NECA vs. Hasbro

[enyawd72]

Wow. These two photos taken from Crawford's Toy Review site really show why I'm so disappointed with the Star Wars 6" Black Series.
These figures are basically the same size, since the apes are 7" and Chewbacca is a larger 6" scale figure, and the superior sculpting and paint are so obvious on the NECA figure, that Hasbro's efforts really seem underwhelming.
Chewbacca's fur should have the same level of detail as the gorilla soldier, but it looks very spaghetti-ish, and the lack of any shading/wash doesn't help. Also, the paint work, especially on the eyes is very realistic on the gorilla, but Hasbro's eyes are toyish and lifeless. Makes me wish NECA had the Star Wars license.

[Toy Timelord]

Valid point. The ape looks better, and it does take time for the big guys to come around.

But when you have a golden ticket license like SW, and you can still sell a Chewie with less detail, and charge the same money, without investing in better sculpting, why not?

Chewie is far from Horrible, but Vader is better detailed. I'm not defending them, but the Chewie isn't utter crap. Just a bit soft. NECA cuts corners from time to time too. Can't imagine much effort went into that Electric Gremlin.

We've been begging for 6" SW for a decade, and they have only recently come around. It'll take time before sculpt catches up to the smaller guys, who have to make up for the lack of top licenses, with better sculpt and paint.

Remember how long it took Hasbro and the rest to catch up to McFarlane, before he lost interest in making actual toys?

[enyawd72]

I guess I just hold Hasbro to a higher standard because they've been at this far longer than NECA, and the Black Series is supposed to be all about "superior sculpt and paint" per their own marketing. Add to that the fact that both figures cost $20 and it really makes the difference stand out even more.

[ovenmitt]

I agree. Hasbro Star Wars 6" Black figures have been hit or miss! Why hasn't Kenner/Hasbro ever been able to use Star Wars actors' LIKENESSES? 6" Han Solo is ok, but Bespin Luke is awful and what happened to his hair? I actually like 6"Slave Leia but is Carrie Fisher that short or is the figure proportionately too small? I do not remember Harrison Ford being THAT much taller than Carrie! That is why Imperial troopers and Boba Fett have sold best so far! I also like 6" Scout Trooper and speederbike, but Jabba seems bare without his throne which was included with 1983 Vintage Jabba!

Maybe Toy Guru rumored to be coming to Hasbro to take over Star Wars Black can help! Maybe he can get 4 Horsemen to sculpt for Hasbro! Surely, they are Star Wars (and Marvel) fans! Do not forget GI Joe!

[Iron Mego]

Carrie Fisher is about 5 feet tall. So Harrison Ford is at least a full foot taller than her.

[Toy Timelord]

I guess I just hold Hasbro to a higher standard because they've been at this far longer than NECA, and the Black Series is supposed to be all about "superior sculpt and paint" per their own marketing. Add to that the fact that both figures cost $20 and it really makes the difference stand out even more.

No, you make a valid point.

But imagine this: Hasbro has a Board of Directors who are in it to make as much money as possible.

NECA keeps it small. Yeah, they've got a CEO, but they are a fraction of what Hasbro is.

While Hasbro is looking for ways to produce things as cheaply as possible, NECA is looking to give you as big a bang for your buck as possible.

Should Chewbacca look as good as the ape? I think so. But Chewbacca is far from a terrible figure, despite the issues. And Hasbro will listen to fans, eventually.

Will the Black Series still be around in 10 years? I hope so, and I hope it improves.

One final note:NECA products are marketed exclusively as adult collectibles, while SWB appeal to adults, they have to be kid and Adult tested. That testing costs money, costs then passed onto the consumer.

What does that have to do with sculpt you ask? Finer, more detailed hair may require material that isn't as safe or durable, so they had to choose a material that was safer, but didn't hold detail as well.

Or it could just be that the costs involved in making a $20 figure exclusively for adults are cheaper, thus allowing for final detail, while the cost to produce a figure for kids and adults are higher due to testing, so the figure had to take a hit somewhere to make up the difference.

I would bet whatever the reason, that the figures cost roughly the same to produce, but other mitigating factors went into the difference in sculpt. I doubt it was entirely laziness, or cheapness on Hasbro's fault.

That is pure speculation on my part, with no basis whatsoever in anything more than my own imagination.

[starsky]

i was thinking the same thing. neca 's target audience has always been the adult collector so their product has to look more appealing. i love their stuff! i am also surprisingly pleased by the chewie figure. he could have looked a lot worse. i actually bought one. lol!

[Starroid Raiders Dagon]

There always seems to be a line the surpasses the big shots around the same time. Remember the 3.75 line of DC figures came out with a few years back and Microman, and Army of Darkness were already out? They looked so bad compared to other 3.75 at the time. Not so bad on their own but alongside the other lines they were extremely week. I agree with Toy Timelord' statement here..
"But when you have a golden ticket license like SW, and you can still sell a Chewie with less detail, and charge the same money, without investing in better sculpting, why not?"
I think that sums it up well.

[Werewolf]

Isn't Gentle Giant sculpting the 6 inch SW Black Series? In my opinion, it's the recent paint issues Hasbro has been having that throws the look of the figures. If you get a nicely painted one, the sculpt really shines. I have no issues with the sculpts or quality of the Hasbro figures. Never had a Hasbro figure break. Can't say the same for Neca or other collector companies.

I like that Chewie figure and think it's one of their better sculpts of the character.

[Gorn Captain]

I think that Hasbro just doesn't feel the need to make an extra effort, they'll sell their product anyway.
I have a great fondness for Kenner/Hasbro SW, it's been a part of my life since '77, but I'll be the first to admit that a lot of the times they just haven't cared that much about how their figures look, especially in sculpt and detailing.
When I look at that Chewie up close, he looks like a melted candle. No definition, not in sculpt, not in color.

And yes, NECA does is differently. That is why they get my money, and Hasbro doesn't.
I'm willing to accept that Kenner couldn't provide better quality back in the day, Hasbro cannot use that excuse today.

[Toy Timelord]

The sculpt on Chewie is good. It isn't great, but it is good.

I am not defending Hasbro being a bit lazy. NECA can do the deep detail, but they use a more brittle plastic too. Yeah, it can hold detail, but it can't hold up to rigorous play.

Chewbacca can. He's not just scuplted, he's engineered. The ability not to break is part of his design. That sculpt is designed to flex when posed.

I bet while the ape displays well, his posing is limited by his sculpt. And while Chewbacca is to a degree limited as well, the plastic chosen was chosen for its flexibility. The tradeoff may have been the finer details.

I don't wanna sound like "That Guy" but if you can do better, go ahead and show us.

[enyawd72]

The sculpt on Chewie is good. It isn't great, but it is good.

I am not defending Hasbro being a bit lazy. NECA can do the deep detail, but they use a more brittle plastic too. Yeah, it can hold detail, but it can't hold up to rigorous play.

Chewbacca can. He's not just scuplted, he's engineered. The ability not to break is part of his design. That sculpt is designed to flex when posed.

I bet while the ape displays well, his posing is limited by his sculpt. And while Chewbacca is to a degree limited as well, the plastic chosen was chosen for its flexibility. The tradeoff may have been the finer details.

I don't wanna sound like "That Guy" but if you can do better, go ahead and show us.

I have the apes in hand, and they're not made of brittle plastic at all. In fact it's quite soft and the joints are very heavy duty. I've posed the crap out of them for three days now. I previously owned the first two waves of Black Series, and I can tell you with absolute certainty these new NECA figures can match them pose for pose. NECA's joints are even better in some cases, like the ball jointed necks and wrists. Hasbro is using these very ugly disc joints in their necks that aren't half as functional.
I don't wanna sound like "that guy" either, but NECA is doing better, and they're showing us.

[Gorn Captain]

I don't wanna sound like "That Guy" but if you can do better, go ahead and show us.

So you're basically asking a simple collector to do better than a billion dollar company?
Did I understand that correctly?
Ahum...

Anyway.
Hasbro is firmly aimed at kids, I feel. The figures have good play value. And that's totally fine, because they are toys in the first place.
As a collector, on the other hand, I feel they aren't good enough, which is why I buy little of their product.
NECA has excellent quality figures, high on details, and have immediately addressed one flaw (difficult leg articulation) after their first figures, with a T2 body. They are not brittle at all, and I've posed and reposed mine without any difficulty.

[kerowack]

Go ahead and show us.....groan.

neca has aimed at adults forever. They get it. Hasbro hasn't and they don't get it. The black series better catch that level of awesomeness before next summer because after the taun taun and han set, I will take my money else where. Not that they need my money, but I k own I'm not alone.

[MIB41]

I think Neca will always lean towards a more collector friendly appearance than Hasbro that get's it's business done catering to kids. I think that will always be the case. I like much of what Neca is doing. They're making their own niche in the market.