627 - Paul Frank

Armed with an unwavering desire to create anything customized and a preserved sense of child like wonder, Paul Frank built a world filled with friends we have all come to know like Julius, Worry Bear, Bob the Brace Face Dog, Shaka Brah Yeti, and many more. These characters served as his catalyst to craft an entire world of tchotchkes that took hold of the hearts of millions worldwide who gravitated towards his personal touch on each product bearing his name. The gratitude expressed for all the opportunities that have come his way since his humble beginnings buying vinyl at a speedboat repair shop is palpable across this entire interview and really shows the genuine character that Paul Frank is. From wallets to a balloon in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, size and scale are no boundaries for Paul's endless imagination.  Mark opens with a monologue touching on the source of our motivations and treading the fine line between following your dreams and financing your life. It's time to meet your new best friend, Paul Frank.

Talking Points

• A disconnect over the agony of defeat, a designer that truly cares, and creating a world of friends. 
• Balancing what's real, what's really important, what fills you with pride. 
• Becoming an emotional millionaire. 
• Starting out at a speedboat repair shop and the art of discovery before a computer was in every home. 
• Taking inspiration from Disney, Sanrio, and little tchotchkes from all over. 
• Driven by shapes and details. 
• Happiness in creation and working backward in the world of animation. 
• The struggle in compromising your vision and the importance of an item. 
• Character origins and collaborating with school kids.
• Curiosity, the consumer, and the craft. 
• The catalyst for customization.
• Ten years of using everything but your name to further develop as an artist. 

Circle Of Trust Talking Points

• Bendy toys, the Thanksgiving Day Parade, and the joy of seeing your work in the wild.
• Seeing the forest for the trees. 
• The real profit for Paul Frank and keeping your fandom intact. 
• Putting earnest energy out there with a few extra inspirational pieces to discover. 
• What's next for Paul Frank now that he's back in the captain's chair?
• Uncovering the trail to a happier life.
• An honest look at a journey through Paul's head and the demand of the industry. 
• The ingredients that resonate with audiences around the world. 
• Treating the worst details with the most care and concern. 
• Growing up a little out there in the woods. 

Another old school artist who picked up a sharpie instead of a sewing machine. Chris Shary followed his passion for punk rock and fun which landed him as the go to guy for the Descendents and many other bands.

If you want to get into animation as badly as Paul does then we have to recommend you take a listen to Pete Oswald and his role in bringing Angry Birds to the big screen. Then go watch the cartoon because its also great.

Paul Frank knows how to tell a story and Mike Bonifer knows how to tell a bigSTORY. Get into the nitty gritty of the componenets behind storytelling to start making a world as in depth as the one Paul created over his career.