So when are we going to get characters to commemorate the 30th anniversary?

[Dr Kain]

Granamyr -- biggest MOTU figure Mattel's ever done, so we're hearing. An important character from both mini-comics and cartoon. An undoubtedly expensive, big toy that a LOT of fans want and perhaps have wanted since the '80s but was never made before. If that's not celebrating the franchise, I seriously don't know what is.

Don't forget a toy that only people who are CEOs for a greedy corporation can afford.

[midor]

The SDCC concept figures; here's how I see this. Imagine you're turning 30 and part of the big celebration is a slideshow of photos from your life. It would be totally normal for there to be a picture of your parents getting married or your mother whilst pregnant. Sure, it isn't YOU, but it is how YOU started. That's what Vykron is. Vykron is MOTUC's 'snapshot' of Mattel getting all pregnant with MOTU.

Well said.

[KnightDamien]

Don't forget a toy that only people who are CEOs for a greedy corporation can afford.

I'm not a CEO. I can afford it. Your logic has failed.

[RockinHard]

I'm not a CEO. I can afford it. Your logic has failed.

I'm not a CEO, either. Far from it. Doube-fail.

[MoViEfReAk]

So, a He-Man variant with a different face and a different joint on his right hand would have been a BETTER SDCC exclusive? Meh... But there's one thing that is bad for me...I'll have to buy 3 SDCC figures and have 6 complete outfits left over....

[PrinceAdam101]

I actually agree with TG, for the most part, on this. That's pretty interesting because it's not exactly common. And I'll be right there with anyone else to call Scott on anything that doesn't sound right, or is just plain stupid. But in this case, I get where he's coming from.

A whole subline for the year which, for the first time since the 80s, will introduce us to brand new characters as toys first. And it's the first time since the 2002 series that MOTU will be get new characters at all. That's actually pretty momentous if you stop to think about it. Regardless of whether or not you LIKE the figures, they're additions to the mythos. They're EXPANDING the property. That's what we want and need. For MOTU to grow.

The SDCC concept figures; here's how I see this. Imagine you're turning 30 and part of the big celebration is a slideshow of photos from your life. It would be totally normal for there to be a picture of your parents getting married or your mother whilst pregnant. Sure, it isn't YOU, but it is how YOU started. That's what Vykron is. Vykron is MOTUC's 'snapshot' of Mattel getting all pregnant with MOTU. Sexy.

Granamyr -- biggest MOTU figure Mattel's ever done, so we're hearing. An important character from both mini-comics and cartoon. An undoubtedly expensive, big toy that a LOT of fans want and perhaps have wanted since the '80s but was never made before. If that's not celebrating the franchise, I seriously don't know what is.

Mini-comics -- how the mythos started. And the first form of entertainment for the property. And full-scale comics coming from DC as well. I shouldn't even need to explain why that's an awesome way to celebrate the 30th.

The 2013 fan choice slot in the new sub -- well, I'm not sure if that REALLY counts. But I understand Scott is probably counting it because it's technically being sold to us in 2012.

Greatest, to me, is that Mattel isn't just doing one little thing and calling it done. We're getting all that stuff, plus all kinds of new ancillary merchandise, plus a very vintage-heavy line-up for this year, etc. It really does feel like a celebration of the franchise and I feel that anyone who doesn't see that is being willfully blind. It's just foot-stomping because someone isn't getting exactly what they wanted. But it's unfair to try to turn that into 'it's not a proper celebration.' It's still a birthday party, even if you prefer chocolate cake but there's only white.


And for the record, MY preference for the 30th Ann. would have been an Alcala He-Man with Alcala power sword, and Castle Grayskull. That's what I want most out of this line right now. The 30th was my best chance to get those things. I may NEVER get them now. Who knows. That doesn't mean Mattel is doing the anniversary thing 'wrong.'

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this!!!

[mjharwood]

I have to say the funniest "common theme" in the posts about "Why Vykron?" seems to be that the "casual buyer/fan" wouldn't know who he is, so how is that celebrating the 30th anniversary... Does the true casual fan even know or, for that matter, care that this is the 30th anniversary? By definition, the casual buyer just buys to buy and isn't as emotionally invested in the whole idea of the history behind MOTU in the first place. Tell the true casual buyer that it's the 30th anniversary of He-man, and the most you would get is a "Oh, cool... so what do you want for dinner?" I've got news for you, folks... if you actually care that it's the 30th anniversary of MOTU, if you actually care that POP or NA are getting slighted possibly, if you actually care that your He-Man can't hold his sword the way he did in the cartoon (which wasn't part of the original story of He-Man, so how that's better to celebrate the 30th anniversary, I don't get), if you actually care that this could have been our best hope of seeing Castle Grayskull in MOTUC, you are not a casual buyer.

Vykron is actually the sort of thing that, were we not all a bunch of "nothing's ever good enough" fans, is the perfect release for celebrating the 30th anniversary of MOTU. It's a release that goes back to the roots of the line and under normal circumstances would be embraced as a heck of a cool idea to run with.

Do you think the casual buyer cared about the Star Wars Ralph McQuarrie concept-based action figure sets from a couple of years ago? No... but I bet a lot of hardcore fans loved them.

So, in a nutshell, whether you like the execution of Vykor or not (and yes, I can see why some may not like the final product itself), the actual idea behind it is ideal for a 30th anniversary exclusive.

Although Castle Grayskull would have been flippin' awesome too!

[Tribal Spaceman]

There's one thing that is bad for me...I'll have to buy 3 SDCC figures and have 6 complete outfits left over....

Oh I'm sure He-Man and Man-At-Arms will have hours of fun dressing up as tanks and Star Wars characters.

[Berserker79]

Besides the merchandise I don`t feel 30th anniversary calebration in MOTUC.

The 30th line? Besides Draego Man I´m underwhelmed. New characters should kick my rear end. They didn`t.

Granamyr an important character? Not in my book. He`ll maybe get some importance in the new bios, but he was only another one shot character for me personally. Not excited for him.

He-Man 2.0 & Battle Ram would be perfect items for the 30th. Mattel made the wrong decisions in character selection imo and this discussions/threads are the result.

The fans have spoken.

So, a He-Man variant with a different face and a different joint on his right hand would have been a BETTER SDCC exclusive?

Exactly... He-Man is THE iconic character in MOTU, he deserves an upgrade/improvement.

[fball13z]

LOL people kill me, everyone in this topic have their "ideas" for what would have been "better" for this line and almost none of them are the same.

That right there should tell you all you need to know, there is no perfect line up, no matter what is done someone will find fault with it.

You have people admitting they dont want figures b/c they dont know who they are, but there are a lot of people who do know who certain characters are.

People asking for more filmation, they just got the rights less then a year a go, it takes time to get things up and running.

I just smell entitlement too much on these boards, more so then the almost 10 years ive been here

[Scud]

I actually agree with TG, for the most part, on this. That's pretty interesting because it's not exactly common. And I'll be right there with anyone else to call Scott on anything that doesn't sound right, or is just plain stupid. But in this case, I get where he's coming from.

A whole subline for the year which, for the first time since the 80s, will introduce us to brand new characters as toys first. And it's the first time since the 2002 series that MOTU will be get new characters at all. That's actually pretty momentous if you stop to think about it. Regardless of whether or not you LIKE the figures, they're additions to the mythos. They're EXPANDING the property. That's what we want and need. For MOTU to grow.

The SDCC concept figures; here's how I see this. Imagine you're turning 30 and part of the big celebration is a slideshow of photos from your life. It would be totally normal for there to be a picture of your parents getting married or your mother whilst pregnant. Sure, it isn't YOU, but it is how YOU started. That's what Vykron is. Vykron is MOTUC's 'snapshot' of Mattel getting all pregnant with MOTU. Sexy.

Granamyr -- biggest MOTU figure Mattel's ever done, so we're hearing. An important character from both mini-comics and cartoon. An undoubtedly expensive, big toy that a LOT of fans want and perhaps have wanted since the '80s but was never made before. If that's not celebrating the franchise, I seriously don't know what is.

Mini-comics -- how the mythos started. And the first form of entertainment for the property. And full-scale comics coming from DC as well. I shouldn't even need to explain why that's an awesome way to celebrate the 30th.

The 2013 fan choice slot in the new sub -- well, I'm not sure if that REALLY counts. But I understand Scott is probably counting it because it's technically being sold to us in 2012.

Greatest, to me, is that Mattel isn't just doing one little thing and calling it done. We're getting all that stuff, plus all kinds of new ancillary merchandise, plus a very vintage-heavy line-up for this year, etc. It really does feel like a celebration of the franchise and I feel that anyone who doesn't see that is being willfully blind. It's just foot-stomping because someone isn't getting exactly what they wanted. But it's unfair to try to turn that into 'it's not a proper celebration.' It's still a birthday party, even if you prefer chocolate cake but there's only white.


And for the record, MY preference for the 30th Ann. would have been an Alcala He-Man with Alcala power sword, and Castle Grayskull. That's what I want most out of this line right now. The 30th was my best chance to get those things. I may NEVER get them now. Who knows. That doesn't mean Mattel is doing the anniversary thing 'wrong.'

You hit the nail on the head man.

[ksensor]

I actually agree with TG, for the most part, on this. That's pretty interesting because it's not exactly common. And I'll be right there with anyone else to call Scott on anything that doesn't sound right, or is just plain stupid. But in this case, I get where he's coming from.

A whole subline for the year which, for the first time since the 80s, will introduce us to brand new characters as toys first. And it's the first time since the 2002 series that MOTU will be get new characters at all. That's actually pretty momentous if you stop to think about it. Regardless of whether or not you LIKE the figures, they're additions to the mythos. They're EXPANDING the property. That's what we want and need. For MOTU to grow.

The SDCC concept figures; here's how I see this. Imagine you're turning 30 and part of the big celebration is a slideshow of photos from your life. It would be totally normal for there to be a picture of your parents getting married or your mother whilst pregnant. Sure, it isn't YOU, but it is how YOU started. That's what Vykron is. Vykron is MOTUC's 'snapshot' of Mattel getting all pregnant with MOTU. Sexy.

Granamyr -- biggest MOTU figure Mattel's ever done, so we're hearing. An important character from both mini-comics and cartoon. An undoubtedly expensive, big toy that a LOT of fans want and perhaps have wanted since the '80s but was never made before. If that's not celebrating the franchise, I seriously don't know what is.

Mini-comics -- how the mythos started. And the first form of entertainment for the property. And full-scale comics coming from DC as well. I shouldn't even need to explain why that's an awesome way to celebrate the 30th.

The 2013 fan choice slot in the new sub -- well, I'm not sure if that REALLY counts. But I understand Scott is probably counting it because it's technically being sold to us in 2012.

Greatest, to me, is that Mattel isn't just doing one little thing and calling it done. We're getting all that stuff, plus all kinds of new ancillary merchandise, plus a very vintage-heavy line-up for this year, etc. It really does feel like a celebration of the franchise and I feel that anyone who doesn't see that is being willfully blind. It's just foot-stomping because someone isn't getting exactly what they wanted. But it's unfair to try to turn that into 'it's not a proper celebration.' It's still a birthday party, even if you prefer chocolate cake but there's only white.


And for the record, MY preference for the 30th Ann. would have been an Alcala He-Man with Alcala power sword, and Castle Grayskull. That's what I want most out of this line right now. The 30th was my best chance to get those things. I may NEVER get them now. Who knows. That doesn't mean Mattel is doing the anniversary thing 'wrong.'

^^^ This. So much. If I could, I'd make it my sig.

LOL people kill me, everyone in this topic have their "ideas" for what would have been "better" for this line and almost none of them are the same.

That right there should tell you all you need to know, there is no perfect line up, no matter what is done someone will find fault with it.

You have people admitting they dont want figures b/c they dont know who they are, but there are a lot of people who do know who certain characters are.

People asking for more filmation, they just got the rights less then a year a go, it takes time to get things up and running.

I just smell entitlement too much on these boards, more so then the almost 10 years ive been here

And I'd make this my sig post-script.

[King Kahn]

I have to agree with many others and think a lot has already been done to celebrate it is just that not everyone has the same idea of what should be done. I think if the motuc line STARTED this year people wouldn't complain at all as the line is made up of very very faithful remakes of all the old figures. We kind of forget that fact.

Don't forget a toy that only people who are CEOs for a greedy corporation can afford.

Dr. Kain: Heroic master of hyperbole.

[KUZEH]

Scott, you nailed it. I think most of us see and appreciate what you, your team, and the 4H have done for the 30th. Don't let a few detractors get you down. Some people will NEVER be satisfied.

I'm personally very happy with mostly everything MOTU this year... except for the Star Sisters...

You can start by looking at the request threads and start giving us rebels like Glimmer, Queen Angella, Castaspella and Mermista. The fans clearly love the vintage MOTU figures but POP's right there with them in the requests and we still only have Frosta on the way from the vintage POP figure line.

Start giving fans figures they want even if the boys club at Mattel doesn't particuarly care about the POP girls many of us do.

This is MOTU's 30th, not POP's

It's a year where we have

-Sorceress
-Fisto
-Stinkor
-Kobra Khan
-Spikor
-Frosta
-Shadow Weaver!
-Horde Prime!
-Granamyr!


And people are crying for more. Oh MOTU fans heh.

What does that matter? They're all part of the same line. The "30th anniversary" part of the line only means that 6 extra toys are coming out this year.

Exactly...

I have to agree with many others and think a lot has already been done to celebrate it is just that not everyone has the same idea of what should be done. I think if the motuc line STARTED this year people wouldn't complain at all as the line is made up of very very faithful remakes of all the old figures. We kind of forget that fact.

No kidding...
I mean, they definitely cannot make everyone happy, but man... one thing is to have "higher" expectations,
and a completely different one is to dismiss every single thing that is done by Mattel...

[Neil Ronie]

I actually agree with Scott's post and as I've seen, you really can't win with how many fans complain. Even if something goes right, you'll always have someone complaining about how it could be "better" or outright hate it. I like the idea of Vykron a lot more than ANOTHER He-man variant (like we don't have enough as it is). I hope some people know we are celebrating MOTU and not just He-man for this 30th anniversary.

[Shadow-Ra]

I'm personally very happy with mostly everything MOTU this year... except for the Star Sisters...




This is MOTU's 30th, not POP's







Exactly...




No kidding...
I mean, they definitely cannot make everyone happy, but man... one thing is to have "higher" expectations,
and a completely different one is to dismiss every single thing that is done by Mattel...

But Scott has said that POP is MOTU, and will be celebrated together. so your reply is flawed.

[Berserker79]

But Scott has said that POP is MOTU, and will be celebrated together. so your reply is flawed.

I`ll only celebrate my MOTU

[VaultsofGrayskull]

Guys, I'm honestly not sure what it is your looking for (and please, that is an invitation for exact examples of what it is you mean by a commemorative figure/line cause I think that IS what we are doing).

From where I look we did a lot for the 30th in MOTUC.

1: All new mini comics at no extra charge. Our gift to the fans!

Celebrates adding new content and new art.

2: New characters introduced as figures first in the "30th" line

Celebrates the emotion of seeing a figure for the first time as a toy, a very "MOTU" thing.

3: Making things right with Fearlesss Photog

Celebrates the vintage contest and fan requests to make him

4: Making things right by finishing "The Powers of Grayskull" part 2 and 3

Celebrates where the vintage mini comics left off and bringing that into Classics.

5: Offering a nation wide contest letting fans create an all new character

Celebrates the fans letting one winner create the next toy

6: Offering a SDCC item that harkens back to the creations of the brand in a fun collectable way

Celebrates the making of the line

7: Doing the biggest figure ever - Granamyr

Celebrates toys

8: Selling a 2013 sub that includes a fan choice slot with one of the candidates selected by this very site!

Celebrates the future of the line and more fan involvement

9: Offering a lot of vintage line figures in monthly slots including Spikor, Sorceress, Fisto and Mosquitor (among others..)

Celebrates the vintage line's figures

10: Revealing key information in bios such as TPHM

Celebrates the Classics line bringing the story into better focus (and just wait until the rest of the 2012 bios are revealed for more!)

Am I wrong in viewing this as A LOT for the 30th (compare 2012 to I guess to the 2010 and 2011 lines). Love to hear thoughts on what else fans are looking for. Maybe it is still something we can do?

I don't doubt the effort that has gone into this year. I do, however, agree with others who have said these points aren't really about celebrating the anniversary.

Personally I would have liked this year to have been exclusively Vintage figures, but I know that wish won't get widespread support.

There are plenty of other things that could have been done, such as republishing the Series One and Two minicomics, producing minicomic versions of He-Man (two options there as the styles are very different in those series), Beast Man, Trap Jaw and Tri-Klops, and reproducing some of the Obrero artwork. Oh yes, and making Castle Grayskull.

Those are the sort of things that would have made this a proper anniversary, rather than an excuse to sell half a dozen new figures.

Funny thing is, despite all the flack Spector is getting, I actually think he's the best of the bunch by a long way and is the most MOTU-looking of them all.

[Beastmaster]

I find the title of this thread quite contradictive (no insult or disrespect to the posters intended). Here we have Mattel releasing modern He-Man figures based on the first prototypes that were made 30 years ago when they were inventing the line. And here we have people actually requesting other figures that celebrate this 30 year anniversary because the figures that started it all aren't reminiscent of that time?

If they had released a '2.0 He-Man', we would have complained it was too plain for a sdcc exclusive and wanted something extra
If they had released a figure based on the Guerrero sculpt, we would have complained it was just a Vikor-clone
If they had released a regular figure like Modulok, Mosquitor or Ram Man, we would have complained about having a regular figure as exclusive and about how difficult it would be to get.

Poor Mattel, you can't do anything right, can you?

[WDWFreak53]

Scott...

I'm loving this year...and what it has become (except for the delays...and QC problems) but there are two things that I wish could've come out of this year.

1. Another Vehicle. I know...the WindRaider...but tossing out the Battle Ram this year would've been incredible!
2. A playset. I'm not talking Grayskull necessarily...but maybe a smaller one to test the waters. Point Dread...the Slime Pit...something along those lines...even one of the towers of Eternia. Just to see the SKU added and see what the 4H can do with a playset.

And, as far as things that you can't control...solid information that a movie is coming and will begin filming.

Funny thing is, despite all the flack Spector is getting, I actually think he's the best of the bunch by a long way and is the most MOTU-looking of them all.

Of the 4 that have been unveiled...I like him second best. Draego is my favorite...but Spector is growing on me. It's too bad that he couldn't come with a chest insert to cover the spade and all of his weapons though.

[Lord_Of_Destruction]

Guys, I'm honestly not sure what it is your looking for (and please, that is an invitation for exact examples of what it is you mean by a commemorative figure/line cause I think that IS what we are doing).

From where I look we did a lot for the 30th in MOTUC.

1: All new mini comics at no extra charge. Our gift to the fans!

Celebrates adding new content and new art.

Good in concept however the actual result completely changes the original storyline to fit with the new garbled continuity that the fans aren't liking

2: New characters introduced as figures first in the "30th" line

Celebrates the emotion of seeing a figure for the first time as a toy, a very "MOTU" thing.

Again good idea in concept, but the results have mostly failed to do so. Draego Man was largely successful but Photog had mixed reviews (and is not entirely a new character) Sir Laser Lot got lackluster feedback and, face it Scott, The Mighty Spector is just plain hated by the majority of fans. I'm sorry I know your proud of your creation but he just isn't liked and the more he's used in official canon the LESS people will like him.

3: Making things right with Fearlesss Photog

Celebrates the vintage contest and fan requests to make him

This is good. Not everyone likes him but at least most who don't acknowledge it's right that he was made.

4: Making things right by finishing "The Powers of Grayskull" part 2 and 3

Celebrates where the vintage mini comics left off and bringing that into Classics.

But you're not. You rewrote the first part changing a LOT to fit it into the new continuity and the next two parts are not going to be what was intended at all! Aside from the changed plotline and added new characters, from the leaked art it seems He-Ro's death will occur in this story. The original mini comics were supposed to introduce He-Ro so obviously he wasn't going to die! Making it right would have been doing the original plot based on the vintage continuity not completely altering it.

5: Offering a nation wide contest letting fans create an all new character

Celebrates the fans letting one winner create the next toy

another good concept overall assuming the final winner is liked. Probably should have let fans vote on the finalist like in the original contest. Note that Mattel is choosing the winner and one of the qualification parameters is "It must feel like a MOTU character" Well what exactly "feels like a MOTUY character"? Because the biggest argument haters lob against Mighty Spector is he doesn't feel like one.

6: Offering a SDCC item that harkens back to the creations of the brand in a fun collectable way

Celebrates the making of the line

REJECTED concept by guy who doesn't like the brand. Not bad figures but they really don't celebrate the line.

7: Doing the biggest figure ever - Granamyr

Celebrates toys

No complaints. (provided he turns out good)

8: Selling a 2013 sub that includes a fan choice slot with one of the candidates selected by this very site!

Celebrates the future of the line and more fan involvement

Should have done the vote last year so the figure was actually part of the 30th anniversary but that's being nitpicky. Really I think the concern is more that the non-winners will then never get made and there may be some really wanted characters.

9: Offering a lot of vintage line figures in monthly slots including Spikor, Sorceress, Fisto and Mosquitor (among others..)

Celebrates the vintage line's figures

Well... okay but we really should have more core POP characters. Giving us the obscure Star Sisters (who I do like btw) and saying that's your POP for the year is not okay. Unless you're planning to do a whole bunch of them for She-Ra's 30th -but will the line last that long?

10: Revealing key information in bios such as TPHM

Celebrates the Classics line bringing the story into better focus (and just wait until the rest of the 2012 bios are revealed for more!)

The story SUCKS! From day one the bio continuity has been garbled by trying to force contradicting elements into one story and including some of the WORST ideas ever. Yes not everyone will like everything but when you know right off the bat that fans will HATE it. Killing the Sorceress does not expand the story it ****** people off. You aren't taking the storyline further your wrecking what we loved about it. This is most certainly NOT celebrating MOTU.