PlaymoFriends
General => News => Topic started by: AgeOwns on February 12, 2016, 17:05:48
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(http://ageowns.com/pics/instashot.jpg)
Today I'm headed up to NYC for my 14th(!) Toy Fair. Playmobil is one of my first stops tomorrow. You can keep an eye on MillionairePlayboy.com (http://millionaireplayboy.com) for updated coverage, or follow MillionairePb on Instagram (http://instagram.com/millionairepb)
I'll give you the scoop on all that I see and learn.
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Brilliant, thanks for sharing :)
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Great pic! :)
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:munch: :munch:
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Here are my pics!
Full Gallery (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrstinkhead/albums/72157664587225376)
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1509/24892833362_21e0183bac_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DVGh77)
I love the jumbo sized knight!
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1590/24892833102_88f543485a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DVGh2C)
The mystery Fi?ures look great too.
Check out the gallery for all the pics.
And yes, I stopped by Funko, those pics will be up shortly.
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Wonderful. Thanks! I'll bet you had a great time. One question: any word on whether the US will have the new German Xmas market booths that are available in Europe?
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Most things introduced in Germany are a year later in the US. So right now, they were not on display.
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Here is the Funko Gallery (https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrstinkhead/albums/72157662305550914)
My initial thoughts? Playmobil's rule #1 has always been no licensing It's such a foundation to their entire philosophy. However, with the scale difference, I'm actually "cool" with it a bit more. Now that I've seen it. Because it's not playmobil proper. And if it helps get some money to playmobil so they don't have to take this route with the main offering, that's fine.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1672/24919050061_f0d42fe63d_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/DY1Dqa)
The thing that bugged me is that the paint is matte. And playmobil is typically so glossy. These were prototypes, so they could be glossier at production. Also, I heard that the screwdriver in the eye was deemed too violent by the approver, and it was rejected. So playmobil does have refusal rights, and is using them appropriately.
Also, they sculpted the ninja turtle heads to have a "nose" and cheeks. That's not adhering to the design principles, in my opinion.
(https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1525/24381743264_d890f6549a_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/D9wNPS)
It's fun, I'm down with it enough. I could see getting the Doc and Marty because I'm a huge Back to the Future fan, and I love playmobil. But we'll have to see the final product. Check out the gallery for more.
Here is me throwing my best I want it NOW temper tantrum with the huge floor display.
(http://ageowns.com/pics/hugewillywonka.jpg)
These aren't glossy either. So maybe matte is the way the finals will be.
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The Funko don't look too bad, similar in some ways to the resin figures from France though not as strict to the Playmobil look.
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Thanks for the pictures, that Wonka is huge, enough to make you feel like a kid beside it.
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Thanks for the pictures! :)
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Thanks for the pics!
AMAZING that they put the male/female robot in the BOYS figures. I rest my case. (they can't count, I guess :P)
But there. Makes no sense at all. And not only to me :-\
Also, I heard that the screwdriver in the eye was deemed too violent by the approver, and it was rejected. So playmobil does have refusal rights, and is using them appropriately.
What screwdriver? I looked but couldn't find it :-[
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Yeah, what screwdriver?
I'm glad they're matte because it makes them more not-PM, keeps them separated.
PM should never license but they should do historical figures, like they've started to. Nobody is doing that, the market is wide open.
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Thank you so much for the pictures! I saw several things in there that I did not realize were going to be released (and that I hadn't intended on purchasing, but now have to add them to my list).
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tahra I mentioned to them that the robot should be in the girl section, but she was hot glued in place haha.
Maybe they'll move it.
I'm going to get it and customize an Ex Machina Eva.
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PM should never license but they should do historical figures, like they've started to. Nobody is doing that, the market is wide open.
Exactly, the market is wide open and nobody is making historical figures on a commercial scale because there is simply not enough demand. To prove my point: even Schleich, the masters of realistic figures, are nowadays producing Griffin knights and Dragon knights! Preferences change (which shouldn't stop us from enjoying/making/longing for historical figures :)).
Sorry to go off topic, AgeOwns, I hope you are enjoying/have enjoyed the Toy Fair!
Best wishes
StJohn
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Exactly, the market is wide open and nobody is making historical figures on a commercial scale because there is simply not enough demand. To prove my point: even Schleich, the masters of realistic figures, are nowadays producing Griffin knights and Dragon knights! Preferences change (which shouldn't stop us from enjoying/making/longing for historical figures :)).
Sales of Martin Luther suggest there is some untapped demand. I think it could be a thing if pushed correctly. And the seeming failure of the Asian Dragon theme is a hopeful sign.
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Exactly, the market is wide open and nobody is making historical figures on a commercial scale because there is simply not enough demand. To prove my point: even Schleich, the masters of realistic figures, are nowadays producing Griffin knights and Dragon knights! Preferences change (which shouldn't stop us from enjoying/making/longing for historical figures :)).
Sorry to go off topic, AgeOwns, I hope you are enjoying/have enjoyed the Toy Fair!
Best wishes
StJohn
I believe that is to do with pop culture. You don't get the stories being told today set in the middle ages or musket times like you used to, and certainly not ones aimed at children.
Of the sword era shows we get, the costumes are very similar now for all of them, lots of dark colours, lots of leather, lots of odd and random bits of cloth and leather stuck together.
The props in such shows are getting worse which I don't understand. The costumes were better back when they were using silver painted wool as chainmail.
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Sales of Martin Luther suggest there is some untapped demand. I think it could be a thing if pushed correctly. And the seeming failure of the Asian Dragon theme is a hopeful sign.
The seeming failure of the Asian Dragon theme? ???
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It seemed to vanish very quickly so in my biased imagination it failed.
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It seemed to vanish very quickly so in my biased imagination it failed.
I would agree. And the sets were marked down at TRU adrastically after having only been there a year at most.
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I would agree. And the sets were marked down at TRU adrastically after having only been there a year at most.
I know :'( but no only the dragons theme, we are losing space on the stores... :-\ indigo, mastermind and toys r us... I would say 50% on the first 2 and 35% on the last one :'(
I hope this is only happening in my area.
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Playmobil is a quality toy but some of the themes make it look like a budget toy. A realistic asian theme based on an historic culture would have done better I think. I still can't believe they made the black colossus a single lump of plastic with only the arms moving up and down, it could have been so much more.
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The thing is they don't have to pivot the entire firm. They can just branch off a small department to experiment with themes: "History" , as already has appeared on e.g. pm.us. This is what L*go does: they have their main range full of kitschy themes and licensing and whatnot, then they have their specialist lines, "architect" sets and so forth, aimed directly at the adult collector but YES! still sold in L*go shops. People loved PM Martin Luther, they loved PM Egypt, if PM want to crack the Asian market a Three Kingdoms/Warring States theme (can you imagine the Confucius special? My heart sped up just thinking of it) would go MASSIVE in China.
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I've posted my Playmobil Toy Fair booth review (http://www.millionaireplayboy.com/mpb/index.php/2016-toy-fair-report-playmobil/) that recaps the whole thing, and has the gallery.
I was a bit sad there was no more Super 4.
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I know :'( but no only the dragons theme, we are losing space on the stores... :-\ indigo, mastermind and toys r us... I would say 50% on the first 2 and 35% on the last one :'(
I hope this is only happening in my area.
Most of the Toys R Us locations I've been to have reduced their inventory by at least half! But to be honest, can we be surprised when most of the items end up sitting on the shelves and only selling for 80-90% off?
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Thanks for all the great information form Toyfair Andy! It's wonderful seeing the Playmo shown and hearing about the harder to find info like the Funko stuff. Much appreciated!
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Seconded. The advance info is just great.