Funko Games' Godzilla 70th Anniversary Celebration Pop! Puzzle illustration

This year Godzilla turns 70. That's why I saved this to be my first illustration post of 2024 even though this product became available a few months ago and I worked on it even earlier, in 2022: I got to be a microscopic part of the big lizard's history by painting this officially licensed jigsaw puzzle under Funko Games and Toho Godzilla direction, posted with permission.

Most of these puzzles involve more than one artist or studio, I did some minor work on the It puzzle, for instance. This one was actually started by someone else, but I ended up doing most of it.

Little did I know that the time I planned to post this would be soon after the release of one of the best Godzilla movies ever made, which is perfect, but also after a brief social media trend of people making funko pops of themselves with generative AI, which is depressing (if you want an artist that has officially worked with Funko multiple times, I'm right here).

Godzilla has a special symbolism in my illustration career as the first time I ever sold my drawings was... when I was 6~7, to raise money to help my mother buy a Godzilla 1998 toy she said was too expensive. I obviously didn't get anywhere close to the needed amount, but she was moved and bought it anyway. I still have it.

I imagine people who like the Funko style and my style are often different groups, but, well, I couldn't refuse an opportunity to work with Toho. And if my work ever inspires any kid, anywhere, to also follow an artistic career in this world soon to be devastated by even more mindless "content", my life would have enough meaning. Release your creative roar, use your atomic imagination!

Some call these chaotic transition times "a time of monsters". Yeah, sure, but monsters have a King, product of so many creative minds over the decades. Human minds. And it has repeatedly defeated its Mechagodzilla copy. This is just another round.