Big Jim and Pulsar return in 2022... sort of

[ddgaff1132]

Yeah I'm not that miffed about that part, just wished he had done more research.

NOPE!!! He states in the video that Pulsar is Big Jim scale but Pulsar is closer to Six Million Dollar Man in scale. So He's talking out his hat.
I'd rather get my toy info from someone who knows their stuff. (I'm talk'n bout you Brian)

[Werewolf]

I've been thinking about this a bit more. The MOTU rights are certainly a little convoluted due to the multiple sales of Filmation. Loreal to Hallmark to Classic media to Dreamworks to Universal. Again, I have no inside info and I've never claimed to. All public knowledge.

The best I understand it is Universal is the current rights owner of the Filmation series. Meaning the Filmation looks of the characters. But they don't own the characters or the IP. Mattel does. So for a product, like the upcoming Hallmark Filmation Castle Grayskull ornament, Hallmark needs permission from Mattel for the rights to Castle Grayskull and the Filmation likeness from Classic Media/Universal. Classic Media cannot license out Filmation MOTU products without Mattel's approval because Mattel still owns the IP.

License info from the Hallmark Grayskull ornament from Hallmark's product page.

"MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE(TM) and associated trademarks are owned by and used under license from Mattel, Inc. © 2021 Mattel, Inc. Under license to Classic Media."

Under license to Classic Media not from Classic Media.

Universal also owns the entertainment rights, meaning movie rights, but again still not the IP.

Mattel has been recently and continually filing and updating the trademarks to Masters of the Universe and Princess of Power.

Mattel does have to license the Filmation looks of the characters from Classic Media/Universal if they want to release figures of He-Man, Skeletor, etc. as they looked in the Filmation cartoon. Though I think there might be some iffy leeway on how close they can get to Filmation because of the Mattel's style guides from the 80s which did use looks very close to Filmation. Mattel also doesn't own the character likeness rights to the 1987 live action movie. Like I said it's convoluted and overly complicated.

[Werewolf]

Hasbro doesn't have to deal with any of this nonsense with Transformers or GI JOE because they bought the Sunbow library and flat out own everything. Unfortunately, I think one of the problems with Mattel doing that is being forced to buy the entire Filmation library just to get He-Man and She-Ra and getting stuck with a lot of stuff they can't do anything with. In the long run it still might be the better option to not have to deal with this crap again and worry about selling off what they can't use later.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^But it doesn't sound like it's as cut and dry as "Mattel will lose the exclusive rights to MOTU in 2023", which ToyGuru claimed.

Chris

[Werewolf]

^But it doesn't sound like it's as cut and dry as "Mattel will lose the exclusive rights to MOTU in 2023", which ToyGuru claimed.

Chris

I could be wrong, but to the best of my knowledge, ToyGuru's claim does not seem accurate. Mattel still owns the IP and will continue to do so.

Here's an article from 2014 stating Mattel owns MOTU.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/th...nership-687138

Donald Glut, who wrote the four original mini comics, tried to sue Mattel over the rights to MOTU. He lost.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Man, Don Glut has had a VERY interesting career. He's literally done EVERYTHING. Early home movie fan films, comics, indie horror films, softcore horror films, MOTU, Filmation shows, Marvel animated series...you name it.

Chris

[thatblockoguy]

Are the Back in Action figures supposed to be a general release or through Mattel Creations? Just went on that site to learn more about the “Shogun Skeletor” and realized that I couldn’t find anything about the line

[Werewolf]

On a ownership related note, I just got the new Funko POP She-Ra and there's no mention of Classic Media on the package only Mattel. The new She-Ra Funko POP is based on the toy and doesn't use the Filmation look.

Are the Back in Action figures supposed to be a general release or through Mattel Creations?

I believe Mattel Creations.

[thatblockoguy]

So like $150 for the three pack?

[darkmonkeygod]

So like $150 for the three pack?

I'm hopeful they'll be in the $60 range, but I'll honestly be shocked if they're over $100.