The FUTURE of Five Nights at Freddy's Hex - An Interview with Dawko

Hey everyone, I'm here with Dako, the owner of Hex. Dako, how are you doing today? You excited for the interview? >> I am excited. I don't really do interviews, so this is this is going to be fun. >> I know, you're usually the one doing the interviews, right? >> I am. Yeah, so this is different and exciting. >> I've got you in the hot seat. >> I know, right? But I'm ready to go. Let's do it. >> Dako, as you know, you've been doing Hex for quite a long time now. Five years this year. >> Five years. >> Five years, dude. >> That doesn't feel right, but it is right. >> It is right. It doesn't feel right. >> Oh my god, that is crazy. >> It is very scary. >> I'm curious, since it has been so long, how do you feel about the brand right now? >> Yeah, it's exciting. I'm still I absolutely love doing Hex. Um, I had Hex. No, I still love doing Hex. Um, it's so fun. I wish we could do more of the comic stuff, which I'm guessing is going to be asked later on, but collab-wise, like doing stuff with Five Nights at Freddy's is so fun, cuz obviously I'm a FNAF fan. Been a FNAF fan since 2014. So, actually doing merch for characters that I love and I know the fan base loves and trying to do the best I can uh with my amazing artists and team um on plushies and merch and stuff. Like, it's been really fun. Really, really, really fun. And uh in the future, we do uh have plans to do some more collabs with other franchises that can't talk about right now. >> [snorts] >> Uh but yeah, there is another big one that we're working with right now. Um, so I'm very excited to announce that later this year, hopefully. >> I said we weren't going to be big on big news drops in this interview, but I mean, there's a little sneak peek right off the bat. That's pretty exciting. >> And it's not it's it's not like a Bendy wave two or anything. It's like a brand new collab with a with a franchise, a horror-related franchise. Uh I want to try and keep it like horror related, but I still I still feel I'd love to work with like other companies that are not horror related cuz I feel like Button Eyed Plushies would work with those as well. But yeah, sticking to horror for now and yeah, it's it's it's it's it's cool. It's cool. >> Well, over the past 5 years, even if it hasn't felt like a long time, you guys have been busy as heck cuz at least only for a FNAF is what I've counted, over 50 plushies. But then also, you've done, you know, a whole bunch of products like apparel, shirts, hoodies, backpacks, keychains, pins, a hand a freaking hand puppet of Bon-Bon, which was crazy. And now, you know, you're moving into more unique products with like candles and mugs. How has that been to kind of explore those more unique products? >> So fun. Like, I just want to keep making cool stuff with FNAF like cuz I I'm a big candle guy. I love Bath & Body Works. I remember going to Bath & Body Works and look at the candles and thinking, "Damn, we should do like FNAF ones or something." Like it'd be really cool to have like um rotten flesh. No, I'm joking. But like like birthday cake and scented candles and you know, stuff like that or like for like Foxy, like a tropically like a beach themed coconut vibe. And then like for Freddy or Bonnie, have like a forest theme. Um and like like I said for Chica, like a bakery scent or something. Um don't worry, it's not going to be like pizza or anything, guys. You know, I'm not I would never do that [laughter] because I don't think I want my room to smell like pizza, like so. Um but yeah, something like that that's still like that's that is that that isn't even gone past production or anything. That was just like a little idea. Um and hoping that that that we can do that in the future. Mugs as well and stuff. So, yeah, I just like going around and seeing things in shops and being like, "Oh, like this would be cool if we did this like in the in a FNAF collab and stuff like that. Big example is one of these as well that I'm wearing uh Johnny can't see but I'm wearing um like a jersey um from a different brand. I and you know, we really want to do like the FNAF uh NFL style jerseys uh that are still happening. Don't worry, they are definitely still happening. So, that's exciting. So, yeah, just like doing different things and different things that like other like YouTubers and Jazwares aren't doing just so we feel a little bit more special uh if that makes sense. I really want to do like figurines but that's a bit more hard to do because of like the licenses and stuff like competition and stuff like that cuz you know, Funko does figurines and Jazwares does figurines and YouTubers do figurines. So, obviously we need approval to start doing stuff like that and it it's it's that's that that part's been a little bit tricky. Um but yeah, it's still going really good. We're staying in our lane as much as we can. >> [laughter] >> Uh but yeah, it's going good. >> I mean, at least you're looking at stuff that that will differentiate you with everyone else cuz like you said, everyone's got their figurines. Everyone else is doing plushies but like Hex is so stylized and unique with the button eyes, with the magnets that it really it feels like it makes you guys stand out. And on the topic of like the magnets and stuff, is that something you guys think you're you're going to stick with? >> Uh yeah. So, we'll we'll probably always do the magnetic plushies um but also do the sitting cuddling plushies as well uh at a later date just so people have an option cuz I know some people do love the magnetic plushies, some people don't. Um so, I wanted to give people a choice. If they don't want the magnets for a cheaper price, you you guys have that option too. But also recently we like with the Secret of the Mimicry, we did um the Chica plush. We're never going to do with magnets and the uh to be fair, we did do a tiger magnet plush but like an more like accurate plushies. Like white tiger from Secret of the Mimic. I thought that went really well. People really loved that wave. So, yeah, I want to branch out and do some just different styles of plushies and stuff. In in in universe items and stuff like that. Yeah, we we are still doing magnets. >> [laughter] >> Got it. You mentioned the white tiger like game accurate plush that you guys just came out with. Whole big new Secret of the Mimic wave available now at Sans store. You have also hinted towards another game accurate plushy. I think a lot of fans are going to be excited about. Plushtrap. >> Plushtrap? >> to You don't have to speak a whole lot on him. >> Yeah. So, Plushtrap's interesting. So, we were going to make it game accurate, right? Um but it I think it seemed a bit too complicated to do because you mentioned it today, Johnny. Like it's not an in-game plushy. It's an animatronic. So, we'd basically be making an animatronic perfectly accurate animatronic plushy, which is very difficult. So, we have kind of stylized him a little bit um compared to how he looks like in FNAF 4. I I do still think he's very cute. Um I would love to show him, but unfortunately, I get told off now if I reveal anything too early without like them seeing things. Uh which sucks. So, I can't really show anything without getting told off. He is blurred in the back I I do actually have him in the background. Um he is blurry. I'll quickly like I'll do something really quick so people can see it, but that's all you're getting, guys. And then just if if Striker ever come at me, just say, "Oh, it was an accident. He ran out ran off camera. So, he he didn't mean it." But I'm going to quickly do this. Okay. You You saw like a blurred version of him in the background hopefully at that point. But yeah, he's tiny. He's a tiny little bean. >> I was going to say, he might not be game accurate now, but I feel like he's still scale accurate. >> Yeah, he's really cute. He's smaller than the nightmare plushies that we've done. And he's wired as well, so you can pose him and sit him down and stuff. So yeah, he is really really cute. We might make him a little bit bigger for a better price. So it's it's more fair on the price cuz at the moment he's quite small. But Warren and James want to keep the same price point and I said no, that's not happening. And they said, "Okay, we'll make him bigger then for the same price." And then, okay. That's fine. He's fully embroidered as well. But yeah, we're going to make him a little bit bigger. I think she I think they said 33% bigger than what it is now. So it's still going to be a little bit smaller than the nightmares. So you'll see the size difference, but yeah, he's adorable. I love him. >> On the topic of the nightmares, we can talk a bit about them. But I have a few more general hex questions that I want to get back to cuz I want your thoughts on. Same thing with Plushtrap. No big reveals, but just general updates. How are the nightmares going? How are you feeling? >> The night I'm very happy I got I got all the first nightmare prototypes the past few weeks. So Foxy, Bonnie, Chica, and Freddy. They all really good for a first for a first proto. I can't reveal much obviously, but the teeth The teeth look good apart from the top. Like they've used like felt white felt and they just look a bit goofy. So I've said maybe take them out and just have the inner jaw embroidered like the bottom jaw make them small make the teeth smaller or something cuz they're just too stuck out. But in general, they do look really good for a first proto. I am excited for this wave. I know a lot of people have asked about Fredbear. We're going to do a We're going to do a FNAF 4 wave 2 and it's all going to be focused on Fredbear and Fredbear merch and stuff. So yeah. Hopefully anyway. I'm hoping to make the Fredbear like a big plushy, too. Like bigger than the other uh Hex plushies just cuz you know Fredbear's big. Um so hopefully that happens. >> Do you guys generally like to plan out long-term plans for Hex or just kind of go wave by wave, see how you're feeling? >> We do have a plan. So like the next wave's going to be um Glitchtrap and Glamrock Bonnie. I know a lot of people have been asking about that, but I wasn't happy with Glitchtrap and I wanted uh the wasn't getting things right with it. So we had to keep making new prototypes. That's going to be the next wave. And then >> You don't have to say all your waves. >> Yeah, I won't. [laughter] I won't. But people already know about it, but then obviously FNAF 4 probably be the next wave after that. We might have stuff in between and after like the the NFL jerseys and um with and the backpacks. Um I think I leaked the I [laughter] leaked the Freddy and Springtrap backpacks before I got told off and stuff like that. So yeah, people really like the Bonnie backpack. Um so yeah, we've made a Springtrap and Freddy one. >> Like some smaller drops to >> Yeah, smaller drops throughout the year. >> Give fans something between the bigger >> Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And then I think after FNAF 4 um it's probably going to be FNAF 6, which we haven't even started on yet. Just just so people know that'll be probably next year. Um but we'll probably start with the scrap animatronics first, you know, Scraptrap, uh Scrap Baby. Uh we want to do a Helpy plushy. Um >> Oh, nice. >> Maybe hopefully an accurate Helpy plushy rather than button eyes, Molten Freddy, and Lefty. So yeah, um and then obviously after we'll probably do uh the Mediocre Melodies and stuff. If there's if there's enough hype for it. I feel like we're running out of games now to do. >> You're catching up pretty quick, right? >> yeah, we are catching up. >> You do have some, you know, waves that you have done in the past that you could go back to like FNAF 3 Phantoms along those lines. >> Phantoms. Yeah. Yeah. >> I know some people have also asked about reworks of not to call you out, but like specifically the toys. Maybe have you thought about going back and redoing older plushies? >> I mean, that would be a good idea, but I feel like we did the toy sitting plushies as like a replacement for the for the magnet versions if that makes sense. I mean, we could relaunch them and stylize stylize them a bit different. Maybe we could, but most likely not. I'm not going to lie. I I haven't thought about that. It would be cool if we would do that, but like I don't know if Warren James would be interested because they'd be like oh, well, we already did that wave, so people won't buy the new version if that makes sense. Like not many people will buy it. So, would we rather put our effort into a completely different wave of new characters instead? I don't know. Um and that's again, we did the sitting plush too to like redeem ourselves with FNAF 2. I love the FNAF 2 sitting plush we did. And obviously they're cheaper cuz they've got no magnets. So, yeah, people really like those. So, I was happy about the redemption arc of FNAF 2 hex plushies. >> Yeah, and you got the sitting Mangle coming up as well. That looks good. >> Yes, I did actually reveal that, didn't I, when I wasn't supposed to, but I will show it again. We got rid of the metallic fabric cuz people weren't happy about that. Um this is a prototype, remember guys, but we fixed the endo head. The endo head looks better. Uh loads better. Uh people I saw people on Twitter saying the body's too big. Maybe we'll rework the the ribs and stuff to be a little bit more robotic animatronic looking. Um I'm really happy with this prototype, and it it sits down really good as well. So, yeah, we'll probably do one more version um with with people's criticisms, and then >> [music] >> uh she'll be ready to go. I might just actually make a Mangle wave, just Mangle merch, Mangle shirts, Mangle pins, and then the sitting plushie or something, but uh we'll see. >> Is the sitting plush line something you guys see yourselves continuing on? >> Yeah. I think so. Like I I wanted to do the FNAF 2 ones ages ago. Um and I know the bunny just came out, but I would love to keep doing them because obviously it's a cheaper alternative for people who who don't want the magnet versions. But yeah, I'd love to do more um cuz they're really fun and they're really cute and cheaper for people. So, I think the next ones we would do what would it be? Would it be FNAF 4, right? >> Oh, yeah. >> Oh, it was FNAF 4. >> Yeah, I forgot about Security Breach. Yeah. >> Yeah. Those ones. >> Yeah, we've got loads to do actually. I don't know what we released after FNAF Oh, we did Springtrap. So, Springtrap's done. Sitting Springtrap. I think after that we did >> Oh, yeah, the Withereds. Yes. We'll have to do the sitting plush of the Withereds as well and stuff. And like the criticisms of the magnetic versions, we will like just like the toy wave and stuff we'll take into account for the sitting plushie versions of the Withereds and stuff. So, yeah, I'm actually excited to do the Withereds. I'll probably do those next. To be fair, we should have really done those with the mangle sitting plush, but I feel like everybody like I feel like we should just do like a wave just for mangle. Uh I feel like they deserve that cuz mangle's cool. >> I asked this to Aaron Margolin for Jazwares and I was like I it might be like picking a favorite child, but do you have a favorite Hex product that you guys have made or at least favorite product? >> Wow. Uh my favorite Hex plushie is probably the puppet. Um the possible wired puppet plush. I love the puppet. Least favorite is probably FNAF 2 balloon boy uh from uh the magnet balloon boy. Yeah. So, favorite's puppet, least favorite balloon boy. >> My favorite Hex plushies that you guys have done, one of which I own, the golden spring bonnie, um was a limited plushie. The second one I don't own, but I love him to bits, is the chocolate Bonnie plushie. >> Yeah, I love Choco Bonnie. >> Do you guys have more plans for more like limited edition type plushies like those? >> Maybe. Maybe. >> [laughter] >> That's all I can say. Like, maybe we might try and do like some an exclusive thing at like a at like an event or something like that in the future, but that's still very early days. >> Online for limited edition? I don't know. I don't know if people want more like a golden Freddy, like literally golden Freddy, Bonnie. That We've already done Bonnie, golden Chica and Foxy and stuff. I don't know if they want more golden versions or or not. Um they did suggest that, but I was like, I feel like we should do something more unique than just do keep doing golden plushies. But yeah, we'll we'll have to wait and see. But at the moment, there's nothing planned. Uh we've got I've got I don't think I've got anything in my head right now uh for for limited edition. >> These have all been great questions. I think it's really funny that we have skipped over the first like couple that I had on my sheet. >> [laughter] >> Yeah. >> So, I wanted to loop back around to those. The overall inspirations for Hex and starting your own company. Where did that come from? Did you always think you were going to get into manufacturing your own company? >> No. >> [laughter] >> Kind of. Kind of. So, Warren James emailed me back in 2021 saying, "Hey, we'd love to do some Dawko merch. Dawko plushies, Dawko shirts, and stuff, and and this." And then, I was thinking cuz obviously I did plushies with Mike Sheep and YouTooz, and I was like, I don't want to oversaturate doing Dawko merch all the time, but also, um I just wanted to do my own brand just in case like YouTube ever flops, like I ever like YouTube ever anything happens to YouTube like YouTube blows up or the algorithm starts hating me, which it has been doing recently. Thank you. So, thank God for Hex, by the way. Hex has helped me a lot since YouTube has been horrible um the past few years. So, it was kind of like an idea where I was like, I I I don't want to just do YouTube. I need something else to just in case. And but I had so many ideas for merch and stuff and stuff I wanted to do that I can't do as YouTube videos. So, so I was like, yes, can we please do our own uh our own thing? And they said they were down. And then we uh came up with Hex. So, Hex was originally just going to be like embroidered shirts and stuff. Um and the original logo was like a skull. Um I don't think a button eyes even existed back then. I think it was just a skull. I can't really remember. I did mention like, oh, we should do like Coraline plushies. And they pitched like different creatures as like werewolves and spider creatures with button like horror-themed uh button eyed Coraline-inspired plushies. Um so, that was original the original concept. But then I spoke to my amazing friend Hero Shark. And I pitched it I pitched this all to Hero Shark back in the day. And then uh he came up with like some really cool characters of Kai and Buttons. And then we got into a call and we started brainstorming a story uh and the universe in in that in that and like the the how how why these plushies are alive and who's behind it all. Um and then we started coming up with actual stories and comics. Um so, yeah, I really do love Hex. Uh the origins of Hex, like the two comics that we've done, I'm very very proud of them. >> [music] >> And I know Hero is as well. Um and I'm guessing that's what the next question is going to be. Uh where is the third comic, right? Yes, everybody's been asking for yet. >> The fans are clamoring. >> Guys, Hex is mine and Hero Shocks baby. We know how this story is going to end. We know like we already know what chapter three is about. Um At the end of basically I'll spoil it a tiny bit. This is just like a a little So chapter three Coin and Buttons go to an abandoned village and it's overtaken by dogs. Um and it's really cool and basically there's like a dog king there and it's really fun. Um but each chapter each each area they go to most of the time they come across a new plushy a button-eyed plushy um that they they team up with and they join the crew and then at the end there's going to be a big boss fight with the evil villain or whatever but I won't That's all I'm going to say. But like I said Hex is mine and Hero Shocks baby and I want to make this third comic as as basically, right? Hero Shock was going to do the third comic but he had so busy with life and stuff and sometimes life just gets in the way. Because of Hero Shocks amazing art and stuff like I'm I'm a little bit stubborn with it where I want Hero to just continue the comics and and and nobody else because Hero Shocks style with Hex is is Hex, right? Um and we did get I did talk to other artists and stuff in the past but it never really got anywhere unfortunately. Um but what you guys do need to know, right? Is that it it will happen eventually. It's not canned. I know people are saying like oh my god like Door Ghost canned the comics and stuff. It's not canned. It's just like in a hiatus and I'm just like waiting to see if I can find somebody perfect for the the comics to do. I have actually pitched it in the past as well um cuz I would love it to actually I think Hex would be an amazing cartoon show. Um and I would I I was trying to contact Glitch Productions for a very long time with no luck unfortunately. Um cuz I feel like it would be an an amazing series. Like I said, we know the story, we know each episode, we know all the characters, we know the finale, we know all the lore. But it's just how to you know, put that into a a third, fourth, fifth, sixth comic in the future. Um so it's just put on the back burner for now, but you know, I do love to see people um saying that they where's where's chapter three? Where's chapter three? That's great. Um although I I feel a little bit of pressure about it, but that's absolutely fine. I want you guys to feel passionate about it. Um you know, that that's really good to see that you guys still want it. Um but at the moment um like I said, I'm just want to I'm trying to find someone with Hero Shock's style as as best as I can cuz I want it to fit all nicely with like if we ever did like a a comic book in the future of all the chapters in one book. Um I'd I'd want the art style to be similar throughout if that makes sense. Um but who knows? Maybe it might come to a point where uh I I might have to look for an artist who's not as similar not not not as similar to Hero Shock. Um and I'm not critiquing critiquing any artist by the way saying that the the other artists are bad. I'm just saying Hero Shock's style um flows through Hex and again it's mining Hero Shock's baby and I want to make it as good as possible. Um so that takes time and I'm I'm I'm being stubborn and sticking to that in my head that I just want it to be uh perfect. [music] Um so, yeah, that's that's the best update I can give you right now. It's just in It's It's on hiatus until um we find somebody for chapter three properly. But, like I said, I have tried to pitch it to other companies and stuff for like a cartoon, but uh nothing yet, unfortunately. So, yeah. Also, um I I I'd love to make a platformer of Hex too, um but that's still very early days. I'd love to pitch to companies to do like a a Hex platformer. Cuz again, I feel like that would do really well uh cuz the characters are amazing and the lore is really cool. So, yeah, we'll we'll see. >> That'd be really sick. It does feel like Hex is super open to multitude of of medias and genres pretty much in forms of like comics, animation, games. >> Yeah, exactly. I just wanted to mention as well, I know people are saying where's the Hex comics on Hex Talk store. Apparently, there's a bug uh on the actual uh website we use for the comics and it's not working properly. We're still trying to figure that out. It's not gone, it's just broke. Um we can't really do much about that yet. Um but, yeah, I have I have informed Warren James a lot of times um to try and fix it. So, yeah, just wanted to let you guys know about that too. Chapter one and chapter two videos are still are on the channel if you guys are new to Hex and want to know about the lore. Um they're on my channel, Hex chapter one and two with the the amazing voice actors and stuff. >> And you guys have plans to to restock? Cuz you've done plushies and and hoodies for Hex in the past. >> With the original Hex stuff, um I would love to do more when we was planning to do chapter three earlier, like to release the stock and stuff again when that's out, just to get the hype back. So, I think we will eventually restock when we make future chapters, whenever that is. I'm not saying a date. Um but yeah, at the moment I think um Lauren James don't want to right now. I think they want to wait for uh the next comic or something. >> Get like a big push once it all comes out. >> Yeah, like a push, yeah. >> Yeah. >> Yeah, so people get the hype back and want to want to get some merch and stuff for the characters. I just want Glitch to just do a series on it, bro. Like it's it's really frustrating when I don't have the power to make animations and stuff and do all it on my own. Uh but I do genuinely feel like people would really love Hex as a cartoon. Like if it was given to somebody like Glitch, uh that the company, um I feel like it would do really, really well. But obviously, I can't force them to. >> [laughter] >> Is [snorts] there any support that like fans could give? Like if there are any artists out there, like would you want them reaching out? Or if there's any fans who could like politely reach out to studios? >> Um I don't know. Like I don't I wouldn't want to I wouldn't want to ever like reach like people to reach out to companies and stuff, um because it might feel like they've been pressured, if that makes sense. >> Yeah. >> Um but I'll just keep trying to pitch it to Glitch over and over until they actually read my email. And then we'll see what happens. >> [laughter] >> Look at what the guys have never said no. They've never said no. So Yeah, they never said no about it. So who knows? Maybe in the future they'll like cuz you know, obviously Digital Circus is finished now, we think. Um maybe they'll keep expanding and want to keep working on other projects and stuff. Fingers crossed. Uh and maybe they'll one day see Hex as an opportunity. So we'll see. >> Getting back to some more plush topics, I guess in relation to FNAF. I'm curious about the process of actual production of a Hex plushy, If you can get into it at all from picking the character to going through the prototypes to the final product, how long does that take? What does that usually look like? >> It usually takes like a few months, sometimes longer. Um if I don't like the prototype, it keeps getting prototypes until it's perfect, if that makes sense. We pick a wave, so let's say FNAF 4, and we pick the main characters in that game, Bonnie, Chica, Freddy, Foxy. I get my really cool artists to I've got an art team that I I I I organize separately from Warren James. Um where I run a lot of the art art stuff, and I give them the pitch, and then they say, "Okay, I'll do the concept arts of the nightmares." And then someone might say, "Oh, I really I have a really good idea on a a shirt a Fredbear shirt." And someone might say, "Oh, um I have a really good idea on a concept of uh some pins or something." And I just let them do what they whatever they want. When we've got those concepts, let's say the plushies, I send the concepts over to Warren James, and then they make a prototype. Usually happens like a couple months later. And then I see it for the first time. Sometimes it's "What the heck is that?" Or sometimes it's like, "Oh, this is actually quite good for a first prototype." And then I give them the feedback. Oh, "Can you make this embroidered? Can you change the jaw shape? Can you make Can you put a magnet in this hand? Can you change this prop?" And then they come back again uh a few weeks later, and then rinse and repeat how many times it needs, you know, need prototypes, if that makes sense. Um Glitchtrap was one. That's why Glitchtrap took ages because they was not getting the snout right with Glitchtrap uh at all, and it was very very frustrating. Um but yeah, that that that's why Glitchtrap was delayed because the prototyping was taking forever uh cuz they wasn't getting certain things right with Glitchtrap. And you guys know I love Glitchtrap, so >> You got to get them right. >> Yeah, but that's basically the process. And then when it's all approved, obviously we send it to Striker, uh who is the FNAF licenser. Um and then they approve like the block, "Oh, this looks fine." or "Oh, you need to change this." or something. And and then we listen to that feedback as well. And then we have to make another prototype, and then and then they say, "Yep, good to go." And then we launch the wave. It's pretty simple, to be fair. The only complicated things is when the prototypes are not looking good. Expectation versus reality, the concept art looks amazing. And then the reality of it being put into a plushy, it's very complicated and frustrating sometimes, right? Cuz you expect it to look like something, and then you're like "Actually, this doesn't look the same." >> Going from 2D to 3D is quite the jump. >> Yeah, exactly. Exactly. But sometimes it takes a bit longer to do, and then and sometimes approvals can be a bit slow uh from, you know, Striker and stuff. But other than that, it's actually really fun. And that's only a tiny negative thing about uh doing this. >> Based on you saying as well, like throughout the process someone will have like an idea for a pin or, you know, this that the other, it sounds like a really fun like creative outlet as well. Where like you guys have this big brand and this big IP that you can use for these, you know, spur-of-the-moment ideas. >> Yeah, exactly. And like I'll I'll I'll reveal another wave if you We're back We're doing like a sleepy wave, um where we're going to be doing like sleepy plush, like sleepy-looking plushies and pajamas and a onesie and slippers and stuff. Um and pins and stuff like that. It's just so fun to just do something different and be like, "Hey guys, I have this idea. I want to do like a sleepy wave. Um, like pajamas and stuff. And then the art team is like, "Oh my god, I'm so excited. I want to do this. I want to do this." Um, because a lot of the artists I think all No, all of the artists who were working on Hex are FNAF fans. So, that helps a lot. And I know them all. They're all my friends and stuff. So, it's really fun. Like genuinely, it's really fun. I've never had any issues or anything. And everybody's really happy with with Hex behind the scenes. The artists and stuff that Well, hopefully they are. Uh, but they're really enjoying it. So, that's really good as well, right? You've got artists that actually love doing this for fun. Um, and actually making some cool stuff. Cuz again, they are FNAF fans as well. So, I've had some really cool ideas. So, >> Fans that also understand these characters, understand the community, know how to properly represent these characters. >> Yeah. >> That's amazing. >> Yeah. And we've never had any issues with any of the art. Like, I don't think I've ever seen any issues with the Hex merch or anything. Obviously, sometimes with the plushies, but that's how they look. But, like any art stuff, like it we've always been perfect, I think. So, again, I think it's because um, like I know FNAF. So, I'd know if something's off or something looks weird or you know how I'm not calling out any other companies, but you know how some other companies just literally get a Google image of like and they use like the fan the fan model of a character because they don't know. Um, so, I think it's good to like be a FNAF fan in in in with with merch like this because you know exactly what the characters should look like and how they should be um, you know, respected, right? >> you were having trouble with Glitchtrap's now. Was there any other Or I guess what's the biggest production difficulty that you've had? Cuz I imagine in my head when I think of that question, I'm thinking mangle. Am I Am I right on that assumption? >> Mangle, I think mangle was actually okay. I'm not going to lie. I feel like we did actually mangle quite quite quickly, but obviously it was absolutely a mess when you've got you've got all the parts jumbled around and stuff. So I said, "Oh, we need to add like stands so you can actually have it as a display piece cuz you know, you just don't want it as a crumbled up ball." To be fair, that would be game [laughter] accurate. Just a pile of parts. Yeah, I feel like the biggest issue that we have with with Hex is snouts. For some reason, snouts are just an issue with with with the production um the prototypes and stuff. There's been so many times where I'm like, "Yeah, this snout needs work. Like it's too big. It's too stuffy. Uh it's not how it looks like in the concept art." Glitchtrap has an interesting snout, right? It's not like a normal like animatronic snout. It's like pointy and curved. It's really weird. So that I think that's why um Glitchtrap's been so difficult cuz I want I want to try and get it as accurate as I can to how Springtrap looks in game, but yeah, it's it's it's it's it's an interesting one. In general, like obviously the plushies are the most difficult to do. Like I said earlier, expectation versus reality. And then my Yeah, it is usually the heads. Like the bodies are always fine normally. It's just like the head shapes and stuff that are our biggest issues, but I feel like we are getting better. And interestingly as well, it's only with the magnet plushies I've noticed like snouts and stuff. Like cuz Toy Guy Like Toy Guy and Chica, like they're I feel like they're spot-on. But then again, Chica doesn't really have a snout. She has a beak, so I don't really know. Yeah, I'd just say plushies The plushies in general are the most difficult. >> of the characters are what you're going to be looking at pretty much immediately as well. So if like if the face looks off, then it kind of throws off the entire plushy. >> Yeah, so that that that's why it's important to keep making prototypes and being like, "Yeah, no. Go again. Need to make it right. Need to make it right." So, hopefully Glitchtrap does look good when it's eventually out. Uh I still think it needs another prototype, but let me tell Have I got it in my room? I'll actually show you. So, this is Glitchtrap right now. I know Johnny can't see it, but that's Glitchtrap's head. But, like can you see how it's hard to get like the side of it right? We're trying to get it right. Um but like to make it work with the head, too. I feel like it needs to be squished down a little bit like his head cuz I feel like he's too I don't know. It's It's just been tough. Glitchtrap's head's been very very tough to get right. Um but yeah, I don't know. >> We'll figure it out. Expanding upon character picks and going back to FNAF 6. We're not going to dive into that, don't worry. But, you mentioned maybe the lineup that you're going to be going for and I was curious as to deciding that lineup, especially with FNAF 6 where you have like so many characters. The Mediocre Melodies, Rockstars, and the Scrap Animatronics. I'm curious what the factors are to doing like the Scraps first instead of the Rockstars or instead of the Mediocre Melodies. >> I think so. I think it's just popularity. Um I think in FNAF 6, the most popular characters are the Scraps. Those are the ones that come after you and jump scare you, right? We think We're We're thinking about FNAF 6 here, not Ultimate Custom Night. The Rockstars and Mediocre Melodies in apart from Lefty, in FNAF 6 are just in the pizza simulator part. They're not in the office trying to kill us, if that makes sense. They're not the main segment of the game, right? The main segment of FNAF 6 is the office segment. So, >> Right. >> after the Scraps first, they're the most important in the law in FNAF 6, obviously you've got William Afton, the scraptrap, and Lefty, the puppet inside, you know, and molten Freddy and No, they're they're important They're more important than the rockstars in my in in my opinion and the more important than the mediocre melodies. I actually forgot about the rockstars. We would probably I've already done rockstars for like Sorry. Scraps first, then rockstars, then mediocre melodies, I think. I feel like again the rockstars are more I don't know actually. What do you feel I feel like the rockstars are more popular than mediocre melodies, but I don't know now because of Mr. Hippo and all villain stuff. >> I don't know. I feel like the mediocre melodies would be more unique to see cuz I know you've mentioned in the past like you jumped around to I think it was Sis Location instead of FNAF 4 because you were in the loop of doing Freddy, Bonnie, Chica, Freddy, Bonnie, Chica. >> Yes. Yeah. Yeah. >> doing mediocre melodies would be a fun like kind of unique seeing those characters. >> Yeah, and again the problem is though like I would love to do mediocre I would love to do mediocre melodies. It's if Warren James would love to do mediocre melodies because at the end of the day they are a business and they probably thinking like, "Hmm, are these characters popular enough to do a full wave about them?" Does that make sense? >> Yes. Yes. >> If we did do mediocre melodies like would they consider maybe just doing like sitting plush versions of them instead of the instead of the magnet versions of of them just so it's not as as risky for them. Does that make sense? >> Hmm. >> Um who knows though? I don't know. That's that's still a while away cuz obviously the scrap animatronics are going to be like early next year or later mid next year. So, we're going to do those first. And then we'll we'll we'll we'll we'll we'll go to the drawing board then when when the time's there, but I would love to do them again like It's It's It's if they're they're they're they'll be popular popular enough to do a full wave about them. >> A little collection of the keychain plushies. Just all of them. >> Yeah. Yeah, we could just do keychain plushies of them. Like I I'd be happy with that. >> Mhm. >> But I know there's hardcore fans who want a Hex Orville plushie, but like is that just one fan, right? Like does that make sense? Like we can't we can't make a full wave just because one person wants a Orville plushie. Do you know what I mean? Obviously I know it's not just one person. But I hope that makes sense. >> It does. It does. And that was a conversation I had with, you know, Aaron as well. >> Yeah. >> There has to be a line between wanting to satisfy fans, but then also needing to make, you know, smart business decisions. >> Yeah, exactly. Exactly. >> As amazing as it would be for every FNAF candy FNAF can FNAF character to get a plushie, unfortunately, just for a from a business point of view, it is pretty unrealistic. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> But you guys do the best you can. >> Like I said, like we could do like a FNAF 6 wave where we do release a scrap animatronics, but also do keychains of the Mediocre Melodies or the Rockstars or something. I feel like people would be happy with it. As long as As long as they get some merch on Mediocre Melodies, if it's not the magnet plushies, I feel like they'll still be happy with like the keychains or like just a shirt. >> A Mediocre Melodies with all of them would be amazing. >> all the characters together, you know? Yeah, I think I think we'll definitely do Mediocre Melody merch. I just don't know about full magnet plushies. >> Taking a break from more of the serious questions. This is a fun one that I threw in. On the topic of some characters maybe being tough to do, let's say price, material not a factor at all. What is one Hex plushie, doesn't have to be FNAF, but it could be FNAF, that you would love to do? Cuz I'm thinking like life-size blob plushie. And it's like 50 ft tall pure fabric. >> A blob plushy would be cool. Um >> Just complete hypothetically. >> to do like jumbo plushies in the future. That's actually an idea. That's actually more of like a an idea than actual like out there idea. Like a jumbo special edition plushy of like uh a character. Like I love Pokémon. I would love to do a collab with Pokémon. Um or a Nintendo franchise or anything like that. A Pikachu Hex plushy would be sick, but that would probably never happen. But, you know, it it would be cool. That's what That's what mine would be. Just to do like a collab with something crazy. Like a crazy franchise that I've known since I was a kid. If that makes it like, you know, like Pokémon or Mario or something would be insane. That'd be a dream come true. >> You guys are working towards that, you know, you've expanded from FNAF to >> so. >> Bendy and Indigo Park. >> Yeah, and another one another big one like this year. >> How was that then? Now working with other IPs. Still, you know, in the indie horror space, but branching out. >> Yeah, it's been fun. I feel like people really like the Bendy wave. So, I was very happy with that. They loved the pins and the merch and the plushies and stuff. So, I was very, very happy. Indigo Park is not out yet. Um but, people have seen the plushy and merch and stuff and they loved that, too. Um we're just waiting for chapter two release whenever that is. And then we're going to drop that wave. With this other collab, uh it's going really well. Um we're making plushies and merch and pins and a a character hoodie like that we've done with FNAF and um Bendy. We're going to be doing one for this one. Uh this this this franchise. The one thing that I want is retail. Retail is huge and it's still a goal of mine for Hex, but for very, very frustratingly, like we're not getting there with the licensor and stuff. It's very, very very frustrating because I know that Hex would do well in retail. I know it would, like the the sitting plushies, the key chains, and uh shirts and stuff. Um that would be a huge push for Hex cuz I still know people who have no idea what Hex is because I'm the only one promoting it, right? Like and and and and the website. So, only people who really know FNAF and me and and FNAF YouTube and online stuff like will know about Hex. But, in retail, like it would expand Hex so much and then it might allow other companies uh other franchises to see Hex doing well at retail and think, "Oh, yeah, well, let's email them. Like, let's see if we can do a collab with them." So, that is the next dream goal is to get Hex in retail. Please. Like, that's my goal. Like, I was getting told Hex was going to be in Hot Topic years ago, and it still hasn't bro. I don't know what's going on. Help me. >> It was there for like a little bit cuz there was the key chain plushies. >> there for a little bit, and they all sold out in like instantly. Yeah. So, surely that's a sign like, "Guys, everybody wants the key chains. Like, what's going on? Like, why don't you want us to do more?" So, it's just like I don't know. Like I said, I'm not the business guy. I know I'm not the licensing or anything. So, I I don't know fully why, but yeah, it's it's it sucks. It's frustrating. But, it is what it is. >> Hopefully in the next 5 years. >> Oh, hopefully in the next year, please. Not Don't give me another 5 years. [laughter] Please. >> A lot of people are asking about the possibility of human characters getting plushies, like Michael or William. And then also the possibility of book characters cuz you've dipped your toes a little bit into the movie. >> I mean, technically we did Into the Pit, which is technically a book. >> [laughter] >> Sure, if you want to stretch that. >> Yes. Um, human characters I'm scared to do. Actually, no. I feel like we could do human characters. I'm just thinking we could do like a William and Henry wave or something and do it all like based on Spring Bonnie and Spring Freddy, Fredbear, whatever you want to call him. Like a Hex Origins wave or something. That would be cool. So, I think we could do humanoid characters. I don't know. I feel like it's going to be another expectation versus reality cuz they will have button eyes. Have people who might be like, "Ew, like this doesn't look good." I don't know. We was going to do a Dorca wave ages ago as me as a like a button eyed plushie. So, maybe I'll do that first and then see what see the feedback on that. I'll be like the guinea pig and if people like the human look of me as a plushie, like then we'll start doing more like Henry, William, Michael, uh, and and stuff. So, yeah. That Yeah, we'll we'll see what happens with that. But, yeah, I'll probably just do a Dorca wave first and then see how that goes. >> Do you have any plans for more fanverse plushies? >> At the moment, no. Uh, I would love to do more, but I want to wait till those games release cuz again like this this wave to get the hype up and people, you know, loving Popgoes, if that makes sense. And you know, that's exactly what Unique Unique Geese said about Indigo Park. He said to me, "I don't want to release the wave yet. I want to release this Hex wave when Chapter 2 releases because people will be back interested in Indigo Park and it will do better than just releasing it now." Same with Candy. I'll do more Candy stuff when Can- Candy's 4 releases and when Joy of Creation releases, I'd love to do a wave again with with that and do more characters and more more merch and stuff. So, yeah. There's no there's no plans right now, but I'm there will definitely be more waves when those games release, hopefully anyway. >> You mentioned the game accurate plushies with Plushtrap and White Tiger. Is that a also a line similar to the sitting plushies that you hope to continue doing or even in the case of like plushtrap where it's hard to get it quote unquote game accurate. >> Yeah, like the puppet like the puppet plushy too, right? I I class the puppet plushy as like more in game like accurate. Yeah, I would love to do more. Like I said, I want to do like a helpy one. I'd rather have helpy with normal eyes than button eyes just to spice it up a little bit and have like an in game accurate helpy plushy that people can have. So, yeah, I would love to keep doing more of those cuz I feel like people like them. But, yeah, obviously we can't do the some of the plushies cuz obviously Sanchi has done some of some in game accurate plushies. Well, a lot of them actually. I'm just trying to think if there's any plushies in game that Sanchi hasn't done. But, I can't think of any. >> Yeah, cuz they they've been doing a lot of their security breach ones. >> Yeah, they did security breach and they did FNAF 1. >> People did ask for some more like general updates on some previously released stuff, but I think you've mentioned quite a few of those in the past. >> Yeah. >> One of them that that wasn't touched upon was the FNAF 2 shirts, which I don't believe are out. The ones with the toys that say like let's sing. >> Oh, yeah, they'll they'll be out soon. They'll be out soon. I think they've all been approved now. So, yeah, we can release some in a while soon. They'll probably be released with Mangle to be fair. >> I was going to say I feel like that's a good setup. >> Yeah, we'll probably drop them with Mangle. Yeah. >> Some people asked if you could do like jewelry or or posters actually. That was a big one. Posters of like the art with the cards, you know. >> We are planning to release the plushy cards in a set as like actual like trading cards if that makes sense. So, not the collector cards like printed onto like little trading cards and stuff. Um, in a big in a big bundle of all of them so far with like sleeves and hex sleeves and stuff. So, yeah, that's a plan. I know it's not a poster. We could do posters of some specific art like Snortles' art of like the the the the the hex hoodies at the back. Feel like they would look cool as posters. I already wanted to do like a dog like a dog launch, like bandanas and stuff for for dogs or like a harness, like FNAF themes, FNAF theme banners and stuff or like FNAF FNAF dog bowl or something. Cuz you know, I've got to I've got to I've got to bring in Mabel for some stuff, right? Mabel's got to be my co-worker on that collab. >> She's got to test the the dog products. >> Exactly. Exactly. Yeah, like a a hex squeaky plushy or something. That'd be sick. Um but yeah, that's all like little thoughts in my head at the moment. >> The props as well, do you have plans to sell those separately of like microphones, guitars? >> I don't know. I'll ask about I did ask about it to them. I can't remember what they said, but I will ask about it again and see if they could do something cuz I know people have said like, "Oh, I've lost my guitar prop or I've lost a specific prop that I want to re-buy." Um so yeah, maybe I'll bring it up to them and see see what see what they say. >> I will not waste any more of your time. Do you have anything you want to mention that I've not mentioned so far? >> Other than thank you so much for supporting Hex. I really appreciate it. I always listen to your criticisms. Don't worry. I always listen to them. Um and I take it all on board. Um I'm just trying my best to figure everything everything out. Uh we're doing more cool things. Like I said, I've mentioned some cool things that um a different like the sleepy wave and stuff and um just doing some cool things in the future. Just so fun um to do and I I really appreciate it. So, thank you.