Toyguru Mattycollector.com MOTUC news thread

[skelehorde]

Toyguru-Are the Toys R US Exclusive; DCUC VS MOTUC Two Packs coming to Australia Thread

Toyguru
Collector Supreme
Posted March 13, 2010 03:19 PM

That is still unknown at this point. We have offered them to Australia retail buyers but so far their has been little interest.

Damn, i want a case of each 2-pack

[urbanmyth]

I imagine that the reason they don't want to do a true 200x He-Man is because of branding. They want one true He-Man to be the face of the line. Sure, THAT He-Man may put on some other armors but he is going to remain THAT He-Man (head, hair and loin cloth). They are afraid that if they release a true 2002 He-Man, that a lot of people will latch on to that as their one true He-Man and dilute the branding. Just my 2 cents.

[Mr. Shokoti]

I imagine that the reason they don't want to do a true 200x He-Man is because of branding. They want one true He-Man to be the face of the line. Sure, THAT He-Man may put on some other armors but he is going to remain THAT He-Man (head, hair and loin cloth). They are afraid that if they release a true 2002 He-Man, that a lot of people will latch on to that as their one true He-Man and dilute the branding. Just my 2 cents.

That's probably true. When I first heard about the MOTUC line, I thought it was going to be like the DCU Classics line; a bunch different characters & designs pulled from multiple canons. Now that we know Mattel is striving to pull all of the different MOTU eras into one canon(similar to what DC did with Crisis On Infinite Earths), Mattel probably doesn't want to confuse potential new customers with multiple looks of every character(especially their main hero). That's something Hasbro does, along with rebranding their toylines, every few months, and it confuses the hell out of me even though I'm familiar with all of their franchises.

[Ornclown]

I would totally buy another He-Man in 200X garb. And I think most other fans would as well.

I don't see the problem for Mattel, I mean it requires very little re-tooling and they would have another He-Man variant that can potentially sell out in a matter of minutes.

A new sculpt for the wrist-bands and loin-cloth pouches would be nice, but if Mattel decides not to do them and hide behind their "anime" excuse, it really doesn't bug me all that much. (Even though both the bands and pouches could be used for many other characters down the line.........)

Heck, they should do this with the eventual re-issue of He-Man & Skeletor....

[LORD FALLEN ELDOR]

Honestly it seams less like a business decision and more along the lines of personal taste in regard to how they approach the characters. Considering the fan base is split and certain people only want 200x "this" or "that", it would seam like the smart thing to do would be to make 200x He-Man (pouch on shorts, harness, belt and bracers) on the "classics" body. It's not as if they have been shy about doing variants this year, so I doubt they are afraid of diluting anything. How many Luke Skywalkers, or Snake Eyes has Hasbro put out? It seams smart to always have He-man available. The only thing I can think of is they are trying to force the fans to buy the one that is currently out. In that regard, yes they are trying not to saturate the market with a bunch of He-variants (we all remember spin blade...) In Jan Battle Armor He-man was out, right now its the Toys R Us one. That's a strategy I can understand at least! That business practice becomes obviously apparent when you consider the fact that BA & TRU He-men don't even come with the Power Sword! That forces anyone who wants a Power Sword for He-Man to have to wait for an eventual third release of "the Original". If that is the business plan, then the decision not to make a 200x design He-man (pouch on shorts, harness, belt and bracers) can only be a decision based on personal preference...

[austin81]

Mattel !! we want a 200X HEMAN !!!


WE HAVE THE POWER !!!

and we want 200X style !!

200X RULES !!

200X BETTER THAN CLASSIC !!!

[MegaGearMax]

I imagine that the reason they don't want to do a true 200x He-Man is because of branding. They want one true He-Man to be the face of the line. Sure, THAT He-Man may put on some other armors but he is going to remain THAT He-Man (head, hair and loin cloth). They are afraid that if they release a true 2002 He-Man, that a lot of people will latch on to that as their one true He-Man and dilute the branding. Just my 2 cents.

That's probably true. When I first heard about the MOTUC line, I thought it was going to be like the DCU Classics line; a bunch different characters & designs pulled from multiple canons. Now that we know Mattel is striving to pull all of the different MOTU eras into one canon(similar to what DC did with Crisis On Infinite Earths), Mattel probably doesn't want to confuse potential new customers with multiple looks of every character(especially their main hero). That's something Hasbro does, along with rebranding their toylines, every few months, and it confuses the hell out of me even though I'm familiar with all of their franchises.

So what will happen when NA He-Man comes along? Would he lose his ponytail?

If anything, just release NA He-Man and 200X He-Man with their standard heads, but have their alternate He-Man heads with their rightful hairstyles hidden in the package.

[Mr. Shokoti]

So what will happen when NA He-Man comes along? Would he lose his ponytail?

No offense to anyone that might have one, but I hope so.

[Ornclown]

So what will happen when NA He-Man comes along? Would he lose his ponytail?

If anything, just release NA He-Man and 200X He-Man with their standard heads, but have their alternate He-Man heads with their rightful hairstyles hidden in the package.

This would make the most sense. The facial features wouldn't even need to be changed, just the hair really. (Just make sure it fits on the head correctly this time....)

[Power Sword]

You don't get any more classic than Earl Norem:

This is very true.
Thanks for posting that pic.

Does anybody have an answer to my questions from post #39 of this thread? Thanks.

[MegaGearMax]

The first page is updated with new Questions and Answers.

NA Prince Adam is POSSIBLE???
How come?

And the SDCC exclusive will be revealed in late April instead of the first.

[Bulkhide]

The first page is updated with new Questions and Answers.

NA Prince Adam is POSSIBLE???
How come?

And the SDCC exclusive will be revealed in late April instead of the first.

It says "later in April". Since it's March, couldn't that still mean the 1st of April?

And wasn't there a NA Prince Adam Prototype at some point?

[triklops1]

NA prince adam for me its probably better than filmation adam.........anyway good news!!

[Sir Reilly]

I still hate the idea of a purple axe for Skeletor. Would be the same to me like repainting He-Ro's staff and pretend that it's Stratos' Emerald Staff of Avion.

[PrinceAdam101]

Does anyone have a pic of a New Adventures Adam they can post? I've been confused about that variant. I thought I saw one once, but in that mini-comic that started NA, it was regular Adam and the Sorceress says that "Adam is no more" after he turns into He-Man. I'm not familiar with the NA cartoon, but they have said they can't do cartoon only characters.

Pics, anyone?

[MegaGearMax]

Does anyone have a pic of a New Adventures Adam they can post? I've been confused about that variant. I thought I saw one once, but in that mini-comic that started NA, it was regular Adam and the Sorceress says that "Adam is no more" after he turns into He-Man. I'm not familiar with the NA cartoon, but they have said they can't do cartoon only characters.

Pics, anyone?

Also first post update with more info.

[HordeFan]

I wouldn't mind an NA Adam at all. I think it would be cool. Hell, a lot of other lines has had original characters never released as figures, why not NA??

[Reboot]

I wouldn't mind an NA Adam at all. I think it would be cool. Hell, a lot of other lines has had original characters never released as figures, why not NA??

Because, as was said, they've always maintained that NA cartoon-only designs are just as offlimits as Filmation-only designs (indeed, aren't the cartoons now owned by the same company?), and NA-Adam is toon-only. Ergo, something's up with TG's answer - the question is whether TG got mixed up and didn't realise he was toon-only, or whether TG slipped up and hinted at something he shouldn't.

I suspect the former (he got confused and nothing's changed) but you never know....

[Uki]

NA Adam would be interesting and I would love to see him. I hope TG wasn't misunderstanding. Heck, I'd love Drissi, Caz, and Sebrian, as well! (Would that it were true.)

[Yzerman99]

Still no info. on the stands? Are they coming back? I thought Matty said there would be more ...

[bcrduke]

The first page is updated with new Questions and Answers.

NA Prince Adam is POSSIBLE???
How come?

And the SDCC exclusive will be revealed in late April instead of the first.

DING!!! DING!!!

Well, that clinches it for me. I've suspected that since Toyguru wouldn't comment on Filmation rights at NY Toy Fair, when in the past he's always said that they don't have them, that Mattel had purchased them.

This convinces me. Mattel wants a movie made, and they want total control over all the properties. Thus, they've purchased the Filmation rights and the rights to the NA cartoon series.

Therefore, NA Adam is possible along with Strong-Arm, Master Sebrian, Shadow Weaver, Lizard Man, Drizzi, etc.

All Filmation and NA characters that were not available before are probably available now.

I hope that is one of their major announcements at Toy Fair... It would raise the roof of the convention center!!

Because, as was said, they've always maintained that NA cartoon-only designs are just as offlimits as Filmation-only designs (indeed, aren't the cartoons now owned by the same company?), and NA-Adam is toon-only. Ergo, something's up with TG's answer - the question is whether TG got mixed up and didn't realise he was toon-only, or whether TG slipped up and hinted at something he shouldn't.

I suspect the former (he got confused and nothing's changed) but you never know....

I don't think he slipped up. I think he leaked that on purpose. It's the perfect way to stir up a frenzy of speculation.

[Swanmarsh]

DING!!! DING!!!

Well, that clinches it for me. I've suspected that since Toyguru wouldn't comment on Filmation rights at NY Toy Fair, when in the past he's always said that they don't have them, that Mattel had purchased them.

This convinces me. Mattel wants a movie made, and they want total control over all the properties. Thus, they've purchased the Filmation rights and the rights to the NA cartoon series.

Therefore, NA Adam is possible along with Strong-Arm, Master Sebrian, Shadow Weaver, Lizard Man, Drizzi, etc.

All Filmation and NA characters that were not available before are probably available now.

I hope that is one of their major announcements at Toy Fair... It would raise the roof of the convention center!!

OMG! So hope you are correct BCRDuke!

[Uki]

BCRDuke, I'm hoping that this is another instance of you having a keen foresight on Mattel's moves. Checkmate, old chap!

[bcrduke]

well, it would not be insight granted by anyone else

it would truly be just insight, and deductive reasoning

Mattel probably had its sights set on acquiring the rights to ALL MOTU characters from the get-go (or at least since it was obvious the line was a huge hit).

three things make me think they have acquired the rights:

1) Mattel contacts Pixel-Dan and tells him to remove all Filmation iconography and music from his reviews. This is a typical Mattel move... yet, they'd have to own the property to be able to dictate what an independent entity decides to do with that material. It's not like Boomerang Entertainment (or whatever the company is called) were the ones asking Dan to remove that stuff.

2) at Toy Fair in NYC, someone asked Toyguru if he had anythink to say about the acquisition of the Filmation rights so that characters like Shadow Weaver and Scorpia could be made. He replied that they had "no comment at this time." No comment means anything but what he had been saying all along: that Mattel did not have the rights to do Filmation or NA cartoon characters... So why the change of tune?

3) Toyguru letsus know that NA Prince Adam was a possibility. Now unless there WAS a prototype of this figure, which contradicted the mini-comics for the toys to begin with, there is no way this NA Adam could be done as a MOTUC character. So until I see the vintage NA Adam prototype, I am guessing that Mattel has, at the very least, purchased the rights to the NA Cartoon characters... and maybe the cartoons themselves.

[Tallstar]

The first page is updated with new Questions and Answers.

NA Prince Adam is POSSIBLE???
How come?

WHAT is going on? Everyone would go nuts if they announced a Filmation/Jetlag rights purchase at SDCC. I don't want to get too excited...