While we’re still in the midst of summer, it’s never too early to start preparing for the spooky fall season. Halloween has become one of the most marketable holidays in recent years, thanks to the costumes and candy. Additionally, the horror genre and spooky aesthetic contribute significantly to the plethora of merchandise available.
Leading the charge in Halloween-themed merchandise is Funko, whose Pop brand has already introduced several new figures for its Halloween 2024 lineup. Now, Disney and Pixar have added to Funko’s extensive fall release schedule.
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The four new figures include two from Disney and two from Pixar. On the Disney side, we have Mickey Mouse dressed as a pirate and Minnie Mouse dressed as a sorceress, both themed in orange and black Halloween colours.
From Pixar, the figures are based on the beloved ‘Monsters Inc.’ franchise, featuring Sully in pirate gear wearing his ‘Monsters University’ letterman jacket and his best friend Mike dressed as a pumpkin. While these characters have been featured in many Pops before, this new set includes intricate details, such as Mickey holding candy and Sully holding a Mike-themed Jack-o-Lantern. This isn’t the first Halloween-themed Disney set, as many iconic Disney characters have had festive costume Pops over the past five years.
This is the second Mickey Halloween Pop this year, with the first featuring Mickey dressed as a pumpkin-themed candelabra.
Despite Disney’s reputation as a family-friendly company with limited horror offerings, they have become deeply embedded in Halloween culture with iconic films like ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’, ‘Hocus Pocus’, and the ‘Halloweentown’ franchise. For those who grew up watching the Disney Channel, underrated gems like ‘Under Wraps’, ‘My Babysitter’s a Vampire’, ‘Mom’s Got a Date with a Vampire’, ‘Don’t Look Under the Bed’, and ‘Phantom of the Megaplex’ were early introductions to the horror genre.
Additionally, Halloween specials featuring favourite characters like Mickey, Winnie-the-Pooh, and even Star Wars heroes and villains have contributed to Disney’s Halloween appeal. These new Halloween Pops serve as a great reminder of Disney’s contribution to fun, digestible horror.
–Farheen Ali