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The traditional mascots of Halloween tend to be skeletons, witches, zombies and the like, but also, a handful of very specific horror characters. Namely Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man. Occasionally we get supporting appearances by the Mummy, Frankenstein’s Bride, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. We see them in Halloween decorations decade after decade, and on any and all kinds of Halloween merchandise. Now, most of these characters are technically in the public domain, as the trademark on those 19th-century novels they came from has long since expired. But it’s not just any versions of these characters that have become ubiquitous with spooky season. They’re the ones from Universal Pictures, who dominated Hollywood from the 1930s through the early ’50s.
But how did this happen? How did these specific versions of certain monsters become icons of a whole season? After all, most people under the age of 50 have never even seen those Universal Monsters movies. At least, not beyond clips used in other media. Even modern-day kids, for whom these films might as well be as old as the pyramids, know who these specific character archetypes are. Many still dress like them each Halloween. Ultimately, the story of how the Universal Monsters became synonymous with Halloween is about the power of the Hollywood dream machine, and how movies can create icons that transcend the big screen and enter the pop culture fabric. Decades after their supposed expiration date.
The Universal Monsters Become Hollywood’s First Big Franchise
The Universal Monsters as we know them launched in 1931, with the release of Dracula and Frankenstein. Both films were based on already celebrated novels, and had prior silent adaptations. But these versions were instant blockbusters, and the double whammy of Dracula and Frankenstein‘s massive success helped save Universal Studios financially that year. However, both versions deviated from their book incarnations. Dracula wearing a tuxedo and cape like a dapper gentleman? That was an invention of the 1924 stage play, popularized on screen by Bela Lugosi. Frankenstein’s iconic, lumbering look, with the flattop head and the bolts coming out of actor Boris Karloff’s neck? That was certainly not how Mary Shelley described him. No, that was the invention of makeup artist Jack Pierce. Once millions of moviegoers saw those versions, however, they imprinted on the mass consciousness. They became the definitive versions of Dracula and Frankenstein.
As many know now, Universal Pictures launched a whole universe of monster sequels coming from these films. There was The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein, and eventually The Wolf Man. Starring Lon Chaney Jr., The Wolf Man was not based on any one werewolf story. But the idea of a werewolf, half-man/half-wolf hybrid who walks on two legs, was also Universal Pictures’ invention. By 1948, and after endless crossovers and sequels, the monster well had run dry. Dracula and Frankenstein had become parodies, mocked in comedic films like Universal’s own Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. That might have been the end of them, were it not for the advent of television in the 1950s. Combined with a post-war suburban surge in trick or treating, this confluence of events would keep these versions of the classic monsters cemented in the public consciousness for all time. And forever linked to Halloween night.
The Monster Craze of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s
These new television stations needed content. Lots of it. In 1957, those old Universal horror classics were sold as a package, and started to be rerun late at night, primarily on shows like Shock Theater. Baby Boomer kids became obsessed with the classic monsters, which their parents now discarded as silly camp. To them, they weren’t necessarily scary, they were cool, outsider figures to admire. This led to magazines celebrating those old movie boogeymen, like Famous Monsters of Filmland the very next year, and a ton of merchandise. Specifically, Halloween costumes. The chief producers of cheap, vinyl Halloween costumes from the ’50s through the mid-80s were Ben Cooper (pictured below) and Collegeville. They did their off-brand version of the Universal Monsters, and Frankenstein became their biggest seller. Suburban streets were flooded with pint-sized versions of the Universal Monsters on October 31, owning the night.
During this time, tons of other companies, like Dennison and even Hallmark, who produced Halloween merchandise used the images of the Universal Monsters, now beloved by American kids. However, not all had the official Universal license. In fact, most didn’t. But those other companies found a way to skirt around such pesky legalities. Their Frankenstein might be pale orange instead of green. Their Dracula might have more exaggerated features, so as to not be confused with Bela Lugosi. But everyone knew; these versions were the same monsters from those old movies. Changing little details was enough to not get sued by Universal, but every kid knew exactly who they were. And because they managed to do a dance around trademarks, they were used to sell everything from Colgate shampoo to Fritos chips, especially at Halloween. Off-brand or not, the Universal Monsters became the unofficial ambassadors of the holiday.
The Universal Monsters Become Rock Stars, Sell Cereal, and Star in Cartoons
The early ‘60s was when the “Monster Craze” peaked. During this time, model kits were all the rage so Aurora Plastics sold thousands of models of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and the Mummy. These began in 1962, and they sold so briskly that the plant where they were made had to run overtime to keep up with demand. The same year, a novelty single cashed in on the fad, Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s “The Monster Mash.” Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man all got a namecheck. The song became a Halloween season staple, and has remained so for 60 years. The creatures that terrorized the Greatest Generation were now the cuddly Halloween season icons of their children. Just as Santa and his elves became the mascots of Christmas, versions of Universal’s monsters were now the same for Halloween.
The apex of this fad was the release of The Munsters on TV in 1964. In a Universal-produced show, Herman Munster’s makeup could legally look like the one made famous by Karloff. But it further ingrained the idea of these monsters as almost cuddly friends to kids, and representative of all things Halloween. They’d continue to become kid-friendly going into the ‘70s, and non-official versions turned into wholesome entertainment, with animated shows like The Groovie Ghoulies, the Count on Sesame Street, and the Monster cereals like Count Chocula and Franken Berry.
There was even Drac Pack, a cartoon that reinvented the classic monsters as teenage superheroes. And, of course, Scooby-Doo had fun doing their own versions of the Universal Monsters, although there was always some boring old man under the mask. Halloween was mainly a kid’s holiday, so naturally, the monsters kids like the most ruled it. Although this trend slowed down after the ’70, it reached all the way into the ’80s, with all the Universal Monsters together (again, off-brand) fighting Goonies-style kids in The Monster Squad. That film, of course, became a Halloween night tradition.
Why the Classic Monsters Will Always Rule Halloween
This trend of paying homage (but also defanging) these icons continues all the way to the modern day, with franchises like Hotel Transylvania. All of these versions of the Universal Monsters are tweaked ever so slightly, as to avoid copyright infringement. However, it’s unmistakable who they are to anyone who knows. Collectively, all these knock-offs have kept the Universal Monsters alive in the minds of one generation after the next. Audiences would take seriously characters like Dracula on film, but in every instance, they’d have to ditch the old Universal trappings to become scary once more. Sure, these days, modern horror icons are just as ubiquitous with the season. But no others really embody Halloween night like the originals. As these classic Universal versions slowly became the domain of young kids, they became the domain of the Halloween season itself. And we don’t foresee that changing anytime soon.
The post How the Universal Monsters Became the Mascots of Halloween appeared first on Nerdist.
The traditional mascots of Halloween tend to be skeletons, witches, zombies and the like, but also, a handful of very specific horror characters. Namely Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, and the Wolf Man. Occasionally we get supporting appearances by the Mummy, Frankenstein’s Bride, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon. We see them in Halloween decorations decade after decade, and on any and all kinds of Halloween merchandise. Now, most of these characters are technically in the public domain, as the trademark on those 19th-century novels they came from has long since expired. But it’s not just any versions of these characters that have become ubiquitous with spooky season. They’re the ones from Universal Pictures, who dominated Hollywood from the 1930s through the early ’50s.
But how did this happen? How did these specific versions of certain monsters become icons of a whole season? After all, most people under the age of 50 have never even seen those Universal Monsters movies. At least, not beyond clips used in other media. Even modern-day kids, for whom these films might as well be as old as the pyramids, know who these specific character archetypes are. Many still dress like them each Halloween. Ultimately, the story of how the Universal Monsters became synonymous with Halloween is about the power of the Hollywood dream machine, and how movies can create icons that transcend the big screen and enter the pop culture fabric. Decades after their supposed expiration date.
The Universal Monsters Become Hollywood’s First Big Franchise
The Universal Monsters as we know them launched in 1931, with the release of Dracula and Frankenstein. Both films were based on already celebrated novels, and had prior silent adaptations. But these versions were instant blockbusters, and the double whammy of Dracula and Frankenstein‘s massive success helped save Universal Studios financially that year. However, both versions deviated from their book incarnations. Dracula wearing a tuxedo and cape like a dapper gentleman? That was an invention of the 1924 stage play, popularized on screen by Bela Lugosi. Frankenstein’s iconic, lumbering look, with the flattop head and the bolts coming out of actor Boris Karloff’s neck? That was certainly not how Mary Shelley described him. No, that was the invention of makeup artist Jack Pierce. Once millions of moviegoers saw those versions, however, they imprinted on the mass consciousness. They became the definitive versions of Dracula and Frankenstein.
As many know now, Universal Pictures launched a whole universe of monster sequels coming from these films. There was The Mummy, The Bride of Frankenstein, and eventually The Wolf Man. Starring Lon Chaney Jr., The Wolf Man was not based on any one werewolf story. But the idea of a werewolf, half-man/half-wolf hybrid who walks on two legs, was also Universal Pictures’ invention. By 1948, and after endless crossovers and sequels, the monster well had run dry. Dracula and Frankenstein had become parodies, mocked in comedic films like Universal’s own Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. That might have been the end of them, were it not for the advent of television in the 1950s. Combined with a post-war suburban surge in trick or treating, this confluence of events would keep these versions of the classic monsters cemented in the public consciousness for all time. And forever linked to Halloween night.
The Monster Craze of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s
These new television stations needed content. Lots of it. In 1957, those old Universal horror classics were sold as a package, and started to be rerun late at night, primarily on shows like Shock Theater. Baby Boomer kids became obsessed with the classic monsters, which their parents now discarded as silly camp. To them, they weren’t necessarily scary, they were cool, outsider figures to admire. This led to magazines celebrating those old movie boogeymen, like Famous Monsters of Filmland the very next year, and a ton of merchandise. Specifically, Halloween costumes. The chief producers of cheap, vinyl Halloween costumes from the ’50s through the mid-80s were Ben Cooper (pictured below) and Collegeville. They did their off-brand version of the Universal Monsters, and Frankenstein became their biggest seller. Suburban streets were flooded with pint-sized versions of the Universal Monsters on October 31, owning the night.
During this time, tons of other companies, like Dennison and even Hallmark, who produced Halloween merchandise used the images of the Universal Monsters, now beloved by American kids. However, not all had the official Universal license. In fact, most didn’t. But those other companies found a way to skirt around such pesky legalities. Their Frankenstein might be pale orange instead of green. Their Dracula might have more exaggerated features, so as to not be confused with Bela Lugosi. But everyone knew; these versions were the same monsters from those old movies. Changing little details was enough to not get sued by Universal, but every kid knew exactly who they were. And because they managed to do a dance around trademarks, they were used to sell everything from Colgate shampoo to Fritos chips, especially at Halloween. Off-brand or not, the Universal Monsters became the unofficial ambassadors of the holiday.
The Universal Monsters Become Rock Stars, Sell Cereal, and Star in Cartoons
The early ‘60s was when the “Monster Craze” peaked. During this time, model kits were all the rage so Aurora Plastics sold thousands of models of Dracula, Frankenstein, the Wolfman, and the Mummy. These began in 1962, and they sold so briskly that the plant where they were made had to run overtime to keep up with demand. The same year, a novelty single cashed in on the fad, Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s “The Monster Mash.” Frankenstein, Dracula, and the Wolf Man all got a namecheck. The song became a Halloween season staple, and has remained so for 60 years. The creatures that terrorized the Greatest Generation were now the cuddly Halloween season icons of their children. Just as Santa and his elves became the mascots of Christmas, versions of Universal’s monsters were now the same for Halloween.
The apex of this fad was the release of The Munsters on TV in 1964. In a Universal-produced show, Herman Munster’s makeup could legally look like the one made famous by Karloff. But it further ingrained the idea of these monsters as almost cuddly friends to kids, and representative of all things Halloween. They’d continue to become kid-friendly going into the ‘70s, and non-official versions turned into wholesome entertainment, with animated shows like The Groovie Ghoulies, the Count on Sesame Street, and the Monster cereals like Count Chocula and Franken Berry.
There was even Drac Pack, a cartoon that reinvented the classic monsters as teenage superheroes. And, of course, Scooby-Doo had fun doing their own versions of the Universal Monsters, although there was always some boring old man under the mask. Halloween was mainly a kid’s holiday, so naturally, the monsters kids like the most ruled it. Although this trend slowed down after the ’70, it reached all the way into the ’80s, with all the Universal Monsters together (again, off-brand) fighting Goonies-style kids in The Monster Squad. That film, of course, became a Halloween night tradition.
Why the Classic Monsters Will Always Rule Halloween
This trend of paying homage (but also defanging) these icons continues all the way to the modern day, with franchises like Hotel Transylvania. All of these versions of the Universal Monsters are tweaked ever so slightly, as to avoid copyright infringement. However, it’s unmistakable who they are to anyone who knows. Collectively, all these knock-offs have kept the Universal Monsters alive in the minds of one generation after the next. Audiences would take seriously characters like Dracula on film, but in every instance, they’d have to ditch the old Universal trappings to become scary once more. Sure, these days, modern horror icons are just as ubiquitous with the season. But no others really embody Halloween night like the originals. As these classic Universal versions slowly became the domain of young kids, they became the domain of the Halloween season itself. And we don’t foresee that changing anytime soon.
The post How the Universal Monsters Became the Mascots of Halloween appeared first on Nerdist.
Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 left us with quite a cliffhanger, so it makes sense that people are ready beyond ready for more. This long-running saga of a superpowered girl, her nerdy friends, and a small town with a dark dimension beneath is wrapping up its story for good, making people extra excited. Stranger Things 5 will be the last season, a plan that the Duffer Brothers have had since the beginning. So naturally, they have been dropping information here and there for a while. Here’s what we know so far about Stranger Things 5.
Stranger Things 5 Releases Pre-Vis First-Looks at Episode One
Who would have thought we’d have our first-look at Stranger Things 5 so early. At least, a technical first-look. In support of the SAG-AFTRA strike, the Stranger Things 5 writers, who were recently allowed to return to work, posted a very interesting-looking Steve Harrington.
FYI this is pre-vis for a scene in ep 1. So technically your first look at season 5. We told Joe he has to perform it EXACTLY like this.
— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) September 28, 2023
They followed up the slightly freaky image by noting, “FYI, this is pre-vis for a scene in ep 1. So technically your first look at season 5. We told Joe he has to perform it EXACTLY like this.” This Stranger Things 5 “first look” doesn’t actually reveal anything… But we are glad to see Steve, regardless.
They did Charlie dirty pic.twitter.com/NOWxnTou4l
— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) September 29, 2023
The writers also shared a continuation of the moment and revealed that Jonathan is also present in it. It looks like they might be working on a car or something of the sort together. We honestly wouldn’t mind seeing a little bit more of their tenuous friendship.
Lastly, Stranger Things‘ writers have revealed pre-viz for a scene in Stranger Things 5 that features Nancy, Jonathan, and Dustin. They’re screaming a lot in a car… and also appear to possibly be heading into the Upside Down by way of Stranger Things 2 location McCorkle’s farm. Very interesting.
Stranger Things 5 Will Be a Return to Season One and More
The Duffer Brothers teased the tone we can expect from Stranger Things 5. They shared:
Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each… Whereas before, each season was so [distinct]… [Season] 3 is our big summer blockbuster season with big monsters, and [Season] 4 was the psychological horror. Five, the way we see it, is kind of a culmination of all the seasons, so it’s sort of got a little bit from each. I think that what we’re trying to do is go back to the beginning a little bit, in sort of the tone of 1.
While having an Eleven-centric final season is a no-brainer, The Duffer Brothers affirm via a Variety interview that Will Byers is going to once again become a big focus in Stranger Things‘ final season. There’s no outright onscreen confirmation that Will is indeed gay (we do get lots of heavy hinting); however, actor Noah Schnapp did reveal his truth via TikTok as well as previously stating that his character is gay. In an interview with Variety, Schnapp affirms his own journey would inform how he portrays Will in the final season.
“I think the way I act in season five, honestly, might be a little different,” Schnapp says. “I will be fully aware of who I am. Knowing all of that about myself and being able to invest that in my character, I’m honestly just excited.”
Ross Duffer further adds, “Will really takes center stage again in [season five]. This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality—it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”
In terms of scale, the episodes are still as epic as Stranger Things 4‘s were. In fact, Stranger Things’ writers had quite a visceral way of describing the upcoming season. Take a look.
Additionally, the script for Stranger Things 5 made Netflix executives cry, according to the creators… And David Harbour refers to it as “very, very moving.” So strap in folks.
Will There Be a Time Jump Between Stranger Things 4 and Stranger Things 5?
If you’re wondering whether we’ll see a major time jump between Stranger Things 4 and Stranger Things 5, it sounds like the answer is no, but the door does remain open.
In an interview recorded before the SAG-AFTRA strike began, David Harbour chatted to the Happy Sad Confused podcast about when Stranger Things 5 will pick up the story. He offered, “…when you watch us on that hill looking at the ash and the smoke and fires—we’re going to start somewhere after that. So you’ve got to imagine the world is a different place.” Of course, somewhere after that could mean more than a little time, but it does feel like the ash is still hanging in the air when the cameras begin to roll.
The Title of Stranger Things 5‘s First Episode
To celebrate Stranger Things Day, Netflix gave us a tease of what we might expect in the final season of the show. Well, a tiny tease, anyway. Netflix released the title of Stranger Thing 5‘s first episode. The episode’s title? “Chapter One: The Crawl.”
Hrm… The doesn’t really clear much up. But for our money, that better mean Eddie Munson’s crawl back to life from his death in the Upside Down. Listen, it could happen. We guess we’ll just have to hang on for now. But we feel sure thousands of theories about this Stranger Things 5 title are already brewing.
Stranger Things 5 Will Be Shorter Than Stranger Things 4
Stranger Things 5 will be shorter than this very, very long season. According to an interview on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast, the reason for this is pretty simple. “The only reason we don’t expect [Season 5] to be as long is because, this season, if you look at it, it’s almost a two-hour ramp-up before our kids really get drawn into the supernatural mystery,” Matt Duffer said. “You get to know them, you get to see them in their lives, all while they’re struggling with adapting to high school and so forth … Steve’s trying to find a date. All of that.”
For now, it looks like the Duffer brothers and other Stranger Things writers are teasing us with an eight-episode Stranger Things 5.
Based on the end of Stranger Things 4, this all makes sense. There’s plenty going on with them immediately in Stranger Things 5, to be honest. And this doesn’t mean we’ll get a shorter finale. The runtime for the very last episode will be movie length and have a Return of the King type of deal with eight endings. Goodness.
Stranger Things 5 Will Only Be Set in Hawkins
Stranger Things 4 felt like that song about the dude who’s been everywhere, man. There were so many locations in several states (and even Russia). But the final season will stick to the place where we began this adventure: Hawkins, Indiana. According to Matt Duffer, returning to home base is what it’s all about. “We wanna go back to a lot of the things we did in season one,” Duffer told Entertainment Weekly. “A lot of the original groupings and pairings that we had in season one–there’s something nice about coming full circle.”
This is interesting considering the new faces we’ve added on like Robin and Erica. Where will they fit into these groups in Stranger Things 5? We know the first season was heavy on Mike, Dustin, and Lucas being together while Will was missing. Uh, oh. Does this mean Will will separate from his buddies again?
One thing we got confirmed: the Duffer Brothers know how Stranger Things will end. And we can only speculate what they have up their sleeves.
The Work Is Currently on Hold for Stranger Things 5
In a Collider interview, Ross Duffer confirmed that the writers’ room will be back to work in August 2022. However, things came to a grinding halt in May 2023 with the writers’ strike. The Stranger Things writers room made a post on Twitter affirming that production would stop until a fair deal was reached.
This likely means we won’t get Stranger Things 5 until 2025. And that’s okay. The most important issue is to make sure that actors and writers are being treated fairly.
The Stranger Things Spinoff Will Connect to the Series
That elusive Stranger Things spinoff that only the Duffer Brothers and apparently Finn Wolfhard know about will have “connective tissue” with the series. They will be involved in putting it together but they also want to put the reins in someone else’s hands so they can take a step back. In the aforementioned podcast interview, they admit to wanting to stay involved. But they also say they are looking for “that right person to pass the baton to” so they can do new things. Makes sense considering they have been in Stranger Things land for several years.
Max Is in a Really, Really Bad Situation
The Duffers also confirm some really sad news about Max and her fate on Stranger Things. Apparently, she is alive but “brain dead, blind, and all her bones are broken.” So, at least for now, Max is certainly not the same person she was before. It’s not clear how this will play into Stranger Things season five but hopefully, she won’t end up being some vessel for Vecna or anything. We can’t bear to see anything else happen to Max. Save her, please!
Originally published on July 5, 2022.
The post Every STRANGER THINGS 5 Tease Released So Far appeared first on Nerdist.
I treated myself to some new anime themed enamel pins this month and thought about not just my love for pins (enamel, acrylic and lapel pins) but the ones that showed my adoration for anime in general. I thought back on an older piece on the site by Chris where he wrote about finding joy in being a collector of the fandoms and media he loved. Included in the category of BNP’s Guilty Pleasure Confessionals, I loved that he ventured into his history of collecting–from his childhood hobby of loving Pokémon to what he’s picked up as an adult.
He reinforces that we should find joy in our collections, we should find comfort, and they should bring us community and good memories. Overall, it is a piece that I come back to reread every so often as it is timely and a great personal piece. This week when I was looking at my newest additions to my pin collection I thought of all the love and money that I poured into my collection, in particular the anime themed and inspired ones and what to share more about them and what they mean to me. Also, I wanted to include some tips on those who want to start collecting enamel pins of their own!
My (Discontinued) OG Faves
My absolute favorite anime enamel pins come from the Adorned by Chi, the Magical manga series & lifestyle brand started up by Jacque Aye. Some of the brand’s biggest milestones were having some of Aye’s original magical characters licensed by Hot Topic, and having a DREAM collaboration with Sanrio. I’ve purchased and have been gifted many items from the brand over the years and my favorite items have to be all the many enamel pins that I’ve collected. From super cute takes on some of our favorite Ghibli characters to Black girl versions of some of our favorite Anime heroines, these forever stand out and get asked about. My Sailor Moon and Kiki pins are big enough to sit on the collar of my jean jacket collars comfortably and always get worn and complimented when I wear them to Disney Land.
These pins are also discontinued merchandise from the Adorned by Chi brand that is taking a break as its creator Aye is pursuing her author dreams to great success–seriously go buy her books! What I love most about my pins here are that they were among some of the first Black-owned brands that I found circulating on social media. Finding Adorned by Chi led me to other Black-owned and women-owned small businesses, and I even found more online connections from other nerdy fans through this brand. Whenever I wear these enamel pins, I am reminded by just how much they compliment me and my sometimes kawaii/cute fashion style. Now that they are truly limited edition, I take special care of them and cherish them every time I wear them! To feel at my magical girl self, I’ll wear these!
My Early Pandemic Era Purchases that Bring Me Joy
During the early part of the pandemic, I bought stuff, like many of you. Lots of it. Some of it allowed me to live more comfortably–like my humidifier, weight blanket, and melatonin sleep gummies. Other purchases like new cookware and new address label stickers helped elevate other areas in my life like my cooking expertise and professional life. Others were ‘treat yourself’ purchases. These pins here fit in that very category, and I don’t regret them. The first pin, the Masked Magical Girl Charity Pin, is in the likeness of my favorite OG Shojo girlie: Sailor Moon. I actually featured this pin by Kanpai Designs (currently on break) in a Magical Girl Themed Holiday Gift Guide I put together a year ago where half of the profits were donated to UNICEF.
The Kanpai Design pin is one that I have worn faithfully not just because I love Sailor Moon but also because she is a reminder that wearing face masks is an act of love. This checks out because Sailor Moon is the guardian of Love and Justice, after all. This is a meaningful pin that often catches eyes when I wear it on my favorite Black blazer when attending professional events or funerals. The Set Your Heart Ablaze hard enamel pin features the iconic phrase by the Flame Hashira, Rengoku Kyojiro of Demon Slayer fame. This inspiring set of words is not only one of my favorite phrases in (more recent) anime history but is from my favorite characters of the Demon Slayer franchise. I needed to hear this–again and again going through the highs and lows of the pandemic years when I needed comfort and encouragement. I love to look back at this pin and wear it on a day when I needed to summon all my inner strength and be great.
My Latest and Greatest Finds
So…another Sailor Moon enamel pin? Yes. But in all seriousness, I love a good meme pin and pin creators that bring along a sense of humor in the products that they create and sell. I had initially bought an Ami/Sailor Mercury enamel pin for a friend’s birthday and came back to buy more from the creative behind it: iheartjlp. These anime themed pins are just so much fun (and well made!): from a Naruto/Simpsons mashup to another pin featuring Sailor Moon characters recreating a iconic meme featuring cats. Sometimes you just need some fun in your life and that’s what these anime themed purchases do for me in my life. With this batch of pins, I was reminded of just how much fun a collection of enamel pins can be.
I don’t often share my anime enamel pins nowadays and with these I’ve hopefully not been insufferable with the people in my life with how much I love these and how much XP I’ve gained in leveling up. We all should find joy in our collections, point blank. (Unless, you collect Nazi memorabilia, then I hope you step on LEGOs everyday for the rest of your life. I am sending you bad energy. Please believe it. ) I love looking over pieces of my anime enamel pin collection and remembering how I felt when I first picked it up at a con or received it in the mail. I love wearing my pins and encountering someone who knows what magical girl I’m wearing or what obscure symbol from an anime is pinned on my backpack. My pins bring me joy, As they should. I hope that you are receiving joy in whatever you collect, and if you too, collect anime enamel pins: I pray all your pins are secured and are never lost.
Tips on Starting Your Own Collection
- Shop local and support indie creators! There are pins that I have brought exclusively at conventions or as add-ons from crowdfunding campaigns. Many of these were limited runs or will never be sold again which is tragic for those who missed out the first time and have to face resellers. Poke around at your local nerdy conventions in your neck of the woods and check out the vendor rooms or tables! I always found great pins and great energy doing this, and it introduced me to creators that I still follow and purchase from today!
- Beware of counterfeits! Do your best not to purchase pins from the bad rain forest store *cough* Amazon or places like TEMU, Wish or SHEIN as many copied designs from smaller creators get stolen and placed on there! Counterfeit pins hurt so many amazing creators everywhere! Pintheft.com was set up to spread awareness about counterfeits, encourage responsible shopping, and provide resources for artists.
The site mentions that “Counterfeit pins are hurting your favorite artists. When our designs are illegally copied, we lose time, money, and customers.” If you find a pin creator that you admire, be sure to follow them on social media and/or subscribe to their newsletter, blog or, Patreon, or similar online presence. This is a great way to pre-order for future pin drops, gain discount codes and coupons, and see what events and cons you can see the merch in person at!
- Take care of your pins and make sure you find additional backing posts! Also display your pins with pride! There’s a whole industry of display options and bags (like Ita bags) solely for displaying pin collections. From cloth banners to corkboard squares too! I store and display some of mine on little corkboards that easily can be set on a shelf, in a drawer or a wall. I initially bought mine from one of my all time fave non anime pin making companies, Radical Dreams–a socially conscious accessory brand that was founded in 2015 by Shannon P., a Black medical student with a passion for social justice and serving the community.
For secure pins you’ll want to consider buying flat top or ball top locking pin backs for extra security while wearing your pins. Cosmic Medium, another Black woman owned and operated company run by Laura Coleman that I have featured before on the site, started selling a converter necklace for pin collectors that seems like a neat idea to give new life to the pins collectors own.
Here’s a quick breakdown of the different types of pin backs via TikTok video! I also like these converters to help turn your enamel pins into keychains from Pins and Needle! I’ve also found Noir Voyage, another pin creator to have lots of accessories like loving pins backs, pin keepers, and badge holders that keep enamel pins safe in her online storefront.
4.) Be mindful of viewing and handling other people’s collections! Enamel pin collections are collections that fans can spend years and hundreds of dollars on. There are limited edition pins, special interlocking pins, couple pins, and pins that make up whole collections–it is not uncommon for someone to spend upwards of a hundred dollars on a special enamel pin of one of their anime faves. If someone is showing a sampling of their collection in/on a bag or allowing you to see them in their home or at a pin meetup–take care! Handle anything you’ve been granted to see or hold with care!
Ready to Start Your Own Collection?
Here are 15 creatives who make enamel pins to check out to help start your collection:
Marina Studios: who specializes in original art and some multi-fandom nonsense.
Onicake: who specializes in spooky and cute designs in enamel pins, plushies, and more
Sheila Wong: who specializes in striking art prints and some anime themed enamel pins
Sunflower Honey Studios: who specializes in anime themed pins and Black characters
Waifu Pins (Waifu Arts): who specializes in nerdy enamel pins, stickers and related goods
Nori Teahouse (Formerly Noreen Designs): who specializes in enamel pins and fandom paper products like stickers
Drawn by Ivy: who specializes in all things cute n’ cozy in pins, apparel, and bags
ArtByQBII: who specializes in anime and nerdy enamel pins, stickers, comics, and more
Frostelation: who specializes in cute Art w/ Sweet Desserts & Afro-Centered Characters
MidiMayo: who specializes in anime and nerdy pins, coffee mugs, and charms
@pinsneedle The series that started my entire ✦ stained glass ✦ effect enamel pin journey
♬ summertime – cinnamonsthese are my anime otp [one true pairing] series ONE pins
Can you name the couples?
Find them in my shop – pinsneedle.com #anime #animes #animeotp #pins #enamelpinmaker #enamelpins #smallbusinesstiktok #smallbusinessowner
Chenxira: who specializes in constantly cute + adorable + naughty art via pins, art prints, stickers, and apparel
Holobat: who specializes in fandom enamel pins, keychains, buttons, and more
Dark Devil Designs: who specializes in a wide range of enamel pins and accessories
Teal Teacup: who specializes in Whimsical, Cute, chonky, derpy, relatable designs via enamel pins
Nitelyfepins: who specializes in designing enamel pins inspired by pop culture and comic themes
@drawnbyivy new enamel pins!! which pins are u eyeing?
♬ Feather – Sped Up – Sabrina Carpenter#hxh #cardcaptorsakura #spiritedaway #hxhpins #hunterxhunterpins #spiritedawaypins #studioghiblipins #animeenamelpins #animepins #enamelpins #enamelpin #enamelpinshop #unboxingvideo #unboxingsmallbusiness
A Few More Tips Before You Start Your Collection:
1.) Some pin creators have duo storefronts like a Shopify and also a website. There are many reasons for this: to have more online presence, to make shopping easier for customers in different countries, etc. I’ve always found a plethora of good quality pins on Etsy. I actually buy lots from Etsy from postcards to stickers to enamel pins. Be mindful of that you may have to wade through an influx of AI–generated goods and QAnon and Insurrection merch. Ugh.
- ) Many pin makers do “drops”– seasonal/monthly/quarterly merchandise releases. You can liken it to Limited edition merchandise drops that bigger companies and corporations do. Sometimes these are planned around the release date or a certain new season of a popular anime or film, other times it is based on the pin makers receiving products from manufacturers.
- ) Some pin creators use crowdfunding platforms and apps to fund their next set of items and products. I always thought it was a really unique way to take advantage of the crowdfunding wave and fund small campaigns for new pins. I started noticing more and more pins on Kickstarter, perhaps the most popular of them all. Doesn’t hurt to take a look. I’ve been introduced to several pin creators through the site and have even become repeat customers!
4.) LASTLY: Before you just jump in the dms or email a pin creator with recommending a pin they should make OR asking about if they can make a custom enamel pin for you: PLEASE take note that making new metal molds for pins ain’t cheap. Neither is the production and manufacturing process–many pin creator seek out manufacturing partners who have factories and companies overseas so back and forth communication is usually prolonged over a period of time just to get one or a set of products approved and shipped back for sale.
5.) I didn’t think that I needed to include this, but I will because some folks have no home training and need to be reminded: be polite and courteous to any enamel pin creator! If you go to their website and see that they are on break–don’t bombard them in the comments of their IG or TikTok page. If you think you’ve missed out on a pin drop or something limited edition, sending hate mail or doxxing them is NOT the move. If you’re looking for a shipping update, send off a short message at their provided mode of contact. TLDR: DO. NOT. BE. AN. A-HOLE. PLEASE.
That’s All from Me! Happy Collecting, Y’all!
Fancy Disclaimer: I have not received any of these enamel pins or related items in consideration of making this editorial. Cheers! Shout-out to all the small business owners mentioned and featured! Be sure to support them this holiday season if you’re looking to spend some coin!
Cover Image Photo Credit: Provided by Author. Pin Credit: BinaVivienSantos
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The post Finding Joy In Your Collection: Anime Enamel Pin Edition appeared first on Black Nerd Problems.
Like many fandoms, The Walking Dead family disagrees on pretty much everything. But one thing we largely agree on is that the show’s first few seasons were absolutely fantastic. Many of the decisions that Rick and his survival comrades made in those early years of the apocalypse set the foundation for so many story arcs and pivotal moments. And, even though the flagship series is over, fans love to give The Walking Dead the “What If?” treatment. What if Shane actually killed Rick in that field? What if Daryl never saved Carol at the farm? It is always fun to think about the possibilities, but now we can make them happen. The Walking Dead: Destinies is a new The Walking Dead video game that allows players to rewrite the show’s history and relive some epic moments with original characters.
We can see the conceit in action in The Walking Dead: Destinies trailer below.
AMC and GameMill Entertainment are teaming up to make this new The Walking Dead game happen. The Walking Dead: Destinies covers seasons one through four, which includes the farm, prison, and Terminus arcs in the Atlanta area. The storyline can go many different ways depending on the player’s choices for The Walking Dead‘s most famous characters like Rick Grimes and Daryl Dixon. If a player dares, they can change the fates of folks like Shane Walsh and see how that decision affects the future. It is probably not the best choice considering Shane’s obsession with Lori and Carl. This is a super cool concept considering most of The Walking Dead’s popular games are about characters who don’t exist in the show, like Clementine.
The Walking Dead: Destinies’ trailer back some unforgettable memories in game-form, especially with its voiceover. We can hear Rick giving his infamous speech following the fall of the farm. Gotta love when he tells people that they can either let him lead or figure life out on their own. (It is lovingly known by many fans as the Ricktatorship speech.) We also see locations that are long gone, like the prison and downtown Atlanta. And yes, there’s some blood and gore because it is a The Walking Dead game. Players will have to manage their resources and fight for their survival. The clip notes that this is a work in progress, so we will have to wait for the final graphics.
A new Walking Dead game with original characters like Rick that lets you change the show’s storylines sounds like a great time. The Walking Dead: Destinies will get a digital release on November 17 with a physical release following in December. It will be available for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox and cost $50. The game is available for preorder today.
Originally published on August 17, 2023.
The post New THE WALKING DEAD: DESTINIES Video Game Lets Players Rewrite Show’s Early Seasons appeared first on Nerdist.