Mind Control was a three-day Hoodlin Mania takeover held this spring at LINT in Downtown Los Angeles. The crowd was intimate and exclusive, bringing together some of LA's top creative minds. and that exclusivity said everything about where this brand is in its journey. Hoodlin Mania isn't trying to be for everyone. Not yet. And that's exactly what makes it worth watching.
So what is a Hoodlin?
What we can tell you is this: Hoodlins are sock-puppet-inspired characters that blend the visual language of children's television with an adult, darkly comedic edge. Think of claymation chaos and 3D illustrations that look like they escaped from a Saturday morning cartoon that never should have aired. They're fun, chaotic, lovable, and a little bit destructive.
Founded in Los Angeles in 2021 by creator Brandon Dean Johnson, Hoodlin Mania has grown from an underground art project into a full multimedia universe spanning animation, music, comics, collectibles, and live events.
Mind Control: A World Brought to Life
At Mind Control, the Hoodlins weren't just characters on a canvas
The Hoodlins art exhibit anchored the event, bringing Johnson's colorful and whimsical illustrations to life in a gallery setting that felt personal and immersive. This wasn't a booth at a convention.The event also served as a showcase for two major extensions of the Hoodlin universe: the Hoodlin Rumble card game and the brand's growing animated series. Attendees got hands-on time with the card game alongside its co-creators, while the animatic for the Hoodlin series premiered for the first time.
The result was a weekend that felt less like a promotional brand event and closer to a cultural mixer of art, music, animation, and gaming.
To learn more about Hoodlin Mania, be sure to visit their website.
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