RayRay on Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite:

This entire week has been filled with a broad range of opinions by several household names in the FGC. From Bum163 to Justin Wong, it should be clear that the series' true fans are eager to see how Marvel vs. Capcom Infinite will unfold. Many of them are intrigued with the new Infinity Stone-powered sub-system, while others are looking forward to seeing iconic characters make a return.

As Raynel 'RayRay' Hidalgo has been a notable force throughout the Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom era, we couldn't pass up the chance to hear his thoughts on what's on the horizon. 

Infinite looks like it will be the first crossover fighting game that’s more accessible for casual players. What do you think the game’s biggest challenge will be -- maintaining enough depth for veteran players?

I'm excited for it. With Street Fighter V, I truly believe they figured out how to make an "accessible" game while keeping the infinite depth that comes from the player vs. player aspect. More players. More competition. 

How much would you measure the importance that Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite includes a significant amount of characters that contain X-men and other popular mutants?

They have to be in it. They have to appeal to the current Marvel fans as well as fighting game fans. X-Men have been part of fighting games for over 20 years now.

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Give us your overall reaction upon seeing the announcement trailers last weekend.

Well, like most people, I spent the entire week prior to the announcement hearing about the rumors non stop. All it did was build up an insane amount of anticipation. I went crazy â€" literally slammed my desk and started shrieking! [laughs]

Do you plan to stick with Vs. titles exclusively, or will you still balance your time with Street Fighter V and other titles?

I plan to continue playing both games. With the competition at an all time high, I'm not sure if anyone will be able to be dominate without giving it their all.

Many seem concerned about the lack of X-Factor and the assist system. What are your thoughts on Infinite reintroducing the Gems to be used as a groove à la CvS2?

The lack of assists bothered me at first. Trying to be unbiased and thinking about it more, having both characters switch seamlessly is more like having one big character and the gems are like variations. Plenty of depth there!

What features do you feel Infinite must include in order to guarantee it will resonate with veteran players and new players alike?

Versus Mode [laughs] . . .that's always been enough for me. Maybe they can also include a more thought out ranked mode, where ranking up actually means something.

Are there any creative, special modes that you’d like to see included along with the confirmed Story and Mission Modes Infinite will be offering?

Obviously a 4-player 2v2 mode is always fun. 

Mega Man X and Captain Marvel are two of the newest additions joining the Vs. universe. What additional characters would you like to see added to the roster?

I'm a fighting game fan, not a comic book fan. I want to see all the classic fighters come back.

What insight would you offer for anyone that feels skeptical about Infinite's success?

Being skeptical with so little information makes no sense. It's that simple. With fighters evolving faster than ever, I say let's crack it open and make it our own again.

"

| RayRay | Marvel | Capcom | Infinite: | This | entire | week | been | filled | with | broad | range | opinions | several | household | names | From | Bum163< | Justin | Wong< | should | clear | that | series | true | fans | eager | how Marvel | Infinite < | em>will | unfold | Many | them | intrigued | Infinity | Stone | powered | system | while | others | looking | forward | seeing | iconic | characters | make | return | p> As Raynel | Hidalgo | notable | force | throughout | the Ultimate | Capcom < | em>era | couldnt | pass | chance to | hear | thoughts | whats | horizon | p> Infinite | looks | like | will | first | crossover | fighting | game | that’s | more | accessible | casual | players | What | think | game’s | biggest | challenge | maintaining | enough | depth | veteran | h3> Im | excited | With | Street | Fighter | truly | believe | they | figured | keeping | infinite | comes | from | player | aspect | More | competition | p> How | much | would | measure | importance | Capcom: | Infinite | includes | significant | amount | contain | other | popular | mutants | h3> They | have | They | appeal | current | well | part | games | over | years | p> [embedded | content]< | p> Give | your | overall | reaction | upon | announcement | trailers | last | weekend | h3> Well | most | people | spent | prior | hearing | about | rumors | stop | build | insane | anticipation | went crazy | â€" < | em>literally | slammed | desk | started | shrieking! | [laughs]< | p> Do | plan | stick | titles | exclusively | still | balance | time | h3> I | continue | playing | both | high | sure | anyone | able | dominate | without | giving | their | p> Many | seem | concerned | lack | Factor | assist | reintroducing | Gems | used | groove | CvS2 | h3> The | assists | bothered | Trying | unbiased | thinking | having | switch | seamlessly | character | gems | variations | Plenty | there!< | p> What | features | feel | must | include | order | guarantee | resonate | alike | h3> Versus | Mode | [laughs] | thats | always | Maybe | also | thought | ranked | mode | where | ranking | actually | means | something | p> Are | there | creative | special | modes | you’d | included | along | confirmed | Story | Mission | Modes | offering | h3> Obviously | p> Mega | Captain | newest | additions | joining | universe | additional | added | roster | comic | book | want | classic | fighters | come | back | insight | offer | feels | skeptical | Infinites | success | h3> Being | little | information | makes | sense | simple | evolving | faster | than | ever | lets | crack | open | again | p> |

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Benedict Cumberbatch Just Proved That Marvel Is an Unstoppable Force

There was an unusual amount of pressure on Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch’s introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The second film after the star-studded Captain America: Civil War to usher in Marvel’s so-called “Phase Three,” Strange placed a lot of expectations on Cumberbatch’s crimson-cloaked shoulders and, as if by magic, he’s exceeding every one of them. Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer Supreme has now surpassed every other single Marvel character introduction at the box office. Not bad for someone whose yet to be drafted into the Avengers. If Marvel is planning on slowing down, it won’t be any time soon.

Deadline reports that in only its third week of release, Cumberbatch’s Strange has conjured up $616 million worldwide. That’s certainly more than previous origin stories like The Incredible Hulk ($263M), Captain America: The First Avenger ($371M), Thor ($449M), Ant-Man ($520M) and Iron Man ($585M). (To be fair to Tony Starkâ€"the original, arrogant, goateed geniusâ€"Iron Man was released before the Marvel brand packed such a punch.) At this rate, Doctor Strange could potentially even catch Marvel’s ensemble origin Guardians of the Galaxy ($773,328,629 after 25 weeks) and Fox’s Deadpool ($782,612,155 after 18 weeks).

How did Doctor Strangeâ€"a surreal, spiritual film plagued by early controversy and featuring a superhero that, frankly, was not even that popular with readersâ€"soar to such enviable economic heights? Well, the fact that the scene’s final showdown was set in Hong Kong couldn’t have hurt. There is no Chinese Sanctum in the comics and the splashy battle for Hong Kong was only the latest way a major 2016 studio release pandered to Chinese audiences.

Thus far, Strange has earned $102M of its $411M foreign gross from China, but Cumberbatch has more than Chinese dollars to thank. The reviews for director Scott Derrickson’s first foray into the world of comics were more glowing than even Marvel’s usual thanks, in large part, to some fresh visual flair and an alluring, unconventional performance from Tilda Swinton. Even those suffering from superhero fatigue couldn’t resist her serene, art house charms.

And the bigger-than-expected reception for both Cumberbatch’s Strange and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man means Marvel’s future is looking much more secure than it was even a year ago when Avengers: Age of Ultron failed to dazzle critics. Though no official announcement has been made, conventional comic book wisdom dictates that Stephen Strange, Scott Lang, Chadwick Boseman’s T'Challa, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers have been/will be introduced in order to replace the Avengers line-up we’ve come to know and love. The Avengers team is forever changing in the comics and factors like Robert Downey Jr.’s enormous sticker price and other Avenger actors’ increasingly busy schedules means that the films will likely follow suit.

That means Rudd, Cumberbatch, and the rest have to be at least as popular as Scarlett Johansson and the Chrises Evans and Hemsworth in order for the franchise to survive a changing of the guard. If dollars equal popularity then, well, recent box office wins mean that Marvel has nothing to be worried about.

Full ScreenPhotos:

1/5

The Cover Shoot: Benedict Cumberbatch Bends Minds

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The actor rolls up his sleeve. Photo: Photograph by Jason Bell. Styled by Jessica Diehl.

"

| Benedict | Cumberbatch | Just | Proved | That | Marvel | Unstoppable | Force | There | unusual | amount | pressure | Doctor | Strange, | Cumberbatch’s | introduction | Cinematic | Universe. | second | film | after | star-studded | Captain | America: | Civil | usher | Marvel’s | so-called | “Phase | Three,” | Strange | placed | expectations | crimson-cloaked | shoulders | and, | magic, | he’s | exceeding | every | them. | Sorcerer | Supreme | surpassed | other | single | character | office. | someone | whose | drafted | into | Avengers. | planning | slowing | down, | won’t | time | soon. Deadline | reports | that | only | third | week | release, | conjured | $616 | million | worldwide. | That’s | certainly | more | than | previous | origin | stories | like | Incredible | Hulk | ($263M), | First | Avenger | ($371M), | Thor | ($449M), | Ant-Man | ($520M) | Iron | ($585M). | fair | Tony | Starkâ€"the | original, | arrogant, | goateed | geniusâ€"Iron | released | before | brand | packed | such | punch.) | this | rate, | could | potentially | even | catch | ensemble | Guardians | Galaxy | ($773,328,629 | weeks) | Fox’s | Deadpool | ($782,612,155 | weeks). How | Strangeâ€"a | surreal, | spiritual | plagued | early | controversy | featuring | superhero | that, | frankly, | popular | with | readersâ€"soar | enviable | economic | heights? | Well, | fact | scene’s | final | showdown | Hong | Kong | couldn’t | have | hurt. | Chinese | Sanctum | comics | splashy | battle | latest | major | 2016 | studio | release | pandered | audiences. Thus | far, | earned | $102M | $411M | foreign | gross | from | China, | dollars | thank. | reviews | director | Scott | Derrickson’s | first | foray | world | were | glowing | usual | thanks, | large | part, | some | fresh | visual | flair | alluring, | unconventional | performance | Tilda | Swinton. | Even | those | suffering | fatigue | resist | serene, | house | charms. And | bigger-than-expected | reception | both | Paul | Rudd’s | means | future | looking | much | secure | year | when | Avengers: | Ultron | failed | dazzle | critics. | Though | official | announcement | been | made, | conventional | comic | book | wisdom | dictates | Stephen | Lang, | Chadwick | Boseman’s | TChalla, | Holland’s | Spider-Man, | Brie | Larson’s | Carol | Danvers | been/will | introduced | order | replace | Avengers | line-up | we’ve | come | know | love. | team | forever | changing | factors | Robert | Downey | Jr.’s | enormous | sticker | price | actors’ | increasingly | busy | schedules | films | will | likely | follow | suit. That | Rudd, | Cumberbatch, | rest | least | Scarlett | Johansson | Chrises | Evans | Hemsworth | franchise | survive | guard. | equal | popularity | then, | well, | recent | office | wins | mean | nothing | worried | about. Full | ScreenPhotos: 1/5 The | Cover | Shoot: | Bends | Minds The | actor | rolls | sleeve. Photo: | Photograph | Jason | Bell. | Styled | Jessica | Diehl. PreviousNext The | sleeve. Photograph | Diehl. HERO | RECLINE Benedict | photographed | Metropolitan | Building | Long | Island | City, | York. Photograph | Diehl. DARK | SIDE A | contemplative | City. Photograph | Diehl. WALKING | LINE Cumberbatch, | beneath | elevated | subway | tracks | Diehl. Photograph | Diehl. |

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Marvel’s First Phase IV Film Will Be A SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING Sequel

Web-head bumps Bad Boys 4’s July 2019 release date.

By Siddhant Adlakha Dec. 10, 2016

Spider-Man coming back to Marvel was a pretty big deal. His appearance in Captain America: Civil War was a big deal, and the arrival of the trailer for his first solo Marvel outing is a big deal as well, and following the mostly positive reactions, the good folks at Sony (with the help of Marvel Studios) are looking to bring Spidey back to the big screen on July 3^rd, 2019. Despite all the reboot exhaustion and the past decade’s unsuccessful entries, people still get excited for one of the most popular superheroes of all time. They want to see him done right, and Spider-Man: Homecoming feels like a good place to start. 

In related news, The Hollywood Reporter name-drops Bad Boys 4 in its report, citing the Spider-Man sequel’s release date as reason for Sony moving the Lawrence/Smith action caper back a few weeks to May 2019. The Joe Carnahan-helmed Bad Boys 3 a.k.a. Bad Boys For Life is set to release January 2018, in case you’re looking to update your sequel calendar, but the most interesting thing in all this as that Marvel's first outing after its massive Thanos-centric Avengers finale will be relatively small and intimate. Colour me excited. 

Tom Holland has a six-picture deal to play Spider-Man. Three of those appearances are set to be solo movies, so if all goes well, we can expect him to have a third film around 2021 before potentially passing down the mantle. It’s unknown whether Peter Parker will appear in 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War (or its yet untitled 2019 sequel), but we’ll keep our eyes peeled and let you know as soon as something tingles our Spider-senses.

Spider-Man: Homecoming swings into theatres July 7^th, 2017.

"

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Cort Lane Shares the Story Behind the Delightful Marvel/Funko Pop! Animated Shorts

Marvel and Funko have collaborated to create the first-ever Funko animated shorts, which are just so charming, cute and fun that you’ll want to watch them over and over again. Each of the three shorts â€" Spellbound, Bait N Switch and Chimichangas (that last premiering December 14^th) â€" are 90 seconds in length and feature some of Marvel’s most popular superheroes and villains, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Loki, Rocket, Groot, the Collector, Deadpool and Venom.

Of course, after viewing these shorts, we wanted to learn more about them and how they came about, so we got on the phone with Cort Lane, Marvel’s Senior Vice President of Animation & Family Entertainment. During the exclusive interview, we talked about how the idea for this collaboration evolved, how they decided on which characters to feature, which figures he’d like to see in future shorts, balancing the action and comedy, why they chose not to have any dialogue, and the future possibilities for these characters. He also talked about being a life-long Marvel fan, his journey to working at the company, and what’s it like to get to have a hand in developing and producing shows within the Marvel universe.

>

Image via Marvel

Collider: These shorts are just ridiculously cute and so much fun!

CORT LANE: Well, I’m glad you think so. Obviously, we feel the same. I do feel there’s really something special here.

Who came up with the idea for this partnership between Marvel and Funko, bringing to life the Marvel Funko Pop! figures?                     

LANE: This is going to sound very corporate, but I have these big summits, once or twice a year, for Marvel Animation, with all of the lines of business that we engage with and collaborate with, and we talk about what we’re doing with our franchises and our strategic plan, over the next five years. And the products people mentioned that they’re really excited about Funko, as a partner, and the aesthetic is really popular and has a huge fan base. As part of the creative conversation, we said, “Is there something that we could do there?” It brings in a broad range of Marvel fans and Funko fans, and it’s a really unique aesthetic. We’ve had a lot of luck with Marvel/Lego animated content. It drives a really huge audience because it’s special, it’s humorous, it’s different, and it’s got a unique aesthetic. We felt there was something similar, but really different here, too. Funko is even more stylized and cuter and funnier. That was earlier this year in the spring, and Funk was not only game, but they were very excited to do it, so we made it happen. Rarely do things go that well.

Anybody who has or gets one of these figures knows that you can’t just have one, as they become a bit of an addiction. Do you have a big collection of them, yourself?

LANE: I’ve just started because I’m collecting the figures in the shorts. But I have a much more expensive collective hobby, so I have to limit myself. I collect original comic art, and I have a lot of really expensive stuff from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. That limits me on starting new collections, or I’d be living in my mom’s basement.

At least they don’t take up a lot of room.

LANE: They don’t, but then you have to decide whether to leave them in the box or take them out of the box. I like to display them all together and create these scenes.

Is there criteria for deciding when to do a feature-length animated movie, a full animated series, shorts for Disney XD, or web shorts, and how did you decide how this project would be presented?

>

Image via Marvel

LANE: This was truly an experiment. The first one went live on November 30^th, and so far, the reception is huge. It’s very timely because I have another one of those big animation summits, starting on December 7^th, and I will tell all of the lines of business that we collaborate with how successful these are. And then, the conversation is really, what’s next? I think Funko is very open to it. I think there needs to be more, in some capacity. What that looks like, there’s a lot of work to do. The audience reception is phenomenal. If I’m ever having a bad day over the next several months, I’m just going to go back to the Facebook and read the comments because they’re so glowing. Fans love you, but they’re also your harshest critics, deservedly so. It’s rare when you work in a business where you create content for fans that the reception is so joyful, and that’s been kind of neat.

With so many characters to choose from, how did you decide which characters would be in these shorts?

LANE: It was really easy. It seems like it would be a hard choice, but we know the characters that are important to fans right now. As we were starting this, Deadpool had just hit really big. I love Venom and I know Venom is probably the favorite villain of most comic fans. We see that, in terms of the audience and the merchandise. Obviously, Iron Man and Spider-Man are really popular right now, and them teaming up seemed really organic because that’s a component of Civil War and everyone knows that Iron Man will appear in a new Spider-Man movie. So, those two connecting with each other and playing off of each other is important. And then, Rocket and Groot are so important for us. There’s the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel coming, and everybody loves those characters. Quite simply, it was very easy.

Are there any characters that you’re particularly looking forward to seeing or teaming up together, if you make more shorts?

LANE: That’s a really good question. I like the vibe between Hulk and Thor. That’s a big component of the next Thor film, so I think that’s one I’d like to see. I’m an old school Avengers fan, so I’m a big Hawkeye fan. I’d like to see Hawkeye playing off of either Captain America or Black Widow. I think Black Widow is the most kick-butt heroine out there, so I would like to see her, in some capacity. Those are some of my favorites, but obviously, I’m not the only decider. Funko has characters that they would like to elevate, and Marvel has characters that they would like to elevate, but there’s really no bad choices. It’s hard to pick, really. These first three shorts were the easiest to see opportunities. I think the next batch, if we do more, will be tougher choices.

"

| Cort | Lane | Shares | Story | Behind | Delightful | Marvel/Funko | Pop! | Animated | Shorts | Marvel | Funko | have | collaborated | create | first | ever | animated | shorts | which | just | charming | cute | that | you’ll | want | watch | them | over | again | Each | three | Spellbound< | Bait | Switch< | Chimichangas< | (that | last | premiering | December | 14th< | sup>) | seconds | length | feature | some | Marvel’s | most | popular | superheroes | villains | including | Spider | Iron | Loki | Rocket | Groot | Collector | Deadpool | Venom | p> Of | course | after | viewing | these | wanted | learn | more | about | they | came | phone | with | Lane< | strong> | Senior | Vice | President | Animation | & | Family | Entertainment | During | exclusive | interview | talked | idea | this | collaboration | evolved | decided | characters | figures | he’d | like | future | balancing | action | comedy | chose | dialogue | possibilities | also | being | life | long | journey | working | company | what’s | hand | developing | producing | shows | within | universe | p> < | a> Image | Marvel< | div> Collider: | These | ridiculously | much | fun!< | strong>< | p> CORT | LANE: | Well | I’m | glad | think | Obviously | feel | same | there’s | really | something | special | here | p> Who | partnership | between | bringing |   < | p> LANE: | This | going | sound | very | corporate | summits | once | twice | year | lines | business | engage | collaborate | talk | what | we’re | doing | franchises | strategic | plan | next | five | years | products | people | mentioned | they’re | excited | partner | aesthetic | huge | base | part | creative | conversation | said | “Is | there | could | brings | broad | range | fans | it’s | unique | We’ve | luck | Lego | content | drives | audience | because | humorous | different | felt | similar | even | stylized | cuter | funnier | That | earlier | spring | Funk | only | game | were | made | happen | Rarely | things | well | p> Anybody | gets | knows | can’t | become | addiction | collection | yourself | I’ve | started | collecting | expensive | collective | hobby | limit | myself | collect | original | comic | stuff | from | ‘60s | ‘70s | ‘80s | limits | starting | collections | I’d | living | mom’s | basement | p> At | least | don’t | take | room | They | then | decide | whether | leave | display | together | scenes | p> Is | criteria | deciding | when | movie | full | series | Disney | project | would | presented | div> LANE: | truly | experiment | went | live | November | 30th< | sup> | reception | It’s | timely | another | those | animation | 7th< | will | tell | successful | open | needs | capacity | What | looks | work | phenomenal | having | several | months | back | Facebook | read | comments | glowing | Fans | love | your | harshest | critics | deservedly | rare | where | joyful | that’s | been | kind | neat | p> With | many | choose | easy | seems | hard | choice | know | important | right | Deadpool< | probably | favorite | villain | terms | merchandise | teaming | seemed | organic | component | Civil | War< | everyone | appear | connecting | each | other | playing | There’s | Guardians | Galaxy< | sequel | coming | everybody | loves | Quite | simply | p> Are | you’re | particularly | looking | forward | seeing | make | That’s | good | question | vibe | Hulk | Thor | Thor< | film | school | Avengers | Hawkeye | either | Captain | America | Black | Widow | kick | butt | heroine | Those | favorites | obviously | decider | elevate | choices | pick | easiest | opportunities | batch | tougher | p> |

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Cort Lane Shares the Story Behind the Delightful Marvel/Funko Pop! Animated Shorts

Marvel and Funko have collaborated to create the first-ever Funko animated shorts, which are just so charming, cute and fun that you’ll want to watch them over and over again. Each of the three shorts â€" Spellbound, Bait N Switch and Chimichangas (that last premiering December 14^th) â€" are 90 seconds in length and feature some of Marvel’s most popular superheroes and villains, including Spider-Man, Iron Man, Loki, Rocket, Groot, the Collector, Deadpool and Venom.

Of course, after viewing these shorts, we wanted to learn more about them and how they came about, so we got on the phone with Cort Lane, Marvel’s Senior Vice President of Animation & Family Entertainment. During the exclusive interview, we talked about how the idea for this collaboration evolved, how they decided on which characters to feature, which figures he’d like to see in future shorts, balancing the action and comedy, why they chose not to have any dialogue, and the future possibilities for these characters. He also talked about being a life-long Marvel fan, his journey to working at the company, and what’s it like to get to have a hand in developing and producing shows within the Marvel universe.

>

Image via Marvel

Collider: These shorts are just ridiculously cute and so much fun!

CORT LANE: Well, I’m glad you think so. Obviously, we feel the same. I do feel there’s really something special here.

Who came up with the idea for this partnership between Marvel and Funko, bringing to life the Marvel Funko Pop! figures?                     

LANE: This is going to sound very corporate, but I have these big summits, once or twice a year, for Marvel Animation, with all of the lines of business that we engage with and collaborate with, and we talk about what we’re doing with our franchises and our strategic plan, over the next five years. And the products people mentioned that they’re really excited about Funko, as a partner, and the aesthetic is really popular and has a huge fan base. As part of the creative conversation, we said, “Is there something that we could do there?” It brings in a broad range of Marvel fans and Funko fans, and it’s a really unique aesthetic. We’ve had a lot of luck with Marvel/Lego animated content. It drives a really huge audience because it’s special, it’s humorous, it’s different, and it’s got a unique aesthetic. We felt there was something similar, but really different here, too. Funko is even more stylized and cuter and funnier. That was earlier this year in the spring, and Funk was not only game, but they were very excited to do it, so we made it happen. Rarely do things go that well.

Anybody who has or gets one of these figures knows that you can’t just have one, as they become a bit of an addiction. Do you have a big collection of them, yourself?

LANE: I’ve just started because I’m collecting the figures in the shorts. But I have a much more expensive collective hobby, so I have to limit myself. I collect original comic art, and I have a lot of really expensive stuff from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. That limits me on starting new collections, or I’d be living in my mom’s basement.

At least they don’t take up a lot of room.

LANE: They don’t, but then you have to decide whether to leave them in the box or take them out of the box. I like to display them all together and create these scenes.

Is there criteria for deciding when to do a feature-length animated movie, a full animated series, shorts for Disney XD, or web shorts, and how did you decide how this project would be presented?

>

Image via Marvel

LANE: This was truly an experiment. The first one went live on November 30^th, and so far, the reception is huge. It’s very timely because I have another one of those big animation summits, starting on December 7^th, and I will tell all of the lines of business that we collaborate with how successful these are. And then, the conversation is really, what’s next? I think Funko is very open to it. I think there needs to be more, in some capacity. What that looks like, there’s a lot of work to do. The audience reception is phenomenal. If I’m ever having a bad day over the next several months, I’m just going to go back to the Facebook and read the comments because they’re so glowing. Fans love you, but they’re also your harshest critics, deservedly so. It’s rare when you work in a business where you create content for fans that the reception is so joyful, and that’s been kind of neat.

With so many characters to choose from, how did you decide which characters would be in these shorts?

LANE: It was really easy. It seems like it would be a hard choice, but we know the characters that are important to fans right now. As we were starting this, Deadpool had just hit really big. I love Venom and I know Venom is probably the favorite villain of most comic fans. We see that, in terms of the audience and the merchandise. Obviously, Iron Man and Spider-Man are really popular right now, and them teaming up seemed really organic because that’s a component of Civil War and everyone knows that Iron Man will appear in a new Spider-Man movie. So, those two connecting with each other and playing off of each other is important. And then, Rocket and Groot are so important for us. There’s the Guardians of the Galaxy sequel coming, and everybody loves those characters. Quite simply, it was very easy.

Are there any characters that you’re particularly looking forward to seeing or teaming up together, if you make more shorts?

LANE: That’s a really good question. I like the vibe between Hulk and Thor. That’s a big component of the next Thor film, so I think that’s one I’d like to see. I’m an old school Avengers fan, so I’m a big Hawkeye fan. I’d like to see Hawkeye playing off of either Captain America or Black Widow. I think Black Widow is the most kick-butt heroine out there, so I would like to see her, in some capacity. Those are some of my favorites, but obviously, I’m not the only decider. Funko has characters that they would like to elevate, and Marvel has characters that they would like to elevate, but there’s really no bad choices. It’s hard to pick, really. These first three shorts were the easiest to see opportunities. I think the next batch, if we do more, will be tougher choices.

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