DC Studios’ Superman has, of course, come out of the gate with an extensive line of merch inspired by James Gunn’s new vision for the Man of Steel. That vision places special focus on Krypto the Superdog, which comes as no surprise to fans of the filmmaker.
Gunn is a noted animal rescue supporter who has come out on record to say his dog Ozu served as inspiration for Krypto’s role in the upcoming relaunch of DC Universe films. Speaking to People Magazine, Gunn said that Ozu came from a hoarding situation among 60 other dogs before reaching a shelter and being exposed to people.
“When I first adopted Ozu, I was starting to write the Superman script. Ozu was such a terrible, uncontrollable dog—tearing up our entire house—I thought, ‘What if he had superpowers? We’d be screwed.’ And thus, the filmic Krypto was born.” Gunn said, “He really just gave the script that unusual aspect that made it fun to write.”
The director continued to explain how Ozu informed Krypto’s design: “We’d captured Ozu’s body and used it as the model for Krypto, just changing the color of his fur. We also used the hundreds of video references for the way Ozu played and fought and bit my feet for Krypto’s onscreen actions.” And you can see the similarities between Ozu’s and Krypto’s scruffy cuteness not just in his on-screen counterpart but also in the merch being released for the film.
While there seems a sort of Baby Yoda-ification of Krypto’s adorable factor in the film, it makes sense. Thankfully it’s not in a Baby Krypto way, but it doesn’t have to be because—let’s be real—dogs are so many people’s Kryptonite. Although, we have to note there will be infant clothes with Krypto on them from Kyte Baby that are dangerously cute. The Kyte Baby collab is set to drop on July 31.
The stuffed plush versions of Krypto may be meant for kids, but we can’t help but want one. On a weekend visit to the WB Store at the Studio Tour in Burbank, we stopped by the Superman pop-up area and fell in love with the Krypto from the plush fountain (remember those?). You can visit this hidden gem without a tour ticket, and I can’t say enough how it recaptures the good old days of visiting the Warner Bros. store in the mall back in the ’90s.
The Metropolis-inspired section featured products for adults, kids, and pets, bombarding you with merch for the movie. The pet section really reeled me in; there were hoodies, toys, and a “Dog Dad” Superman shirt depicting the hero and his pup. You could even get a Krypto cape with name embroidery for your fur child, and I was mightily tempted to buy one for my dog.
Sassy Woof also dropped its Superman collab collar, leash, and harness sets, which are just too cool. Milkbone has come out with limited-edition treats in addition to Krypto toys that are equally as cute as the ones for their humans.
There’s plenty online and in the go-to fandom retail stores too. BoxLunch just released its Superman drop which features Supes’ classic colorways and Krypto tees. And internet fandom cult button-up purveyors RSVLTS also released a stellar Krypto print just in time for San Diego Comic-Con, too. I’m sure if you’re not a dog person you might think that’s going too far, but let me raise you the ability to accessorize with a Krypto ring from Alex and Ani that features the Superdog (looking like Ozu) in flight. Oh—and you can actually buy a flying Krypto toy too, which should take some of us back to the Sky Dancer doll days (watch your eyes, probably).
It’s all so earnestly all over the place for a movie that is at least being well received critically, so we’re kind of obsessed with it catering to everyone—in particular dog lovers. The power of Krypto is that strong already, and I haven’t gotten a chance to see the movie yet. I try to refrain from buying merch for a movie before I’ve seen it, and I will not let Krypto break me down. I learned my lesson to keep this an unbreakable movie merch rule after the first Jurassic World, which should tell you enough. However, if you choose to get a jump on collecting for this new era of DC films, there’s no shortage of awesome Superman and Superdog goods for you or your own super buddy.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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