A new player in the collectibles market, Rokimoto, made its debut today at Anime Expo in Los Angeles. Temple of Geek’s Maddie spoke with executives, Fun Maker Mike, and Fun Maker Dave, about their new venture and their experience at the expo.

Anime Expo (AX) is North America’s largest annual convention celebrating Japanese pop culture, particularly anime and manga. The non-profit Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) organizes the event, which draws over 100,000 fans to the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California.

Meet The Funk Makers at Rokimoto

Fun Maker Mike (Mike Becker, Founder and Chief Officer of Fun), who focuses on the creative side, and Fun Maker Dave (Dave Bere, Founder and Head of Business Strategy), who handles everything non-creative, expressed their excitement about the brand’s launch. “We’re just 60 days in the market and just had a lot of positive feedback,” said Fun Maker Dave. Fun Maker Mike, who previously started Funko 27 years ago, noted the significant effort involved in preparing for a launch of this scale, emphasizing the “worry, time and effort” from many people to get the show on the road.

Showcasing Original and Licensed IP

Rokitomo is showcasing its own intellectual property (IP) at Anime Expo, which is a major accomplishment for the company, especially given that both executives came from Funko. Their IP features Asia-centric themes, and their booth incorporates vending machines for a shopping experience reminiscent of Tokyo or Kyoto. One of their unique product features is the “slurp prize,” where characters are depicted sitting and slurping ramen.

In addition to their own IP, Rokimoto is also debuting its first licensed product: Snoopy Peanuts. There are eight different types of Snoopy collectibles available, with the “slurp prize” version featuring Snoopy sitting and eating ramen. These collectibles also come with a blind season packet patch.

When asked about logistical challenges, Fun Maker Mike shared his philosophy of “greeting the roadblocks,” viewing them as necessary steps toward success. He stated that overcoming these challenges makes the end result “that much sweeter”. Fun Maker Dave added that seeing fans engage with their product makes the hard work worthwhile.

Rokimoto Built on Humor, Inspiration, Friendship, and Imagination

Rokimoto operates under a “High Five” credo, built on four pillars: humor, inspiration, friendship, and imagination. Fun Maker Mike explained that their approach to selecting properties is deeply personal, often choosing based on what resonates with him from the heart, like Speed Racer, rather than solely on market statistics.

The executives are particularly excited about interacting with fans throughout the weekend. They also highlighted a special event scheduled for tomorrow (Friday, July 4th) at 6:30 p.m. at the Novo Theater, where AJ McLean of the Backstreet Boys will join them for a “fun fest” panel with prizes and special announcements.

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AX focuses on various aspects of Japanese entertainment, including music, fashion, and video games. Anime Expo 2025 will take place from July 3-6, 2025, also at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Stay connected with us on social media for more pop culture discussions and updates. You can find us on Bluesky, TikTok, and Discord. Be sure to check out our YouTube channel for additional content.

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