He Designed Toys Millions of Kids Grew Up With... Here's What He's Doing Now

Most people know the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, but very few know the story of the artists who helped bring those iconic toys to life. I sit down with Howard "Quiggly" Chang, who began his career as an 18-year-old looking for a summer job and unexpectedly became a concept artist during the height of Turtle Mania. Howard shares how he helped design toys for one of the biggest franchises in history, the creative process behind some of his favorite figures, and what it was like working during the golden age of toy design. But this interview is about more than nostalgia. After leaving the toy industry, Howard spent over a decade developing Ancients—his own original universe of collectible art toys inspired by legendary biblical heroes and villains, reimagined as powerful robotic warriors. We also talk about the challenges of starting over, overcoming perfectionism, and what it takes to build an original IP from the ground up. If you enjoy hearing the stories behind creators, entrepreneurs, and the people who bring incredible ideas to life, you're in the right place. Learn more about Howard Chang and Ancients: https://ancientz.com/ Buy Here: https://gloriusart.com/ #TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles #TMNT #NinjaTurtles #HowardChang Follow Me On: Instagram:   / jason.backstage   TikTok:   / jasonbackstage   Enjoyed the video? Help support more food finds and local stories by buying me a coffee here ☕️: https://buymeacoffee.com/jasonbackstage I’m Jason Lau, a former small business owner who loves connecting with other small business owners. Join me backstage as I explore great food, travel adventures, whiskey, coffee culture, sports, comics, and other cool finds. I'm exploring it all so you know where to go next. • Full experiences • Backstage interviews • Honest reviews & recommendations • Shorts for IG, TikTok & YouTube Want to collaborate or set up an interview? Reach me at [email protected] Chapters: 0:00 Intro 0:13 Meet Howard 0:44 Varner Studios 1:16 Molds 1:56 Molds to Designer 3:22 Back to College 3:56 #1 Selling Toy 4:07 Design Anything 4:50 Unique Action Figures 5:02 One of Howard's Favorites 5:23 Iconic Toys / Collectables 5:40 Leaving Varner Studios 6:03 Ancientz Idea 6:41 What is Ancientz? 7:31 Meet the Characters 8:18 Kickstarter 8:47 Art Toys vs Mass Market Toys 9:17 Art Toys Currently 10:01 Where to Buy 10:50 Old Connections 11:23 10 Years to Start 11:51 Conclusion #JasonBackstage #BusinessInterviews #LocalBusinesses #HiddenGems #RealPeopleRealStories #ArtToys #DesignerToys #ToyDesigner #ToyCollector #Collectibles #ActionFigures #Kickstarter #IndieCreator #OriginalIP #BehindTheScenes #CreatorStory #Entrepreneur #ComicCon #PlaymatesToys #ToyPhotography #GeekCulture #PopCulture #JasonBackstage #YouTubeInterview