This article was created for eBay via Fractl in fall 2014.
We’re not just talking about shoes with cartoon images slapped on top. We’re talking about shoes with a design that embodies the spirit of a movie – or brings a shoe design from a movie to real life—bringing some magic to wearers in the real world.
1. Fila’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”
Cowabunga! This collaboration between Fila and TMNT celebrates the turtles’ latest feature film with a special edition of the ’90s street-ball model M-Squad athletic shoes—andMichelangelo actually sports them in the movie and the movie poster.
The sneakers feature a turtle-green tumbled leather upper with a matching perforated tongue; a marbleized camo design midsole; and an allover camo printed collar, back tongue and foot bed.
Michelangelo’s iconic M is artfully included in a bright orange overlay—which is also his signature color.
The original, limited-edition packaging features a box with the movie logo, brick-patterned tissue paper, and an ooze-green color interior.
The shoes first came out August 5, 2014 just before the Paramount Pictures® and Nickelodeon Movies® feature film hit movie theaters on August 8.
Fans note that the old school model of shoe harkens back to the same era that the turtles first came out, creating an appropriate and nostalgic pairing for adult fans.
Comments have generally been positive, although while Michelangelo is a common favorite, some fans are bummed that sneakers weren’t released with themes to match each of the four turtles. Sorry, Leonardo, Raphael, and Donatello. Turtle Power!
2. Vans and “The Simpsons Movie”
Vans collaborated with 12 artists in 2007 to release a collection of shoes commemorating the first full-length feature film starring America’s favorite cartoon family.
The brands are a natural pairing given that Bart is depicted as a skateboarder, and Vans is a classic creator of skate shoes.
This collection, which was said to be limited to 1,400 pairs (100 each of 14 styles), is considered to have been among some of the most hyped sneakers of all time, and they continue to prove highly collectible. Mmm…
Each of the artists on the project was asked to apply their own interpretation of the show’s characters, resulting in a distinctive set of creations.
The creator of the Simpsons series, Matt Groening, illustrated the caricatures of each of the artists for the box designs, against the Simpsons’ signature yellow background.
The contributors from the underground art community included graffiti and graphic artists, a tattoo artist, and a set designer from “Pee-Wee’s Playhouse.”
Look for designs from Stash, Futura, Gary Panter, Geoff McFetridge, Kaws, Mister Cartoon, Sam Messer, Neck Face, Dave Flores, Taka Hayashi, Todd James, and Tony Munoz.
The collection is spread across five different models of Vans.The original price for these ultra-limited shoes, which debuted on July 14, 2007, was $100 per pair, but these days that would be a bargain. Don’t have a cow, man.
3. Nike’s “The Boxtrolls”
The Boxtrolls x Nike Roshe Run Mid “Trollstrike” is a shoe inspired by the Victorian, steampunk world of this 2014 3-D, stop-motionfilm. The shoes were released exclusively through an online eBay auction to raise money for Adoption Exchange Association and AdoptUSKids, and they remain a popular item for resale.
These limited-edition shoes were sold in both youth and adult sizes, and the theme of the movie fit the original charity theme because it tells the story of a human baby boy lovingly raised by the sewer-dwelling, cardboard-wearing, bug-eating Boxtrolls—creatures who were very different from the boy, but who found that it didn’t matter.
The Trollstrikes feature a distressed leather upper, burlap overlays, cobblestone-printed midsole, iridescent sewer-green heel panels, cardboard tongue labels, cheese-print sockliners, dual twine laces, steampunk lace locks, distressed leather Swoosh, twine heel loop, and a waffle-patterned outsole.
“We tried to capture a little bit of the dark and dingy world that the Boxtrolls live in but, just like in our own world, it’s the inhabitants that bring life and fun to the party,” designer Tinker Hatfield said. “I hope we captured that as well.”
To add to the theme, the shoes were sold in a laser-cut shoebox featuring gear shapes and the movie tagline “Dare To Be Square.” Inside buyers would find decorative tissue paper that unfolds to show the front page of the “Cheesebridge Cheesecloth” newspaper. To top it off, the package included a custom-printed burlap shoe bag and a custom-printed pair of Dri-FIT Elite socks.
4. Nike and “Back to the Future: Part II”
Great Scott! Nike released a limited-edition Air Mag based on Marty McFly’s shoes in 2011, celebrating the movie that had come out 22 years before.
Just 1,500 pairs were released through an eBay auction with the proceeds going to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, a charity dedicated to treating Parkinson’s disease. For those who weren’t around when the “Back to the Future” movies were hits (and haven’t yet time-traveled back), Fox played the lead role of Marty McFly.
In addition to these Nike originals, replicas officially licensed by Universal Studios and first sold through Halloweencostumes.com are also now being sold online.
Both versions of these gray high-tops sport an adjustable Velcro strap around the ankle and lights that recharge with a USB cable. The replicas lack the Swoosh and the Nike branding on the ankle strap and heel.
The one disappointment with both versions of these shoes is they don’t have futuristic self-lacing technology like Marty’s. However, according to Nike designer Tinker Hatfield, power laces are coming… in the future. This is heavy.
5. Adidas and the “Star Wars” collection
Adidas worked to create some truly amazing shoes inspired by the George Lucas all-time classic Star Wars films for a major ongoing collaboration that began in 2010.
These Star Wars x adidas Originals succeed beautifully in channeling characters and objects from the films.
You don’t need labels to recognize them: there is an orange pair that Luke Sywalker would wear during training; a black pair that Darth Vader would wear when he takes his off his menacing boots; a white pair that storm troopers would wear when they take off their armor; a nature-inspired pair that Yoda would wear in the swamp; a purple pair that Princess Leia would wear while dancing for Jabbe the Hutt; and a vibrant green pair that Jabbe would wear… if he had feet.
There are also versions that represent the TIE Fighter, the X-Wing, and the Millennium Falcon. Additional releases included the “Boba Fett” and the furry
“Chewbacca.” Look for these and additional versions from the collection. Know them when you see them, you will!