Both product lines depict characters from many different franchises. The exaggerated body proportions of Pop! figures have invited comparisons with Good Smile’s Nendoroid figures, which are similarly described as "chibi". After a preview line of DC Comics characters were released at San Diego Comic-Con 2010, the Funko Pop! line of products was fully revealed in 2011 at the New York Toy Fair. The figures typically depict licensed characters from franchises such as Doctor Who, Marvel, DC, Disney, Star Wars, Wizarding World, and other pop culture entities. The figures have large squarish heads, disproportionately small bodies, and large, circular black eyes. įunko's Pop! Vinyl line are figures modelled in a style similar to the Japanese chibi style. The lucky ones who got their hands on this Feddy Funko, were the ones who joined the Funko Funklub. The company's mascot, a recurring character in the Funko franchise, is Freddy Funko, who was introduced in the year of 2002. The first, Wacky Wobblers, is a line of bobbleheads depicting various characters, mainly from popular culture, such as Betty Boop, Cap'n Crunch, and The Cat in the Hat. Product lines įunko has created approximately 20 thousand (19,913) different products in dozens of different toy lines since its inception. The completed figures are manufactured at factories in China and Vietnam. Funko artists use ZBrush to create digital models that are revised before being made into prototype sculptures, which are sent for approval from manufacturers and licensors. New figures are designed with input from licensors, in-studio artists, and fans through social media.
Products are designed at the Funko headquarter in Downtown Everett, WA, United States and in many locations throughout the U.S.
It has 40,000 square feet (3,700 m 2) of space and includes life-size statues and movie "sets". The company opened its second storefront in November 2019, located in Hollywood, Los Angeles. įunko: Hollywood in Hollywood, California Funko was listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange on November 2, 2017, but suffered the worst initial public offering of the 21st century, with shares falling by 40 percent and only raising $125 million. Funko opened its new headquarters and 17,000-square-foot (1,600 m 2) flagship store in downtown Everett on August 19, 2017. Funko acquired British toymaker Underground Toys, also its European distributor, in early 2017. īy 2016, it had outgrown its original headquarters in Everett and announced plans to move into a downtown building with more space and a retail store.
ACON Investments, LLC announced in late 2015 that it had acquired Funko from Fundamental Capital, LLC, but would keep current staff and the head of company. The company was sold to Fundamental Capital, a private equity firm, in 2013 to raise funds. By 2012, the company had sold more than $20 million worth of merchandise. In 2011, Funko began selling their Pop! Vinyl line of figurines. In 2005, Becker sold Funko to its current CEO, Brian Mariotti, who moved its offices to Lynnwood, Washington, and significantly expanded the company's licensed product lines. After this, some of the first characters that Funko sold were the Grinch, Tony the Tiger, and Cheerios mascot, the honeybee. The coin banks failed to sell and the franchise filed for bankruptcy protection, but Funko remained in business after licensing the rights to bobbleheads for Austin Powers, which sold 80,000 units. He started the business after failing to find an affordable coin bank of the Big Boy Restaurants mascot, instead licensing the rights to make his own coin banks from a Big Boy franchise in Michigan. Funko headquarters in Everett, Washingtonįunko was founded in 1998 by toy collector Mike Becker at his home in Snohomish, Washington.