We partnered with Knight Owl author Christopher Denise and Harper Collins Publishing to bring the heroic Knight Owl storybook character to life as a lovable plush companion. Hear from Manhattan Toy's lead designer on the project, Cathy Dalebroux, on how we transformed Denise's illustrations into a snuggly stuffed animal.
“The book illustrations were so lovely and detailed; you could tell Christopher had taken great care in developing Knight Owl.” - CD
“Christopher was a delight to work with, so kind and helpful…and so rewarding to share his excitement as we perfected the design.” - CD
“Knight Owl is so totally adorable; he has so much heart. Like so many, I love to root for the little guy.” - CD
Q&A
Q&A
With Cathy
MT: What’s the first step in turning the Knight Owl illustrations into a 3D stuffed animal?
CD: I started by studying the book illustrations to see how Knight Owl was illustrated from multiple angles. That helped me gain an understanding of his body shape and to visualize him as a plush 3D character.
MT: What was your favorite part of the Knight Owl creation process?
CD: Receiving the first sample – and sharing the excitement with Christopher. Honestly, the entire process was enjoyable. I love the book’s message and Knight Owl is so totally adorable; he has so much heart. Like so many - I LOVE to root for the little guy.
MT: There are so many different fabrics in his delightful design; how do you choose the materials?
It was important for the body fabric to be soft and snuggly, and I already had a fabric in mind, which ended up being ideal. For the armor, the velvet perfectly conveyed the metallic sheen of the armor yet was soft. The chain mail print was just for fun but added a realistic touch.
MT: What was the key feature you knew you just had to get right?
CD: All of it! But especially the soulful eyes! Capturing the special shapes of the iris and pupils, which were a little bit tilted and uniquely, intentionally non-symmetrical.
MT: Was Christopher Denise involved in the creation process?
CD: Absolutely! We collaborated from the initial concept to the final sample approval. As Knight Owl’s creator, Christopher knew the shape and body proportions intuitively. He added valuable insight on each sample round, even providing sketches transposed over the sample photos to help us achieve the unique nuances of the character in plush form. His contribution was immensely valuable, and I loved working with him.
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