It’s often said that Jaws created the modern summer blockbuster movie. However, one thing the original film didn’t create was a huge merchandising empire. Jaws hit theaters in 1975, a couple of years before Star Wars really cemented the idea of bombarding fans with action figures and various other collectibles. Even 50 years later, there’s an almost surprising lack of Jaws-themed toys and collectibles on the market. That’s something Mondo set out to change with its Jaws Capsule Collection, a line of exclusive collectibles that includes vinyl records of the iconic John Williams score, a new poster, and a very cool vinyl figure of Bruce the shark.
You can check out the Jaws Capsule Collection on Mondo’s website, though do note that many of the items are timed exclusives that will no longer be available for sale after July 18 at 9am PT.
IGN had a chance to chat with several of those involved with the Jaws Capsule Collection, including Mondo’s Mondo Sr. Director, Creative and Product Development Hector Arce, Sr. Creative Director, Art Peter Santa-Maria, concept artist James Groman, and sculptor Brandon Gnash. Read on to see exclusive behind-the-scenes photos of Mondo’s Jaws Vinyl Designer Figure and learn more about how the figure and Danny Haas’ poster were created.
The Origin of the Jaws Vinyl Designer Figure
Again, there aren’t a lot of Jaws figures and collectibles out there (though other companies like NECA and McFarlane Toys have certainly been doing their part in recent years). Arce explains that Mondo wanted to create a vinyl toy that could both serve as a replica of the iconic “Bruce” shark design while still have the stylized feel and the fun factor that vinyl collectors tend to expect.
“The main thing we set out to do here was make this an undeniable Jaws figure,” Arce tells IGN. “It had to have tons of easter eggs, capturing big moments in the film like when the shark busts through the cage, the barrels, and even found a way to represent most of his victims! The challenge was combining all these elements, having it still feel true to the original design while having fun with it. We reached out to the amazing James Groman with our idea and he really turned it into a fun concept that was both a high end collectible, and something that would look killer on your shelf, but also including a fun play factor when it comes to all of Jaw’s victims body parts and what not being able to be placed in and out of his mouth.”
Arce continues, “The stylization really lends to those grotesque moments in the film that feels a bit more whimsical, something that as a Jaws fan would make you smile if you saw it. In addition to all that, we made it a truly customizable figure, allowing fans to display him in a multitude of ways, perfect for whatever floats, or, uh, sinks their boat in this case.”
While the exaggerated proportions mean this isn’t a 100% movie-accurate collectible, Arce reveals that Mondo’s designers did consult the original model and reference materials from the film to ensure that all the finer details are there. The goal is to create something that doesn’t just look like a great white shark, but specifically the movie villain who’s haunted our nightmares for the last 50 years.
“Even though this is a stylized piece, we wanted to make sure the landmarks were there, Arce says. “The shark isn’t just your average great white. I think some artists and companies forget that. Bruce is the result of so many engineering choices and honestly limitations that led to a design that can easily be picked out of a shark lineup. I always look to the cheeks and, well, jaws to see if it feels like the shark in the film. When we got that dialed in, we knew we were on our way!”
Once the Jaws Capsule Collection was greenlit, it fell on Groman to create a concept design for the vinyl figure and Gnash to translate that design into three-dimensional reality.
“[This was] major milestone in my 40+ year career,” Groman says. “Jaws is one of my favorite films ever, so naturally I threw myself into it hook, line and sinker. This unique collectible is an amalgam of many of the film’s most thrilling moments all happening at once. Being such a ‘student’ of the film, I loved working with Hector Arce on nailing down everything we wanted this figure to be. Something great for ourselves, and something great for the fans.”
“James Groman is on my Mt. Rushmore is a legendary artist in the toy industry,” Gnash says. “To sculpt from his designs is always an honor and I have to pinch myself each time I get projects like this. The pressure is always on to not just translate into 3D what James has designed but also pay tribute to the property to which he put his own personal spin on. Its a challenge to pull off both but its beyond rewarding to get James’s feedback and the response from the Mondo team when I get it right.”
The Challenge of Creating a New Jaws Poster
The new Jaws movie poster created its own set of challenges. Put simply, the original Jaws poster painted by Roger Kastel might be the most iconic movie poster ever created. It casts a massive shadow over everything that’s come since. And given that Mondo’s artists have lent their own takes to Jaws several times already over the years, it’s no small task to create a new design worthy of the film’s 50th anniversary.
Even so, Haas seems to have suucceeded with his new design, one that shows a massive Bruce emerging from the sea to devour the puny Orca. Santa-Maria explains that he had two goals in mind when commissioning this piece – “classic and contemporary.”
“Roger Kastel’s original artwork for the classic Jaws poster is so iconic and influential that it felt wrong to not refer to it for the 50th anniversary,” Santa-Maria says. “The spirit at Mondo is about creating original interpretations of these classic films and franchises but always acknowledging that we are standing on the shoulders of giants when we do. This was a daunting task, but I knew that turning to my friend and storied artist, Danny Haas was the right move because his style is built on strong composition and striking color palettes that allow the subject matter to take center stage. All I asked was that he create something that felt classic and contemporary (easy enough, right?). Danny created a beautiful piece that is a nod back to the original where the shark is preparing to breach the surface of the water but in this case, he already has! AND his stylistic use of scale reflects the enormity of the task shared by the Orca’s crew; I couldn’t be prouder of it.”
In other Jaws news, the film was recently rereleased as a 50th anniversary 4K steelbook set. You can also see where Jaws falls on IGN’s Top 25 horror movies list.
Jesse is a mild-mannered staff writer for IGN. Allow him to lend a machete to your intellectual thicket by following @jschedeen on BlueSky.