When I started blogging, I was inspired by a fellow NERD, who loved the same things I did. We became friends via the world wide web and he gave me some pointers on the art of blogging. His one key advice was to blog about what you love and have fun. Fast Forward to today and he is part of the creative team that has taken over the world of toys and I can guarantee you that you probably have a product he worked on in your home. The man’s name is Reis O’Brien and the company he works for is a little company known as FUNKO. I think you may have heard of them, especially after today because there is a documentary on Netflix called Making Fun (the story of Funko). I just watched it and I feel you should do the same. Anyway, before I continue rambling let’s just get to the interview.
DERF: You have been a busy man. I mean FUNKO has been popping off lately. What recent projects did you design?
REIS: I’ve been neck deep in all things Star Wars. With the rapidity of new Star Wars content hitting, we’ve had to stay on top of representing it in collectible form. So I’ve been crazy busy with a lot of that. I’ve also been spearheading a new and exciting action figure project called “Savage World”, which is sort of our homage/love letter to those classic extremely-muscled fantasy figures from the 80s. It’s an exciting time to be working at Funko, to say the least.
DERF: You and I go way back, and I know you are a huge He-Man/Conan fan. So when I saw the Mortal Kombat figures from Funko, I knew you had to be behind it. How long did it take from thought to production for your MK figures?
REIS: I actually pitched the idea for the Savage World style figures over 3 years ago, maybe even 4 years ago. I had done some sketches of various characters run through sort of an “80s fantasy filter”. But it just recently started to get off the ground with the Mortal Combat X figures being the first to hit. So this idea has been percolating for a while.
DERF: I also saw that Funko is keeping up with that style for a Thundercats, Conan, and Horror set. This has to be all you, right? When can we expect the toys?
REIS: Haha! Yeah, this has been my baby. But I’ve been supported by some amazing coworkers who believed in this project in a big way. All of the sculptors. Our VP of Creative, our utility artists and our articulation specialist, Isabel, have all banded together to make this thing a reality. This summer you’ll start to see our newest Savage World figures, and that should continue through fall, winter and beyond.
DERF: Will Funko do more sets in this style?
REIS: Oh yes… just you wait.
DERF: The Funko clubs such as Smuggler’s Bounty and Legion of Collectors has done well for themselves. Any plans on releasing more subscription boxes?
REIS: That’s not really up to me. And I’m not really privy to any of those plans. I just design the stuff they need when they tell me they need it.
DERF: Well, we are grateful for your designs. What items announced from the NY toy fair were from your designs?
REIS: Oof… jeez… There were a bunch. It’s hard to keep track these days. We have so many projects and they’re all happening so fast. My biggest drop at Toy Fair were the aforementioned Savage World figures.
DERF: Also, when it comes to the Music Sets, how are the decisions made on who to make? I have been dying for a Led Zeppelin set.
REIS: Anytime we make a decision like that, it’s usually based on fan feedback (believe it or not, we do see what the fans are demanding), retailer feedback and more often than not, our own intuition. For the record, I’d love a Led Zeppelin set, too! And Black Sabbath! And Slayer! But, to be clear, none of those are planned. I was just wishing out loud.
DERF: Understood. Okay, I know it is hard to pick just one so, what are your top 5 designs that you have done for FUNKO? (Your absolute favs that you yourself created from start to finish)
REIS: Well, again, I’ve got to make clear that nothing is created by one person from start to finish. I may kick off the initial concept and see it through to the end, but I work with a ton of amazing sculptors and utility artists (who help with paint callouts and whatnot) and creative execs and all kinds of people. But some of my favorites are the flying Boba Fett, the Jabba’s Sail Barge R2D2, the Elvira Pop (she’s my beloved), the Scooby Doo series and the Savage World figures (I know I keep bringing that up, but I’m super jazzed about it right now!).
DERF: In case our readers would like to follow your wacky adventures, where can they follow you on the world wide web?
REIS: I’m @reisobrien on Twitter and Instagram. You can also see my side project at bimtoy.com or @originalbimtoy on Instagram.
Please make sure to watch the documentary, Making Fun on Netflix. It is a great film and you you get to see Reis discuss how he began design in the first place. Also, make sure to check out his other projects over at bimtoy. Until next time, unleash your inner NERD.
