PlaymoFriends
General => Brainstorming For Playmobil => Topic started by: Bolingbroke on November 13, 2020, 20:25:43
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Now that PM has started making sets based on films and tv shows, I’m hoping they could show some interest in European intellectual properties, specifically those belonging to Belgian comics like Tintin, Asterix etc. Such characters are still very much loved by adults and children alike in Francophone countries and beyond, and would make awesome sets. Tintin: how cool would all the characters be, and what about all the vehicles that appear in his adventures? Same goes for Asterix, which could also borrow a lot from the already existing Roman theme. I used to have the Play Asterix toys in the 80s - anyone remember those - and I loved them.
Anyway, would love to hear your thoughts. As a European I feel these IPs could be shown more love by European toy companies, and not just because they’re part of our recent cultural heritage, but also because they’re much more clever, entertaining and fun than the likes of Scooby Doo >:D >:D >:D
I’m aware there might be problems getting the licences (with Tintin especially), but one can dream.
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Tintin and Asterix are great ideas. There were actually two Celtic klickies in the Roman theme that were sly allusions to Asterix and Obelix, or so it seemed to me. Why not go full out?
Little Prince would make a good one too, at least as a one off figure. He's been customized a lot.
How about Narnia? Tons of stuff to choose from. They've already done Heidi which I assume sold well over there.
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Narnia is a great idea :love:
I would also love them to issue a Mary Poppins theme :cloud9:
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How about Narnia? Tons of stuff to choose from. They've already done Heidi which I assume sold well over there.
Heidi is slightly different because it was based on a cartoon, so I guess the rights were sorted that way.
Narnia would be *amazing* though I have no idea what the situation with the rights would be and if Disney still have the 'option' on them.
Tin-Tin would, similarly, be lovely and I think would really fit the aesthetic of Playmobil. Asterix, I think, would struggle from the scale (since neither Asterix or Obelix are 'standard' human size)
Alice in Wonderland might be a good one - very distinctive and popular images but one that's in the public domain. They've made a couple of 'Red Queen' type characters. I'm not a fan of the 'Animal' Playmobil figures, but I think the mad-hatter's tea party would be a lovely set.
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Yes Alice would be great, they could start by doing just a couple of sets to test the market.
They've already done a Sherlock Holmes, they could do some other sets from that.
Jules Verne.
HG Wells
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Now that you mention Jules Verne, it surprises me they've never made a hot air balloon (there's one in 80 Days Around the World, I think? Its a long time since I read it)
They're already dabbling into the Steam Punk theme..
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Completely apart from fiction, PM has vast, rich mines of material in actual European history. That 1977 catalog hints at what is possible, what they once seemed to be aiming for. If only they would devote a little more attention in that direction. Our own specialist has created multiple historical themes. Here's another suggestion: how about a knights theme with REAL heraldry? Wouldn't it be great to have a set with this guy?
(https://i.imgur.com/6ggi48l.jpg)
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specifically those belonging to Belgian comics like Tintin
:yippee: :yippee: :yippee: :loco:
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Belgian comics like Tintin
:loco:
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Belgian comics like Tintin
:)
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Belgian comics like Tintin
:!:
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:)
That’s what I mean, how amazing!
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Tintin would make a fantastic theme. I would love a Playmobil white and red rocket.
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Narnia, Alive in Wonderland, Sandokan,... would be fantastic, stunning, bewildering :love:
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Discworld
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if they did LotR my wallet would kill me.
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if they did LotR my wallet would kill me.
Same, though it would be my niece making demands on my wallet. Alice in Wonderland or le Petit Prince would do me in.
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Being a Napoleonic era enthusiast, I'd like to see figures reproduced from 'Sharpe'. It'd be great to see Chosen Men cavalry, drummers, colour sergeants, Duke of Wellington, the Old Guard with Eagle standards etc
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Judge Dredd P)
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I would to see a distinction drawn on these forums between themes and franchises. Themes are open world. Franchises constrain imagination. Franchises are collectible but they are not usually easy to play with. A celtic warrior, for example, could be the hero or the villain, a central character or just part of the clan. But Asterix is always going to be Asterix. As such I am very much in favour of themes drawing on historical periods or fantasy fiction, but cautious about franchises.
I think it is telling that the Playmobil franchises to date are either 80s-related or self-invented. If they start making Octonauts or Paw Patrol figures we'll be in a whole new world.
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Narnia was a terrific suggestion! The possibilities seem endless if they could tap into that world. I think a theme related to this could provide an abundance of medieval and obviously fantasy designs. Centaurs, Minotaurs, the ceiling would be quite high...
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I would to see a distinction drawn on these forums between themes and franchises. Themes are open world. Franchises constrain imagination. Franchises are collectible but they are not usually easy to play with. A celtic warrior, for example, could be the hero or the villain, a central character or just part of the clan. But Asterix is always going to be Asterix. As such I am very much in favour of themes drawing on historical periods or fantasy fiction, but cautious about franchises.
I think it is telling that the Playmobil franchises to date are either 80s-related or self-invented. If they start making Octonauts or Paw Patrol figures we'll be in a whole new world.
The sets produced by Playmobil to reflect ideas/ intellectual property from other places (movies, books, etc.) are often referred to as Licensed products. Are they strictly franchises? I don't think I understand the distinction, but perhaps the terms franchise and licensed are interchangeable?
I do agree that 1980s ideas seem to be favoured by Playmobil, something to do with targeting middle-aged collectors I assume. And many Playmobil sets are look-alikes rather than licensed products (e.g. sets like 9350-53 and 9469-74, Ice Princess sets with a strong resemblance to the Frozen films!).
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I suppose I'm thinking of franchise as a wider term, including the way geobra are partnering their own cartoons with their own products - Super 4, the Movie, Dino Rise, &c. But you're right, Graham, it's really a term for a borrowed business model.
I agree: I'm sure they are targetting collectors in their 40s and 50s. Spirit is a noughties thing, but the rest all seem to have been big in the 80s - as Star Trek would be if that does come out (think the movies here). Lego have sown up all the big selling contemporary franchises: MCU, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, LOTR. Bond's been big in every decade. Beyond that they have to think about the audience - Fast and Furious for kids? :omg:
Perhaps this post should now turn towards eighties movies/TV series that could be turned into themes: Gremlins? Flash Gordon? Mad Max? Alien? They've missed the boat on Indiana Jones! ;D
Of course, I wouldn't want any of these ...
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They've missed the boat on Indiana Jones! ;D
To be fair, they basically did make Indianna Jones sets already with first Jungle ruins sets
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To be fair, they basically did make Indianna Jones sets already with first Jungle ruins sets
I agree. Playmobil has issued sets and figures which reflect popular films, etc. without paying licensing fees for years. Shrek, Tolkien, Frozen, Indianna Jones to name a few. It's a bit of a standing joke that geobra manage to issue movie-inspired sets and figures about 2 years after the inspiration has dropped from peak popularity!
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Also Tomb Raider and Aeon Flux..