We would choose the vilains and heroic warriors on the CG box Art!

[Arvulis]

New message from ToyGuru
SOURCE: http://forums.mattycollector.com/eve...787#2101052787

#21: Castle Grayskull

It isn’t just a toy. It’s a pop culture icon. The original Castle Grayskull playset from 1982 has lived on well beyond its “playtime” and truly set the standard for what a toy playset should deliver. From the mysterious skull face to the action packaged throne room dungeon trap, how many of us just spent hours and hours of our childhood lugging that bad boy around playing out countless adventures for He-Man and his pals.
Until recently I never thought a playset could ever come out that would rival the original Castle. While playsets were a hallmark of the ‘80s, in recent years (and decades) we have seen decline in “action figure real estate” for a variety of reasons. But those monster sets of the early ‘80s will always remain lasting icons of an era when muscle-bound warriors ruled the living room, defending freedom and playtime everywhere.

It’s no secret that we’ve wanted the current Masters of the Universe Classics line (available each month on Mattycollector.com!) to become the greatest MOTU line of all time (if not one of the greatest toy lines of all time). Putting out any MOTU line that could even challenge the original is an endeavor unto itself.

But over the last 4 or 5 years, the MOTUC team has really stepped up to the plate and created some of the coolest, most amazing adult collector figures ever made. We’ve covered people, beasts, gorillas, giant dragons and even flying boats. But we haven’t yet gotten to the center piece of them all. The playset.
Well, now the time has come. Fan demand helped it happen, the Hoverboard pre-order sale made it plausible. And now if we hit our minimum order by November 12th, the MOTU fans will do what no other fan base for any toy line has been able to prove- that they ARE big enough to support large playsets and want to see these happen!

We’ve had our presale up for about two weeks now and are getting close. But we can’t close the gap without your help. If you are on the fence about whether or not to buy a Castle Grayskull, let me see if I can talk you over to our side of the yard.

A lot of folks have looked at not just the price, but the actual footprint of the Castle and wondered “where am I even going to put that?” Well, you’ve got a lot of options. We did design the Castle to display as many figures as possible, even adding a third level across the top to attack or defend from below. Some fans have noted they really only want a “Castle façade” to use as a backdrop. If you only want a one-sided façade as a backdrop, simply only assemble the front half of the Castle. Just like the vintage set, our new MOTUC Castle Grayskull swings open and closed. If you have limited shelf space or only want the front side behind your collection, you can simply detach the back half (just like the vintage set) and display only the front half!

But there is another factor to consider.

As a collector myself, I know how valuable “shelf space” is. And finding room for a full Castle Grayskull in your current toy room or man cave (or woman cave!) is often challenging. One thing I would throw out there from my good friends on the Back to the Future brand is to think about this playset “fourth dimensionally.”

This Castle Grayskull isn’t just for now. It isn’t just for tomorrow or even next week. This Castle Grayskull is for the next 30 years.

It really isn’t every day or even every decade that Mattel can offer a MOTU playset. This is a rare thing. (Heck, quite literally, this is only the third Castle in 30 years, so I guess that means we’ve done one a decade at this rate, right?)

But this one is different. This is CLASSICS Castle Grayskull.

This is the one we have all waited for. It is in scale with our 6” figures and chock full of every detail, crammed with accessories, and ideally will be sculpted to perfection soon (once we hit that minimum number of pre-orders on Nov 12th!). And for those a little unsure, it does include ALL of the items shown in the blueprints. We hope to add more, but there won’t be less.

This is the playset “designed to last” for the adult collector. The chance of doing this again or offering anything like this in another way is pretty slim, especially if this one doesn’t go through. Ever since Classics debuted 5 years ago, fans have been asking for this centerpiece. Now is the time.

If you are on the fence, as both the brand manager for MOTU and a fan, I suggest it is time to get off and support this playset. It truly is in the fans’ hands. We can’t make this playset without you. We all want this. We’ve been asking for it for years. Mattel finally found a way to make it happen, but it can only go forward with your support.

You may not have the room to display the Castle today. Personally, I own thousands of toys and for the most part they are in large rubber bins in storage. I simply don’t have room to display everything I own or even want to (especially with a 2 ½ year old at home – small parts and all…). But even before I was lucky enough to land a gig at Mattel as a professional collector (if you will), I’ve always viewed my collection as “one day.” “One day” I know I will be successful enough and have a big enough place to display all my toys, including the proper space for this castle.

But the Castle Grayskull pre-order is now.

Even if you think you lack the proper display space for the Castle right now, keep in mind this playset not only is a bit of a one-time offer, but more importantly, it is going to last. Twenty years from now, even thirty years from now, hopefully we’ll all be looking over our MOTUC collections with joy. Whether or not we’re still offering new monthly figures or not isn’t the key. They key is that even after figures stop coming out, your collection is permanent. You’ll have it as long as you collect. And seriously, who doesn’t want Castle Grayskull to be the centerpiece of that collection?! Years from now, do you not want to have this castle there with all your figures? How incomplete will your collection look if this Castle is missing? Preordering the Castle isn’t just about 2012 or 2013 but for the life of your collection for as long as you want to keep MOTU on display. Years from now, with a “complete” figure set, this playset will be the centerpiece of any collection. Whether you display everything now, or one day intend to have an amazing shelf (shelves?) full of MOTUC toys, this is the time to lock in your Castle Grayskull. This castle isn’t just to display now but to reign proudly over all your toys for decades to come. This playset is going to look amazing. It is going to be everything we all want a Classics Castle to be.

Please help us make this happen. Help your fellow He-Fans make this happen. Offering a 6” scale Castle Grayskull really is a turning point in all of toy collecting. This playset truly could go on to become one of (if not THE) greatest toy made. Think of how iconic the vintage playset still is 30 years later.

Now think of that powered by the detail, paint, sculpting and passion of the Classics line. This is going to be one heck of a toy. It’s the one that will make all your friends jealous, not just for years, but for decades to come. Opportunities like this don’t come around that often and now is the time. Let’s make this happen.

We have the power!

Scott

PS: We are still working on the packaging but hope to have Rudy do another amazing new illustration on what will be a closed box. If we do move forward, one thing we want to do is let fans vote on which 5 good guys and which 5 bad guys will be attacking/defending the Castle on the box front illustration! We hope to involve fans as much as possible along the way on things liike this, but we need to hit that minimum order quota first. So if you are on the fence, now is the time to come on board!

[Crusader]

PS: We are still working on the packaging but hope to have Rudy do another amazing new illustration on what will be a closed box. If we do move forward, one thing we want to do is let fans vote on which 5 good guys and which 5 bad guys will be attacking/defending the Castle on the box front illustration! We hope to involve fans as much as possible along the way on things liike this, but we need to hit that minimum order quota first. So if you are on the fence, now is the time to come on board!

Very cool idea

[Replikor]

very cool news!!! I PRAY MTOUC Castle Grayskull happens, I plan to vote for the iconic core heros an villians.

HeMan
Teela
Man-At-Arms
Ram Man
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
TrapJaw
Merman
BeastMan

[Arvulis]

very cool news!!! I PRAY MTOUC Castle Grayskull happens, I plan to vote for the iconic core heros an villians.

HeMan
Teela
Man-At-Arms
Ram Man
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
TrapJaw
Merman
BeastMan

For me it would be:

HeMan
Teela
Man-At-Arms
Ram Man
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
TrapJaw
Merman
BeastMan


arf....... the same than Replikor lol

[Crusader]

very cool news!!! I PRAY MTOUC Castle Grayskull happens, I plan to vote for the iconic core heros an villians.

HeMan
Teela
Man-At-Arms
Ram Man
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
TrapJaw
Merman
BeastMan

I agree, although I would replace Zodac with Stratos and Evil-Lyn with Whiplash

[Replikor]

For me it would be:

HeMan
Teela
Man-At-Arms
Ram Man
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
TrapJaw
Merman
BeastMan


arf....... the same than Replikor lol

Great minds think alike! lol

[Arvulis]

Orko should be there or not?

[Krueger]

I would really want at least one Filmation character on there. But seeing as it’s only five each, I can understand why that won’t happen. I’d just go for the most famous ones:

He-Man
Teela
Man At Arms
Ram-Man
Man-E-Faces

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
Beastman
Trap-Jaw
Tri-Klops

[Whiplash7]

Great post by Scott. I don't want to think about 30 years from now though...I'll be an old man.

As for the characters, 8-back with maybe a couple of the 12-back figures (ie: Evil-Lyn). They are the most worthy.

I would choose:
He-Man
Battle Cat
Teela
Stratos
Man-at-Arms

Skeletor
Beast Man
Mer-Man
Evil-Lyn

Zodac as a wild card.

[Krueger]

Orko should be there or not?

Actually, I think he should. I would love to see a Obrero drawn Orko.

[Replikor]

I gotta say tho, I wish there were 6 evil warrior slots as I think that would hit it 100% perfect. If we had 5 heros an 6 villians I would vote for...

HeMan
Teela
Man-At-Arms
Ram Man
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
TrapJaw
Triklops
Merman
BeastMan

...it was a major tossup for me on either triklops or merman.

[wayneepoo]

For the good guys, He-Man, Man-At-Arms, Teela, Stratos, and Ram Man.

For the bad guys, I really think there has to be six....Skeletor, Beast Man, Mer-Man, Trap Jaw, Tri-Klops, and Evil-Lyn....I don't want Tri-Klops to be left out as he's my fave evil warrior!

[iron_pride]

I would have to go:

He-Man
Man-At-Arms
Stratos
Teela
Ram Man

Skeletor
Beast Man
Trap Jaw
Mer-Man
Zodac (in a neutral looking role but he's gotta be there as an original)

[H.A.L.9000]

im thinking
he-man
teela
maa
stratos
zodac

skeletor
beastman
evillyn
triklops
merman

thats my pick

[oulala]

I don't care who else is on it but I really want She-ra to be on it alongside with He-man. It would help solidify the idea that the MOTUC line is all inclusive. And I always dreamt as a kid to see a cool barbarian She-ra painted on one of the box art of the MOTU toys.

Have her somewhere on the box! that's all that I'm asking! I do think a lot of other POP characters might look out of place if it's as dark as the original Castle Grayskull box art, but She-ra MUST be there!

[MOTU_Maniac]

I would vote:

He-Man
Man-At-Arms
Teela
Ram-Man
Sorceress

Skeletor
Beast Man
Evil-Lyn
Trap-Jaw
Mer-Man

[Orko's Magic Hat]

Vykron
Wun-Dar
Spector
Laser-Lot
Carnivus

Keldor
Draego man
Demo Man
Cy-Chop
....


















Only joking

Definitely the main cast

He-Man
MAA
Teela
Stratos
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil-Lyn
Beastman
Mer-Man
Trap-Jaw

[davidlogan]

I think it would be awesome to showcase the original Defenders of Grayskull VS All the major villains united.

Of course an argument could be made to replace Zodac with Stratos.

He-Man
Teela
Man-At-Arms
Ram Man
Zodac

Skeletor
Evil Lyn
Hordak
King Hiss
Flogg

[KUZEH]

Mine are:

He-Man w/Battle Cat
Teela
MAA
Stratos
Castle Grayskullman


Skeletor
Evil-Lyn
Trap-Jaw
Beastman
Merman

[ByThePowerOf...]

Come on guys the Sorceress has to be included, if not at least ZOAR!

[Pravus Prime]

I'd like Skeletor to be defending the Castle, like in the original box art.

[RyDell]

Skeletor
Mer-Man
Beastman
Trap Jaw
Evil Lyn

vs.

He-Man
Maa
Teela
Ram-Man
Man-E-Faces

I could live with Zodac as well!

[Spitfire]

He-Man (given) on Battle Cat
Master-at-Arms (gvien)
Teela (given)
Sorceress
Castle Grayskullman (longshot, but would be cool as hell, and let you know the pictured battle is totally ragingly epic).

Skeletor (given)
Evil Lyn (given)
Beast Man (given)
Tri-Klops or Trap-Jaw (toss-up for me)
Mer-Man (my MAN!)

Some longshots that really showcase MOTUC highlights for me would be: Fisto, Castle Grayskullman, or Draego Man.
I think 3/5 for both Villains and Heroes are a given, the fighting will be over 2 slots.

[charliecore]

I like the idea of the Sorceress to be involved, perhaps standing atop on one of the castles or even in the eye on the facade...as for the good guys:

He-Man
Man-at-Arms
Teela
Stratos
The Mighty Spector

Villains:
Skeletor
Evil-Lyn
Trap Jaw
Beastman
Mer-Man

Who doesn't belong, LOL?

[NorthCoast]

Awesome post! Thanks for the heads up Arvulis!

Scott makes some great points! If you don't have room now, that doesn't mean you won't down the road! But you only have ONE chance at Castle Grayskull! MAKE IT COUNT!

Now for the box art...

He-Man
Teela
Man-at-Arms
Stratos
Ram Man

Skeletor
Beast Man
Mer-Man
Evil-Lyn
Trap Jaw