Blog post: about my new work.

The artwork you see above is mine, and it's official.

I'll try to be brief, because I don't have much time available.

Poochie is a Mattel IP created in 1983 and had a huge success in Italy and Europe, you can do a search by writing Poochie Mattel, you will find its vintage articles and also the commercials on Youtube.

I showed Mattel my Poochie Brand recovery project, which had decayed, expired, all over the world. I started the procedures for the recovery of the brand from Italy.

In fact, in recent years I have obtained the license to register trademarks, the world of licensing has no more secrets for me.

Obviously I don't own the Poochie Mattel copyright but I wanted to create a style guide with new illustrations and a concept for the relaunch of Poochie, and I submitted it to Mattel America with whom I had direct contact, in English.

Mattel joined the project and we saved the brand, re-registering it, starting in Italy, extending it to Europe and then to America. I did the paperwork and registrations. My idea was to bring back an 80s character for a revival, like other characters. But there are no new Poochie drawings, and for Mattel this is a job they had no plans to do...

Then they bought the brand and the designs from me!

My drawings are now Poochie's new drawings, they have been paid for.

There was one thing left to do, manage the brand, and since I did this work for Mattel… I asked to become the Licensing Manager on an exclusive basis for Italy and EU, and they accepted! I signed the contract in which I get the job of agent. The contract is in English and has come from Mattel America, El Segudo CA! This means I've had a LOT to do...

Now I have a certain number of years, (it's not an eternal thing, I'm tested) to sell Poochie's IP and make her a licensed character again, for any type of products.

I don't get paid for this work, I've only been paid for the drawings, but if I sell licenses I will get royalties on the royalties that I get Mattel.

It's different from being an illustrator, it's never happened before, it's unprecedented.

There are many toy design illustrators on IG, but they are also not the agents of those characters! For the first time in the world I am the illustrator who is also the agent of her own drawings... but above all mattel has never given their IP to a natural person! They give the brands to agencies, I'm the first Italian artist... to get this assignment. And I'm Vanessa Santato, author of PBB...I can't believe it myself.

This job involves writing to all the companies that I think are valid or interesting to buy the Poochie license, and I have to travel around Europe to various fairs, to get my work and Poochie known. All at my expense, but paying for Poochie's drawings will be my savings budget to get started.

It's not easy, not everyone remembers Poochie but many do, but he is a character that is not supported by a cartoon, and this is the main problem.

Today it's easier to sell a license if there's a cartoon but I don't think Mattel has any plans. But in a few weeks I'll have a call with them, my first call...in English ( so I'm reviewing my pronunciation and spoken grammar ) and then we'll talk about a few things. For now I send emails to everyone and I hope for a positive response. It is a work, because for each company my approach must be different, fashion, toys, stationery... I have to write and convince them to buy "my" brand!

It would only take ONE license agreement for me and it could change everything!

This job won't take me away from PBB, because I still depend on patreon anyway, until I sell the brand... which is not easy.

So I will continue to make updates, because I WANT IT, and I have nothing else to live on right now.

And so I ask you if you would like to support me again to produce PBB and to help me make something incredible that no other artist has ever done. And if I succeed, when I sell my first contract, when you see the first Poochie products on the market, you will be able to tell that it is Vanessa Santato, the author of PBB, who you have supported, who has achieved that goal! 

It will be a miracle for me...hope I succeed! Because if it goes well I will be able to return to America, I will be able to visit Mattel, and have a job that will allow me to do many beautiful things with my projects and my characters!

I could really make PBB a brand! I could create figures and merch and meet many people, open up new opportunities and introduce PBB to publishers! 

It's all different when you achieve a result for a big company, then you're recognized and listened to and people look at your projects. But I can only do it if you still help me, because the travel expenses are so many, and sooner or later those savings will run out, I absolutely have to sell a license during the first year. If I fail, I will try again and again! Until the years that Mattel has given me available expire!

I need to realize an important work dream in my life. This with Mattel is my one and last chance to have a prestigious job, to be at peace with myself for having done something important in my life.

So I ask you to continue to support me... please.

And I will keep you updated! I promise you.

Thank you.

V.