What's The Big Deal With Funko Pop Things?

[Limity (BLM)]

So on my nightly stroll through downtown Everett, there's the Funko Pop theater. Dedicated to those vinyl collectible dolls.

What is the big deal with these things, exactly? What is their appeal? Is it just a thing to collect? To me, they just look like regular dolls with bulbous elephantitis heads. Am I missing something?

[Ultimo Gallos]

They are the Beanie Babies of the 2010s. Neat to look at but in a few years 95% of them will have next to no value. Who else remembers Mighty Muggs? I just found my Wolverine,Doc Oct and Hoth Han Solo Mighty Muggs.

[Joe Neglia]

Jun 11, 2018 0:39:09 GMT -5 Ultimo Gallos said:

They are the Beanie Babies of the 2010s. Neat to look at but in a few years 95% of them will have next to no value. Who else remembers Mighty Muggs? I just found my Wolverine,Doc Oct and Hoth Han Solo Mighty Muggs.

It's way more than that. While there is a speculator element, there's a lot of other factors at play.

They have incredible mainstream appeal. This isn't your aunt hoarding every Beanie Babie blue elephant retired version #3 or whatever. Casuals have latched on them with no return in investment in mind. It's a line composed of hundreds of franchises, each with their own fanbases ready to buy just those Pops. Their design lends themselves well to office desk decoration in today's society; they're as much a knick-knack as they are a toy. Someone who just wants Black Panther or Bullet Club or Stranger Things Pops just have to worry about those and not the Simpsons or whatnot. If you're into pop culture, there's almost literally something for everybody in the line-up. Movie characters, comic characters, musicians, wrestlers, cereal mascots. They also did well to make all of the various brands conform to their uniform look and style. It gives them a distinct identity that is easily recognizable across the board and makes them stand out.

I know I'm sounding like their biggest fanboy, but I don't really care for them, never owned one. I just see where they're tapping into a much larger social zeitgeist than just being a speculator bubble.

[Paul]

I hope people aren't buying these things thinking they'll be valuable collectables in 15 or 20 years. Oof... Buy 'em if you like them but don't buy them thinking they'll be worth money.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

They're cute. I've bought my girlfriend a couple of characters she likes..Minnie, Rocket Raccoon, etc..but
I'm a bit befuddled by the collectible nature of them as well. Some are sold by collectors at ridiculous prices.

[Brandon Walsh is Insane.]

Funny timing... they have a documentary on Netflix called Making Fun, pretty cool story. Started out as collectible bobbleheads that took off from getting multiple licenses of things the original owner was nostalgic for... and they kinda found the mainstream market with the Pops. There's something for everyone... it's as much a collectible as it is a pop culture thing. And they keep adding new licenses all the time.

Relatively cheap toy that can bring back memories of your childhood, and with the cartoony look are fun for both kids and adults? What's not to like.

[DZ: WF Legacy]

The one good thing about them is that they've put the concept of collecting toys/"nerd stuff" into the public headspace as something more socially acceptable than it used to be.

["Gizzark" Mike Wronglevenay]

Jun 11, 2018 2:03:42 GMT -5 DZ: WF Legacy said:

The one good thing about them is that they've put the concept of collecting toys/"nerd stuff" into the public headspace as something more socially acceptable than it used to be.

That's been happening for well over a decade. Christopher Nolan and the Big Bang Theory and Robert Downey Jnr. started that off. Combined with what Madison was saying about the universal appeal, it's more the encapsulation of the acceptance of nerd culture than it is an indication of its increase.

[Bang Bang Bart]

I don't mind these, but who really asked for a Gears of War mobile game based on Pops?

[Allie Kitsune]

The only one I would have ever wanted was apparently Canada-exclusive, so I suppose I don't have to worry about that.

[SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman]

I can honestly only explain it through either herd mentality or people still not learning the mistakes from Beanie Babies and the comic book speculator market. Otherwise, I really don't see the point. I mean, the very premise is that it's popular characters with the individuality removed. They even go out of their way to give them the most generic and emotionless poses possible, just to make sure nothing other than the costumes actually relates to the characters.

Seriously, it's like a range based on a crappy DeviantArt recolour gallery, except if you did go to DeviantArt you'd eventually get recommendations for talented artists who could commission you some much higher quality fanart for a quarter of the price. And from what I've seen, it's not even like the build quality is all that fantastic considering the price (and especially considering the eBay price once the scalpers get their hands on it).

[Dr. T is an alien]

I have a few that my some bought me. Yoda typically sits at my desk. My wife has one of Eleven. My son has Majin Buu.

They are cute, let you express your fandom in an unobtrusive manner, and are less socially awkward than the other toys you might put on display as part of your fandom. I don't expect them to retain value.

[Deleted]

Whenever I go to a store that has a wall FULL of Funko Pops, I get those still-vivid Beanie Baby vibes, and am reminded of the couple people long out of my life who were rabid in their collecting of them, and how nowadays you just see piles of Beanie Babies at flea markets for a buck.

And yet the folks at flea markets who do nothing but sell Funko Pops are still in business doing well and there are no real big pile of clearance crap anywhere I go.

Places like FYE are probably in trouble with their giant walls of Pops, but their issues currently and in the future will stem from places far beyond those mere figurines....

For the time being, Pops are still doing well and affixed to the healthy parts of collectible culture in ways that Beanie Babies never were.

[tankisfreemason]

I bought some for decorative purposes. I only bought pops of things I like, I took them out of the boxes (except for a Hendrix one because I’m afraid of losing the guitar on fire) and I expect 0 collectible resale value in the future. I just happen to like they way they look, especially when mixing my interests together. I currently have an audience of Marvin the Martian, Daniel Bryan and more watching Metallica play with Lemmy.

[King Boo]

Jun 11, 2018 10:05:24 GMT -5 SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman said:

I can honestly only explain it through either herd mentality or people still not learning the mistakes from Beanie Babies and the comic book speculator market. Otherwise, I really don't see the point. I mean, the very premise is that it's popular characters with the individuality removed. They even go out of their way to give them the most generic and emotionless poses possible, just to make sure nothing other than the costumes actually relates to the characters.

Seriously, it's like a range based on a crappy DeviantArt recolour gallery, except if you did go to DeviantArt you'd eventually get recommendations for talented artists who could commission you some much higher quality fanart for a quarter of the price. And from what I've seen, it's not even like the build quality is all that fantastic considering the price (and especially considering the eBay price once the scalpers get their hands on it).

I mean, maybe the point is people like them? They're widely varied so there's a pop for most everyone? They're easy, relatively inexpensive and fun to collect? And easy presents for people to give?

What I don't see the point in is, because it's not some people's thing, they have to come up with insulting "reasons" as though people are stupid for liking what they like. I don't give two shits about Star Wars, anime or Game of Thrones, but I've never once had to come up with some sort of explanation as to why I see those things everywhere that concluded in something calling collectors a name bordering on dumb.

If you don't like it, don't buy it and don't pay it any mind. It really is that easy.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Some people dig em. Not my deal, but I like stuff people may not.

[Orange]

They're incredibly stupid and a tremendous waste of money... I own like 30 of the things

I have no clue why, but I can't stop myself from buying them. They don't do anything special, but there's just something about them.

[Chainsaw]

People like things?!

*shrugs*

[A Platypus Rave]

They're small plastic collecitbles available in a majority of fandoms... so undoubtedly something your into from Disney to Pro Wrestling there is a version of something you like.

That's really all the deal is.

People like collecting things, they are collectibles in the shapes of popular franchises... big secret.

[MGH]

Jun 11, 2018 10:05:24 GMT -5 SsnakeBite, the No1 Frenchman said:

I can honestly only explain it through either herd mentality or people still not learning the mistakes from Beanie Babies and the comic book speculator market. Otherwise, I really don't see the point. I mean, the very premise is that it's popular characters with the individuality removed. They even go out of their way to give them the most generic and emotionless poses possible, just to make sure nothing other than the costumes actually relates to the characters.

Seriously, it's like a range based on a crappy DeviantArt recolour gallery, except if you did go to DeviantArt you'd eventually get recommendations for talented artists who could commission you some much higher quality fanart for a quarter of the price. And from what I've seen, it's not even like the build quality is all that fantastic considering the price (and especially considering the eBay price once the scalpers get their hands on it).

People just like things that appeal to them.

There, I saved you from having to post another two paragraphs of judgment and insults from up on your ivory tower. Thank me later.