Chances of NECA doing MOTU action figures not 100% dead yet!!!

From the Big Q&A thread at the Four Horsemen message board:

Originally Posted by Val

If NECA was to take over for Mattel, it would be the equivalent of admitting failure... which doesn't give faith to investors or consumers in Mattel's ability to handle a line.
In addition to that, if NECA was successful with the line, it would definitely make Mattel look even worse.

That's just my guess, though. I have nothing to back that up other than my own analysis.

Originally Posted by 4HM

We'd say you're pretty darned close, but all of that could be changing in the future. Keep your fingers crossed.

And from further in the thread:

Originally Posted by unknown poster

With the right spin, the investors will love it. It would be called "product line outsourcing", all the reward, none of the risk. If Mattel would rig the license correctly, they would be able to make the same profit per figure that they had made before, but they wouldn't have to pay their design people, etc. It would be a net gain for them.

Originally Posted by Val

See, now that just makes too much sense.
We can't be doing creative things like that in a big company.
It's red tape or bust.

Originally Posted by 4HM

Not to mention, we've tried that approach. Needless to say, it didn't work. Certain circumstances have changed recently though. All hope may not be dead just yet.

And even further down:

Originally Posted by Dr. Omega

Whoa, whoa, whoa.. waitaminnit.. are you actually saying that there is still hope, even if slim, that the 4H could actually get the license from Mattel and manufacture MOTU figures?

Originally Posted by 4HM

We wouldn't say that there's hope. Maybe that there's the possibility of hope, but even that's VERY slim. We're talking about looking into it now.

I, as I'm sure 99% of the people here do, wish that this actually does come true. I'm just glad to know that there's even the smallest glimmer of hope still alive.

God this thread was hard to write with all that quoting. I sure hope it turns out like I planned.

I'm connecting the dots and I like what I see.

HOWEVER, it's like 4H said, "it's a slim hope." (or something like that)

It would be nice to have figures back, but I think I'd want my cake and eat it too. As in, I would want the Staction line to continue alongside the action figure line. Maybe making the Staction line have some old favorites (He-Man, Skeletor, She-Ra, etc.) while the action figures just continues on with new versions of Hordak and so on.

Now I'm rambling.

Anywhoo, I'll keep my skeptic hat until we start to hear more definite proof. I would advise everyone to do that too.

~W~

Odd that they cut my original post out... I'm the one who wanted to spin it that way

Here's hoping they can pull it off...

Originally Posted by thew40

Anywhoo, I'll keep my skeptic hat until we start to hear more definite proof. I would advise everyone to do that too.

Definately. I'm just posting it as I read it. However, it was straight from the horse's mouth that there is a slim hope.

Originally Posted by ash

Odd that they cut my original post out... I'm the one who wanted to spin it that way

Huh? Who cut out your post? Me? The 4HM? If it was me, I apologize.

Originally Posted by dorrmann

Definately. I'm just posting it as I read it. However, it was straight from the horse's mouth that there is a slim hope.



Huh? Who cut out your post? Me? The 4HM? If it was me, I apologize.

I'm the "unknown poster"

The 4HM must have cut it when they responded to the rest of the questions

It's nice to hear there's still a possibility.

However slim it is. The Four Horsemen don't give up so easy, me thinks.


.

Originally Posted by ash

I'm the "unknown poster"

The 4HM must have cut it when they responded to the rest of the questions

Gotcha. Actually, it was Val who quoted you there. Blame it on the boss!

It would be awesome if it could happen, but I highly doubt it. But only time will tell, and its good to have hope alive!

GR81 says:

Hmmm... as mush as i wish for it to come true, i doupt it. Think about it for a second. If there was really a chance, why would they talk about it when they know it would hurt their current straction line since i am pretty sure people would stop buying them for action figures.... UNLESS they tell us that if they are able to make action figures, they will do so for the rest of the non produced stractions.

Etheir way, their passion for MOTU will never die and they will always fight the good fight

I would love it if this was true...But we can only hope

That would be great but I will try not to get my hopes up. If the 4H were able to get the license to make figures, I think they should keep in mind that there has now been a long period of inactivity for the He-man line. To attract new fans as well as pull back old fans that have given up, it will probably be necessary to start off the line with the big guns. In other words, the line would probably have a much better chance of succeding if the first wave has He-man and Skeletor.

Originally Posted by theogriz

That would be great but I will try not to get my hopes up. If the 4H were able to get the license to make figures, I think they should keep in mind that there has now been a long period of inactivity for the He-man line. To attract new fans as well as pull back old fans that have given up, it will probably be necessary to start off the line with the big guns. In other words, the line would probably have a much better chance of succeding if the first wave has He-man and Skeletor.

They can start with King Grayskull and Keldor as the Nameless One.
Oh how good it is to dream.

I believe it when something's really in production.

These new circumstances the 4H speak of....well, I wonder if it has something to do with the movie.

This is great news!!!! Okay the door is not closed just yet it's just ever so slightly ajar. Thanks guys for the information.

Originally Posted by Tallstar

These new circumstances the 4H speak of....well, I wonder if it has something to do with the movie.

Nope.
But we're all waiting to know what those new circumstances may produce in the future.
Keep in mind, we don't want to spark false hope, it may not change anythign at all: this has nothing to do with MOTU specifically, there is nothing in production, neither I think anyone else at Mattel is discussing the future of MOTU right now.
But some new circumstaces may be positive or negative for us.
Think like nothing happend and wait and see what will came up

Originally Posted by Emiliano

Think like nothing happend and wait and see what will came up

Me thinks this is sound advice.

Yea if figures were going to be produced I’d likely get rid of my stanctions

Well, it is a SLIM chance, but a chance none the less.

IF this does happen, I just wonder if they will go and redo all of the existing stactions into action figures? I kind of hope so. On the one hand, I've already bought all of the stactions that have come out so far and to rebuy them again would be kind of a pain. But on the other hand, I would love to get these characters (particularly Hordak) in a nice, articulated, posable form. My only conern is that if the 4HM were to go into making an action figure line at this point, they would start only with characters that were not released at all in ANY form thus far (action figure or staction). If this were the case, it would mean that they would focus on characters that have not been previously released, and if the line were to not survive long enough to get them back to articulating the existing staction figures, then we will end up getting articulated versions of lesser characters that aren't as important to the mythos like Ninjor or Extendar, but we would be stuck with a Hordak that can't move, and he is a pretty major character in the overall mythos.

And just to clarify, I do not mean to knock those smaller character nor anyone who is fans of them. I hope they call get released in the long run, too, but if they all can't be made into action figures, then I am more conerned about getting proper versions of the more primary characters than of these obscure characters that came out later in the line and had little to no effect on the overall mythos. I am glad that we have the stactions and I am thrilled to have Hordak and all of the rest of the characters in ANY form, but to me action figure form would be much more preferable than staction form.

Originally Posted by Emiliano

Nope.
But we're all waiting to know what those new circumstances may produce in the future.
But some new circumstaces may be positive or negative for us.

Wha.. huh..? You know of these odd kind of circumstances just popping out of the blue, Emiliano?? I know that you've worked with both Mattel and the 4H in particular, and closely on the staction-line, but... who told you?? The 4H??

I'll save my excitement for something a bit more official, but this is a juicy tidbit. But still, so much MOTU gets the go-and-stop treatment (figures, large-scale statues, microbusts, mini-busts) that it seems like my collection is never going to be as complete as my classic collection of just simply action figures. I would love new figures, but have been concentrating solely on stactions and if figures get made by NECA the stactions would probably stop and I'm sure I just speak for myself- but it all gets a little frustrating for this collector. I would be happiest now if they just stuck to one thing only.

Originally Posted by zodak74

I'll save my excitement for something a bit more official, but this is a juicy tidbit. But still, so much MOTU gets the go-and-stop treatment (figures, large-scale statues, microbusts, mini-busts) that it seems like my collection is never going to be as complete as my classic collection of just simply action figures. I would love new figures, but have been concentrating solely on stactions and if figures get made by NECA the stactions would probably stop and I'm sure I just speak for myself- but it all gets a little frustrating for this collector. I would be happiest now if they just stuck to one thing only.

I see your point. It does get annoying with each incarnation of the characters being so brief and temporary. The Mattel action figure line died off, then the stactions took their place to continue the line but they aren't quite the same thing, and now this.

Though at this point, if they could do action figures, I would prefer them to switch to that and STICK with it, since I already have such a large collection of the Mattel figures. The stactions are cool, and I will continue to buy them if that is all that we get, but figures would be nice. I just hope that if they are going to go the route of action figures, that they would do it soon, so that we don't have to rebuy all of the upcoming wave 2, 3, and 4 stactions in action figure form (I know its probably too late to beat wave 2, but not the rest). That would just be annoying. I know that we can't do much about wave 1, but I'd be willing to cut that off as a loss or whatever at this point if it meant having action figures instead. Most of the stactions were based on the designs for what would have been action figures anyway, so adapting them accordingly wouldn't be that hard for the 4HM to do. And that way, since most everyone's collection are likely made up primarily for the Mattel action figures, these would be an even better compliment/continuation of that than the stactions currently are.

Unfortunately there is no 100% perfect solution to this issue. I think most people (not all, but most) would rather have the action figure line continue in some form, and so having NECA and the 4HM make action figures would be a great solution. But, then that becomes an issue for those who prefer the stactions, and also for most everyone who has already purchased the stactions regardless of their preference. But given all of the negatives that have surrounded the MOTU brand for a while now, this is a nice positive. I hope they move on this soon. With the 80s MOTU series being released on DVD now, this would be a great time to start releasing a new figure line and get people interested in it all over again.

Guys, please, listen to us before speculating so much.
I'll will go in those problems too, but later on, if I have time.

But, again, keep in mind, the change of circumstances has nothing to do with MOTU, neither it means someone is working on any MOTU related project at Mattel.
The change of circumstaces may leads to a new scenario where it would be possible to reopen the possibility of a new hope.
But at this point it's just speculation even for us and the 4H.
We will wait and see if te new scenario will bring something good for the MOTU brand, but right now it's completely unrelated.

Maybe, some higher-up who was a big part of many problems finally has left Mattel or got fired?
(uuuh, I see rumors spreading)

i would love to have the action figures again, but the mini statues are great for me and if something happens down the road great, if not, ill still be happy with the statues.