WTFWTK 2.84 - Ask your questions here!

[JVS3]

Rules for What The Fans Want To Know:

• Each user is limited to 1 question per Q&A.
• Posts that repeat questions from other Q&As or from earlier in this thread, or posts that contain multiple questions, will be deleted and the offending user will no longer be permitted to participate in that particular Q&A. So check to see if your question has been asked and help everyone out!
  Be sure to check the posts in this thread before you, as well as previous Q&A sessions!
• This is for question submission only; not discussion. Please save that for discussion threads, and Q&A answer threads.
• We will start a new Q&A thread when it is time for more questions, approximately every 2 weeks. So please don't start new Q&A threads.

We will pick up to 5 questions we feel might get answers at that time. Please do not take offense to your question not being asked.
Also, we also edit questions to make them more concise, to be more specific, etc. Please take no offense to this either, as it's only meant to help.
It's nothing personal.

***Important note: Mattel has limited the questions to 5 from each site who submits Q&As.

Previous WTFWTK sessions (questions and Mattel answers):
2.1
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
2.7
2.8
2.9
2.10
2.11
2.12
2.13
2.14
2.15
2.16
2.17
2.18
2.19
2.20
2.21
2.22
2.23
2.24
2.25
2.26
2.27
2.28
2.29
2.30
2.31
2.32
2.33
2.34
2.35
2.36
2.37
2.38
2.39
2.40
2.41
2.42
2.43
2.44
2.45
2.46
2.47
2.48
2.49
2.50
2.51
2.52
2.53
2.54
2.55
2.56
2.57
2.58
2.59
2.60
2.61
2.62
2.63
2.64
2.65
2.66
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2.71
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2.73
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2.75
2.76
2.77
2.78
2.79
2.80
2.81
2.82

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This past round of questions were selected by Firefly.
Thanks to that fan for their help!!!

The questions that were asked in the previous Q&A & will be answered in a couple weeks as follows (please do not repeat them, or questions from previous Q&As):

1. Neo: Not trying to beat a dead horse here but the new comic introduces new redesigns for the characters. Mattel previously stated they wanted a unified look for the masters characters, which was a reason to exclude grizzlors extra head and the reason for a specific look in the styleguide. So I really want to understand why these new comic redesigns are okay.

2. Niki: In the second POG minicomic on page 7 in the last panel there is a character who resembles Calix from the MYP cartoon. Is that him or is it a new character?

3. Tundra Torque: With regards to the toy engineering, could anything be done for future beasts with wings to have the wings snap in easier? It is very difficult to attach wings to Swift Wind and the Griffin.

4. Kevenn: When discussions for Mantenna take place, is it possible that he can come with two sets of upper body armors - one to reflect his vintage action figure in red & orange, and the other to re-create his Filmation look in black and purple?

5. wundarwarrior: Does Zodak's brother Zeelar have a place in the Classics continuity? I don't believe he is mentioned in the bios. If so did he get eaten by Hssss? Also, he would be an easy figure to produce and an appropriate figure to put an unmasked Zodak head with.

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So ask those questions!

[Nemisythe]

My question is:

Since there now seems to be an attempt to get more media based on MOTU out there, has the thought of Books / Novels been considered?

It seems to have worked for franchises like Star Wars and it has pretty much added as an alternative in keeping the franchise out there and moving it along when there wasn't the prequels and clone wars.

[TheFallen]

As Brand Manager for MOTUC, does Scott have any say in the DC Comics limited comic series or is this being managed by someone else/another department?

[chosen1heath]

I keep hearing that Ram Man has no shared or reusable parts, for instance in the recent USA today article. I have been thinking for a while, this doesn't have to be so. Rotar and Twistoid both have similar heads to Ram Man. You could somehow make it so that Two Bad and Ram Man share a torso as well. I know I am no toy designer, but I think it could be done. All of these figures have the same sorts of problems that Rammy has, but I know the four horsemen and the genius designers that have brought us the Griffin with shared parts and are giving us a Granymyr as well could use these suggestions for shared parts to help keep down the costs and still deliver great toys!

[midor]

After seeing Frosta in The Mighty Spector's arms doe The Mighty Spector take here to the time of King He-Man and raise a family?

[onthoofder]

Jitsu vs ninjor question: Are Jitsu & Ninjor from the same 'realm' or in any way related to eachother? Personally I would love a sort of rivalry between them based on the different 'state of mind' between samurai & ninja. (Jitsu being the samurai-like warrior and ninjor the... well... ninja The samurai code of behaviour was based on the avoidance of 'shame': the honor of the samurai was never to be compromised by his behaviour: face to face battles, bravery, honor etc.. were to be displayed at all times. The ninja on the other hand used any means to get the job done: secrecy, stealth,... in short: to endure shame in order to succeed. Just like the ways of the ninja were highly looked down apon by samurai class, I can imagine a very similar rivalry between Jitsu and Ninjor. Stuff for the bios?

[Firefly]

In your last Director's Commentary about the Green Goddess, you mention "There certainly are characters we don’t want immortalized in plastic." Which characters are these? For an inclusive line, I was a bit surprised by the comment. It would be nice if we could at least get a couple of examples.

[Sword-of-Grayskull]

Scott, at the NYCC '11 fan panel, I asked you if Snake MAA would come with armor for the right-side of his body to recreate the Filmation look. You answered that the armor would instead come in the next weapons pack. This year's SDCC has revealed a weapons pack that does not contain armor for the right side of either MAA figure. Why was the idea scrapped for this weapons pack?

[CaptainMendoc]

Will the 2013 sub have options for United Kingdom customers to pay the customs fee due on their packages? All imported packages to the UK exceeding £15 in value (approximately $25) are subject to customs fees. If the customs fees are not paid in advance the British company Parcel Force levies us a handling charge of either £8 or £13.50. Since this could mean unnecessary handling charges of up to £162 next year ($250 dollars approx) this is one of the most important factors for many UK customers who are deciding whether to subscribe to Club Eternia for 2013.

[Shecky]

In light of some of the news coming out today at SDCC, here's my question:

Could you please clarify the issue regarding Club Subscribers having early access to non-subscription products? On the sign-up page for Club Eternia, it's stated that Club Members will have the chance to purchase non-sub products regardless of brand, which is a great perk for items not available in the regular sub. However, just a few paragraphs later it's implied that Club Eternia members will also have the chance to purchase regular sub items before the standard day of sale, which contradicts the earlier statement.

Thanks!

Regards,
Victor P.

[sailoruranus]

I understand that plans are constantly changing, but through what year does the MOTUC map currently extend?

[nanoFatato]

Given the high percentage of flaws on clear plastic parts like Roboto's torso cracking, Photog's lens and Goddess' hips, do you changed something in the molding/assembling process to avoid these kind of things? The announce of Terry Higuchi's character Cy-Chop with his clear torso makes me worry.

[Staff Of Ka]

Does Netossas cape count as an accessory? if so do we also count He-Ros,Randors,Scare glows,Marzos,Faceless Ones,BG Evil Lyns,Keldors and Carnivus's Capes as accessories?

[Scorpia]

You've done brilliantly at responding to fan requests for repainted features (eg. the Griffin's wings, Faceless One's face, Snake MAA's features). The reaction to Frosta's hair being translucent and the greyish-white on her outfit has been resoundingly poor. Any chance you could address those issues before she's released?

[carafa]

Any chance for the 30 th figures to be reissued on 2013?
I couldn't buy them during this year,for expensive cost I have for keep going with my 2012 sub

[wundarwarrior]

Since the slots for beasts and variants have been cut down, do you know how many items will be sold outside the sub this year? Just looking at the prices for those slots there is only one potential price point, $50, that could be a beast. So will more items be sold outside the sub than in previous years or will it just be leaned down all year? Thanks.

[slackrguy]

Which of the SDCC reveals should have finished samples to display at Powercon?

[vertigoink]

In the interest of fairness and we the fans following that Mattel expects us to adhere to the rules of the CAC contest and NOT show designs that were entered, what plans have you and Mattel made to deal with the situation created by the Gangstor runner-up posting his design in February which violates the rules?

[Swanmarsh]

In the vintage 'The Ultimate Background' mini-comic it was established that The Ancients 'banded together and cast a great spell' to sink the Eternia Towers. In the new He-Ro Unleashed mini Eldor sinks the Towers himself using his spell book and He-Ro's staff. A lot was simplified down to fit in the 8 pages of the new mini-comic but can you advise, did the Ancients join Eldor in sinking the Tower (off panel) and are the three Ancients depicted in the original mini-comic potential MOTUC figures?

[zodak74]

Many fans are thrilled to be receiving Netossa as a MOTUC figure, but are puzzled by a few things. Why the lack of accessories beyond the repainted She-Ra shield? Her cape, while it is a net (that won't actually function like the classic toy), is A CAPE. It seems she should get a repainted Goddess spear or the Bubble Power She-Ra sword in her colors as an additional weapon. Also, her costume ends up looking really bland as is. Surely you have seen how striking the original Netossa looks. Any chance of some silver highlights on the skirt, on the wrist cuffs... something to make her more visually interesting? It's sadly another case of the Four Horsemen sticking too closely to the Filmation styleguide looks for PoP and leaving out the more interesting aspects of their original toy designs.

[vertigoink]

Many fans are thrilled to be receiving Netossa as a MOTUC figure, but are puzzled by a few things. Why the lack of accessories beyond the repainted She-Ra shield? Her cape, while it is a net (that won't actually function like the classic toy), is A CAPE. It seems she should get a repainted Goddess spear or the Bubble Power She-Ra sword in her colors as an additional weapon. Also, her costume ends up looking really bland as is. Surely you have seen how striking the original Netossa looks. Any chance of some silver highlights on the skirt, on the wrist cuffs... something to make her more visually interesting? It's sadly another case of the Four Horsemen sticking too closely to the Filmation styleguide looks for PoP and leaving out the more interesting aspects of their original toy designs.

In all fairness Z7, blaming the 4H without any basis or total speculation is absolutely uncalled for.

[kylun flac]

Can we get the armor for Rattlor?
The armor is an important piece that distinguishes him as a General & separates his look from the generic snake men.
If not an extra 200x head please consider the 200x armor.

[zodak74]

In all fairness Z7, blaming the 4H without any basis or total speculation is absolutely uncalled for.

It's not like this is kindergarten and I called them a nasty name. Each time we question a particular design decision, 98% of the time we are told "we leave these decisions to the Four Horsemen". So, if I'm wrong in this case I'm sure ToyGuru will clarify if/when he gets to this answer

[whbinder]

The Fighting Foe Men are awesome and have nice looks to mirror their vehicles and the original Revell box art. Since vehicles are not as likely to be made often, is there any chance talks between Mattel and Revell could result in a re-release of those classic models so we could have a DIY Talon Fighter, Roton and Attak-Trak for our Fighting Foe Men?

[RichieRich]

Congrats on a successful SDCC 2012. Castle Grayskullman was a great CAC winner and fits in perfectly with the line. Great choice.

The runnerups were all extremely well done, especially Bubblor and Major Header. Any possibility of some of the runner ups sneaking into the line at some point?