The Asian Market for 8" format Action Figures

[samurainoir]

Given the fact that it appears to be the Asian Market (HK and Japan?) that has really pushed the 1/6 format into the high end in recent years, I'm just curious what distribution has been like for the EMCE/Diamond/Bif Bang Pow figures.

Has there been response for the 8" format in the big destination Toy Meccas within Tokyo (ie Akihabara, Mandrake) and Hong Kong for example?

Or is distribution in these markets a separate license?

Have there been Anecdotal sightings of Emce Trek/Apes in the Asian secondary markets?

Given the writing on the International Packaging of the Mattel Retro Heroes, it appears those are at least destined for some Asian countries.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Interesting notion. I think they'd fly if someone made local characters. ("Mmmmm...... Mego format Knight Sabers....")

Don C.

[Meule]

Have there been Anecdotal sightings of Emce Trek/Apes in the Asian secondary markets?

I would much rather expect to see knock-offs

[samurainoir]

I would much rather expect to see knock-offs

Actually I'm not even sure how they are distributed in Europe. Do you see them in the wild at toy and comic shops in Belgiam or the rest of the continant?

Are there Toys R Us in Belgiam like there are in Asia?

[renegade]

To them they're 12 inch figures.(scale is relative )

[LAST SON OF KRYPTON]

I don't think 8" figures are being distributed in Asia,but you can buy them from Singapore and the Philippines and already starting to get popular again there.
They have a wide selection of Toys that sometimes very hard to find in the US but they have it and they are not Knock-offs but the real deal.
During some of my Asian trips I ask some shops how they were able to aquire them,they said these are bought by their relatives living in the US and by in cases and re sell them in their country.
I normally buy parts/accessories for my 1:6 figures in HK and the Philippines,Singapore If I get a chance to go there and fit toy hunting in my schedule.
A friend of mine who was not able to go to SDCC was able to buy SDCC exclusives like the Hot Toys Guardian Predator(Predator 2),The 2 Henchmen (VB)figures from BBP,Hot Wheels 1:64 scale Ecto-1 from a toy shop in the Philippines last August.
There are TRU stores in Asia-Hong Kong,Singapore,Malaysia,Philippines.

[GUYx1]

The 8" format has never really gone over well over there.
Medicom occasionally issues "RAH220" figures which are in mego scale,
but they are more detailed and more articulated
(and WAY MORE FRAGILE - ie do let your wife pick them up!
- I have learned this lesson from experience)
At this point the Asian market can usually manufacture something
better over there than bother importing something from the usa.
Plus they can use existing body styles and do a one to two day license, which is super common.
The toys are top notch, but produced for sale at ONE Toyshow only.
Not that they don't produce a decent quantity for that show, but after that you have to pay a toy dealer or toy shop.
Most of the time the collectors who are into these toys know well in advance what is going to be for sale at a particular toy fest.
A few companies look the other way with licensing, but that is not nearly as common and those figures are often not as sought after. I still love'em though. Some of those unlicensed figures really cut thru the red tape causing some toys to NEVER get made. Still waiting for a Mad Max bootleg.

[PeterRR]

You honestly think the Asian market would buy these retro Mattel crap figures. They would look at them and laugh and say Those Americans make real junk. The Asian market have companies like Hot Toys , Takara, Medicom, Kaiyoda and Bandai plus other companies not mentioned. The Asian market all make detailed figures. 40 years ago USA made the best figures and Hong Kong and japan made all cheap Knock offs . Looks like we stitched sides . Now we make the crap and the Asian markets make the best stuff. Mattel should be embarrassed which the retro line .Hasbro and Mattel only care about profits. No detail at all

[Meule]

Actually I'm not even sure how they are distributed in Europe. Do you see them in the wild at toy and comic shops in Belgiam or the rest of the continant?

Are there Toys R Us in Belgiam like there are in Asia?

We used to have TRU's, but not anymore
I haven't seen them in the wild yet, but I imagine specialised toy shops will have them... at $30 or more

[Astronut]

You honestly think the Asian market would buy these retro Mattel crap figures. They would look at them and laugh and say Those Americans make real junk... Mattel should be embarrassed which the retro line .Hasbro and Mattel only care about profits. No detail at all

Wow. Very exaggerated in my opinion.

While not perfect, the Mattel DC Retro-Action figures are very close to the spirit of the original WGSH Megos. It's hard to argue against that. Other than outright "copying" the originals by using all of the moulds from the 1970's, which they could not do, what else did you expect from these?

You talk about being embarrassed? In my view, I think it's an embarrassment that anyone would take a dump on this line given the love, sweat and tears behind it. I think it's pretty obvious that these things are being manufactured out of a geniune love of Mego, primarily the WGSH line. I would have given almost anything to have these be recreated for purchase again - - and Mattel/EMCE made it happen! We should be PROUD that this line has even been considered by a major toy corporation in the year 2010, much less manufactured!!

By the way, to you (and other haters of this line) I ask: Can you honestly say the original Megos were highly-detailed? No. Because they were not. Can you honestly say they were super high quality? No. Because they were not. Obviously. They had limbs that came out of their sockets and elastic that snapped. And stickers that fell off. And other things. Problems existed just like they exist for nearly anything ever manufactured. Just sayin'.

But most of us here loved Mego as kids, warts and all. And if you still have that love - - and I assume that's the case since you're reading this - - then why not love Mattel's Mego-style figures, warts and all?

As far as the figures not holding a proper pose, aka the "wilt effect," Mattel and EMCE are working on it. It has been stated that they are going to take steps to correct the situation. Give them a chance.

I would add that when it comes to a high level of "detail" I do not WANT to see a high level of detail in a Mego-type figure. Because at one point it stops being a Mego and becomes something else: ordinary.

[Gorn Captain]

The Mattels superheroes and TZ figures sell here in specialized shops only, at around $35 a piece. That's the cheapest I've found them....

[PeterRR]

Wow. Very exaggerated in my opinion.

While not perfect, the Mattel DC Retro-Action figures are very close to the spirit of the original WGSH Megos. It's hard to argue against that. Other than outright "copying" the originals by using all of the moulds from the 1970's, which they could not do, what else did you expect from these?

You talk about being embarrassed? In my view, I think it's an embarrassment that anyone would take a dump on this line given the love, sweat and tears behind it. I think it's pretty obvious that these things are being manufactured out of a geniune love of Mego, primarily the WGSH line. I would have given almost anything to have these be recreated for purchase again - - and Mattel/EMCE made it happen! We should be PROUD that this line has even been considered by a major toy corporation in the year 2010, much less manufactured!!

By the way, to you (and other haters of this line) I ask: Can you honestly say the original Megos were highly-detailed? No. Because they were not. Can you honestly say they were super high quality? No. Because they were not. Obviously. They had limbs that came out of their sockets and elastic that snapped. And stickers that fell off. And other things. Problems existed just like they exist for nearly anything ever manufactured. Just sayin'.

But most of us here loved Mego as kids, warts and all. And if you still have that love - - and I assume that's the case since you're reading this - - then why not love Mattel's Mego-style figures, warts and all?

As far as the figures not holding a proper pose, aka the "wilt effect," Mattel and EMCE are working on it. It has been stated that they are going to take steps to correct the situation. Give them a chance.

I would add that when it comes to a high level of "detail" I do not WANT to see a high level of detail in a Mego-type figure. Because at one point it stops being a Mego and becomes something else: ordinary.

Your right about Megos were not made with quality. They had their flaws. But that was 35 years ago. And we didn't have to pay for them our parents bought them for us plus we didn't have much selection in Toys (Gi Joe , Big Jim and really bad knock offs). So any toy we got as kids we loved. But this is now and these figures are not cheap $25.00 a pop. For that price you tell me they couldn't do a better job. They all look cheaply made like something you find in a Dollar store. I went to a TRU in Times Square and a 9-11 years old kid picked up a Superman and said to his friend what a stupid looking Superman figure and he is right. I love megos and love the sprit. I love Mego format. I was excited when Tomy made a 8" Boba Fett and a Vader . I was hoping they made more since mego passed on Star Wars 30 years ago.I can't wait for Zica Buck Rogers 8" line and there bodies are great. also cast-a-way Phantom and Captain Action line are nicely made they captured the Mego Spirit. I love All the retro Cars made today (Mustang, Challenger and Charger) they updated them and gave them a retro look. Not A 99 cent look. Mattel made really BAD figures worse then any mego figure made 35 years ago where is the spirit in that. I am hoping Mattel reads all the collectors that Hate them and maybe improve them. [B]Looking at this Line there was no love, sweat and tears behind it[ only how cheap can we made them/B] Like my father said "if your going to do something make sure you do it right or don't do it at all"

[The Bat]

Whoops, wrong thread...

[samurainoir]

I'd direct the conversation about the Mattel bodies back over the the threads pertaining to the recent announcement by Emce that Mattel is revising the bodies for subsequent waves.

I've been flirting with the 1/6th scale figure hobby recently, and to me it's really interesting to see where it has evolved and the fact that it does encompass cheaper affordable kid-friendly stuff at TRU/Walmart all the way up through to the ultra high end $$$ Hot Toys style figures. With the high end in particular being driven by the Asian marketplace. I think with the rising costs of oil/plastics coupled with the nostalgia factor (primarily Men approx. 40 with disposable income), and current production technology, the 8" format has to potential to fill a great little niche between the 3 3/4" and 6" tooled sculpted figures, and the 1/6th Cloth outfit Action Figure hobby.

While local comic stores here have the Sideshow imports, some of the more popular Hot Toys and Medicom releases via Diamond, it absolutely pales in comparison to what some of the Hole in the Wall tiny shop/stalls in Toronto's Chinese Malls are selling and the price points they are charging. I stood there the other day in absolute awe at the Batman Begins/Dark Knight 1/6 Batmobile/tumbler on display in one shop window that had maybe 200 square feet of retail space at best.

It's been a decade since my last trip to Asia, and my understanding is that the jump in those ten years is going to be mind-blowing if Chinatown is just the smallest indication.

I've been checking out those RAH220 scale figures that Guy1x pointed out to me, and I'm just blown away at that Wild Things Max and level of detail on the Kamen Rider figures. Incredible levels of articulation and pose-ability, multiple hands, accessories and attention to detail on the costumes. Of course none of these figures retail for under 10,000 yen (more or less a hundred US bucks).

[Boywonder0]

You honestly think the Asian market would buy these retro Mattel crap figures. They would look at them and laugh and say Those Americans make real junk. The Asian market have companies like Hot Toys , Takara, Medicom, Kaiyoda and Bandai plus other companies not mentioned. The Asian market all make detailed figures. 40 years ago USA made the best figures and Hong Kong and japan made all cheap Knock offs . Looks like we stitched sides . Now we make the crap and the Asian markets make the best stuff. Mattel should be embarrassed which the retro line .Hasbro and Mattel only care about profits. No detail at all

I don't pretend to be a psychologist here but this is an evident clinical case of someone who really dies to own something but just can't...