TMNT Origins (Rumour!)

Damien

Damien

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Again, to be clear, this is currently just a RUMOUR. But I thought it would be fun to chat about.


I have heard that one of the product lines that Mattel is working on right now is the exact thing they were watching fans beg for under Playmates: A TMNT answer to the MOTU Origins format. Original classic scale, original classic character designs, upgraded 'Origins-style' articulation and accessories. From what I heard, the biggest hang-up, and the reason the development might not go fast enough for any reveals during the initial product launch, is Mattel still struggling with the relative lack of re-use that would be possible with TMNT compared to MOTU.

Mattel is aware that they pushed on the MOTU Origins pricing, but the fear is that a TMNT Origins line would need to be priced even higher if they have to introduce more unique sculpting. Or that it may not be feasible to do at all for that reason.

They read social media. They troll forums. So there's some, if small, chance that they will see what you have to say about this. Would you buy TMNT Origins? Would you buy the same sculpts repainted several times (no idea how... maybe classic colors, then cartoon colors, then... new colors? I dunno man)?


I'm always the first one to shit on Mattel for all of their bad decisions. And they make lots of them. But the reason Chronicles looks the way it does is because of you. Mattel was paying attention to the comments and criticisms of Masterverse. They saw what could be improved and they implemented that to make possibly the best MOTU figures ever. So they've currently shown a willingness to take the fans seriously and make the product you want to buy. So... say your piece and I guess we'll see what, if anything, happens.
 
It's ONE of the lines they're working on (again, rumour), not the only line they're working on.
 
Not a MOTU fan at all. What does origins mean here in terms of format?


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How would this even be possible? Only playmates has access to those molds. They’re proprietary assets. Any attempts for Mattel to recapture those old toys, even as an homage will likely either be so far removed from Playmates brand that they’ll hardly be recognizable as the originals, or Mattel will get a little too close for comfort and wind up with a Cease & Desist from Playmates


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Not really into retro/vintage style toys for the most part, and for TMNT in general I'm more interested in new/updated takes on characters. Origins would not be for me.
 
Stoopid_Sandwich said:
Only playmates has access to those molds.
Click to expand...
Are you under the impression that you need access to the original molds to make more articulated, new versions of those designs?

As for how they can legally do those designs - I don't know. I'm just repeating what I heard -may- be happening at some point.
 
How interested I am in these just depends. I am simply not interested in TMNT toys that try to dedicate themselves to any specific incarnation of the Turtles, unless the price is right. Even when they're based on "my" version (Mirage), they just don't satisfy me as those specific versions of the characters, and especially not for the $30-$50 they always cost. I couldn't care less about 1:1 recreations of IDW, '87, 2003, Rise, etc.

There's two exceptions to this, but I'm just not interested in 1:1 recreations of old toys with new articulation or their cartoon designs as much as I am in toys that evoke what was cool and appealing about those designs in the first place. Yes, this goes entirely against the idea of what "Origins" is supposed to be. But I don't care.

During the original Mirage run of Turtles, we had a billion different artists hop on and off depicting all these characters in a million different renditions and styles. THAT is what Turtles has always been, and the success of all these unique toy offerings and endless weird new takes on Turtles just tells me that works for an adult collector audience as well. So give me a new take on the Turtles that suits the evergreen idea of them, and give me another one in a Chronicles style as well. And then make variants of those that lean in specific directions. That's what I want. If enough people are itching for cartoon toys, a cartoon collection style line can come later.

The TMNT Line I've had the most fun with actually was the 2012 toyline during its early stages, when they were sorta mish mashes of IDW and 2012, and it's still the one I'm most fond of.

Those two exceptions are Galaxy Rangers and Huntik, btw. Both heavily influenced by their respective lines getting cancelled without releasing the main girl of each respective cast, and the smaller scope they have as IPs.


Are these the only rumors currently for the TMNT lines? I figure there's something deep in development to show off either SDCC this year or Toy Fair next year.
 
I would probably cave on 1:1 recreations of the original line with modern articulation. Playmates almost did it, with the 6pk still on Target shelves. If Mattel puts in as much effort here as they did with Origins/Masterverse/Chronicles, it could be wonderful. BUT I share the same concerns about the amount of unique sculpting necessary, with so few instances of reuse. Origins hooked me at first for both the ultra low price point (for its time) and the vintage accuracy. The price point eventually went up, so I'd assume that TMNTO would start right away at that higher point.

I think they'll work figures into their Core scale (which both DC and MotU are using already). They won't be the most articulated, but I see the most potential for something akin to Origins coming from that line. But I'd probably lean towards a Chronicles style approach at this point in my life and my collecting. I feel like they could really knock that out of the park, based on what I've already got from MotU Chronicles. I just hope they don't jump around so much. Release the main cast first: four brothers, Splinter, April, Shredder, B&R, a Foot Soldier. Just follow the vintage order of releases (unlike what Classified has been doing) and throw in refresher Turtles once in a while.
 
I like Origins, but the price is a definite turn off. Thankfully with MOTU I'm pretty damn picky, I can get away with grabbing this or that and not worry about that $21 price tag over and over (though I still jumped on that Chronicles Scareglow at $25). With TMNT, that pricing would definitely be a kick in the nuts. But of course that's under the assumption that I like what they do, and like the sculpts, character choices, yadda yadda. I'm not really interested in collecting another line. Higher prices would dig that interest even lower outside of grabbing select characters. I'm very open to seeing what they could come up with, I just don't know how long it can sustain itself.

Given how robust TMNT merch has been, I also have a hard time thinking they'll have as much success with a TMNT origins as MOTU origins. Yes, it's what people wanted out of Playmates, but there again you have that price concern, and MOTU didn't have the same saturation, so there was a hungrier market. I dunno. Could go either way. There is a part of me that thinks Mattel won't find the same success with the license when all is said and done.
 
Ultimately this seems less like Mattel having a niche to itself and more like it gets to pay for the entire party it arrived late to. I've collected all the Super7 and Playmates reissues I wanted. The NECA turtles haven't got much left in them (granted the Sakai ones surprised me, but I don't see yself picking up Usagi or any others in this style), and the 3rd party stuff is mostly where my money was headed under Rage/Fury Toys. $50-$65 a figure seemed like a lot until Mondo and then Mety/LingjiHun came along. Now we're debating which is better, HeatBoys or MetyToyz because they're so similar in many ways. I honestly don't know what niche this leaves for Mattel to try to wow us with. The McFarlane comics ones didn't garner my interest or my money, so I doubt Mattel will either considering as how none of their MOTU stuff called to me. The only angle I see this affecting me personally is if Mattel thinks it's going to lock down the license and leave everyone else with theirTMNT lines incomplete in many ways (except for perhaps NECA). How it handles companies like Mety/Lingjihun and Mondo will determine what if any good will I have toward Mattel. I think a lot of people were already moving on from TMNT so for all we know Mattel's foray may actually push more to bounce out. Or not. I have no clue what they're doing, I just know I don't need any more "homage" figures to original released modified in whatever way to make it appear modern while still looking rushed.

There's nothing I can directly point to that I want from Mattel specifically other than "diversity of the line" meaning all the different turtle companies get to continue their stuff and I'll see if Mattel's even looks cool. If they're gonna be the TMNT monolith and push everyone else out I don't see this taking off beyond the main 8 or so figures...and then the wrestling mashups start...
 
RichardSimmonsRobot said:
If they're gonna be the TMNT monolith and push everyone else out I don't see this taking off beyond the main 8 or so figures...and then the wrestling mashups start...
Click to expand...

I don't see them pushing -everyone- out. After all, Mondo makes MOTU product. Mattel clearly knows how/when to share the space. But they're definitely going to push -some- people out. I'd be very surprised if they let NECA and Super7 continue in any capacity, considering they basically play in the same sandbox. Playmates always struggled with the domestic collector market. Mattel doesn't. They know they want that action and they don't want to compete with anyone if they can avoid it.

That being said; it's always worth pointing out that a company going after TMNT's master toy license is about making kids' toys first and foremost. At least for now.
 
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