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Complexly and Creative Beast Studios Launch BackerKit Campaign for Prehistoric Elephant Action Figures
MISSOULA, MT and HACKENSACK, NJ – September 3, 2024 – Complexly and Creative Beast Studio today launched a new line of prehistoric elephant action figures inspired by weekly YouTube series PBS Eons with a BackerKit campaign. Depicting extinct proboscideans (elephants and their close relatives), these scientifically accurate, hand painted, and fully articulated action figures give fans of the popular Eons series and those who love majestic megafauna the opportunity to hold a woolly mammoth in the palm of their hand. Fans can support the Backerkit campaign here.
To create the new line of 1/18th scale prehistoric elephant action figures, Eons and Complexly partnered with veteran toy designer and Creative Beast Studios founder David Silva, who boasts more than 20 years of experience crafting figures for popular entertainment brands including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Godzilla, Spiderman, G.I. Joe, Terminator 2, Aliens, Predator, Spawn, and Pacific Rim. He is a proven innovator in the toy industry, having also launched his own line of scientifically accurate dinosaur action figures, “Beasts of the Mesozoic,” which includes multiple species of raptors, tyrannosaurs, and ceratopsians. With the prehistoric elephant line of action figures, Silva is venturing out of the Mesozoic and into the Cenozoic.
“There is enthusiastic demand for high quality, realistic action figures of extinct fauna, and it’s an honor to work with PBS Eons and Complexly to create the first proboscidean action figure line of my career,” said Silva. “With these woolly mammoths, we’re transporting the engaging, educational content from Eons directly into the hands and hearts of viewers. Built using data from the latest scientific discoveries and painted with colors inspired by modern-day creatures living in similar environments, we know that fans will love this line of prehistoric proboscideans.”
Produced by PBS Digital Studios and Complexly, PBS Eons takes viewers on a journey through the history of life on Earth. From the dawn of life in the Archaean Eon through the Mesozoic Era — the so-called “Age of Dinosaurs” — right up to the end of the most recent Ice Age, hosts Kallie Moore, Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, Gabriel Santos, and Blake de Pastino act as tour guides to the past, demonstrating what existence was like for the animals and plants that came before us.
“Working with David has been a dream for our team, and we’re so excited to present these one-of-a-kind action figures to fans of the PBS Eons YouTube series,” said Seth Radley, Executive Producer for Eons at Complexly. “Eons brings the wonder of deep time into the homes of natural history fans of all ages. To maintain that high standard of scientific rigor, we turned to an expert who has no peers when it comes to sculpting spectacular prehistoric action figures. We know our fans will love David’s beautiful and charismatic proboscideans.”
The initial $185,000 BackerKit goal includes two all-new woolly mammoth action figures. Stretch goals may be reached on the BackerKit crowdfunding platform after the initial goal is met, giving contributors the opportunity to unlock other extinct proboscideans, including Gomphotherium, Platybelodon, and Moeritherium.
The BackerKit’s first wave of prehistoric elephant action figures includes:
The PBS Eons proboscideans BackerKit runs through 10:00 pm ET on October 3rd. If fully funded, the figures are estimated to ship in mid 2025.
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About PBS Digital Studios
PBS Digital Studios produces original, digital programming designed to engage, enlighten, and entertain online audiences. The PBS Digital Studios network has more than 30 million subscribers on YouTube, generating an average of 50 million views each month. Since 2012, it has launched over 120 original series and has accumulated over five billion lifetime views on YouTube. Series include the Webby Award-winning BE SMART and SOUND FIELD, as well as popular series such as WEATHERED, EONS, MONSTRUM and SPACE TIME. For more information on PBS Digital Studios, visit PBS.org.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 120 million people through television and 26 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. Decades of research confirms that PBS’ premier children’s media service, PBS KIDS, helps children build critical literacy, math and social-emotional skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality educational content on TV – including a 24/7 channel, online at pbskids.org, via an array of mobile apps and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on Twitter.
About Complexly
Founded in 2012 by Hank and John Green, Complexly is one of the largest global online educational companies. We produce over a dozen education video channels and podcasts with a worldwide audience of 32 million subscribers and five billion views on YouTube.
Eons is a YouTube channel produced in collaboration with PBS Digital Studios featuring hosts Kallie Moore, Michelle Barboza-Ramirez, Gabriel Santos, and Blake de Pastino. Each episode, we take our audience on a journey through the history of life on Earth. Over the past seven years, we’ve created over 400 videos that have been viewed over 686 million times.
Crash Course has created over 1,500 videos covering 45 academic courses with more always in the works. Subjects include World History, English Literature, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, Physics, Psychology and Philosophy. The show is an immensely helpful tool for students and teachers, but it also has a large viewership of casual learners who seek out online educational content independently. Around 65% of viewers watch Crash Course without being currently enrolled in an associated class. Crash Course has over 15 million subscribers and its videos have been viewed over two billion times.
SciShow is an online video series that delves into the scientific subjects that defy our expectations and make us even more curious! Our goal is to capture the awesomeness of this bizarre universe and make it easy for everyone to understand and enjoy. SciShow has over eight million subscribers and its videos have been viewed over two billion times.
About David Silva
David Silva has been sculpting and designing in the toy industry for companies including McFarlane Toys, Hasbro, and NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) since 2003. He specializes in creature-related action figures, with past and current work devoted to toy lines such as Spawn, McFarlane’s Dragons, Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Predator, Aliens, Terminator, Pacific Rim, and Godzilla. He launched Creative Beast Studio in 2009 to focus on dinosaur model kits, a passion since childhood. David received the Spectrum 22 Silver Dimensional award for his piece “Dragon vs. Raptors” in 2015.
About Creative Beast Studio
Founded in 2009 by toy industry veteran David Silva, Creative Beast Studio is home to Cyberzoic, the “Beasts of the Mesozoic” dinosaur action figure line, model kits, and more. Originally created to meet fans’ rabid demand for accurate depictions of dinosaurs, Creative Beast Studio’s “Beasts of the Mesozoic” line of dinosaur action figures features the only scientifically-accurate representations of its kind on the market. The line has evolved into the go-to destination for authentic-looking dinosaurs using the most up-to-date scientific knowledge publicly available. Today, Creative Beast Studio focuses on its new IP Cyberzoic and “Beasts of the Mesozoic” dinosaur action figures, while also creating highly detailed collectible resin model kits for prehistoric animals and fantasy characters including dragons. In the future, Mr. Silva plans to expand the Cyberzoic universe and release more prehistoric action figures under the “Beasts of the Mesozoic” brand. @creativebeaststudio
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