Pop! Culture: What’s The Deal With Funko’s Figurines?

They’re small (usually around 10cm in height), they’re cartoonish, and they incorporate almost every pop culture franchise in the world. Chances are you have a few proudly displayed around your home, or at the very least have seen the unmistakable figures in stores worldwide. We’re talking about Pop! Vinyl figures, the collectible range from US company Funko that have become an international sensation since they were first introduced in the early 2010s.

Cute, well crafted and usually affordable, Funko Pop! vinyl figures are small statues depicting characters or famous people in classic poses. Known simply as ‘Pops’ to fans, the company itself says it has over 1,000 active licenses, ranging from sports stars to cartoon characters, movie directors and everything in between.

“Our brand mantra is ‘Everyone is a fan of something,’” says Andy Oddie, Managing Director of Funko EMEA. “We have a very strong relationship with our fans through our digital consumer platforms… we put the fans first, we listen to them, and we deliver for them.” 

From Bobble To Pop!

Founded in 1998, Funko’s initial business was bobbleheads. The company grew steadily as a name in collectibles, until the 2010 unveiling of their Pop! Vinyl range seemed to uniquely fit a need in fandoms worldwide.

The figurines appeal to people wanting to buy a cheeky gift for the superfan in their life, or to further express their loyalty to a particular universe. The success of the range has also given rise to Pop! collectors, people who amass vast collections from a variety of media, and look for those elusive rare figures that are produced in smaller numbers.

Not only are Funko now an established name at Comic Cons around the world, but conventions dedicated to the figures themselves are becoming more popular. “It’s about the connections with other people more than the collection itself,” explains Paul Scardino, a Pop! collector who was featured in The Guinness Book of World Records for his collection of figures – the world’s largest, at over 5,000. “There’s no denying that making a Pop! limited-edition piece, regardless of what it is, increases the demand and interest for it, but if it’s not one that I personally like, or isn’t really pop culture relevant, then I’ll pass.”

Oddie shares the view that passion, rather than compulsion, is what drives many collectors. “The range is so expansive that it appeals to the completist collector who may want to invest in the entire Marvel range, Star Wars range, DC Comics range, etc, but also the casual fan who may want to collect two or three specific characters from these properties,” he says.

Scardino’s initial introduction into the world of Pop! figures was through a colleague at work. “I was gifted my first Pop! from a co-worker, it was the Marvel Captain America Civil War 2 pack (Spider-Man/Hawkeye),” he recalls. “I absolutely fell in love with them. I’ve always been a huge comic book fan, and they were just so neat that I had to look up what other ones existed. I bought two more that night!”

Scardino’s journey toward a world record would be something of a natural process. “As I continued to collect Pops, I began displaying them at my work office (a mental health clinic) on some shelves built into the wall. Both my co-workers and the children and families coming in for services would often request to see them and walk around my office. It developed into a sort of ‘Pop! Therapy’ experience,” he jokes. “Once I reached around 3,000 Pops, a friend suggested I apply for the Guinness Book of World Records, which I hadn’t thought about. From that moment, I think I realised I was a ‘serious collector’.”

It became even more serious when the record keepers came to verify the collection. “It was amazing, and also an intense process,” Scardino recalls. “I had to get an independent expert (the owner of a hobby shop, for instance) to come out and video them counting the Pops, and also had to create a detailed spreadsheet listing each individual Pop! that I owned.”

What was a therapeutic experience temporarily became stressful: “I was anxious that the record wouldn’t get approved, until I received the approval email several months later! The achievement felt really good.”

A Community Of Collectors

Among the fans of Pop! figures are the people on whom they are based! While a small version of yourself might be seen as a little bit surreal, many actors and performers have posed with figures based on characters they’ve played, and often sign them.

“Every talent we work with is excited to be made in Pop! form, and we receive regular requests!” Oddie enthuses. “It really is an iconic milestone to be transformed into a Funko collectible.”

As for the most popular figures? Rarity can drive demand among those who want to boast the most unique collection. From Funko’s perspective, it was a small green fan favourite that rocked the community: “We’ve had so many successes, but last year’s release of The Child (Grogu) from The Mandalorian was phenomenal,” Oddie notes. “It continues to be one of our best-selling items.”The success of the range has seen the fan community develop and interact with one another. There are now many YouTube creators who highlight their collections, unbox new products or hunt down rarities.

Scardino began his own channel recently, The POPthusiast, as a way to connect rather than compete. “My relationship with the larger collector community is a collaboration more so than a competition,” he asserts. “No matter how many Funko Pops are in someone’s collection, the important thing is that it’s their collection, and those are the items they value and enjoy. I’m a part of several Funko Pop! groups where we help each other out with finding Pops and other collectables, and enjoy meeting and talking with other collectors.”Oddie believes that it’s that inclusive nature that will keep people collecting for years to come: “I think Pop! has also become a worldwide phenomenon because it’s inclusive,” he says. “Our community is made up of the most incredible and welcoming fans. There is no snobbery: you can have a wall filled with thousands of Pop! or you can have two items on your shelf, and you’d still be made to feel welcome in the Funko family.”

And of course, there’s always that new release or old rarity that fans have at the top of their list – Scardino is no exception. “The Funko Pops that are next on my ‘want list’ are some of the older DC Superheroes like Green Arrow, Shazam, Two-Face, Martian Manhunter, etc.,” he says. “It’s been great interacting with other collectors and getting messages about how my collection has inspired them to either collect, display or even start their own pop-culture-related business!!”