#284 - Introducing Djordje Djokovic the NECA Figurine Designer

X-Band: The Phantom Podcast

Dan Fraser and Jermayn Parker interview the man behind the NECA figurines in Djordje Djokovic. He talks to us all about the very popular figurines featuring the Phantom in the Defenders of the Earth and Original Superhero's range. You will learn how important he was to ensure NECA went ahead in the figurines being made.

On our YouTube channel, we show a lot of photos of the process, original art and prototypes. If you love learning behind the scenes information, this is for you.

Some of the subjects we discuss are:

• His views on the Defenders of the Earth and Phantom 2040 tv show, figurines and his favourite artists
• What is special about the Phantom to him
• His life calling in the figurine industry and how his graphic design skills helped him go from the "Four Horsemen" to "NECA"
• His thoughts on the Phantom 2040, 1996 movie and Defenders of the Earth shows, figurines and toys
• What does a sculptor do?
• The process of the NECA Defenders of the Earth figurines
• How Djordje sold the concept of the NECA Defenders of the Earth figurines to Randy Falk?
• The idea behind why Zuffy was included with the Phantom in the NECA Defenders of the Earth figurine set
• How Djordje managed to sell the idea of the Defenders of the Earth figurine set to Randy Falk and NECA
• The story behind the packaging and why it resembles the original Galoob figurines.
• Djordje shows us the original drawings of the packaging including the Phantom for both sets
• The logo design and how the new logo takes after the British version which includes Lothar unlike the Italian and Galoop design
• Djordje teases future plans with NECA and the Phantom. (Note: this would have included the Mad Cave Studios Defenders of the Earth new comic series which also features Djordje as cover artist)
• Addressing the issue on the Defenders of the Earth figurines needing a warm bath before usage and how it was fixed for the Original Superhero series
• Djordje and his experience connecting with Phantom phans, the Friends of the Phantom Sardi's luncheon and meeting Sy and David Barry
• Asks us some questions about how the NECA figurines were received in Australia
• Djordje shows us some early prototypes of the NECA figurines and goes over the process from original sculpts, to molds, to China, to prototype painters, to toolers, to printing, to unpainted final prototype and then to final packaging

Please note, we recorded this podcast before the official announcement of the Mad Cave Studios Defenders of the Earth new comic series which also features Djordje Djokovic as the cover artist. So while we now all know he is one of the artists, we skirted around the discussion during the recording of the podcast.

You can follow Djordje Djokovic on his social platforms at @djordjedjokovicart.

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