Hello Boys and Girls, Nerds of all ages, I have a great interview for you today. Today is Walking Dead Wednesday and you maybe asking yourself, where is the Walking Dead comic review? Well, I decided to share an interview with a great toy designer and fellow Nerd. What makes this toy designer so special and why is the interview going up on Walking Dead Wednesday? Well, the answer to those questions are simple, he is designing series 3 of the Walking Dead Pop Vinyl figures from Funko as well as some other Walking Dead toys. Fellow Nerds, I proudly present to you my interview with Reis O’Brien.
1. Who are you and where are you from?
My name is Reis O’Brien, and I’m from all over the place. But I now call Seattle, WA home.
2. I have been a fan of your art for a while, what made you become a graphic designer?
I pretty much ended up as a graphic designer because I really wasn’t all that good at anything else. I was that kid that was always drawing, ever since I was old enough to make a fist around a crayon. So I think I never really had a choice. Not that I’m complaining.
3. I know your graphic design background landed you a cool gig with Funko toys. For those of my readers who may be out of the loop, what are Funko toys?
Funko was founded back in 1998 and made a name for itself making bobble-heads and later went on to make several different lines of “collector vinyl” like their Blox and Pop figures. They also make lines of character plush and even small electronics such as headphones. I was brought on to help launch their new lines of collectible tins and papercraft playsets.
4. What projects have you done in the past with Funko toys?
I’m working a bunch on the previously mentioned tins and papercrafts. We have some really awesome Iron Man 3 stuff coming out in those departments. I’ve also gotten to take a stab at designing some Wacky Wobbler (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, to be exact) and my first Pops were of Balloo and King Louie from our Disney collection.
5. What are you currently working on for Funko toys?
At the moment, I’m neck deep in blind box toys for Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, a Horror Movie Killers series and a series for a TV show that I’m not sure if I can announce right now.
I’m also currently working on series 3 Pops for Walking Dead, which I’m particularly jazzed about. Our entire line of Walking Dead Pops is just awesome, if you ask me. The bar was set pretty high with the first two series which were brilliantly designed by long-time Funko Designer, Rob Schwartz. So I worked really hard with fellow designer, Tim Gilardi, to see that series 3 lives up to that standard.
6. Do you have other projects that you would like to promote right now?
Well, I’ve been working on a line of hand-made toys, super simple little Sculpy critters, nothing groundbreaking. But they’re cute and make me laugh and I’m in the process of starting up an online store for them and contemplating plans for a table at next year’s Emerald City Comic Con where I’ll be selling and promoting them. My favorite line is called Obvious Cause of Death Ghosts, which are little glow-in-the-dark classic white-sheet-and-two-black-dot-eyes ghosts who have to suffer the afterlife with bullet holes or nooses or shark bites or whatever it was that shuffled them off this mortal coil. I know they sound morbid, but trust me they’re cute.
Also, I’m working on a super secret side project that should be announced next January. If it doesn’t kill me first.
7. What is your favorite project that you have done?
Like, ever? Jeeze, that’s hard. I have to say that I couldn’t be prouder of the projects I’ve worked at Funko. Especially the Walking Dead blind box series. However, I’m a big fan of Kevin Smith so I’m totally stoked about the Jay & Silent Bob Pops I designed.
8. Where can our readers see more of your work?
I post stuff every now and then on my blog The Lair of the Dork Horde. They can also check the Funko Facebook page for sneak peeks and whatnot.
9. I know you are a big Batman fan. What is your favorite storyline that starred the caped crusader?
Number one, hands down, is Frank Miller’s Dark Knight Returns. But I also loved Long Halloween.
10. If you could make any toy that you wanted, what would it be?
Oh boy. I would love to have some action figure lines from my favorite movies that never were. I’m talking about those 5-points-of-articulation types of figures like the Kenner Star Wars line. Imagine figures from The Last Starfighter or The Dark Crystal or The Beastmaster done in a retro style. Man, the playsets alone would be epic!
I’d also love to revive the Shogun Warriors line with modern articulation and sculpting, while still keeping them 2 feet tall. I miss those toys so much.
I better stop. I could do this all day.
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