Animal Warriors of the Kingdom / Spero Toys

WHAT'S UP?
To ensure the highest quality, the tooling on the chest molds is being modified so the butterfly joints function perfectly. While this means we won’t have final products shipped to backers and available for sale at Legions Con as shared in the previous Sept. 11 update, we will have production samples on display for attendees to see firsthand. This adjustment, though a little frustrating, was an anticipated risk based on our experience with Series One, Wave One figures, and it will result in better, longer-lasting articulation.
REPTILES PRODUCTION
During final checks, the factory noted that the scale textures weren’t quite deep enough to hold up in production. Dan Mitchell has meticulously reworked every texture to match the quality of our prototypes and paint masters. Meanwhile, Mark O’Byrne is finalizing the articulation files so the factory can move straight into tooling—keeping us on track for a smooth production phase.
OUR ADJUSTED DELIVERY TIMELINE


Brawlers: Our project manager Dave has confirmed the plan to have these figures completed ahead of the annual trek home the factory workers take for Spring Festival / Chinese New Year around mid-January.


Reptiles: Obviously, that new Brawler estimated delivery timeline is a significant delay. At this point, we need to get through the Brawlers then properly assess where this puts the rest of the Kickstarter figures. As much as we can control it, we don't want to underestimate another timeline, so we'll keep you updated once things are clearer. But short of giving another date at this time, please note that we're working with Dave and factory to find ways to optimize work on the rest of the Kickstarter figures. Essentially, we've landed on a production plan that visually works out like something below. We know it's vague, but we thought it makes sense to share to help communicate what we're working through over here.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
From their last Kickstarter update. I believe the first part is referring to the Brawlers and their butterfly joints. So those are looking to have those finished by mid-January. And then the Reptiles are after that. And then the Speedsters. And then the ladies. So...maybe all of those won't be done till the end of next year.

A very vague flowchart.

f925ef052615a097f1acbbf4ab67aea3_original.png


I went All-In on this KS. I regret it because frankly I'm running out of room. I really like their ape and cat figures and wanted to keep supporting the line. But if all these waves come to fruition...it's gonna be a lot of stuff. And things like lizardmen have now been done by other companies, like Savage Crucible. Delays happen and I've backed enough Kickstarters (and Mythic Legions preorders) to know you just have to kinda forget about these things until they ship. It's reminding me of my backing of the Plunderlings. Loved their first wave. Kinda had a bit of FOMO mixed with wanting to continue supporting them, and then I'm regretting continuing the follow up campaign. Although, I have more interest in this second round of AWOK then I did with the Plunderstrongs/longs.
 
What happened to the plunderlings. They were everywhere in the toy scene and I totally forgot about them until you just mentioned.
 
altcunningham said:
What happened to the plunderlings. They were everywhere in the toy scene and I totally forgot about them until you just mentioned.
Click to expand...
Releases slowed way down (not sure why). And also - they were a total fad toy. They were fun and cute and well-made and unique, but also didn't really mean anything to anyone. So once they weren't novel anymore.... folks just kind of stopped talking about them.
 
I skipped the plunderlings after hemming and hawing about jumping on the first kickstarter. Glad they turned out to be a good set of figures but II don't have much fomo with them.

I wonder if BBTS will get the new Spero stuff as it's released or all at once. I found the apes and cats long, long after the kickstarter and got arguably more than I should have from the line, but I'm just casually interested in their upcoming stuff, which is to say I'd preorder 2-3 from BBTS if I thought they'd ship next year or so.
 
the first Plunderlings were a fun concept and well executed figure. They expanded their line’s universe with Plunderlongs (tall guys) and Plunderstrongs (big hulk types). While that campaign did well enough, the designs just dont have that cute appeal. They also have some bird guys planned. And something else I cant remember. I love the first figures but subsequent designs just dont have the same appeal.

i do hope the company keeps at it and finds their audience. always nice to see another player in the industry succeed especially with a brand new original IP. instead of the same licenses over and over again.
 
I think with Plunderlings they fundamentally misunderstood the appeal of the product.

Plunderlings felt like their own species, you can have individual named ones but collectively they are “the Plunderlings”

Plunderlong and Plunderstrong felt like their own guys. They are not “the Plunderlongs and the Plunderstrongs” they are “Plunderlong and Plunderstrong, two guys who are bigger Plunderlings”

I imagine most people army built Plunderlings to have a fun little rainbow goblin horde, but then cherry picked the Longs and Strongs to get the one or two “characters” they liked best.

They also weren’t as well made as the Plunderlings proper so it’s been a long time since something “great” has come from the brand, everyone got their couple of big guys found out there wasn’t a lot to do with them, and then that was that…

It’s going to be the same with the birds, the frogs, I can’t imagine that Iguana thing being worth whatever they’ll have to charge for it… when all they needed to do was just release the Pink and Yellow Plunderlings!
 
I'll be getting at least 1 bird and at least 1 frog. I currently have 2 plunderlings, but none of the others.
 
I had preordered Gresch The Jungle Shadow (the chameleon warrior guy) in April of 2024, initial delivery was supposed to be December of 2024, now it's saying 4th quarter of 2025.
 
Definitely weird how much Spero has seemed to drop off on being able to get their stuff out. I mean, I've been saying since the GIANT debacle I had with them that they're incredibly poorly-managed on every level. But.. wowzers.
 
I believe the owner suffered a house fire. So I'm sure that took away some of his energy and ability. I think they're last Kickstarter just had too much product in it. It was essentially 2-3+ years of releases in one campaign. Probably would have been better to split it up.
 
I think it was his home office or an exterior building - not his main home - based on a post I saw from another small toy producer. Not that dealing with that isn't bad of course.

They had another wave of feline and other figures as well which I have been waiting on - and I also have an open order from Oct 2024 that was supposed to be ready Dec 2024. Has any new product shipped this year?
 
With no disrespect intended to Jason: Was the Chinese factory inside his house/home office?
If not, I suspect it's not necessarily the BEST reason (not that he's publicly used that as a reason) for why everything is moving at a glacial pace for AWOK.
 
Having had my entire house burn down and still needing to work while I put my life back together again, I have tons of sympathy for anyone else who goes through it, but I suspect the slow-down is the same thing that slows down every other kickstarter or small business project. Everything takes three times as long as you think it will til you get started, even if you've done it before. Basically unless someone has Hasbro or Mattel money, I just assume it'll take two years longer than they say in their fundraising phase. If someone needs to use crowdfunding to kick a project off I automatically add 24 months to the expected date and then just let it be a pleasant surprise when it actually ships.
 
Yes, except AWOK has already shipped tons of product. Multiple waves of 4" figures, then a wave of the deluxe 4" figures, then I think two waves of the 6" figures? In addition to having prototypes for a whole new line AND more figures for the current line. At one point they were moving at a decent pace and getting their legs, and then it feels like someone slammed the brakes.

Which, especially with the relative silence from Spero, can start to feel like a funding issue. Which, for a small company like Spero, is going to start making people with outstanding orders nervous. It's always a dangerous game to just leave people wondering and speculating.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top