Post by lfcthorne on Jan 8, 2010 17:10:43 GMT -5
Ever meet a man who spends his day surrounded by upwards of 300 to 400 action figure pieces and parts? How about two?
Among a mere handful of individuals responsible for all WWE products are lead designer Derek Handy and fellow key design point man at Mattel, Bill Miekina. With a combined 17 years of experience in toy creative, design and execution, the pair juggles everything from sculpting and mechanical architecture (Handy’s handiwork) to paint deco and accuracy (Miekina’s expertise).
In an exclusive interview with WWE.com, Handy and Miekina detailed their crucial roles within the plastic-molding pantheon at Mattel – those responsible for the greatest WWE toys in the history of the squared circle.
WWE.COM: It’s finally 2010 and Mattel’s WWE toy takeover has begun. What is your initial reaction to the WWE-Mattel team and its plastic offspring?
Bill Miekina: I think overall, I’m really happy with [the WWE Mattel line], to see it all come together. We’ve been working on it for about a year now. [Derek and I have] both been working in the industry for a while, and it’s nice to see how much Mattel’s put behind this. We’ve worked on a lot of lines where we put out six figures for the launch and that’ll be it. This is a long-term project. We’re launching with a lot of product to really round things out.
BM: It’s the biggest launch in Mattel history, in the history of the company. That’s huge. I came from a toy invention firm in Chicago where most of the work was based on pitches. You’ll work on stuff and it will never see the light of day. Every single minute I put in here is going to toward a product that will be released, and released around the world. People in Australia will see my work. Japan. All over.
WWE.COM: How did you come to work on the WWE franchise for Mattel?
BM: I was hired specifically to work on the [WWE] line. I was working in Chicago and came out to San Diego Comic Con in 2008. Mattel had a poster looking for toy designers that were WWE fans and I looked at the poster and thought, “Well, I’m a big WWE fan. I’m a toy designer. I should apply for this job!” (laughs) I interviewed and took along my portfolio and took pictures of my action figure collection, which is rather large and extensive. Mattel realized, “This is the right guy. He knows what’s come before; he knows what level of quality is expected.”
Derek Handy: For me, I came from more of a collectibles background, busts and statues. It was all fairly limited runs. Coming to Mattel was a big transition because it was dealing with things on a much larger scale on a much longer timeline. Also, I knew this was pretty much a once in a lifetime chance to work on something where you know from the start it’s going to be a long-term project. We’ve been able to do a lot of the things you wouldn’t in a small production line where you’ve got to make sure one body works for six other guys. There’s a lot more flexibility on this line that you really wouldn’t have with other projects.
BM: I’ve been hardcore collecting wrestling action figures for 13 years, since ’96. I can’t believe I’m in a position where now I’m shaping a wrestling action figure line. Some days you wake up and you’re like, “I can’t believe they let me do this job.”
WWE.COM: What is your personal favorite WWE Mattel toy design and why?
BM: There are two. Entrance Greats, just because that level of figure has never been done before and we pulled it off. When you look at the Rey Mysterio, Triple H and Shawn Michaels [figures], they’re at a level that hasn’t been seen before. (Entrance Greats photos)
Another one that’s a favorite of mine is the Elite [Series] CM Punk figure. I’m from Chicago, so there’s a little bias there. The tattoo work that we were able to pull off on the sleeves … his arms look like coloring books and that was never represented until we did the Elite Collection. The people who have seen it have asked how we’ve been able to do this. It’s a lot of hard work, but for something like this, it’s all worth it. (Elite photos)
DH: Specifically, the Entrance Greats Rey Mysterio really came out well and it’s showing what Mattel can bring to the table. We’re working on a lot of Elite stuff for the fall that’s really awesome. It’s just one of those things that I think with each wave, people will be like “Yes, he’s awesome, he’s my favorite.” Then, the next wave will come out and they’ll be like, “Oh, now he’s my favorite.” We’ll have a John Morrison that’s awesome and a Great Khali that looks, well, great. Then we’ll have a Hornswoggle.
We keep trying to one-up what we did in the previous wave. We’re always going to be striving for perfection.
WWE.COM: What has been the most challenging aspect of capturing WWE and its Superstars for this revolutionary toy line?
BM: Randy Orton has proven difficult, just because of his sleeve tattoos. We wanted to get it right, you know, with the color and different shades and placement. We wanted to get the wrap right. Anyone with tattoo sleeves is more difficult than anyone else in the line. CM Punk, Undertaker, Randy Orton and then MVP has a sleeve on his left arm, which we’ve started to work on now. One challenge is color, making sure it looks right.
DH: Overall, working with WWE has been great. It’s been pretty fluid.
BM: I love working with the WWE photo department. I’ve asked for photos to be shot after TV tapings for costume changes or body art changes and they’re on top of it.
DH: Especially with WWE, where there are constantly new shows, we run the risk of guys appearing with new outfits, but we’re constantly trying to chase guys with new outfits, goatees and new tattoos. It’s ever-evolving. That’s probably the biggest challenge: Making sure stuff is up to date.
WWE.COM: How do you tackle a toy design and execute a figure plan of attack?
BM: For the action figures, what you try to figure out for a wave is who to include. If a guy’s on TV a lot, we aim to include them in a line. Sheamus or Drew McIntryre and other guys are obviously more of a priority than they were two months ago. The need to get them in a line is much greater now. [Editor's note: In his photo above, Miekine is hard at work, preparing for McIntyre's upcoming figure.]
Another challenge is balancing decos in assortments. If we have a person with heavy deco, we try to balance it by including Superstars with costumes who are simple, while also appealing to the fans.
DH: We’re not only going to try to include Superstars that kids will pick up, but the collectors don’t want. We want some depth, not just put out a whole bunch of Cena and whole bunch of Rey, like those other guys.
BM: We follow the shows, costume changes, look changes. And just keep on top of it.
WWE.COM: Spending long days with toys, do you actually find yourself playing with the pieces you produce?
DH: At least for me, that usually happens in meetings, which is probably the worst time. (laughs) Yea, I grew up playing with action figures and I love this stuff. We wouldn’t be in this business if this wasn’t a part of our lives.
BM: We probably wouldn’t be good at our jobs if we weren’t eight-year olds at heart. I have a massive amount of shelves in my apartment filled with action figures. I can’t imagine not having them there.
WWE.COM: As creators, what have been the strongest influences for you in designing the WWE Mattel figure line?
BM: My biggest influence is probably the Marvel Legends [Toy Biz] line of action figures. I think they’re one of the highest quality action figure lines that have ever been put out. Those were the best possible action figures of those characters. And I want the Elite Series to be similar, the best possible action figures any company could ever make of these Superstars. That’s the level I want to uphold.
DH: Obviously, we have a benchmark that we’re working against. One of the keys is that we give everybody a reason to go and pick up Mattel’s WWE stuff. One of the worst things we could hear is for somebody to walk into a store and go, “Ehhhh, what I have is better so I’m not going to pick that one up.”
WWE.COM: What childhood toys have proven most influential to you and inspired you in your careers?
BM: I played with a lot of Star Wars toys and a lot of G.I. Joe. The hooks were in at an early age. As I’ve grown up, I’ve collected all sorts of lines; Marvel Legends, Lord of the Rings, WWE. Actually, ‘94 I started trying to compete a collection of the old Hasbro figures, the 5-inchers, because I thought they were really cool action figures.
Jakks [Pacific] started coming out in ’96 and at first I was hesitant. I think a lot of people, initially, are hesitant about a new company taking over. But once new product starts coming out, if you’re a collector, that’s what you do. You can’t help it.
DH: I was a big G.I. Joe and Lego fan. I would build little tanks for my G.I. Joes to rove around in. I was all about trying to create new and different things each time, then breaking it down to make something new again.
WWE.COM: What type of reaction have you received from the WWE Superstars themselves? Did it involve a DDT … or two?
Bill Miekina: At SummerSlam, we presented [Mattel’s products] to the WWE roster. We ran through the line and everyone was in street clothes sitting in the stands at the STAPLES Center, so it was kind of a surreal moment for us, showing action figures of them.
Derek Handy: There were a lot of guys who really loved what they saw and were really happy with their figure. A lot of the guys were picking them up but they were prototypes so they were pretty fragile and the arms were falling off. (laughs) Overall, people loved the stuff. Evan Bourne came back later to see his stuff. Shad & JTG wanted to check their stuff out again later, too.
BM: It was great to show a guy like Evan Bourne the attention to detail that was given, especially his kick pads. That’s never been captured before. With JTG, with the tied-off kneepads, we’re doing that and it’s never been done before. We’re happy that [the Superstars] saw the detail that we’ve been putting in.
DH: The Miz and Morrison were talking about their abs. And Morrison wanted to make sure he had better abs than The Miz, which we made sure of. (laughs)
WWE.COM: What is it like being engulfed by toys at your daily workspace?
DH: I can never tell you exactly what’s in my cube, but I’ve got tons of samples. Everybody [here at Mattel has] tons of stuff. We’re kinda stuffed to the gill for whatever line we’re working on. It’s kinda cool.
BM: Well, we also get the WWE DVDs to keep track of the product, so my WWE DVD collection is growing, rather rapidly.
DH: [At Mattel headquarters,] we walk back and forth between people’s cubes, see what they’re working on and go, “Oh wow, look at that.” It clicks in and we stop right there and appreciate what we’re doing.
WWE.COM: Would you say there is any WWE envy amongst other designers at Mattel?
BM: I think everyone here is working on lines that are most appropriate for them. I know that Toy Fair voted the DC Universe line the best action figure line of the year, last year. And it is our goal to make sure that in 2010 they do not win that crown (laughs). You know, it’s just friendly competition. Healthy competition. The amount of talent in this group really blows my mind. Though I would probably openly weep if I ever got moved off WWE. (laughs)
WWE.COM: What do you most strive for when producing the various WWE toy lines?
BM: I personally try to appease the biggest possible action figure nerd on the Internet, because if you can please them, then everyone else will be completely blown away. A small percent of the buying public is going to look at these through a microscope and analyze them. If they can’t find fault or anything wrong with it, then we’ve done your job. I’m an action figure collector myself and I’m pretty nitpicky. I understand the mentality. Accuracy is paramount.
DH: We’ve got a lot of things we have to accomplish for marketing and sales, but in reaching our benchmark, it comes down to making the diehard guys happy. We’ll check out online forms and boards and pay attention to what fans are looking at and the issues they have, then try to make those corrections as we go through.
WWE.COM: Speaking of stunning, there’s been buzz about the super-rare gold coin championships that come with one in every 1,000 WWE Mattel action figures. Why all the fuss?
BM: I helped design the [gold coin championship belts]. The design for that belt is actually a combination of two elements coming together … a symbolic merging of two elements. I don’t think anyone has actually figured out what the design is based on, but it is a merging of the Mattel logo and the faceplate of the [WWE Championship] from the 1980s. It’s sort of an Easter egg.
People will say, “This isn’t a belt in WWE, right? Why are they doing this?” But once the truth is out (now), they will appreciate it.
WWE.COM: With the deluge of 3 3/4 scale action figures hitting the toy market, why did Mattel decide to head in the opposite direction with the brand-new WWE figure line?
BM: The scale we’re using now is the most appropriate to the license. WWE in a 3 3/4 inch scale? Given some of the aspects, I don’t think we’d be able to reproduce as well.
DH: Kids appreciate a larger scale figure more. When you’re trying to get figures to wrestle and recreate an event, I think a larger scale works better.
BM: Certain licenses lend themselves to certain scales better than others. I can’t imagine Star Wars would have the same appeal in six inches as it does in 3 3/4. But I think WWE’s scale is the most appealing.
BM: Making sure we’re getting the characteristics of [the WWE Superstars] in each figure is really important to us. For example, Mark Henry is this big, strong guy and we want to make sure we give him a body and personality that reflects how strong he is.
WWE.COM: In your opinion, why should the WWE Universe clamor for these particular figures, especially if they already have a substantial collection? Any final thoughts to add?
DH: I’m really proud of this stuff. We’re doing this right in that we’re paying attention to what the collectors want. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any line with the scaling that we’re using and I think that’s going to draw in not just WWE fans, but action figure fans, and kind of turn their heads.
BM: The execution on this stuff is also drawing people in. People see a Hornswoggle figure …
DH: … their jaw drops.
BM: We really appreciate about being able to work on this line. If you’ve seen the quality of the sculpts and the decos, I think you’d agree they’re at a level that has never been offered before for WWE products. I think we’re putting out the best action figure line that’s ever been put out by any company ever.
**
Sorry if posted before
Among a mere handful of individuals responsible for all WWE products are lead designer Derek Handy and fellow key design point man at Mattel, Bill Miekina. With a combined 17 years of experience in toy creative, design and execution, the pair juggles everything from sculpting and mechanical architecture (Handy’s handiwork) to paint deco and accuracy (Miekina’s expertise).
In an exclusive interview with WWE.com, Handy and Miekina detailed their crucial roles within the plastic-molding pantheon at Mattel – those responsible for the greatest WWE toys in the history of the squared circle.
WWE.COM: It’s finally 2010 and Mattel’s WWE toy takeover has begun. What is your initial reaction to the WWE-Mattel team and its plastic offspring?
Bill Miekina: I think overall, I’m really happy with [the WWE Mattel line], to see it all come together. We’ve been working on it for about a year now. [Derek and I have] both been working in the industry for a while, and it’s nice to see how much Mattel’s put behind this. We’ve worked on a lot of lines where we put out six figures for the launch and that’ll be it. This is a long-term project. We’re launching with a lot of product to really round things out.
BM: It’s the biggest launch in Mattel history, in the history of the company. That’s huge. I came from a toy invention firm in Chicago where most of the work was based on pitches. You’ll work on stuff and it will never see the light of day. Every single minute I put in here is going to toward a product that will be released, and released around the world. People in Australia will see my work. Japan. All over.
WWE.COM: How did you come to work on the WWE franchise for Mattel?
BM: I was hired specifically to work on the [WWE] line. I was working in Chicago and came out to San Diego Comic Con in 2008. Mattel had a poster looking for toy designers that were WWE fans and I looked at the poster and thought, “Well, I’m a big WWE fan. I’m a toy designer. I should apply for this job!” (laughs) I interviewed and took along my portfolio and took pictures of my action figure collection, which is rather large and extensive. Mattel realized, “This is the right guy. He knows what’s come before; he knows what level of quality is expected.”
Derek Handy: For me, I came from more of a collectibles background, busts and statues. It was all fairly limited runs. Coming to Mattel was a big transition because it was dealing with things on a much larger scale on a much longer timeline. Also, I knew this was pretty much a once in a lifetime chance to work on something where you know from the start it’s going to be a long-term project. We’ve been able to do a lot of the things you wouldn’t in a small production line where you’ve got to make sure one body works for six other guys. There’s a lot more flexibility on this line that you really wouldn’t have with other projects.
BM: I’ve been hardcore collecting wrestling action figures for 13 years, since ’96. I can’t believe I’m in a position where now I’m shaping a wrestling action figure line. Some days you wake up and you’re like, “I can’t believe they let me do this job.”
WWE.COM: What is your personal favorite WWE Mattel toy design and why?
BM: There are two. Entrance Greats, just because that level of figure has never been done before and we pulled it off. When you look at the Rey Mysterio, Triple H and Shawn Michaels [figures], they’re at a level that hasn’t been seen before. (Entrance Greats photos)
Another one that’s a favorite of mine is the Elite [Series] CM Punk figure. I’m from Chicago, so there’s a little bias there. The tattoo work that we were able to pull off on the sleeves … his arms look like coloring books and that was never represented until we did the Elite Collection. The people who have seen it have asked how we’ve been able to do this. It’s a lot of hard work, but for something like this, it’s all worth it. (Elite photos)
DH: Specifically, the Entrance Greats Rey Mysterio really came out well and it’s showing what Mattel can bring to the table. We’re working on a lot of Elite stuff for the fall that’s really awesome. It’s just one of those things that I think with each wave, people will be like “Yes, he’s awesome, he’s my favorite.” Then, the next wave will come out and they’ll be like, “Oh, now he’s my favorite.” We’ll have a John Morrison that’s awesome and a Great Khali that looks, well, great. Then we’ll have a Hornswoggle.
We keep trying to one-up what we did in the previous wave. We’re always going to be striving for perfection.
WWE.COM: What has been the most challenging aspect of capturing WWE and its Superstars for this revolutionary toy line?
BM: Randy Orton has proven difficult, just because of his sleeve tattoos. We wanted to get it right, you know, with the color and different shades and placement. We wanted to get the wrap right. Anyone with tattoo sleeves is more difficult than anyone else in the line. CM Punk, Undertaker, Randy Orton and then MVP has a sleeve on his left arm, which we’ve started to work on now. One challenge is color, making sure it looks right.
DH: Overall, working with WWE has been great. It’s been pretty fluid.
BM: I love working with the WWE photo department. I’ve asked for photos to be shot after TV tapings for costume changes or body art changes and they’re on top of it.
DH: Especially with WWE, where there are constantly new shows, we run the risk of guys appearing with new outfits, but we’re constantly trying to chase guys with new outfits, goatees and new tattoos. It’s ever-evolving. That’s probably the biggest challenge: Making sure stuff is up to date.
WWE.COM: How do you tackle a toy design and execute a figure plan of attack?
BM: For the action figures, what you try to figure out for a wave is who to include. If a guy’s on TV a lot, we aim to include them in a line. Sheamus or Drew McIntryre and other guys are obviously more of a priority than they were two months ago. The need to get them in a line is much greater now. [Editor's note: In his photo above, Miekine is hard at work, preparing for McIntyre's upcoming figure.]
Another challenge is balancing decos in assortments. If we have a person with heavy deco, we try to balance it by including Superstars with costumes who are simple, while also appealing to the fans.
DH: We’re not only going to try to include Superstars that kids will pick up, but the collectors don’t want. We want some depth, not just put out a whole bunch of Cena and whole bunch of Rey, like those other guys.
BM: We follow the shows, costume changes, look changes. And just keep on top of it.
WWE.COM: Spending long days with toys, do you actually find yourself playing with the pieces you produce?
DH: At least for me, that usually happens in meetings, which is probably the worst time. (laughs) Yea, I grew up playing with action figures and I love this stuff. We wouldn’t be in this business if this wasn’t a part of our lives.
BM: We probably wouldn’t be good at our jobs if we weren’t eight-year olds at heart. I have a massive amount of shelves in my apartment filled with action figures. I can’t imagine not having them there.
WWE.COM: As creators, what have been the strongest influences for you in designing the WWE Mattel figure line?
BM: My biggest influence is probably the Marvel Legends [Toy Biz] line of action figures. I think they’re one of the highest quality action figure lines that have ever been put out. Those were the best possible action figures of those characters. And I want the Elite Series to be similar, the best possible action figures any company could ever make of these Superstars. That’s the level I want to uphold.
DH: Obviously, we have a benchmark that we’re working against. One of the keys is that we give everybody a reason to go and pick up Mattel’s WWE stuff. One of the worst things we could hear is for somebody to walk into a store and go, “Ehhhh, what I have is better so I’m not going to pick that one up.”
WWE.COM: What childhood toys have proven most influential to you and inspired you in your careers?
BM: I played with a lot of Star Wars toys and a lot of G.I. Joe. The hooks were in at an early age. As I’ve grown up, I’ve collected all sorts of lines; Marvel Legends, Lord of the Rings, WWE. Actually, ‘94 I started trying to compete a collection of the old Hasbro figures, the 5-inchers, because I thought they were really cool action figures.
Jakks [Pacific] started coming out in ’96 and at first I was hesitant. I think a lot of people, initially, are hesitant about a new company taking over. But once new product starts coming out, if you’re a collector, that’s what you do. You can’t help it.
DH: I was a big G.I. Joe and Lego fan. I would build little tanks for my G.I. Joes to rove around in. I was all about trying to create new and different things each time, then breaking it down to make something new again.
WWE.COM: What type of reaction have you received from the WWE Superstars themselves? Did it involve a DDT … or two?
Bill Miekina: At SummerSlam, we presented [Mattel’s products] to the WWE roster. We ran through the line and everyone was in street clothes sitting in the stands at the STAPLES Center, so it was kind of a surreal moment for us, showing action figures of them.
Derek Handy: There were a lot of guys who really loved what they saw and were really happy with their figure. A lot of the guys were picking them up but they were prototypes so they were pretty fragile and the arms were falling off. (laughs) Overall, people loved the stuff. Evan Bourne came back later to see his stuff. Shad & JTG wanted to check their stuff out again later, too.
BM: It was great to show a guy like Evan Bourne the attention to detail that was given, especially his kick pads. That’s never been captured before. With JTG, with the tied-off kneepads, we’re doing that and it’s never been done before. We’re happy that [the Superstars] saw the detail that we’ve been putting in.
DH: The Miz and Morrison were talking about their abs. And Morrison wanted to make sure he had better abs than The Miz, which we made sure of. (laughs)
WWE.COM: What is it like being engulfed by toys at your daily workspace?
DH: I can never tell you exactly what’s in my cube, but I’ve got tons of samples. Everybody [here at Mattel has] tons of stuff. We’re kinda stuffed to the gill for whatever line we’re working on. It’s kinda cool.
BM: Well, we also get the WWE DVDs to keep track of the product, so my WWE DVD collection is growing, rather rapidly.
DH: [At Mattel headquarters,] we walk back and forth between people’s cubes, see what they’re working on and go, “Oh wow, look at that.” It clicks in and we stop right there and appreciate what we’re doing.
WWE.COM: Would you say there is any WWE envy amongst other designers at Mattel?
BM: I think everyone here is working on lines that are most appropriate for them. I know that Toy Fair voted the DC Universe line the best action figure line of the year, last year. And it is our goal to make sure that in 2010 they do not win that crown (laughs). You know, it’s just friendly competition. Healthy competition. The amount of talent in this group really blows my mind. Though I would probably openly weep if I ever got moved off WWE. (laughs)
WWE.COM: What do you most strive for when producing the various WWE toy lines?
BM: I personally try to appease the biggest possible action figure nerd on the Internet, because if you can please them, then everyone else will be completely blown away. A small percent of the buying public is going to look at these through a microscope and analyze them. If they can’t find fault or anything wrong with it, then we’ve done your job. I’m an action figure collector myself and I’m pretty nitpicky. I understand the mentality. Accuracy is paramount.
DH: We’ve got a lot of things we have to accomplish for marketing and sales, but in reaching our benchmark, it comes down to making the diehard guys happy. We’ll check out online forms and boards and pay attention to what fans are looking at and the issues they have, then try to make those corrections as we go through.
WWE.COM: Speaking of stunning, there’s been buzz about the super-rare gold coin championships that come with one in every 1,000 WWE Mattel action figures. Why all the fuss?
BM: I helped design the [gold coin championship belts]. The design for that belt is actually a combination of two elements coming together … a symbolic merging of two elements. I don’t think anyone has actually figured out what the design is based on, but it is a merging of the Mattel logo and the faceplate of the [WWE Championship] from the 1980s. It’s sort of an Easter egg.
People will say, “This isn’t a belt in WWE, right? Why are they doing this?” But once the truth is out (now), they will appreciate it.
WWE.COM: With the deluge of 3 3/4 scale action figures hitting the toy market, why did Mattel decide to head in the opposite direction with the brand-new WWE figure line?
BM: The scale we’re using now is the most appropriate to the license. WWE in a 3 3/4 inch scale? Given some of the aspects, I don’t think we’d be able to reproduce as well.
DH: Kids appreciate a larger scale figure more. When you’re trying to get figures to wrestle and recreate an event, I think a larger scale works better.
BM: Certain licenses lend themselves to certain scales better than others. I can’t imagine Star Wars would have the same appeal in six inches as it does in 3 3/4. But I think WWE’s scale is the most appealing.
BM: Making sure we’re getting the characteristics of [the WWE Superstars] in each figure is really important to us. For example, Mark Henry is this big, strong guy and we want to make sure we give him a body and personality that reflects how strong he is.
WWE.COM: In your opinion, why should the WWE Universe clamor for these particular figures, especially if they already have a substantial collection? Any final thoughts to add?
DH: I’m really proud of this stuff. We’re doing this right in that we’re paying attention to what the collectors want. I don’t think I’ve ever seen any line with the scaling that we’re using and I think that’s going to draw in not just WWE fans, but action figure fans, and kind of turn their heads.
BM: The execution on this stuff is also drawing people in. People see a Hornswoggle figure …
DH: … their jaw drops.
BM: We really appreciate about being able to work on this line. If you’ve seen the quality of the sculpts and the decos, I think you’d agree they’re at a level that has never been offered before for WWE products. I think we’re putting out the best action figure line that’s ever been put out by any company ever.
**
Sorry if posted before
ing action figures.
