Popterror Studio
Figure design and production for brands
From the first sketch to the delivered figure, one single point of contact in France. Mascot, custom figure, blind box or collector’s edition: we create your character and bring it to life in 3D.
Our art toys in store
Straat Museum Shop (Amsterdam) · HypaHypa (online) · Art By Uzume (France)…
Shown at art fairs
SPERA Art Fair · Osaka Art Fair · Paris Drouot · Grenoble Art Up
Backed by fans
Successful Kickstarter campaign in 2024
The studio
Brand figures people want to keep
Popterror Studio is the creative studio of Popterror, the art toy brand we launched in Lille, France, in 2023. We are a father-and-son duo: Romain, a 3D artist, and Fred, a graphic designer and art director. Before working for others, we created our own character, EQSO, and took it all the way: 3D-printed resin prototypes, a Kickstarter campaign, vinyl series, a blind box, displays and shops in Paris and Amsterdam.
Today we put that know-how at the service of brands, premium ones included, that want a character, a figure, or both. A mascot that finally embodies your brand, a collectible figure for a launch, a blind box for your community, or a collaboration with EQSO: we design in France and produce in our partner factory in China, with the same standards as for our own pieces.
Our promise is simple: one point of contact, a clear seven-step process, and a final object as desirable as a collector’s art toy.
What we do for you
Five ways to give your brand a body
Each service can be taken alone or combined: many projects start as a mascot and end up as a blind box.
01 / Service
Mascot design
A character that embodies your brand, from the first sketch to the 3D model… and all the way to the physical figure.
Discover the service →
02 / Service
Figure manufacturing
Already have a character or a 3D file? We turn it into figures produced in series.
Discover the service →
03 / Service
Custom blind box
A series of figures in mystery boxes, with a secret figure and a display: the mechanic we mastered with EQSO The Crew.
Discover the service →
04 / Service
Limited-edition collectible
A numbered piece, premium packaging, a certificate: the figure designed as a drop for premium brands.
Discover the service →
05 / Service
Collab with EQSO
Bring your brand into the EQSO universe: co-branding, a special edition in your colours, a customised EQSO.
Discover the service →
Why Popterror Studio
Creators who produce, not just illustrators
01
We run our own brand
With EQSO we went through every step: design, prototypes, Kickstarter, mass production, packaging, distribution. We know where a figure project goes off the rails, and how to avoid it.
02
A French studio, one point of contact
You talk to the people who draw and manage your project, from the first sketch to delivery. No subcontractor changing at every step.
03
Production followed closely
Your figures are produced in our partner factory in China (Shenzhen region), which we follow daily.
04
We know distribution
Our art toys are sold in specialist shops in Paris and Amsterdam and online. Blind boxes, displays, limited editions: we design your figure so that it sells.
05
Design, streetwear and pop culture DNA
Our characters speak to collectors, street culture fans and brands that want a desirable object, not just another piece of merch.
06
High-end 3D skills
Romain comes from 3D visual effects and automotive design, Fred from illustration and art direction: your volumes, colours and finishes are under control from the modelling stage.
Process
Seven steps, from brief to delivery
You approve each key step before moving on to the next: no surprises when the boxes arrive.
Brief
Goal, audience, quantity, budget, launch date: we frame the project together in one meeting.
Duration: one meeting
Character design
Sketches, style research, then a character sheet with front, side and back views.
Duration: 2 to 4 weeks, brief included
3D modelling
A 3D model built for production: part splitting, wall thickness, undercuts.
Duration: 2 weeks
Prototype
3D-printed resin prototype to validate the volumes, then colour references.
Duration: 3 days
Production
Moulds, pre-production sample, then mass production in our partner factory.
Duration: moulds 1 month, pre-production 2 weeks, run 1 month
Quality control & packaging
Checking parts, paint and assembly, boxing, displays and certificates.
Duration: 2 weeks, compliance tests included
Delivery
Shipping, customs clearance and delivery to you or your distributors.
Duration: 6 to 8 weeks by sea, 10 to 15 days by air
Case study
EQSO The Crew
Our own blind box: six characters and a secret figure (1 in 100 chance), 8-9 cm vinyl figures, mystery boxes and a display of six boxes with no duplicates, now in shops and on our e-shop. Everything we offer you, we first did for ourselves.
The team
Romain and Fred, a father-and-son duo
Romain
3D artist & co-founder
Trained at ArtFX school, Romain creates 3D animations and effects for film and advertising, and has worked in automotive design (KIA Europe Design Center). At Popterror, he models the characters and prepares the files for production.
Fred
Graphic designer, art director & co-founder
Fred studied illustration at the Beaux-Arts in Tournai and went on to a career as an art director in communications, transmedia and animation. At Popterror, he signs the graphic design of the characters, packaging and posters.
Guides
Our latest guides
How to make custom figures: the complete guide, from idea to factory
How to make custom figures in series: character design, 3D modelling, prototype, materials, moulds, production, quality control, packaging and shipping.
How much does it cost to make a custom figure? Every cost explained
Custom figure cost explained: fixed costs (design, 3D, moulds), cost per piece, how quantity changes the unit price, and tips to keep your budget in check.
Vinyl vs PVC vs resin figures: which material should you choose?
Vinyl or resin figure? Rotocast vinyl, injected PVC and resin compared (finish, quantity, cost, lead time) to help you choose the right material.
All our guides on figure manufacturing · The art toy glossary
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum order quantity to produce figures?
It depends on the technique. Our minimums: 300 pieces in rotocast vinyl and 1,000 pieces in injected PVC; for a blind box, 300 pieces per character and 2,000 pieces in total. The estimator gives you a first idea based on your quantity.
How long does it take to design and produce a figure?
You need to allow for design, 3D modelling, prototyping, moulds, a pre-production sample, production and shipping. Typical lead time, shipping included: 6 to 8 months from an existing character, 7 to 9 months if we also design the mascot or for a blind box. We give you a detailed schedule with the quote.
Which materials do you offer?
We produce in rotocast vinyl, like our own EQSO art toys, and in injected PVC for large runs. The choice depends on your quantity, budget and desired finish.
Will my project stay confidential?
Yes. Your sketches, files and launch dates stay within the project team and the partner factory. On request, we sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before exchanging files.
Who owns the design of the mascot or figure?
The character created for your brand is intended for your brand. The terms of the rights transfer are agreed with you, project by project, and set out in the quote.
Do your figures comply with European standards?
A figure intended for children (3+) must meet the EN 71 toy standard, the phthalates content regulation and REACH; a collectible for adults follows different labelling rules. We help you choose the right status from the brief, and compliance tests are carried out by a specialised laboratory.
Where and how are the figures delivered?
The figures are designed in France and produced in our partner factory in China (Shenzhen region), then delivered to you or your warehouses, worldwide with rare exceptions. Shipping is included in the quote: by sea (6 to 8 weeks) or by air (10 to 15 days), faster but more expensive.
How does a project with the Studio work?
In seven steps: brief, character design, 3D modelling, prototype, production, quality control and packaging, delivery. You have a single point of contact in France from start to finish, and you approve each key step before moving on.
How much does a custom figure cost?
The price mainly depends on quantity, size, material, number of colours and packaging. Every project gets a tailored quote, starting from €10,000. For a first range, use our cost estimator.
Can you start from an existing mascot or 3D file?
Yes. If your character already exists in 2D, we turn it into a volume; if you have a 3D file, we adapt it to production constraints. That is our custom figure manufacturing service.
Let’s talk
A mascot or figure project?
A few lines are enough: your brand, your idea, your timeline. We get back to you within 48 hours to discuss it.
Prefer a detailed form? Request a full quote.