Art

How Great Toys Are Made – And Not Made

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It probably sounds like paradise to design toys and merch for media tie-ins; the problem is that you have odd deadlines, rejected ideas, and things that seemed cool at the time that embarrass you. Oh, and then there’s having to relocate because people need to get ears right.

Four years ago Action Figure Insider had an article on rejected toys by Jason Geyer, who was hip- deep in star wars merch design. He’s updated this with additional information on the crazy ideas that came out. Jabba the Hutt beanbags, laval lamps, and more are all here.

This is a great insight into merch/toy design, what it’s like, and what it’s like to work in that area – as well as how crazy your imagination can get or has to get. I enjoyed such gems as:

  • The manufacturing constraints and why design has to be done so early.
  • Why Jar-Jar’s ears required the writer to live in China for awhile.
  • The influence of Disney.
  • Darth Vader potato chip clip. No I’m not kidding.

MUST READ here. Also I need to interview this guy . . .

– Steven Savage

Superheroes and Sex Appeal

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A friend of mine recently discussed the new Green Lantern trailer.  Sure he was enthused about the movie, the effects, the scope, but he was also enthused about Ryan Reynolds.  The enthusiasm my friend felt for Ryan Reynolds was an admixture; he felt Reynolds was both charming and looked great in his underwear.  My friend is not the only person to comment on a level of sex appeal in the Green Lantern Trailer, leaving me to the conclusions that this is both intentional and that Mr. Reynolds is someone who will make more of us feel inadequate in our underwear in the years to come.

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The Young And Hungry Fanartists

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I'm noticing a trend at a lot of conventions I've been to lately.  I see a lot of young artists in the dealer's rooms and artist's alleys with a few things in common:

  • They've started selling their art in the last 1-3 years.
  • They have gorgeous, professional business cards and signage.
  • They're reasonably to very-well wired, with websites, porfolios online, and the like.
  • They do a lot of personal branding, even going so far as to dress to fit the theme of their table.
  • Their tables are professionally laid out with the right signage, decoration, and so on.
  • They're big on cross-promoting projects they do together, or with others.

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