Ever wonder how we make your action figures? Take a peek into our Brooklyn design studio and see how we turn an idea into the tiny but powerful action figure that arrives at your door. There are two major steps in creating an action figure: design and production. In this post, we’ll talk about our design process. Get ready to geek out with us!
DESIGN
First, we decide which public figure should get their own action figure. This usually involves keeping tabs on the news, listening to your requests (keep ‘em coming!), and trusting our instincts. It’s not a perfect science, but we’ve got a pretty good track record of spotting real-life heroes in the making.

Once we decide which action figure we’re going to make, our product team does a deep dive into the life of that person. Sometimes this means we work with an outside organization connected to a figure (like the Billie Jean King Leadership Initiative). Usually though, we pour over articles, photos, and videos of the person to build out a super-detailed mood board.

From there we put together a creative brief and send it over to our sculptor friend Mike Leavitt in Seattle. He’s the artist behind our entire line of Real Life Action Figures, and his name is on the back of every action figure package we make. He starts with a simple sketch and moves on to several rounds of intricate sculptures art directed by our product team in Brooklyn

When the final sculpt is finished, we send it over to our factory in China. There they make a 3D scan and perform several revisions until our product team agrees that everything feels and looks right. Sometimes the factory paints the final prototype and sometimes we do it in-house

Our product designer Ashlee works closely with our co-founder Alyssa to perfect the product packaging. They like to include little details like quotes, colors, and textures that echo the personality of the real person. And best of all, our boxes are designed so you can open them without ruining their mint condition. Once the figure and packaging are as close to perfect as we can make them, we start production. Check back next week for our post on the production process!
I would love to see Stacy Abrams as an action figure. I have bought all your politicians who are slender folks. Stacy is not slender which is another reason that I like her (I’m not slender and neither are 40% of American woman). I think an action figure of her would be wonderful for chubby women like me and young girls who are chubby too.
Yesss! Love her. Make it happen Fctry! Abrams is a force to be reckoned with. Sincerely, a gay cis man from OH
Yes! Please, an Abrams figure. She is an incredible person! I’ll take a six-pack.
how many time can I say yes to this?
Yes! For so many reasons Stacy is a great addition to all these super heros
Yes! And Sonia Sotomayor too!
Yes, thank you.
Please, please, please…do an action figure of Mayor Pete Buttigieg! Have almost all of your figures, and Buttigieg is on my must-have list. Thanks for considering it!
Yes. A must have.
Oh yes. Stacy Abrams please! I have a fabulous handmade mug with her on it that I bought on Etsy. She is one my true favorites.
Please make a figure of Pete Buttigieg. I would buy a quantity!
MAXINE WATERS!
I really don’t think you did such a good job on AOC. The jacket should have been longer. I don’t like the connections on the hips showing. Also her hair should have been let down.
There’s an AOC bobble head figure that’s very attractive. Bought her for my stepsister before this action figure came out, and she loves that bobble head AOC!
SOOO wish you people made these figures for anyone who submitted pictures. The likeliness of the figures to the individual is remarkable!
I’ve been “working” with a bobblehead company for over a month to model a bobblehead after my nephew. I submitted 6 excellent photos, spent a good deal of money, have asked for six modifications, and it still doesn’t remotely resemble my nephew😖
Ditto for a Stacy Abrams bobble head! She’s an amazing force and champion for voters’ rights.
Please, please make Mayor Pete next!
I would love to see Rep. Elijah Cummings- he is missed for his fiery gentle soul.
I also want Elijah Cummings!
I have several of your figures and love them. (And I vote for Stacy Abrams too!) I’d just like to say that there are a lot of American artists whom you could hire to do the painting details after they are created. Please consider them. They need support too.
NANCY PELOSI, please!
I am meeting Pelosi on Friday at a photo opp – so excited!
Make the entire SQUAD!
Make Jackie Speier
Make John Lewis
Make Dr. Christine Blasey Ford
Nancy Pelosi is killing it. Please create a Nancy to join all my other FCTRY heroes. I would love to buy multiples to give at Christmas.
Stacy and Pete, please! And Michelle!!!!
How about doing Trump as a voodoo doll?
How can there not be a Nancy Pelosi figure with her strategic leadership of the House and so many iconic moments? I have a button of her slow clap from the State of the Union and the recent photo of her pointing at POTUS and a room full of men. Talk about female leadership! Would love to add her to my collection..
Hopefully a Pelosi & Klobuchar are in the works!
Mayor Pete Buttigieg! It would be wonderful to have an intelligent and well-grounded individual as President of the United States. Enough of buffoonery, and the clown parade should be reserved for when the circus comes to town. Let’s do BETTER! Mayor Pete!
How about Greta Thunberg?
I’d buy both Stacey Abrams and Greta Thunberg! keep ’em coming!!
I also want Elijah Cummings and Nancy Pelosi!
Nancy Pelosi please!
Nina Turner in her outfit at the “I am Back” Bernie Rally in New York! Also Stacey would be awesome!
How about Harry Chapin? He was politicizing for Food For The Hungry. A true humanitarian for all mankind.
Whoopie Goldberg!
Any Dem to whom Trump has given a nasty nickname (a badge of honor) deserves to be properly honored with an action figure. So, Maxine Waters, Adam Schiff, and Mayor Pete should not be left out.
And what about some media heroes like Michael Moore, Rachel Maddow, and Bill Maher–even if you had to factor in royalties for using their likenesses. I’d be happy to pay a surcharge.
Mayor Pete! Actually- just sayin Happy Halloween to you fine folks. I’ve loved ya since Jailbreak days!
I would love to have a Jimmy Carter action figure.
I second the choice of Jimmy Carter, wearing his work clothes for building Habitat houses with a hammer in his hand.
Stacy Abrams
Greta Thunberg
PLEASE!
Montana in San Antonio
Suggestion:
Make a Greta Thunberg action figure with profits going to a Climate Change platform of her choice!
Montana
Here’s a vote for Nancy Pelosi – the most powerful woman in American politics. And since I’m from Chicago where “vote early and often” is a motto, I’m for Mayor Pete, Maxine Waters, and Adam Schiff.
Patiently waiting for Nancy Pelosi !! I have RGB, Kamala Harris, and Elizabeth Warren. Planning to add HRC as well. 🙂
Please, please, Gloria Steinem! A second vote for President Carter, but please, a woman who has been a feminist icon for decades.
I’d put her on my shelf right next to Billie Jean and RBG.
agree with Buttigieg ! also the late Elijah Cummings !
I think Senator Tammy Duckworth would be a great addition to these action figures. And JFK. And Dr. King. And Representative Cummings. And Jimmy Carter. And Representative Lewis.