5 Franchises POP! Funko Should Do
(But Haven’t)

I have to say, I love Funko. I love all their products, but, in particular, I have a soft spot for POP! Funko products, and, with the ever expanding lines, it appears I am not alone. The company has produced numerous waves of various vinyl toys that attract collectors of all ages, and it’s obvious they know this because of the vastly different lines they obtain licenses for and produce. Sports icons, rock artists of both yesteryear and today, both popular and cult driven films, and even somewhat obscure cartoons from as far back as forty years ago. It’s all there. Funko has a target audience for sure, but it changes with each new line they announce. It’s something that attracts people of all walks of life, and it’s one of the things I admire the most about the company.

But… this is where I may sound a bit nit picky, and I promise it’s because of my love of Funko; not because of any animosity or criticism towards Funko. As a company, POP! Funko has released numerous obscure and forgotten characters, which makes my little fanboy heart thump with delight… yet, scratch my head as to why some got made while other, extremely obviously missing franchises have yet to see the light of day. With that in mind, I’m supplying my list of 5 POP! Funko lines that really need to be made.

Now, when I say “obvious”, I mean to me. You may have a completely different opinion on the matter, and that’s fine. At which point I remind you, dear reader, that all lists of this nature are subjective and I welcome all different thoughts on the matter in the comments section below.

Now, without further ado:

5) Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared

For the uninitiated, this was a recent series of webshorts that ran between 2011 to 2016. Featuring talking puppets akin to something you might see on a children’s show, the characters sing about questionable lessons that quickly take a dark turn utilizing somewhat abstract and disturbing imagery and kept the internet abuzz as to what it all really meant. Essentially, Sesame Street directed by French Avant Garde director Luis Bunuel. The fandom has taken a life of its own now that its finished, and the themes of over over-commercialization versus artistic freedom have really struck a chord with viewers to the point that it’s not fading out even after the last episode released. If anything, it’s still growing in popularity, and, for that reason, the three leads (Red Guy, Yellow Guy, and Duck) would be very interesting conversation starters as POP!s.

4) Valiant Comics

What’s that you say? There are other non-Marvel, non-DC comic book characters out there? Blasphemy! Pure blasphemy!

To be truthful, there are many, numerous comic book lines out there that I would love to see get the POP! treatment, but I recognize that most of the ones I can come up with are rather unknowns and/or indie comics with strong followings, but aren’t exactly mainstream (although that may make a separate list in the future).

The difference with Valiant Comics is that they are not only comprised of somewhat recognizable characters (X-O Manowar, Harbinger, Bloodshot, and the popular plus size hero, Faith), the company currently has several of their concepts already in early stages of film development for yet another shared universe franchise that Marvel/Disney and DC/Warner Bros. have already put in motion. On top of that, the company-owned individual characters have grown in popularity tremendously since their introduction in the early 90s.

Yes, there are other, better selling non-big-two comic book lines out there, but this is the only other one that has made superheroes the main driving force. With the upcoming movies, this line is just going to become more and more in demand. Funko, get on this!

3) Stephen Spielberg Presents:
Tiny Toon Adventures, Animaniacs, Freakazoid, etc.

Pardon me while I go get my cane to explain this one.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away called the 90s, kids rushed home after school to sit in front of their television sets to watch a block of cartoons after lying to their parents that they had no homework to do for the day. A similar cartoon block would play on Saturday mornings that kids would watch immediately before lying to their parents that the homework for Monday was complete. During these cartoon blocks, a main staple of the WB programming was Stephen Spielberg produced cartoons, which started with Tiny Toon Adventures and continued via various spinoffs and other original cartoon shows like Animaniacs. This led to some great television animation with imaginative stories that appealed to younger audiences and older audiences alike. This also led to numerous late homework assignment.

Most shows lasted multiple seasons, creating a catalog of iconic characters here to utilize: Pinky and the Brain, the Warner siblings (Yakko, Wakko, and Dot), Buster and Babs Bunny (no relation), etc.

Every now and again, Stephen Spielberg’s produced animation shows get a bit of a resurgence thanks to the internet and nostalgia. It also helps that most of them are finally available for viewing via Netflix. With that in mind, this should be a no brainer. Hopefully, Funko thinks so, too.

Now get off my lawn!

2) The Disney Afternoon

Wait, get back on my lawn!

Starting in the 1980s, Disney started producing various animated shows to various levels of success. After a few failures, Disney launched Adventures of the Gummi Bears, a 30 minute fantasy-based cartoon that became the flagship show for the broadcast block of cartoon shows eventually labelled The Disney Afternoon. Disney rounded out this block with several other shows like DuckTales, Chip ‘n Dale Rescue Rangers, Talespin, Darkwing Duck, Goof Troop, Bonkers, Gargoyles and various others.

Considering the increased interest in nostalgia and the large popularity that was once the Disney Afternoon, I’m still surprised none of these characters have found their way into Disney’s current line of POPS!, especially since many of these series have found new life in other media like comic books and video games. However, with Disney doing some sort of DuckTales relaunch soon, maybe a few of these might be on the way. One can hope.

1) Nintendo

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While Sony and Microsoft may be the leaders in video game sales, Nintendo still has the most recognizable lineup of video game characters. Super Mario Brothers, Kid Icarus, Donkey Kong, Star Fox, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, EarthBound, Punch-Out!!, Pokémon, Kirby, F-Zero… each with their own unique lineup of characters just waiting to get POP! Funko-ized.

Yes, I am aware of how unlikely this is of actually happening. Nintendo has been leery of getting involved with licensing out their characters ever since the Super Mario Bros. movie (and, once you see it, you’ll understand why). Still, Nintendo has finally started to loosen their grip in that regard this year. I know Nintendo has their very successful Amiibo line to sell as toys, but I still want POP! Funko versions of these characters.

Can you imagine just how awesome Metroid lead Samus would look as a Funko? Ship her out with a Metroid companion piece, and I’ll preorder multiples!

In regards to Pokemon, the Funko numbering is literally right there in the Pokedex

Considering the popularity of that particular Nintendo franchise right now, this really needs to happen.

But, as much as it’s safe to say most Nintendo fans would be ecstatic to just have their favorite Nintendo character as a POP! Funko, four words would add even more excitement to a Funko/Nintendo deal: Mario Kart POP! Rides!

So do you agree? Disagree? Let us know. What franchises do you want POP! to do in the near future? Sound off in the comments below.