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Possible SPOILER WARNING: For interested Oz fans, there are a few options for Oz the Great and Powerful merch already...
Jakks Pacific (thru subsidiary TollyTots) has released a set of four dolls (Oscar Diggs, Theodora, Glinda & Evanora). Oscar actually comes with a 3.75" China Girl. Each comes in a very cool half-circle window box with each actor's portrait at the bottom and a brief bio on the back. Likenesses are pretty much a vague suggestion at best, but they're still very cool IMO. I didn't even expect any Oz merch at major retail, so they were a pleasant surprise. I believe these are only available at TRU and Target stores and are priced at $19.99 each at Target, a few dollars more at TRU.
Disney Store also has their own set of four dolls (Oscar Diggs, Glinda, Evanora & the Wicked Witch of the West), available at Disneystore.com if you aren't near a Disney Store. Each comes in a clear showcase-style box with their own individual backgrounds (bubbles for Glinda, flying monkeys for Wicked Witch) and a bio on the back. The likenesses here are a good deal closer to the actors than Jakks' effort, but they're a bit pricier at $34.50 each. Disney store also offers a 3.75" China Girl in her own similar showcase box to blend seamlessly with the other four. She's priced at $9.50...and appears to be the exact same figure included with Jakks Pacific/TollyTots' Oscar Diggs.
If you're trying to decide which set to pick up, there are pros and cons for each, the most obvious being the exclusivity of Theodora to Jakks Pacific's line and the Wicked Witch to Disney Store. The likenesses are a bit stronger with the Disney set, though neither is really film-accurate when it comes to costumes. Regarding quality, I strongly suggest you not judge these on the stock prototype images floating around the net. Both sets look far better in person IMO. I will admit, when it comes to clothing and accessories, it's really going to come down to a matter of opinion - some pieces look better on the Disney Store dolls, some look nicer with the Jakks set (for example I prefer the DS Oscar's jacket, but prefer the JP Oscar's pants). For MIB collectors, again it's going to come down to a matter of opinion - I like both types of boxes, though the half-circle JP boxes obviously don't showcase the entire doll like the DS boxes do. Where value is concerned, Jakks Pacific is the clear winner, especially if you're buying for little ones, and especially because the JP Oscar comes with China Girl at no additional cost. I spent twice what I payed retail for the Jakks Pacific set in purchasing the Disney Store dolls plus 3.75" China Girl.
Also, I should mention Jakks' Pacific has also released a slightly taller than the rest (aprox. 14") China Girl who looks to have a decent amount of articulation via ball-joints. I can certainly see lots of little ones carrying her around.
Jakks also has some roleplay accessory sets available for some of the witches. Disney Store had a 19", limited to 500, resin replica China Girl available briefly at $179.50 before selling out. DS is currently also carrying the 14" JP China Girl in their brick n mortar stores, as well as plush Finley the flying monkey.
Jakks Pacific (thru subsidiary TollyTots) has released a set of four dolls (Oscar Diggs, Theodora, Glinda & Evanora). Oscar actually comes with a 3.75" China Girl. Each comes in a very cool half-circle window box with each actor's portrait at the bottom and a brief bio on the back. Likenesses are pretty much a vague suggestion at best, but they're still very cool IMO. I didn't even expect any Oz merch at major retail, so they were a pleasant surprise. I believe these are only available at TRU and Target stores and are priced at $19.99 each at Target, a few dollars more at TRU.
Disney Store also has their own set of four dolls (Oscar Diggs, Glinda, Evanora & the Wicked Witch of the West), available at Disneystore.com if you aren't near a Disney Store. Each comes in a clear showcase-style box with their own individual backgrounds (bubbles for Glinda, flying monkeys for Wicked Witch) and a bio on the back. The likenesses here are a good deal closer to the actors than Jakks' effort, but they're a bit pricier at $34.50 each. Disney store also offers a 3.75" China Girl in her own similar showcase box to blend seamlessly with the other four. She's priced at $9.50...and appears to be the exact same figure included with Jakks Pacific/TollyTots' Oscar Diggs.
If you're trying to decide which set to pick up, there are pros and cons for each, the most obvious being the exclusivity of Theodora to Jakks Pacific's line and the Wicked Witch to Disney Store. The likenesses are a bit stronger with the Disney set, though neither is really film-accurate when it comes to costumes. Regarding quality, I strongly suggest you not judge these on the stock prototype images floating around the net. Both sets look far better in person IMO. I will admit, when it comes to clothing and accessories, it's really going to come down to a matter of opinion - some pieces look better on the Disney Store dolls, some look nicer with the Jakks set (for example I prefer the DS Oscar's jacket, but prefer the JP Oscar's pants). For MIB collectors, again it's going to come down to a matter of opinion - I like both types of boxes, though the half-circle JP boxes obviously don't showcase the entire doll like the DS boxes do. Where value is concerned, Jakks Pacific is the clear winner, especially if you're buying for little ones, and especially because the JP Oscar comes with China Girl at no additional cost. I spent twice what I payed retail for the Jakks Pacific set in purchasing the Disney Store dolls plus 3.75" China Girl.
Also, I should mention Jakks' Pacific has also released a slightly taller than the rest (aprox. 14") China Girl who looks to have a decent amount of articulation via ball-joints. I can certainly see lots of little ones carrying her around.
Jakks also has some roleplay accessory sets available for some of the witches. Disney Store had a 19", limited to 500, resin replica China Girl available briefly at $179.50 before selling out. DS is currently also carrying the 14" JP China Girl in their brick n mortar stores, as well as plush Finley the flying monkey.
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