(Newswire.net — January 26, 2015) Raleigh, North Carolina — Leading toy company, Gann Memorials, steps into the limelight during a year-long celebration of film making in The Old North State. Starring North Carolina! is the first major exhibit to celebrate the state’s evolution into the filmmaking mecca known as “Hollywood East” and showcases the films, television shows, actors and artists that make up the immense productions that have been created throughout the state during the last century. As an affiliate of the Smithsonian, the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh is pleased to be able to include 13 artifacts that are on loan from the National Museum of American History.
Gann Memorials’ founder and CEO, Chris Gann, is honored to be included in such august company. “There is always pleasure in helping bring someone’s vision for a special toy or concept to life; it’s even more exciting when it’s for a highly publicized project like a movie. There’s a whole other level of pride when you are contributing in a small way to a project and industry that helps bring jobs, revenue and visibility to our state.”
Gann’s contribution in this case was not that small; in fact, it was giant. A giant bunny, that is.
MARVEL studios needed a very special prop to be featured at the beginning of their epic movie, IRON MAN 3, in the form of a 15-foot tall stuffed toy bunny. They turned to Gann Memorials, who first created the 5-foot plush prototype that is on display in the Raleigh exhibit. Three full-size ”Stark Bunny” units were then crafted for use during the production. The Stark Bunny character became immensely popular, spawning online fanfiction and even creating its own fan following on Twitter, where it sent humorous Tweets from its vantage point in Tony Stark’s living room, as seen in IRON MAN 3.
Gann Memorials continues to produce toys for the film, video game and music industries, as well as for many other types of businesses and charities. A new branch of the company, Gannimation, is being developed in order to launch an animated series designed to accompany their new plush toy line called “Midnight Mares“. “Toys have a universal appeal,” states Gann. “They speak to people through human senses and emotions.”
The Stark Bunny prototype will continue to metaphorically speak to visitors and fans of film and television at the North Carolina Museum of History through September 7, 2015. Ticket information for Starring North Carolina! can be found at ncmuseumofhistoryshop.com.
Gann Memorials, LLC is a family-owned and operated business based in Raleigh, NC. Since 1999, the Gann family has been dedicated to producing the very best quality custom plush toys and promotional items-in all sizes.