’s movie-poster business and let go several employees — including Mondo co-founders Mitch Putnam and Rob Jones,Mondo, based in Austin, Texas, was founded in 2001 and was previously a subsidiary of indie theater chain Alamo Drafthouse before. Mondo had gained a strong following for its limited-edition screen-printed movie posters. Sources said that Mondo’s vinyl records and collectibles businesses are intact.
In addition to Putnam and Jones, senior creative director Eric Garza has also been laid off. Notable artists who worked with Mondo on its posters have included Olly Moss, Shepard Fairey, Ken Taylor and Kevin Tong. In response to the news, actor Elijah Wood tweeted, “This truly horrendous news. I’m in shock. What have you done @OriginalFunko?”Mondo had about 30 full-time employees when Funko acquired the company. Funko had said it intended to run Mondo the way it has managed Loungefly, the apparel and accessories brand it acquired in 2017, with the idea it would integrate Mondo into common back-end functions where applicable.
“Mondo’s devoted fanbase and high-end pop culture collectibles make it the perfect complement to Funko’s current portfolio of brands,” Funko CEO Andrew Perlmutter said last year when the deal was announced. “By leveraging our international distribution and licensing network, we feel well positioned to expedite the growth of the Mondo brand.”
Sad news, Mondo posters are amazing while those Funko dolls are easily the ugliest toys out there, the demand for which is already dying off. Collectors will always want posters
The beatings will continue until the morale improves
ThomasConnorsJr Always respected mondo can’t say the same for Funko. BadBusiness Punko
it was a bad decision
What miserable, miserable news. Sheer idiocy on the part of OriginalFunko
The 21st century version of Beanie Babies just killed the best poster company around
Makes zero sense. Funko has their fingers in every goddamn entertainment IP. They couldn't negotiate a poster deal when they were getting toy deals?
Movie Posters are the best kind of collectibles. This is bad business.
FUCK FUNKO. HecJuan12
It’s been a shitty year for them poster wise. Let’s hope they start again and take it back to what it was.
The 2 underachieving Marx brothers
Shame. Love Mondo.
Who is going to decorate DrafthouseLA ?