When I was a kid, my family’s big hobby/side business was selling at car shows and swap meets. It was mainly homemade pieces, however to add to the revenue, we would purchase other smaller merchandise that kids and car enthusiasts would enjoy – VW bug erasers, lights and, most of all, hula dolls. These weren’t any ordinary hula dolls though – they were Betty Boop bobbleheads. This was in the early days of bobbleheads, and none of us knew much about the craze. All we knew was the ones we were selling were made by a company named Funko. 

We ultimately learned that these products were not the best type of hula girls to put on a car dashboard, given the plastic’s ability to easily melt, and it’s pretty obvious the small group that was Funko at the time learned the same given the increased quality of their products.

That wasn’t the only change the company has made over time though. As Funko’s Wacky Wobbler series of bobbleheads took off, the company grew from a garage hobby to a nationally known company. They sought out more licenses and began working on other types of figures. From mini box figures to statuettes, and everything in between, Funko has progressed from a corner booth at toy shows to the biggest retailer at San Diego Comic Con. All because of one particular toy – the Pop figure.

I currently have nearly 40 of these, with friends who own hundreds. It’s a worldwide phenomenon. One small toy, larger than an action figure but smaller than a statuette, they’re not just collectibles. Each piece is a work of art, some characters being molded multiple times with different art designs, and each of them represent not only a part of pop culture, but a part of ourselves. The cuteness factor changes the characters. It’s not just an Alice Cooper action figure – it’s an adorable Alice Cooper who welcomes you to his nightmare, but also encourages you to get through the day with puppies.

The documentary, Making Fun: the Story of Funko, covers all this and so much more. What is Funko’s effect on our lives and how do we use it to reflect ourselves? Making Fun discusses this impact, as well as the reasons adults collect toys, especially Pop figures. To learn more about this fun corporation, check out Making Fun on Netflix.