Toy Guru is at it again, claiming MOTU is canceled.

[Earth 2 Chris]

I see he's caused quite a stir declaring MOTU Origins and Masterverse are dead. He claims retailers were notified of this in October. Other YT hosts have come out swinging that he's spreading misinformation.

Since it sounds like this is either totally, or at the very least largely BS, what does this guy have to gain from this? Is he so hell-bent on making waves he's willing to completely erode what little credibility he has left in the industry and fandom? Does he have that huge of an axe to grind against Mattel for no longer being their brand manager he's willing to destroy his own personal cred to take them down with him? I find it utterly baffling, and strangely fascinating.

There's way too much ire and vitriol in toy collecting nowadays, but when someone who brands themself an "expert", and actually once had a position to back that claim up, goes around and spreads misinformation as fact...well, I kind of get the rage.

[Earth 2 Chris]

Here's a rebuttal from Geek. Dad. Life.

[Earth 2 Chris]

And one from Rodimus Primal

[Earth 2 Chris]

And a very cheeky one from Analog Toys:

[PNGwynne]

I just can't stand him. He can shove The Mighty Spector...somewhere.

The only MOTU vids I follow are Toy Habits. Fans but not jerks.

[Werewolf]

Yeah, it's not true. He has also claimed Mattel doesn't own MOTU and would lose the rights in 2023. Also, obviously, not true. Negativity sells online I guess and it's an easy way to get clicks.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yeah, I remember that. He was the only guy saying that, and of course it never happened.

Waiting for Pixel Dan to post a video on this. He's such a nice, fair guy, but I know he's going to want to squash this rumor pretty hard, as he's already doing on socials.

[monitor_ep]

Toy Guru is a joke, during his run at MOTU he made people buy his make-a-figure entry even though he did not win back in the day.

[Werewolf]

Waiting for Pixel Dan to post a video on this.

I saw he already debunked it on twitter. I'm guessing he probably won't make a video about it to avoid drawing more attention to it.

About the rights issue. No idea why TG keeps pushing that lie. Even a quick google search debunks the ownership issue. For example, in 2014 Donald Glut, who wrote the first four mini comics, sued Mattel for the ownership of MOTU and unsurprising lost. The court ruled Mattel owns MOTU. Not Classic Media/Dreamworks/Univeral. Mattel. Mattel owns the IP full stop.

[Earth 2 Chris]

^Yeah, if Mattel ever sold away the MOTU rights, they'd have to be pretty stupid. I can't imagine they would do that with their third most successful IP after Barbie and Hot Wheels.


It's like he has to make himself relevant in these circles, and the only way he knows how is making up stuff and stirring the pot. It's really sad. Move on dude. You had your time with this license, and it's over.

[PNGwynne]

And let's suppose that 2023 is the last year. So what? Three-and-a-half years is a good run, they've done about 60 figures so far and have 2023 mapped out. Snake Mountain is forthcoming, hooray.

Would I like Princess of Power and Fuerza-T waves? Absolutely! But if I can get:

Sy-Klone
Snake-Face
Modulok
Spikor
Two-Bad
Slamurai
Shadow-Weaver
Battle Bones & Slime Pit

...I'd be so happy. It's a great toy line, a valentine to fans. I don't expect or want it to be MOTU Classics.

[Werewolf]

I watched a bit of Rodimus Primals vid and I like to clear up the rights issue a bit more.

Mattel owns the MOTU and She-Ra IP. The toys, characters, designs, etc. Universal owns the Filmation library including the He-man and She-Ra cartoons. But they do NOT own the characters or IP. Only the Filmation looks of the characters. Mattel can still get VERY close to the Filmation designs because of their original style and licensing guides which had hybrid toy and cartoon designs.

The MOTU live action movie rights are also kind of a mess. But that's another story.

[sprytel]

This is almost a social media cliche at this point.

1. Make outrageous and unsubstantiated claim to get people worked up.
2. When people challenge or refute you, claim how they are trying to suppress the truth.
3. If it happens to come to pass (regardless of whether it was exactly like you said or on the timetable you mentioned), then take your victory bow.
4. In the more likely event that it doesn't come to pass, then brag how it was only due to you speaking out and mobilizing your followers.

Almost genius... so long as you are not beholden to things like honesty or integrity...

[PNGwynne]

...Mattel can still get VERY close to the Filmation designs because of their original style and licensing guides which had hybrid toy and cartoon designs.

I personally don't advocate Filmation variants for Origins, but I'd like another She-Ra with tiara instead of mask. Perhaps the Bubble version?

Mattel has not always used the best judgment with variants: Mini-comic Stratos, for example, is a notorious peg-warmer. But had Matted inverted his accessory colors to match vintage variations, I think he'd have much better.

[PNGwynne]

This is almost a social media cliche at this point.

1. Make outrageous and unsubstantiated claim to get people worked up.
2. When people challenge or refute you, claim how they are trying to suppress the truth.
3. If it happens to come to pass (regardless of whether it was exactly like you said or on the timetable you mentioned), then take your victory bow.
4. In the more likely event that it doesn't come to pass, then brag how it was only due to you speaking out and mobilizing your followers.

Almost genius... so long as you are not beholden to things like honesty or integrity...

Could apply to politics as well.