Making Fun: The Story of Funko

David Romero's 2018 documentary tells the story of Funko, the toy company that began in a garage in Washington and spread worldwide. Founded by Mike Becker and later taken over by Brian Mariotti, it became a fixture of popular culture through its Pop figures. The documentary centres the fan community's part in that growth. Its most concrete section follows a figure from design to production: moulds, paint, licensing negotiations. Its limit is plain; the production was made with the company's support, and the troubled sides of the collecting economy, overproduction and speculation on the secondary market, never come up. Warm as a fan documentary, incomplete as an examination of an industry. Who it's for: viewers interested in collecting, toy design and fan communities. Who it's not for: anyone wanting criticism of the company, or made uncomfortable by a promotional tone.