Supercan POPO:
Toy Collection
Supercan POPO, 2023. Mix medium.
Dimensions 36 x 48 in.
My first studio project was Structure + Morphology, in which we were assigned to select a movie/TV series and watch it to come up with something we were inspired by. Before the project started, I was so confused because the direction was vague and broad, and I needed to figure out where to start. I am a movie person. However, I was surprised to come up with a movie selection. My brain could not operate.
Thanks to my teammate Kristina, we decided to choose something exciting, then we made our final decision, which was the movie “Now You See Me.” The general plot is the charismatic magician Atlas leads a group of talented magicians known as the Four Horsemen. Atlas and his comrades mesmerized audiences with a pair of stunning magic tricks that drained the bank accounts of corrupt individuals and funneled money to the audience. A federal agent and an Interpol detective aim to take control of the Knights before their next move as they confront famed lie-bummer Thaddeus for help.
The movie themes are crime, mystery, and thriller. During the research process, I also brought up some keywords that might be helpful to my design direction. Here are some words I took notes on: poker cards, trick, criminal, robbery, money, masks, neon light, technology, illusion, circus, clown, magic, invention, maze, eyes, and unpredictable. I also related this film to similar types of mysterious movies such as “The Mask,” “Harry Potter,” “Back to The Future,” “Doctor Strange,” and “Fantastic Beasts.” I enjoyed how stunning the magic trick scenes inspired me. I felt I had so many directions I could work on now. Here are some ideas that came to mind, mask design, card design, mirror design, toy design, and banknote design. Upon these ideas, I decided to choose something I am passionate about: toy design.
I am a person who likes to collect different types of collectibles. The toy is one of my favorites. I am so fascinated by “Be@rbrick,” “Hot Toys,” “Funko,” “Medicom Toys,” and the notorious Japanese monster “Godzilla.” The more I saw it, the more eager I was to create my toys. Thanks to the film, I was able to make a connection between magic, circus, and childhood memories altogether. As a child, magic tricks always caught my attention on the screen and on the street. Magic was utilized to trick people’s eyes, and although we knew it was just a prank, we still wanted to spend time and watch it. No matter which age we belong to, we should all maintain an innocent heart of a child. Who says that adults cannot purchase or play with toys? Under these circumstances, I start digging in with my character designing processes.
I started to collect different toy images from various designers. I carefully looked at the figures, the forms, the structures, the materials, and the medium that they used. In the process, my “POPO” figure gradually appears to be accomplished. The toy design I created is named “SUPER CAN POPO from OUTER SPACE.” It is kind of a hilarious name that is named after the first two letters of “Poker.” But I think it is easy to be remembered, and I wanted to create a toy with a strong personality. By the name and imagery, people should probably recognize it as a creature whose body structure is formed by the traditional Taiwanese pineapple can. The astronaut suit inspired POPO’s outfit, and I instantly came up with the traditional food can in my head. The POPO figure is not only a representative of myself but also a reflection of my childhood memories.
For the packaging design, I also made a whole box as a spaceship shelter of POPO. The idea indicates that no matter where you go, you still have a home you can find, and it is always with you as long as you have the heart of a child. I also utilized vibrant colors to emphasize the entire layout to trick and grab the attention. I also integrated Chinese and Japanese characters into the design to reflect my cultural background and personality.
Looking at POPO, you might think it is cute, hilarious, and weird by its vibrant colors and illustration. But if you look deeper, you might feel that POPO is a creature that travels alone to the earth and just starts beginning its journey. No matter who we are, keep in mind always to maintain the heart of a child. So, get the POPO toys now!