On today’s episode I sit down with David Horvath for an epic dive into the world of character IP.

Since the late 90s, David and his wife and business partner Sun-Min Kim have been creating character brands in the US and Korea. Their two most famous creations are Uglydoll, which started as a handmade designer toy at Giant Robot, and Bossy Bear, which began life as a children’s book.

David shares contrarian insights about his experience growing character brands that endure. This episode is a treat for people who want to know how to create characters as popular as Hello Kitty and Paddington Bear

In the first part of the conversation, we discuss how David got his start making kids TV cartoons in Japan, the Uglydoll and Bossy Bear development arcs, and strategies he’s learned for retaining character IP.

We talk about the value of being discovered in meaningful places, and the pitfalls of being perceived of as marketing, and the difference between successful toys and enduring characters.

There are links to most of the characters, people, and shows that David mentions in the show notes.

If you would like to sponsor the show, send me a DM @nnnnicholas.

As always, this show is provided for entertainment and education purposes only and does not constitute financial advice or any form of endorsement or suggestion. Crypto is risky and you alone are responsible for doing your research and making your own decisions.

I really enjoyed this extensive conversation with David Horvath where we had the opportunity to go deep on the small world of building big characters. I hope you enjoy the show.

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