Ahead of next month’s San Diego Comic-Con, the Comic-Con Museum in Balboa Park will unveil two new exhibits Monday, featuring 20 years of a fashion brand and 40 years of a home-grown comic.<\/p>\n
“20 Years of Kawaii & Chaos,” highlighting the tokidoki brand, and “Growing up Luann: 40 Years of Comics,” featuring the works of San Marcos-based cartoonist Greg Evans, officially opens to the public Monday.<\/p>\n
“We’re honored to be the home of two celebratory milestones: 40 years of the Luann comic strip and 20 years of the tokidoki brand,” Comic-Con Museum Executive Director Rita Vandergaw said. “We look forward to Comic-Con Museum visitors from around the globe, who will be the first to experience these nostalgic and inspirational exhibits.”<\/p>\n
The first exhibit celebrates tokidoki’s “bold fusion” of Japanese-inspired “kawaii” (cute) aesthetics with edgy, streetwise design.<\/p>\n
“When I started drawing these characters, I never imagined they would travel the world and mean so much to so many people,” tokidoki co-founder and artist Simone Legno said. “This exhibit is a chance to look back at the art, the chaos, the fun, and the love that brought tokidoki to life — and to share it with the fans who made it all possible.”<\/p>\n
The museum will feature rare collectables, fine art by the brand and large statues, leading visitors through the history of the company.<\/p>\n
“tokidoki was born from a shared dream to create something joyful, disruptive, and deeply personal,” said tokidoki co-founder and CEO Pooneh Mohajer. “Over the past 20 years, we’ve built a beloved brand with a global community of passionate fans who see themselves in our characters. This exhibition is a tribute to that journey — and a celebration of everything still to come.”<\/p>\n
Luann’s story started a little differently. On March 17, 1985, readers of 79 newspapers first met a 13-year-old girl named Luann DeGroot as she navigated the treacherous waters of adolescence.<\/p>\n
“Luann was inspired by watching my five-year-old daughter Karen strut around in her mother’s heels and makeup,” said Evans, Luann cartoonist and creator. “Over the years, Luann became more than just a comic strip — it became a daily companion for anyone who ever felt uncertain about themselves, their appearance, or their place in the world.”<\/p>\n
Evans was honored with Comic-Con International’s Inkpot Award in 2005, which is “given to individuals for their contributions to the worlds of comics, science fiction\/fantasy, film, television, animation, and fandom service,” a statement from the museum read.<\/p>\n
The intimate exhibit will feature “original artwork, fan contributions, and the story behind the comic that continues to evolve today.”<\/p>\n