Character Brands with David Horvath
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The company's first product was a computer kit for kids to make their own. The idea came from an Apple store in New York, which sold hundreds of the kits. Now they're focusing on making consumer products rather than kits.
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.
Links
- David Horvath’s substack
- Full Episode: Bossy Bear Solves a Mystery, Rides a Roller Coaster, & Bestie Celebration! | Nick Jr. - YouTube
- David Horvath - Wikipedia
- Uglydoll - Wikipedia
- @OozeFriend
- Quote by Aristotle: “Give me a child until he is 7 and I will show y…”
- Rodney Alan Greenblat
- PaRappa the Rapper - Wikipedia
- The original Rody Horse – rodytoy
- Uglydoll - Wikipedia
- Mo Willems - Wikipedia
- Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
- Bigshot Toyworks
- human made - Google Search
- kaws - Google Search
- BRIDGE SHIP HOUSE official
- Tokyo Gift Show | Japan’s Largest Lifestyle & Gift Trade Show
- Licensing Expo | The meeting place for the global licensing industry
- LICENSING JAPAN | CONTENT TOKYO
- Bologna Children’s Book Fair, 6-9 March 2023
- Morris Fewmany Special by Kaori Hinata - myplasticheart
- SOFUBI – TOY TOKYO
- MEDICOM TOY – TOY TOKYO
- Isaac Larian - Wikipedia
- Schylling
- Michael Andrews, Toy Design Faculty | Otis College
- Toy Fair
- ralph mcquarrie - Google Search
- Frank Olinsky
- Fred Seibert - Wikipedia
- Linda Simensky - Wikipedia
- Home - little bee books
- bearbricks - Google Search
- kubricks toy - Google Search
- Bearbrick Spot
- A Japanese mall that David mentioned: PARCO
- Another Japanese Mall that David mentioned
- Anpanman
- Peanuts Collection | Super7
- Mondo Mascots
- Super Sentai Mask Collection | RangerWiki | Fandom
- Yukinori Dehara– Page 3– GiantRobotStore
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