the original owner
had started it up in his garage.
305
00:19:40,638 --> 00:19:44,388
He made a quick handshake deal
with the owner of Big Boy Restaurants
306
00:19:44,476 --> 00:19:46,636
and made a Big Boy bobblehead.
307
00:19:47,145 --> 00:19:49,555
And that's sort of what launched it all.
308
00:19:50,857 --> 00:19:54,857
Working with Marvel started very simply,
and it was a dream for me because,
309
00:19:54,944 --> 00:19:58,414
from the moment I could turn a page,
I was reading Marvel comics.
310
00:19:59,157 --> 00:20:01,327
Hulk and Spider-Man were my favorite,
311
00:20:01,409 --> 00:20:05,369
and because I was an artist,
it was all about my favorite illustrators,
312
00:20:05,455 --> 00:20:08,035
whether it was Jack Kirby
or Stephen Ditko.
313
00:20:08,124 --> 00:20:11,004
So it kept me just poring
through these pages
314
00:20:11,086 --> 00:20:13,666
and looking for the details
and skill level.
315
00:20:14,089 --> 00:20:19,969
I suppose facing these icons of my youth
could be a little intimidating.
316
00:20:20,053 --> 00:20:23,643
You know? A little bit of,
"Oh, boy. I gotta do these justice."
317
00:20:23,723 --> 00:20:25,733
But it was a blast.
318
00:20:25,809 --> 00:20:28,349
I've created all the first series
of bobbleheads.
319
00:20:28,436 --> 00:20:31,266
Some of those, sort of,
retro, classic characters.
320
00:20:31,773 --> 00:20:33,073
Not too big of poses.
321
00:20:33,149 --> 00:20:37,779
They were just very old-school bobbleheads
hugged together with, you know, big head.
322
00:20:38,321 --> 00:20:40,701
And it was a huge hit,
and we haven't looked back.
323
00:20:42,742 --> 00:20:46,582
We've been creating hundreds
of Marvel characters a year ever since.
324
00:20:47,997 --> 00:20:53,337
Once you get past creating every Thor
and Spider-Man five or six times,
325
00:20:53,420 --> 00:20:57,090
you know, you kind of want to reimagine
what we do with Marvel.
326
00:20:57,674 --> 00:21:00,094
We had the success with our plush line.
327
00:21:00,176 --> 00:21:03,506
They were just, sort of,
cute little button eyes and tiny nose,
328
00:21:03,596 --> 00:21:08,266
and my challenge was to take that
plush line and put it into a vinyl line.
329
00:21:09,269 --> 00:21:12,979
[man 6] The 50-50 body to head ratio,
the big eyes,
330
00:21:13,064 --> 00:21:17,534
the cartoony quality,
that appealing, simplified form.
331
00:21:17,610 --> 00:21:21,110
[Wilkinson] No mouth, eyes low, far apart.
332
00:21:21,197 --> 00:21:22,817
I always call it the science of cute.
333
00:21:23,408 --> 00:21:25,368
-I got some stuff to show you...
-All right!
334
00:21:25,452 --> 00:21:26,622
...if you don't mind.
335
00:21:27,579 --> 00:21:29,209
[Wilkinson] Man, we got classic Thor!
336
00:21:29,289 --> 00:21:32,959
I might just barely go a little bigger
with the feet.
337
00:21:33,043 --> 00:21:34,293
-[Luu] Okay. Yeah.
-And--
338
00:21:34,377 --> 00:21:35,797
[Luu] Kinda small right now actually.
339
00:21:35,879 --> 00:21:37,839
[Wilkinson]
Yeah, and then zoom in on the torso.
340
00:21:38,131 --> 00:21:39,301
Perfect.
341
00:21:39,382 --> 00:21:44,762
And maybe I'd just pull back a little bit
on the muscular of the rib cage.
342
00:21:44,846 --> 00:21:46,846
Just pull that back a little bit.
343
00:21:46,931 --> 00:21:52,061
Yeah, just soften it up so we stay in
the Pop world and not quite as detailed.
344
00:21:52,937 --> 00:21:56,227
And I'd probably punch up
both the hands, size-wise.
345
00:21:56,316 --> 00:22:00,236
Get that fist a little bigger
just to kind of get that Pop feel to it.
346
00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:01,530
-That feels right.
-Yeah.
347
00:22:01,613 --> 00:22:03,663
-Around that size, and this one as well.
-Yeah.
348
00:22:04,324 --> 00:22:05,954
Yeah, nice work on that hair.
349
00:22:08,578 --> 00:22:09,998
The Venomized series--
350
00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,880
There's multiple comic story lines
in the Marvel Universe
351
00:22:13,958 --> 00:22:16,628
that everybody seems
to have been venomized at some point.
352
00:22:17,629 --> 00:22:20,089
[Butcher]
We talk about not just making it look like
353
00:22:20,173 --> 00:22:22,593
you just threw Venom
on top of a character.
354
00:22:22,676 --> 00:22:27,346
Like, how do we keep the true essence
of the character and still be venomized?
355
00:22:27,430 --> 00:22:31,980
You know, what makes Groot,
when he's taken over by Venom, different?
356
00:22:32,602 --> 00:22:36,772
I wanted Groot to have a feeling of--
It's, like, engulfing him.
357
00:22:36,856 --> 00:22:42,356
So, what I'll do is I'll make it feel--
Along these edges.
358
00:22:43,405 --> 00:22:46,405
Give it, like, a little raised feel to it.
359
00:22:51,204 --> 00:22:53,424
Making a little plant parasite on him.
360
00:22:54,165 --> 00:22:55,165
[chuckles]
361
00:22:57,627 --> 00:23:00,007
We work on characters
that each character is different.
362
00:23:00,088 --> 00:23:03,378
Each one has a different personality,
and I can do this for hours
363
00:23:03,466 --> 00:23:05,716
without even noticing
that the time flies by.
364
00:23:07,470 --> 00:23:10,310
We are very driven by what the fans want,
365
00:23:10,390 --> 00:23:12,730
what they're into,
what they're passionate about.
366
00:23:16,312 --> 00:23:21,072
There's fan boards and our
Funko Fan Fests, and that's never changed.
367
00:23:23,903 --> 00:23:26,033
I've worked on thousands of Pops,
368
00:23:26,114 --> 00:23:30,874
and I still get those toy tingles
when I see a new Pop come in.
369
00:23:31,745 --> 00:23:37,745
To watch an idea turn into a toy in
a matter of months is amazingly rewarding.
370
00:23:39,461 --> 00:23:44,301
Each toy company, Funko, Hasbro,
they all have different ways in, um,
371
00:23:44,382 --> 00:23:46,092
with every brand that they work on.
372
00:23:46,176 --> 00:23:49,426
Funko is, without a doubt,
one of the greatest novelty companies
373
00:23:49,512 --> 00:23:51,472
that's ever come along
in the toy industry.
374
00:23:52,098 --> 00:23:55,058
Hasbro, they take the Marvel brand
incredibly seriously.
375
00:23:55,143 --> 00:23:58,273
And, when you're around the product
and around the development cycle,
376
00:23:58,355 --> 00:23:59,725
it makes me feel young.
377
00:23:59,814 --> 00:24:02,324
It makes me feel like I am that same kid
378
00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:05,150
that wanted X-Men toys
when there were none.
379
00:24:05,236 --> 00:24:08,736
And how do we take what we're doing today
and make it the best possible thing?
380
00:24:10,325 --> 00:24:13,325
[Stall] What you see all around you
is our working archive.
381
00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:16,660
We try to look at this wall
and see what we've made in the past,
382
00:24:16,748 --> 00:24:19,458
and what can we use
that we can turn into a whole new figure
383
00:24:19,542 --> 00:24:22,092
by just adding a few new pieces.
So it's really fun.
384
00:24:22,170 --> 00:24:24,800
We pull things down,
see if they fit, if they would work,
385
00:24:24,881 --> 00:24:27,511
and we mix and match,
playing a three-dimensional puzzle game
386
00:24:27,592 --> 00:24:29,892
with all these action figures
to build new ones.
387
00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:33,560
Today we're working on Cyborg Spider-Man.
388
00:24:33,640 --> 00:24:35,350
He's about as '90s as they get.
389
00:24:36,559 --> 00:24:39,149
Marvel Publishing has done a lot
of crazy stuff over the years,
390
00:24:39,229 --> 00:24:42,109
and some of the '90s stuff
is some of the most awesome.
391
00:24:42,899 --> 00:24:46,239
In the comics, he gets beat up,
and they get him all patched up,
392
00:24:46,319 --> 00:24:50,739
and he's superfied with
a cybernetic cast to help his arm heal
393
00:24:50,824 --> 00:24:53,244
and a cybernetic eye for the final fight.
394
00:24:54,244 --> 00:24:57,834
We find all these awesome images
of different versions of him
395
00:24:57,914 --> 00:24:59,964
from the comics that he appeared in.
396
00:25:00,041 --> 00:25:02,171
Once we have the art,
once we've selected a style,
397
00:25:02,252 --> 00:25:04,342
then the design team takes over,
398
00:25:04,421 --> 00:25:07,471
and that's when we draw out
what the figure looks like,
399
00:25:07,549 --> 00:25:09,299
and we turn that over to sculpting.
400
00:25:09,384 --> 00:25:13,644
Our sculptors take our 2D illustrations,
and they turn them into 3D,
401
00:25:13,722 --> 00:25:15,642
and then we can start
adjusting this thing.
402
00:25:15,724 --> 00:25:19,524
If you look at it, compared to the
reference, his eyes are a little bit high.
403
00:25:19,602 --> 00:25:21,152
Spider-Man's got really big eyes,
404
00:25:21,229 --> 00:25:23,769
and these are sitting a little bit
too high up in his head,
405
00:25:23,857 --> 00:25:25,107
so we have to fix that.
406
00:25:25,608 --> 00:25:29,278
We can start fixing the shape,
the overall size.
407
00:25:29,362 --> 00:25:31,492
We can start pulling it down
to where you want it.
408
00:25:31,573 --> 00:25:33,783
It's all subtle things,
but you have to remember,
409
00:25:33,867 --> 00:25:36,197
at the end of the day,
these heads are only the size
410
00:25:36,286 --> 00:25:39,496
of about a US penny.
So it's the little things that matter.
411
00:25:40,373 --> 00:25:44,133
And then I usually just
wanna get the colors roughed out.
412
00:25:44,210 --> 00:25:46,800
That shows where I want the colors to go.
413
00:25:48,298 --> 00:25:51,798
So you can just bulk in the forms.
414
00:25:51,885 --> 00:25:54,845
This is kinda fun. It's like Bob Ross
with your happy little paintbrush.
415
00:25:55,388 --> 00:25:57,518
Spider-Man, looking
at the reference over there,
416
00:25:57,599 --> 00:26:00,639
he's still primarily red and blue
with some cool techy stuff.
417
00:26:05,148 --> 00:26:10,028
Once we get these complete,
we'll work with our model department,
418
00:26:10,111 --> 00:26:12,281
and that's where you meet Laura.
419
00:26:25,794 --> 00:26:28,384
[DeLorenzo-Jones]
When Dwight passes the baton to me,
420
00:26:28,463 --> 00:26:31,473
now it's my turn to come up
with an awesome paint scheme.
421
00:26:31,925 --> 00:26:35,345
Finding ways to use paint to accentuate
what's already there in the sculpt
422
00:26:35,428 --> 00:26:36,598
is what I aim to do.
423
00:26:47,107 --> 00:26:52,647
I like the idea that my job is bringing
these characters into the reader's worlds,
424
00:26:52,737 --> 00:26:54,567
so they can have a little piece of them.
425
00:26:56,700 --> 00:27:00,410
I do always like diving in
and doing super detailed stuff.
426
00:27:00,495 --> 00:27:01,955
Then I just get in the zone,
427
00:27:02,038 --> 00:27:04,788
and that's when I feel
my best as a person, honestly.
428
00:27:05,792 --> 00:27:10,132
When I first started,
I couldn't even drink coffee,
429
00:27:10,213 --> 00:27:11,803
or at least I didn't think I could,
430
00:27:11,881 --> 00:27:15,471
because I was so nervous
that my hand would shake too much.
431
00:27:16,011 --> 00:27:20,601
But, over the years, I am back to,
you know, two cups a day. [chuckles]
432
00:27:23,727 --> 00:27:26,557
It's always awesome, when I finish,
to go back to Dwight.
433
00:27:26,646 --> 00:27:28,726
-Hey, how's it going?
-Good. What we got today?
434
00:27:28,815 --> 00:27:30,065
Cyborg Spider-Man.
435
00:27:30,150 --> 00:27:32,150
♪ Cyborg Spider-Man ♪
436
00:27:32,652 --> 00:27:33,862
This looks fantastic.
437
00:27:35,530 --> 00:27:38,200
Did we stay with classic colors,
or did we update the blue?
438
00:27:38,575 --> 00:27:40,405
-Um, I stayed pretty classic.
-Cool.
439
00:27:40,493 --> 00:27:41,703
-Yeah.
-I think it works.
440
00:27:41,786 --> 00:27:44,116
-Awesome.
-How long till you have it all wrapped up?
441
00:27:44,205 --> 00:27:45,365
End of day, I'll be done.
442
00:27:45,457 --> 00:27:46,997
-Excellent. Cool.
-Cool.
443
00:27:52,756 --> 00:27:55,176
These little plastic figures,
they've transcended toy.
444
00:27:55,258 --> 00:27:56,298
They're more than that.
445
00:28:00,305 --> 00:28:04,595
And working on something that
reaches across and touches so many people
446
00:28:04,684 --> 00:28:07,484
in so many different ways
and at so many different levels,
447
00:28:07,562 --> 00:28:08,902
that's powerful stuff, man.
448
00:28:14,944 --> 00:28:17,364
[Wu]
Today, I'm going to the New York Toy Fair.
449
00:28:18,198 --> 00:28:23,118
The New York Toy Fair is the largest
toy trade show in North America.
450
00:28:23,536 --> 00:28:27,246
So you have many, many toy companies
that are exhibiting there.
451
00:28:27,332 --> 00:28:31,802
You also have many, many store buyers
that go there to buy the latest toys.
452
00:28:32,837 --> 00:28:36,047
And going to Toy Fair
is a big deal for me.
453
00:28:36,132 --> 00:28:40,802
To be brought in and to be the inaugural
photographer, that means a lot to me.
454
00:28:41,513 --> 00:28:46,183
They'd never had any kind of installation
or exhibition at any of their shows.
455
00:28:47,394 --> 00:28:49,734
That's gonna be fun. I'm excited.
456
00:28:50,897 --> 00:28:52,477
It's a big spread.
457
00:28:52,565 --> 00:28:55,065
[director]
458
00:28:55,151 --> 00:28:59,321
No. I just thought he was just playing
with a toy [laughs] in our backyard.
459
00:29:04,869 --> 00:29:07,749
[Wu] I always had wanted to come
to New York Toy Fair.
460
00:29:07,831 --> 00:29:10,501
It's just kind of mind-blowing
that I'm gonna be cutting the ribbon
461
00:29:10,583 --> 00:29:14,093
because the ribbon cutting
is the official beginning of Toy Fair.
462
00:29:14,170 --> 00:29:18,590
So to be able to kick it off,
it means something pretty important to me.
463
00:29:27,517 --> 00:29:30,307
[McLaughlin] Toy Fair happens every year,
464
00:29:30,395 --> 00:29:36,145
and it's where all of the toy-makers
show off their new products.
465
00:29:39,821 --> 00:29:42,411
It's the time of year where
we're so excited to go see
466
00:29:42,490 --> 00:29:44,740
all the great new toys coming out.
467
00:29:45,618 --> 00:29:48,328
You can feel the electricity.
You can feel the excitement.
468
00:29:49,164 --> 00:29:50,174
[Vonner] That's what you want.
469
00:29:50,248 --> 00:29:52,958
You wanted that, "What's next?"
"What's coming next?" That magic trick.
470
00:29:53,043 --> 00:29:56,003
You know, "How did they do that?"
And, "Who are they coming with?"
471
00:29:56,087 --> 00:29:58,757
And, "I can't believe they did that guy."
472
00:30:00,842 --> 00:30:01,932
[Stall] Toy Fair is awesome.
473
00:30:02,010 --> 00:30:04,640
We get to go to New York once a year,
474
00:30:04,721 --> 00:30:09,231
and all of the big fan media
comes into the Hasbro showroom,
475
00:30:09,309 --> 00:30:11,309
and we get to put on a big presentation
476
00:30:11,394 --> 00:30:14,814
and show them everything
that we're doing for the upcoming year.
477
00:30:19,736 --> 00:30:22,906
[Falcon] Every year you've gotta turn
what you're developing over
478
00:30:22,989 --> 00:30:27,989
and make an entirely new line, find
another reason for people to get excited,
479
00:30:28,078 --> 00:30:30,618
and it is one of the
most satisfying things in the world.
480
00:30:35,126 --> 00:30:39,296
Anytime there is a new reveal,
everyone wants to be the first to see it,
481
00:30:39,381 --> 00:30:41,841
and sharing that excitement
and sharing that fandom,
482
00:30:41,925 --> 00:30:44,335
it's never a dull moment.
483
00:30:48,473 --> 00:30:51,693
And it's so fulfilling to bring
these characters to life
484
00:30:51,768 --> 00:30:53,438
and actually see it on a shelf.
485
00:30:57,357 --> 00:30:58,937
[Rachel] Give me a little smile.
486
00:30:59,359 --> 00:31:01,109
Awesome. Okay.
487
00:31:01,861 --> 00:31:04,951
[Wu]
My exhibition includes about 70 images.
488
00:31:05,740 --> 00:31:08,240
-Showing the Hulk in a lighter moment.
-[laughs]
489
00:31:08,743 --> 00:31:10,123
[Rachel] Oh, the image is nice.
490
00:31:10,203 --> 00:31:13,503
I mean, he's still grimacing but,
you know, he's feeling peaceful inside.
491
00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:16,500
-Here we have Thor.
-[Rachel] Yeah. This is fun.
492
00:31:16,584 --> 00:31:19,464
[Wu] Before Thor's hammer,
there was his awkward handsaw period.
493
00:31:19,546 --> 00:31:20,916
[both laughing]
494
00:31:21,506 --> 00:31:25,046
I found toy photography so late in life.
495
00:31:25,135 --> 00:31:29,255
I have so much creative energy right now
that I wanna really just, kind of,
496
00:31:29,347 --> 00:31:32,347
ride this and see where it goes.
497
00:31:33,059 --> 00:31:34,769
[male executive] Who's ready for Toy Fair?
498
00:31:34,853 --> 00:31:35,943
Come on!
499
00:31:36,646 --> 00:31:41,736
This is the 117th annual
New York Toy Fair.
500
00:31:41,818 --> 00:31:43,568
And we are really blessed today.
501
00:31:43,653 --> 00:31:46,953
If you look up behind you
and you see Mitchel Wu Gallery,
502
00:31:47,032 --> 00:31:51,622
that is some of the most amazing toy
photography that you're ever gonna see.
503
00:31:51,703 --> 00:31:53,253
This is Mitchel Wu,
504
00:31:53,329 --> 00:31:56,419
and you need to check out
that amazing gallery of photography.
505
00:31:56,916 --> 00:31:59,786
-Three. Two. One.
-[spectators] Three. Two. One.
506
00:31:59,878 --> 00:32:01,418
Happy Toy Fair, everyone!
507
00:32:01,504 --> 00:32:03,724
[whooping, cheering]
508
00:32:11,306 --> 00:32:13,386
[Wilkinson]
Toy Fair is very important to Funko.
509
00:32:13,892 --> 00:32:17,352
Many of our lines, including Pops,
were launched at Toy Fairs.
510
00:32:18,104 --> 00:32:22,944
It's hard to explain that, sort of,
joy of having something you like so much,
511
00:32:23,026 --> 00:32:25,566
like venomized Marvel characters,
512
00:32:26,321 --> 00:32:29,491
getting to own it
and guide it and steer it
513
00:32:30,116 --> 00:32:34,536
and create a new vision
of amazing characters.
514
00:32:39,626 --> 00:32:40,786
[Stall] The stakes are very high.
515
00:32:41,544 --> 00:32:44,554
Our team is always chomping at the bit
to elevate our game
516
00:32:44,631 --> 00:32:47,631
and do something bigger and better
than we did the year before.
517
00:32:48,301 --> 00:32:51,971
Getting the chance to be here,
creating these for that next generation,
518
00:32:52,055 --> 00:32:54,715
we're giving them the fuel
to create those stories
519
00:32:54,808 --> 00:32:57,848
and create their own nostalgic memories
at some point in time,
520
00:32:57,936 --> 00:33:00,766
and to be part of that loop
is really powerful.
521
00:33:01,564 --> 00:33:05,534
[Vonner] Back in the day, we just had
no clue where things would end up now.
522
00:33:05,610 --> 00:33:06,990
And that's what's so exciting.
523
00:33:07,070 --> 00:33:11,070
Like, to see so many fans
that actually bought into your vision,
524
00:33:11,157 --> 00:33:13,657
that actually dug
what was lurking in your mind.
525
00:33:14,327 --> 00:33:19,957
To be a spoke in that huge, huge wheel,
that's a honor in and of itself.
526
00:33:20,041 --> 00:33:21,331
Jesse, that one looks great.
527
00:33:21,418 --> 00:33:22,998
Yeah, both of these came out great.
528
00:33:23,086 --> 00:33:29,176
[McLaughlin] To be in charge of making
toys of any kind is a huge responsibility
529
00:33:29,259 --> 00:33:31,639
but also so incredibly rewarding.
530
00:33:31,720 --> 00:33:35,390
You don't realize the effect
you've had on, you know, people's lives.
531
00:33:37,308 --> 00:33:41,308
If all the jobs, the toy fairs,
were to go away tomorrow,
532
00:33:41,396 --> 00:33:43,896
and if there was no place to share them,
533
00:33:43,982 --> 00:33:45,482
I'd still be taking photos of toys.
534
00:33:47,068 --> 00:33:50,198
Really, it comes down to just doing
what makes you happy,
535
00:33:50,280 --> 00:33:53,950
and, right now, creating images
with toys makes me happy.
536
00:33:56,536 --> 00:33:58,746
[Falcon] I think all toy collectors
are kids at heart,
537
00:33:58,830 --> 00:34:03,500
and some of the appeal is recapturing
components of their childhood.
538
00:34:04,085 --> 00:34:08,545
I think that play is one of the most
important things that we can do as beings.
539
00:34:08,631 --> 00:34:11,011
You know, play structures lessons,
540
00:34:11,092 --> 00:34:14,682
from a standpoint of when we were a kid
to when we're adults.
541
00:34:14,763 --> 00:34:16,263
We're goofing around or joking.
542
00:34:16,348 --> 00:34:18,638
We're building scenarios
that can help and teach us to grow.
543
00:34:19,267 --> 00:34:21,097
The comics are inspiring,
544
00:34:21,186 --> 00:34:23,806
and they tell them who the characters are
and what they do,
545
00:34:23,897 --> 00:34:27,107
and from that point on, when the kids
are playing with the physical toys,
546
00:34:27,192 --> 00:34:28,992
they're really making
their own stories up.
547
00:34:29,986 --> 00:34:31,856
[Jasperson]
I think that when you play with toys,
548
00:34:31,946 --> 00:34:34,156
you imagine yourself as the character.
549
00:34:34,240 --> 00:34:39,160
And I think that play fosters imagination.
550
00:34:39,245 --> 00:34:41,705
It changes the way
that you look at things.
551
00:34:42,374 --> 00:34:46,424
When you look at some superhero
doing something that you,
552
00:34:46,503 --> 00:34:48,513
in your real life, could never do,
553
00:34:48,588 --> 00:34:51,468
it makes your brain
go in different places.
554
00:34:52,384 --> 00:34:56,184
[Stall] I think my childhood self seeing
me doing this now would be blown away
555
00:34:56,262 --> 00:34:59,972
that this is actually an option
for a grown-up person.
556
00:35:00,058 --> 00:35:02,268
I think he'd be incredibly jealous
of my children,
557
00:35:02,352 --> 00:35:05,732
because they get to play
with so many of these action figures.
558
00:35:05,814 --> 00:35:08,024
I bring them home,
and I leave them on the table,
559
00:35:08,108 --> 00:35:09,478
and they'd make their own stories,
560
00:35:09,567 --> 00:35:11,817
and you could just sit back
and watch them a little bit
561
00:35:11,903 --> 00:35:13,863
playing with action figures
that you created
562
00:35:13,947 --> 00:35:16,987
and see exactly that kind of storytelling
going on in their minds.
563
00:35:17,075 --> 00:35:19,325
They weren't following any script.
564
00:35:19,411 --> 00:35:21,961
They were mixing and matching
and combining things
565
00:35:22,038 --> 00:35:26,538
and just having fun and being creative
and using their imagination.
566
00:35:27,210 --> 00:35:30,550
These little plastic figures,
they got a lot of power behind 'em.