Youtooz: Difference between revisions – Wikipedia

By /

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Content deleted Content added


 
Line 33: Line 33:

Youtooz faced significant controversy for its marketing strategies related to [[Arcane (TV series)|Arcane]] collectibles. On June 8, 2025, the brand teased a figurine pairing for Viktor and Jayce Talis, a popular fan coupling known as “Jayvik”, despite the fact that these characters having no romantic connection in Arcane. This move was criticized for erasing the canonical relationship between Jayce Talis and Mel Medarda, a prominent Black woman from the series, who had already been a target of misogynoir and racist attacks from parts of the fandom. Following fan backlash, Youtooz announced a Jayce and Mel figure set.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feminegra |date=2025-06-11 |title=Mel Medarda Deserves Better in Arcane and League of Legends |url=https://feminegra.com/mel-medarda-deserves-better-in-arcane-and-league-of-legends/ |access-date=2025-09-14 |website=Feminegra |language=en-US}}</ref>

Youtooz faced significant controversy for its marketing strategies related to [[Arcane (TV series)|Arcane]] collectibles. On June 8, 2025, the brand teased a figurine pairing for Viktor and Jayce Talis, a popular fan coupling known as “Jayvik”, despite the fact that these characters having no romantic connection in Arcane. This move was criticized for erasing the canonical relationship between Jayce Talis and Mel Medarda, a prominent Black woman from the series, who had already been a target of misogynoir and racist attacks from parts of the fandom. Following fan backlash, Youtooz announced a Jayce and Mel figure set.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Feminegra |date=2025-06-11 |title=Mel Medarda Deserves Better in Arcane and League of Legends |url=https://feminegra.com/mel-medarda-deserves-better-in-arcane-and-league-of-legends/ |access-date=2025-09-14 |website=Feminegra |language=en-US}}</ref>

Furthermore, On September 12, 2025, the company released [https://x.com/capy_kat/status/1966604828240736421?t=1ZJZBDbMkTIgg91R9eQFMg&s=19 a video] depicting Viktor running over Mel, which was seen as pandering to the “Jayvik” shippers, some of whom have a history of [https://x.com/starbennettt/status/1890097563103293729 subjecting the character to violence] due the perception that she is an obstacle to the fan coupling. This intensified racist harassment towards Mel’s fans on social media platforms.

Furthermore, On September 12, 2025, the company released [https://x.com/capy_kat/status/1966604828240736421?t=1ZJZBDbMkTIgg91R9eQFMg&s=19 a video] depicting Viktor running over Mel, which was seen as pandering to the “Jayvik” shippers, some of whom have a history of [https://x.com/starbennettt/status/1890097563103293729 subjecting the character to violence] due the perception that she is an obstacle to the fan coupling. This intensified racist harassment towards Mel’s fans on social media platforms.

These actions led to widespread criticism that Youtooz exploited internal fandom conflicts for commercial gain, prioritizing the sales potential of the Jayce and Viktor figures by leveraging the antagonistic imagery of Mel, and demonstrating a disregard for the racist harassment it would incite against both the character and her fans.

These actions led to criticism that Youtooz exploited internal fandom conflicts for commercial gain, prioritizing the sales potential of the Jayce and Viktor figures by leveraging the antagonistic imagery of Mel, and demonstrating a disregard for the racist harassment it would incite against both the character and her fans.

==History==

==History==

Latest revision as of 21:10, 14 September 2025

Canadian toy and collectible company

Youtooz
Industry Toys
Founded May 28, 2019; 6 years ago (May 28, 2019)
Founder
  • Austin Litman
  • Austin Long
  • Mark Prokoudine
Headquarters ,

Canada
Website youtooz.com

Youtooz is a Canadian company that manufactures licensed collectible caricatural figurines made from vinyl. The company primarily partners with Internet personalities or public figures and memes as a way to create an additional revenue for the partners while also making merchandise available for fans and the public.[1] The company also produces figurines based on video games and established media franchises, and has collaborated with Disney, Paramount Global, NBCUniversal, HBO, Crunchyroll, and Sony Pictures.[2]

The company has collaborated with notable Internet personalities or public figures including MrBeast, Angry Video Game Nerd, Markiplier, JonTron, KSI, Pokimane, Soulja Boy, Ninja, Jack Harlow, The G.O.A.T. (RoyalPear), Phisnom, Alan Becker, Danno Cal Drawings, and Dream.[3][1] Video game collaborations include Minecraft,[4] Fallout,[5] DOOM,[6] Elden Ring,[7] Banjo-Kazooie,[8] Cuphead,[9] Halo,[10] Call of Duty, Baldur’s Gate 3, and [11] The Witcher,[12] and Five Nights at Freddy’s.[13]
The company has also released figures based on media franchises such as Breaking Bad,[14] Invincible,[15] Marvel Comics,[16] Godzilla,[17] Back to the Future,[18] One Piece,[19] The Boys,[20] and Transformers.[21]

Youtooz faced significant controversy for its marketing strategies related to Arcane collectibles. On June 8, 2025, the brand teased a figurine pairing for Viktor and Jayce Talis, a popular fan coupling known as “Jayvik”, despite the fact that these characters having no romantic connection in Arcane. This move was criticized for erasing the canonical relationship between Jayce Talis and Mel Medarda, a prominent Black woman from the series, who had already been a target of misogynoir and racist attacks from parts of the fandom. Following fan backlash, Youtooz announced a Jayce and Mel figure set.[22]

Furthermore, On September 12, 2025, the company released a video depicting Viktor running over Mel, which was seen as pandering to the “Jayvik” shippers, some of whom have a history of subjecting the character to violence due to the perception that she is an obstacle to the fan coupling. This intensified racist harassment towards Mel’s fans on social media platforms.

These actions led to the criticism that Youtooz exploited internal fandom conflicts for commercial gain, prioritizing the sales potential of the Jayce and Viktor figures by leveraging the antagonistic imagery of Mel, and demonstrating a disregard for the racist harassment it would incite against both the character and her fans.

A licensed Youtooz vinyl figurine (depicting a fight between King Kong and Godzilla)
Youtooz vending machine, Los Angeles

Youtooz was co-founded by Austin Litman, Austin Long, and Mark Prokoudine in 2019.[23][24] The company’s first released figurine was “Dead Meme,” which was based on Ugandan Knuckles, an Internet meme.[23]

The company launched over 200 figures and sold over 500,000 individual figurines in 2020.[2][1]

Youtooz had a revenue of over US$30 million in 2021 and released almost 400 new designs.[1]

  1. ^ a b c d Madell, Robin. “I’m the 25-year-old cofounder of a toy company that made $30 million in revenue last year. Here’s how I got my start”. Business Insider. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b Weimer, Jackson. “Youtooz: Holding The Internet’s Creators And Memes In Your Hand”. Forbes. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  3. ^ “YOUTOOZ BRINGS POPULAR STREAMERS TO LIFE WITH NEW TWITCH COLLABORATION”. Action Figure Insider. 27 May 2021.
  4. ^ Pelletier, Ashley (27 October 2023). “Start Building Your Youtooz Collection with Minecraft Collectibles”. The Pop Insider. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  5. ^ Pelletier, Ashley (5 April 2024). “Youtooz Goes Nuclear with ‘Fallout’ Figures”. The Pop Insider. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  6. ^ https://youtooz.com/products/doom-guy
  7. ^ “Now you can pet your very own Elden Ring dog”. VG247. 20 July 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  8. ^ “Youtooz Is Releasing Official Banjo-Kazooie Figures, Pre-Orders Open Next Week”. Nintendo Life. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  9. ^ “Youtooz Readies Retro Dissected ‘Cuphead’ Figure”. Hypebeast. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  10. ^ https://youtooz.com/products/master-chief
  11. ^ https://youtooz.com/products/ghost
  12. ^ https://youtooz.com/products/geralt
  13. ^ “Youtooz’s FIVE NIGHTS AT FREDDY’s Collectible Figures Will Terrorize Your Desk”. Nerdist. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  14. ^ Pelletier, Ashley (1 February 2024). “Youtooz Goes Dark with New ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’ Figures”. The Pop Insider. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  15. ^ Blevins, Adam (27 April 2024). “‘Invincible’ and Omni-Man Face Off in New YouTooz Figure”. Collider. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  16. ^ “YouTooz’s Spider-Man Collectible Figures Honor Marvel Comics History”. Nerdist. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  17. ^ https://youtooz.com/search?q=Godzilla
  18. ^ https://thepopinsider.com/back-to-the-future-youtooz/
  19. ^ Chavez, Conny (2 September 2023). “‘One Piece’ Pirates Prepare to Set Sail With Youtooz Collection”. Collider. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  20. ^ https://youtooz.com/collections/the-boys/
  21. ^ https://youtooz.com/search?q=Transformers
  22. ^ Feminegra (2025-06-11). “Mel Medarda Deserves Better in Arcane and League of Legends”. Feminegra. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
  23. ^ a b Walker, Ben (1 November 2019). “Youtooz, the company making collectibles of the world’s biggest YouTube stars”. Daily Star. Retrieved 8 May 2024.
  24. ^ “Collectibles Creator Youtooz Sets Stage For Growth With Funding From Decathlon Capital Partners”. PRWeb. Retrieved 8 May 2024.

Must Read

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top