Funko
The World's Leading Pop Culture Lifestyle Brand and Home of Pop! Vinyl
Discover Funko, the American pop culture lifestyle brand famous for its Pop! Vinyl figures and vast portfolio of licensed collectibles.
Overview
Funko is an American pop culture lifestyle brand headquartered in Everett, Washington, best known for its massively popular stylized vinyl figures under the Pop! brand. Founded in 1998, Funko has grown into one of the world's largest collectibles companies, producing licensed figures, plush, apparel, accessories, and more based on movies, TV, anime, games, sports, music, and beyond.
With its signature oversized-head, black-eyed design, affordable pricing, and vast license portfolio (over 900 active IPs), Funko has democratized pop culture collecting—selling over 1 billion units worldwide and fueling the "kidult" (adult collector) trend through community-driven variants, exclusives, and customization.
History & Background
Funko was founded in 1998 by Mike Becker in Snohomish, Washington, initially as a small nostalgia toy venture producing low-tech bobbleheads (starting with Big Boy restaurant mascot) and vinyl items. In 2005, Brian Mariotti acquired the company and pivoted it toward licensed pop culture collectibles.
The game-changer arrived in 2010 with the launch of Funko Pop! Vinyl figures—simplified, uniform stylized designs that enabled rapid scaling across thousands of characters. Funko went public on NASDAQ (FNKO) in November 2017, raising capital for expansion including acquisitions like Loungefly (fashion/backpacks) and Mondo (high-end art/posters).
As of 2026, under new CEO Josh Simon (former Netflix consumer products exec), Funko navigates market pressures (recent revenue declines, activist investor advocacy for strategic options like potential sale) while highlighting milestones: 1 billion+ units sold, strong "kidult" momentum, and innovations like Pop! Mystery blind boxes and expanded retail partnerships.
Product Categories
Pop! Vinyl Figures
Flagship 3.75-inch stylized figures (core Pop! line) with thousands of releases, including standard, chase variants, glow-in-the-dark, chrome, flocked, and specialty finishes.
Deluxe, Jumbo & Specialty Figures
Larger-scale (e.g., 6-inch, 10-inch Jumbo, Movie Moments dioramas) or enhanced Pop! releases with added detail, multiple characters, or interactive elements.
Bitty Pop! & Mini Collectibles
Tiny stylized minis (often blind-boxed or themed sets) for accessible collecting, gifting, and display.
Plush, Apparel & Lifestyle Goods
Pop!-inspired plush toys, Loungefly backpacks/mini purses, apparel, home décor, accessories, and Funko Games board/card titles.
Premium & Custom Lines
Mondo high-end art prints/posters, Pop! Yourself custom figures (create-your-own via app/online), Pop! Mystery premium blind boxes (storytelling + exclusivity), and select digital/NFT-tied redemptions (legacy).
Major Product Lines
Funko's ecosystem revolves around Pop! Vinyl, segmented by theme:
- Pop! Movies & TV (e.g., upcoming Mandalorian & Grogu, One Piece S2, Toy Story 5, Minions 3)
- Pop! Animation & Disney (e.g., Moana live-action, Cars, 101 Dalmatians)
- Pop! Games & Anime (e.g., ongoing expansions like Thousand-Year Blood War arcs)
- Pop! Marvel, DC, Star Wars
- Pop! Rocks (music icons) & Pop! Sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, FIFA World Cup 2026 mascots/USMNT)
- Emerging: Pop! Mystery (design-forward blind boxes with chases, cards, franchises), Pop! Dunk/Egg specialty formats
The Pop! line dominates with constant drops (100+ announcements monthly in peaks), exclusives, and tie-ins to new releases.
Key Franchises & Licenses
Funko thrives on its industry-leading license portfolio (900+ active):
- Disney (including Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars)
- Warner Bros. (DC, Harry Potter, HBO)
- Universal/NBC (Minions, Jurassic, Fast & Furious)
- Major anime/manga (e.g., Dragon Ball, One Piece, Jujutsu Kaisen)
- Sports leagues (NBA, NFL, MLB, FIFA World Cup 2026)
- Others (horror classics, music icons, emerging like KPop Demon Hunters, European football)
Multiyear renewals with studios ensure broad, ongoing coverage across "kidult" and family audiences.
Global Presence
Headquartered in Everett, WA, Funko distributes worldwide through:
- Official funko.com (global shipping, Pop! Yourself, preorders, coming soon notifications)
- Flagship retail stores (Everett, WA; Hollywood, CA)
- Major chains (Walmart, Target exclusives, Amazon official)
- Specialty retailers and convention drops (e.g., SDCC, NY Toy Fair reveals)
- International: funkoeurope.com, regional partners (new Canadian wholesale via Kroeger Marketing from 2026), Australia/NZ distributors, strong Asia/Europe networks
Retail exclusives, convention variants, and online drops drive global collector engagement, with significant traction in North America, Europe, and growing in Asia-Pacific.
Market Position & Collectibility
Funko leads the accessible, mass-market collectibles space within the booming "kidult" category.
- Entry-level pricing ($10–$20 standard, higher for deluxe/exclusives)
- High-volume production with wide availability
- Chase/variant culture and limited editions create scarcity and resale premiums (vaulted/discontinued pieces often appreciate)
- Strong secondary market (eBay, specialty platforms) for rares
Success stems from volume, franchise diversity, community (e.g., Funko App tracking), and cultural relevance rather than ultra-premium craftsmanship.
Why Collect Funko?
Collectors love Funko for:
- Unmatched character variety (thousands across fandoms)
- Affordable, approachable entry point
- Consistent, shelf-friendly uniform style for massive displays
- Exciting chase variants, glow/chase, exclusives, and blind-box surprises
- Broad coverage of current/popular IPs with timely tie-ins
- Vibrant community culture (apps, socials, conventions, completionism)
Funko appeals to casual fans, gift buyers, and hardcore completists alike—turning pop culture passion into tangible, shareable fun.
Where to Buy
Funko products are available through:
- Official funko.com (preorders, exclusives, Pop! Yourself, global shipping)
- Major retailers (Walmart, Target, Amazon official storefronts)
- Specialty collectible shops and convention exclusives
- International distributors and regional sites (e.g., funkoeurope.com)
Monitor "Coming Soon" alerts and drops for new releases/exclusives—many sell out quickly, with secondary markets for rares.