Mondo (American company)

In 2001, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema founder Tim League was visiting Kier-La Janisse in Vancouver for the CineMuerte Film Festival. League visited a vintage iron-on T-shirt shop called Bang-On, and years later, pitched the idea of a T-shirt store as a branch of the Drafthouse chain to Janisse and her boyfriend Lester Smolenski.{{cite book |last1=League |first1=Tim |last2=Brad |first2=Bird |date=October 10, 2017 |title=The Art of Mondo |publisher=Insight Editions |page=9 |isbn=978-1-60887-806-2 }} With the help of graphic designs from Smolenski, who worked for Bang-On, the offshoot Mondo Tees was established in 2004.{{cite web|url=https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/introduction-to-mondo-posters/|title=Inside the beautiful and ruthless world of Mondo poster collecting|author=Sarah Weber|date=September 25, 2014|work=The Daily Dot|access-date=January 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.complex.com/style/2013/04/the-50-best-mondo-posters-so-far/|title=The 50 Best Mondo Posters (So Far)|author=Andrew LaSane|date=April 22, 2013|work=Complex|access-date=January 1, 2018}}

In spring 2004, Mondo Tees collaborated with Graham Williams of the Austin club Emo's for a summer outdoor film and music festival called Cinemania, wherein the Drafthouse booked the screenings and Emo's booked the live music shows. Ticket sales failed to reach even one thousand, so to prevent the festival from being a financial failure, it was moved indoors and a line of custom posters were created to promote the event. Williams hired freelance designer Rob Jones, who had created posters for Emo's performances in the past, and Jones produced posters highlighting the planned screenings of Better Off Dead, Foxy Brown, and The Warriors.

Mondo Tees continued working with Jones for the Quentin Tarantino Film Festival in 2006, and Jones introduced the founders to artists such as Jay Ryan, Todd Slater, and Tyler Stout, and the company shifted its focus to posters more than T-shirts.{{cite book |last1=League |first1=Tim |last2=Brad |first2=Bird |date=October 10, 2017 |title=The Art of Mondo |publisher=Insight Editions |page=10 |isbn=978-1-60887-806-2 }} Jones is currently a creative director at Mondo.{{cite book |last1=League |first1=Tim |last2=Brad |first2=Bird |date=October 10, 2017 |title=The Art of Mondo |publisher=Insight Editions |page=12 |isbn=978-1-60887-806-2 }}

Creative director Justin Ishmael and co-founder Mitch Putnam helped elevate the business model to secure licensing from companies like Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Company for more well-known properties like Star Wars and the Marvel Cinematic Universe.{{cite web|url=http://mentalfloss.com/article/49654/how-mondo-posters-get-made|title=How Mondo Posters Get Made|author=Erin McCarthy|date=March 26, 2013|work=Mental Floss|access-date=January 1, 2018}}{{cite book |last1=League |first1=Tim |last2=Brad |first2=Bird |date=October 10, 2017 |title=The Art of Mondo |publisher=Insight Editions |page=15 |isbn=978-1-60887-806-2 }} Ishmael, who joined the company in 2009, left to pursue other opportunities in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/justin_ishmael_leaves_mondo|title=Justin Ishmael Leaves Mondo|author=Gregory Adams|date=June 8, 2015|work=Exclaim!|access-date=January 1, 2018}}

In 2017, in collaboration with USAopoly's Project Raygun division, Mondo released their first board game: The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31, based on the 1982 film The Thing.{{cite web|url=https://mondotees.com/blogs/news/the-thing-infection-at-outpost-31-board-game|title=THE THING: INFECTION AT OUTPOST 31 Board Game|date=May 3, 2017|website=MondoTees.com|access-date=January 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/elijah-wood-explains-the-rules-of-the-game-in-a-the-thi-1820087096|title=Elijah Wood explains the rules of the game in a The Thing: Infection At Outpost 31 exclusive|author=Katie Rife|date=November 2, 2017|work=The A.V. Club|access-date=January 1, 2018}}

Artists who have created posters with Mondo include Becky Cloonan,{{cite web|url=http://www.slashfilm.com/mondo-disney-show-fantasia-and-bambi/|title=Exclusive: Mondo's New 'Bambi' and 'Fantasia' Posters are Beautiful [Updated]|author=Jacob Hall|date=April 25, 2017|work=/FILM|access-date=January 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2016/04/05/mondo-castlevania-silent-hill/|title=Gorgeous 'Castlevania' and 'Silent Hill' posters make us miss Konami|author=Adam Rosenberg|date=April 5, 2016|work=Mashable|access-date=January 1, 2018}} Laurent Durieux,{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2015/10/the-15-best-mondo-movie-posters-of-all-time-56305/|title=The 15 Best Mondo Movie Posters of All Time|author=Zack Sharf|date=October 22, 2015|work=IndieWire|access-date=January 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/the-poster-art-in-the-art-of-mondo-is-rich-with-inventive-and-clever-interpretations-of-film-2512723082.html|title=The Poster Art in 'The Art of Mondo' Is Rich with Inventive and Clever Interpretations of Film|author=J.M. Suarez|date=November 26, 2017|work=PopMatters|access-date=January 1, 2018}} Olly Moss,{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/09/movies/movie-posters-are-the-business-of-mondo.html|title=Movie Posters are the Business of Mondo|author=Mekado Murphy|date=October 7, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://collider.com/mondo-star-wars-posters-olly-moss/|title=Jaw-Dropping Mondo STAR WARS Posters by Olly Moss|author=Matt Goldberg|date=December 17, 2010|work=Collider|access-date=January 1, 2018}} Gary Pullin,{{cite web|url=http://www.dreadcentral.com/news/258723/artist-ghoulish-gary-pullin-releasing-retrospective-art-book/|title=Artist "Ghoulish" Gary Pullin Releasing Retrospective Art Book|author=Jonathan Barkan|date=November 2, 2017|work=Dread Central|access-date=January 1, 2018}} Matthew Woodson,{{Cite web|url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2017/11/27/exclusive-matthew-woodson-lets-us-in-on-the-making-of-his-striking-2001-a-s|title=Exclusive: Matthew Woodson Walks Us Through The Making Of His 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY Poster|last=Hughes|first=Amanda|date=2017-11-27|website=Birth.Movies.Death.|language=en|access-date=2019-02-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://birthmoviesdeath.com/2016/12/01/exclusive-matthew-woodson-walks-us-through-the-creation-of-his-incredible-u|title=Exclusive: Matthew Woodson Walks Us Through The Creation Of His Incredible UNDER THE SKIN Poster|last=Wampler|first=Scott|date=2016-12-01|website=Birth.Movies.Death.|language=en|access-date=2019-02-14}}{{Cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/this-striking-new-2001-a-space-odyssey-poster-has-its-1820025473|title=This Striking New 2001: A Space Odyssey Art Is Full of Stars|last=Lussier|first=Germain|website=io9|language=en-US|access-date=2019-02-14}} Jay Shaw,{{cite web|url=http://screencrush.com/mondo-the-thing-board-game-interview/|title=Mondo's Jay Shaw Details The Development of 'The Thing: Infection at Outpost 31'|author=Luke Brown|date=May 4, 2017|work=ScreenCrush|access-date=January 1, 2018}} Matt Taylor,{{cite web|url=https://laughingsquid.com/art-show-featuring-infographic-film-posters-by-tom-whalen-kevin-tong-matt-taylor-at-mondo-gallery/|title=Art Show Featuring Infographic Film Posters by Tom Whalen, Kevin Tong, & Matt Taylor at Mondo Gallery|author=Justin Page|date=July 7, 2016|work=Laughing Squid|access-date=January 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.printmag.com/posters/comic-art-poster-designs-matt-taylor/|title=Talking Comics and Movie Posters with Illustrator Matt Taylor|author=Chris Jalufka|date=May 25, 2017|work=PRINT Magazine|access-date=January 1, 2018}} Kevin Tong, Tom Whalen,{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2017/04/28/mondo-cyclops-disney-show/|title=These Disney-inspired prints are positively enchanting|author=Angie Han|date=April 28, 2017|work=Mashable|access-date=January 1, 2018}} Sam Wolfe Connelly, and Jock.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/mondo-announces-art-jock-retrospective-829553|title=Mondo Announces 'The Art of Jock' Retrospective|author=Graeme McMillan|date=October 5, 2015|work=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=January 1, 2018}}

In June 2022, Funko announced that it had acquired Mondo.{{cite web |last1=Lovett |first1=Jamie |title=Funko Acquires Mondo |url=https://comicbook.com/gear/news/funko-acquires-mondo/ |website=Comicbook.com |date=June 13, 2022}} On March 24 2023, Funko laid off Mondo co-founders Mitch Putnam and Rob Jones and announced changes to its poster printing division,{{cite web |last1=Spangler |first1=Todd |title=Funko Cuts Back Mondo Movie Poster Business, Lays Off Co-Founders and Other Staff |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/funko-shuts-down-mondo-poster-business-lays-off-cofounders-1235563902/ |website=Variety |date=March 24, 2023}} a decision that was met with such negative reception by the public and Mondo-affiliated artists{{cite web |last1=Germaine |first1=Lussier |title=Funko Lays Off Original Mondo Employees, Ending an Era |url=https://gizmodo.com/funko-ceo-mondo-posters-vinyl-toys-screenprint-limited-1850284299 |website=Gizmodo |date=March 24, 2023}} that Funko CEO Brian Mariotti released a statement on March 30, 2023 attempting to clarify Funko's plans for Mondo's future.{{cite web |last1=Germaine |first1=Lussier |title=Funko CEO Explains Future Mondo Strategy, and It's Pretty Bad |url=https://gizmodo.com/funko-lays-off-mondo-staff-pop-culture-movie-posters-1850261547 |website=Gizmodo |date=March 30, 2023}} This statement was also negatively received by the public, including celebrities such as Elijah Wood, who wrote that Funko "fundamentally misunderstood Mondo, its extended family of artists and its loyal fan base."https://twitter.com/elijahwood/status/1641901332746362884 {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}

Posters released by Mondo have been added to the movie poster archive of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, as well as included in the catalog of Heritage Auctions. In 2011, Mondo collaborated with Paramount Pictures on custom posters for Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Captain America: The First Avenger. When Mondo released a custom poster for the film Pan's Labyrinth, director Guillermo del Toro stated, "I felt completely overwhelmed and happy. I'm a huge fan of their posters. They involved me in approving every step of the design. They took some of my notes to heart, but mostly my notes were 'Wow!{{'"}}.

Beyond posters, Mondo and its sister label Death Waltz have received positive reception for their soundtrack releases, which feature custom cover art, inner art, and special designs on the vinyl records themselves.{{cite web|url=http://www.indiewire.com/2015/11/the-12-dopest-mondo-soundtracks-ever-pressed-54549/|title=The 12 Dopest Mondo Soundtracks Ever Pressed|author=Jon Fusco|date=November 9, 2015|work=IndieWire|access-date=January 1, 2018}}

In 2022, the exhibit Mondo: The Front Runner of Film Poster was the ninth in a series of film poster exhibitions held jointly by the [https://www.nfaj.go.jp/english/exhibition/mondo2021/ National Film Archive of Japan] and the [https://www.momak.go.jp/English/exhibitionArchive/2022/447.html National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto]. The exhibition presented [http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.momak.go.jp/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/05/447_list.pdf 71 posters] from the beginning of Mondo through 2021.

{{Main|MondoCon}}

MondoCon is an annual festival held in Austin that showcases the artwork of Mondo and features exclusive collectibles, panels, and special screenings with filmmakers and artists.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/2014/09/mondocon-gallery/|title=MondoCon: The Offbeat Convention That Pays Tribute to Your Favorite Cult Classics|author=Angela Watercutter|date=September 12, 2014|magazine=Wired|access-date=January 1, 2018}} The event has been called "the world's coolest poster convention"{{cite web|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/the-worlds-coolest-poster-convention-gets-a-goofy-warri-1730066144|title=The World's Coolest Poster Convention Gets a Goofy Warriors-Inspired One-Sheet|author=Germain Lussier|date=September 11, 2015|website=io9|publisher=Gawker Media|access-date=January 1, 2018}} and "the venerable kingpin of the artisanal movie poster game".{{cite web|url=https://nerdist.com/mondo-mike-mitchell-mondocon-star-wars-donald-duck/|title=Bringing STAR WARS to MONDOCON and Mutilating Donald Duck|author=Michael Arbeiter|date=October 18, 2016|work=Nerdist|access-date=January 1, 2017}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|https://mondotees.com/}}
• [http://collections.new.oscars.org/Details/Collection/1763 Alamo Drafthouse collection of Mondo posters], Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Category:Culture of Austin, Texas

Category:American companies established in 2004

Category:Companies based in Austin, Texas

Category:Film advertising material

Category:Posters

Category:2004 establishments in Texas

Category:2022 mergers and acquisitions