Mattel DC Figures

Damien said:
Probably a Batman head. Haha.
Click to expand...

You jest, but you’re probably not wrong.

Although - that right arm looks suspiciously like it has an action feature, so maybe the head doesn’t flip, but gets pushed down to activate the ‘hammering action’…
 
I am so hyped right now for the upcoming Mattel DC product. Both kids and Collector. Having these MOTU Chronicle figures in hand just makes me so excited and hopeful for what Mattel can offer for DC this time around.

I was just thinking about it today as I got some orders in for some of the upcoming McFarlane figures as we wrap up that collection, and as I posed some of these MOTU Chronicles figures I recently got in for the upcoming Masters of the Universe film.

And I do have to say, I really like McFarlanes DC figures and have enjoyed them. Something I've always liked about them was how they feel in hand. Very sturdy and quality. But because of that sturdiness, they aren't always the best for posing and play. Even though Todd's figures have a decent amount of articulation, some things hinder the movement and poseability. Enter these MOTU Chronicle figures, that pose and move so smoothly and effortlessly and are so fun to mess with and play with.

DC figures on these Chronicle style bodies will be epic. It just has me really excited.

I do have a question though. The kids line figures we saw for DC, are they supposed to be the same height and articulation as the MOTU Kids Core line, or are they a bit bigger? Or do we even know for sure?
 
Super Camel said:
I do have a question though. The kids line figures we saw for DC, are they supposed to be the same height and articulation as the MOTU Kids Core line, or are they a bit bigger? Or do we even know for sure?
Click to expand...

The DC figures we've seen are the 'Basic' level figures for the 6" DC line. So they're still 6" - they're just less articulated. Think of it more like the difference between WWE Basics vs. WWE Elites and not like the difference between MOTU Core and MOTU Chronicles.
 
Super Camel said:
I do have a question though. The kids line figures we saw for DC, are they supposed to be the same height and articulation as the MOTU Kids Core line, or are they a bit bigger? Or do we even know for sure?
Click to expand...

Absolutely no idea - they seem to be the same, but no telling until reviewers get their hands on them and start making comparisons.
 
I thought they said the size at Toy Fair, but I couldn't remember. I remember now all of us talking about the fact the scale of the kids line for DC would match the adult collector's line just with less articulation, kind of like Mattel's WWE line now that you say that, Damien.

I had forgot about that though and started thinking maybe they were going to uniform scales/sizes between the kids and adult lines for MOTU, TMNT, and DC. So, that's why I was wondering if the DC figures for the kids line would be more like the current MOTU kids stuff.
 
Super Camel said:
I had forgot about that though and started thinking maybe they were going to uniform scales/sizes between the kids and adult lines for MOTU, TMNT, and DC. So, that's why I was wondering if the DC figures for the kids line would be more like the current MOTU kids stuff.
Click to expand...
I think the issue with MOTU is that they wanted to come out of the gate able to make those big vehicles -and- a castle, and that was not going to work with a 6.5" scaled low-articulation line. They had to go smaller. Otherwise, they very well might have gone with Core and Chronicles being the same scale but different articulation and paint - like DC.
 
Damien said:
I think the issue with MOTU is that they wanted to come out of the gate able to make those big vehicles -and- a castle, and that was not going to work with a 6.5" scaled low-articulation line. They had to go smaller. Otherwise, they very well might have gone with Core and Chronicles being the same scale but different articulation and paint - like DC.
Click to expand...
Which also makes me wonder if vehicles are on the table for the DC line. Although they've managed to get WWE vehicles out there at reasonable price points, so I'd imagine the basic line will find a way to make at least a Batmobile available. And with the basic line being more themed and stylized, there might also be room for original items like themed smaller vehicles (motorcycles, wacky GL construct vehicles, maybe even mech suits).
 
secondwhiteline said:
Which also makes me wonder if vehicles are on the table for the DC line. Although they've managed to get WWE vehicles out there at reasonable price points, so I'd imagine the basic line will find a way to make at least a Batmobile available. And with the basic line being more themed and stylized, there might also be room for original items like themed smaller vehicles (motorcycles, wacky GL construct vehicles, maybe even mech suits).
Click to expand...
Vehicles are on the table. I know that for a fact (believe it or don't - I'm not trying to convince anyone).

But there's also way less inherent risk in releasing a 6"-scaled Batmobile. It's the Batmobile. Then you can judge interest on other stuff from there. But MOTU is already a big risk. If the movie flops, then this entire new product line collapses. If it is successful, people will want a Castle Grayskull - which would never be feasible for a retail line at 6.5" scale. And even the starting vehicles like the Roton would just not be feasible at 6.5" scale solely because of the risk involved both for Mattel and the retailer. That's a big item that -might- fail.

If 1:18 was still considered a viable scale at retail, I guarantee there would have been a strong case being made at Mattel for the Core line being 1:18. Just for being able to scale down vehicles and playsets to something retailers aren't scared to order, and in the interests of keeping prices down to really get the kids.

Mattel isn't scared of trying to sell Batman and Superman to kids. They know the kids will show up because that's proven at retail since the '70s. MOTU has a dedicated collector base, but Mattel still really doesn't know for -sure- that they can sell MOTU to kids. They do consider the Core line a risk. But it seems to be paying off, so that's good.
 
Damien said:
Vehicles are on the table. I know that for a fact (believe it or don't - I'm not trying to convince anyone).

But there's also way less inherent risk in releasing a 6"-scaled Batmobile. It's the Batmobile. Then you can judge interest on other stuff from there. But MOTU is already a big risk. If the movie flops, then this entire new product line collapses. If it is successful, people will want a Castle Grayskull - which would never be feasible for a retail line at 6.5" scale. And even the starting vehicles like the Roton would just not be feasible at 6.5" scale solely because of the risk involved both for Mattel and the retailer. That's a big item that -might- fail.

If 1:18 was still considered a viable scale at retail, I guarantee there would have been a strong case being made at Mattel for the Core line being 1:18. Just for being able to scale down vehicles and playsets to something retailers aren't scared to order, and in the interests of keeping prices down to really get the kids.

Mattel isn't scared of trying to sell Batman and Superman to kids. They know the kids will show up because that's proven at retail since the '70s. MOTU has a dedicated collector base, but Mattel still really doesn't know for -sure- that they can sell MOTU to kids. They do consider the Core line a risk. But it seems to be paying off, so that's good.
Click to expand...

Oh, not doubting at all, what you say makes sense -- I mean, it's a line that has access to maybe the most famous vehicle in pop culture. And there's a WWE ambulance across the room from me that tells me Mattel has already made it work price-wise for something with much less of a guarantee behind it. I think I've gotten so used to companies cheaping out that I forget stuff is still achievable in this scale at big box retail. Well, you know, for Batman at least.

The number of vehicles and playsets the DC license includes was what made me surprised initially that they were going for a larger scale for DC's base line, but you're right - even cheaper toylines have scaled up from 1:18, aside from very specific retro-oriented products.
 
secondwhiteline said:
The number of vehicles and playsets the DC license includes was what made me surprised initially that they were going for a larger scale for DC's base line, but you're right - even cheaper toylines have scaled up from 1:18, aside from very specific retro-oriented products.
Click to expand...
1:18 is just not viable at retail anymore for mainline product. Labour costs have far outpaced material costs, which means 'smaller' doesn't mean 'cheaper' anymore. And if you're charging close to the same amount for a product on the shelf, it's better to make the product bigger than smaller, because it creates the illusion of value. A 1:18 ambulance for 25 dollars? Meh... s'okay, I guess. A 1:12 ambulance for 30 dollars? Oh man, it's really big to be that cheap! It's crazy, but the psychology of it works.
 
Atomic Knight said:
toynewsi.com

Group Of Mattel Shareholders Push For Possible Sale To Hasbro

A group of shareholders under the umbrella of Southeastern Asset Management, which oversees 4% of Mattels stock in an open letter to Mattel's board last week
toynewsi.com
Click to expand...
Like I said in the other thread; Mattel isn't going to give a shit about this. It's a fucking open letter from, at most, 4% of the shareholders. Four. It's just a little group of fucking idiots that think they have a big idea and think Mattel has some obligation to listen to them. Mattel will ignore this, as they should.
 
Atomic Knight said:
toynewsi.com

Group Of Mattel Shareholders Push For Possible Sale To Hasbro

A group of shareholders under the umbrella of Southeastern Asset Management, which oversees 4% of Mattels stock in an open letter to Mattel's board last week
toynewsi.com
Click to expand...
Yeah, I don't think that we need to worry about that one. That won't be happening. It's just a "small" group of 4% shareholders wanting to maximize their stock value. I buy a ton from both Hasbro and Mattel - but of the two, Hasbro is far more likely to be looking to get themselves completely out of the toy business altogether than Mattel. I say that as a guy whose primary line is Marvel Legends.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top