Our story
Oh boy, where do we start... Now, let me begin by saying that I was given a very corporate-sounding backstory to paste in here, but I found it too boring. I wanted to tell it the way a parent might read their child a bedtime story. So, tuck yourself in, lower the brightness (it's bad for your eyes, I think), and let me explain.
Once upon a time (2020), in the midst of that pandemic that totally shut the world off for some time, Freddy's son, Davin (great kid), was playing with his mom's teddy bear when he attached a cape to it. There and then, he shouted the words "Super Fan!" At that moment, an idea was born. Freddy, who boasts a pretty impressive resume in toy-making and possesses a very creative brain (I was forced to say that again), came up with the idea of a character that embodied anything and everything. He dreamed up Fandy, our unofficial mascot. Freddy, who at that time had developed an obsession with LED fans for some reason, envisioned a collectible figure with an LED fan-head, adding another layer of depth to the collectible.
And so, he got to work, destroying and carving out previous creations to come up with a very rough—emphasis on 'rough'—and simple prototype.
The first prototype?
This thing...
Yeah, I know.
the OG SuperFanz / Breadboard (circa early-2021)
But hey, everyone starts somewhere, right?
Over the years, we've experimented with various designs and early-stage prototypes, each sporting its own unique flair and quirks. Sure, we've hit plenty of major setbacks and technical hurdles, but we persevered. And now, here I am, able to share our journey with you. That doesn’t mean I’m going to skip showing you all our previous prototypes in all their splendid beauty and glory.
Next up, I've dubbed this one 'the Slenderman.' Honestly, just because it's pretty tall and lanky."
Prototype 1 (circa oct. 2021)
Following the Slenderman phase, we aimed for something a bit less... intimidating. A return to the drawing board was enlightening, leading us to the silhouette that now graces our logo. And honestly, it's quite the stunning figure, if I do say so myself.
Early Blueprints (circa early 2022)
With those eureka moments captured in our sketches, we ventured into the next frontier: 3D printing. To this day, it remains a technological marvel that's a bit too complex for me to fully grasp. Yet, it works wonders, allowing us to preview our figures in the real materials they’d eventually be made from. Despite being somewhat flimsy, delicate, and a tad plastic-icky, these prints did the trick. Although, I must admit, the one on the left did look as if it had been overtaken by cordyceps.
3D prints ft. cordyceps & stonehenge (circa 2022)
Pleased with our design, silhouette, and overall vibe, we embarked on creating the first 'real' prototype. Transforming a drawing into a tangible product turned out to be an incredibly complex, yet exciting journey. It involved endless consultations with engineers and countless experts who handle the heavy lifting. At the end of this arduous process, we were finally introduced to the first generation of Fandy, marking a significant milestone in our journey.
Fandy quickly became our hero, boosting our motivation and creativity levels through the roof. We got so carried away that we even tossed Fandy into a wardrobe change, churning out various themed prototypes. This lineup included an unofficial New York Yankees Fandy, which, of course, I managed to drop from my desk during my first week with Freddy 😅.
Brutally Dismembered NY Yankees Fandy (circa mid-2023, destroyed a couple weeks after)
Fast forward to now current day. On the innovation front, we're now putting the finishing touches on the final prototype iteration. This We’re talking top-notch quality with LEDs that are 80% brighte creating some of the smoothest animations we've seen, powered by a rechargeable battery and anchored with a weighted base.
Render of SuperFandy (2024)
A wise man once said, 'Rome wasn’t built in a day,' but I reckon with today's tech, we'd have it up much quicker. That quote had to make an appearance here – it’s a little nudge that inspired us not to construct a sprawling city but to create something we're truly proud of. And we’d love for you to join us on this ride. It’s always a pleasure sharing our story. Drop by and say hi on Instagram. I’ll get back to you...eventually. Trying to dial back the screen time, so bear with me.
Toodles!
