what megolike figures would your KIDS like to see made?

[samurainoir]

And it sounds like to me that some folks here should take this passion and start their own Mego-like kids line!

It's one thing to Monday Morning Quarterback right?

[megoscott]

The problem with the Mego Knights is they are boring. Yes, as nicely sculpted as they are, they really are boring toys. Where is the princess to rescue, where is the old wizard, where are the dragons, where are the skeletons, cyclops and all those other cool fantasy monsters I saw in the Ray Harryhausen movies I watched and fantasy books I read? There's really nothing to do with them. They are boring.

I don't disagree with that, they didn't even get their horse. But Mego found unlicensed lines were a dud for them and that perception has remained. I think you're envisioning a tremendous amount of cool stuff that's quite expensive to make unless it's supported by a television show or something with a big media budget.

[rche]

The problem with the Mego Knights is they are boring. Yes, as nicely sculpted as they are, they really are boring toys. Where is the princess to rescue, where is the old wizard, where are the dragons, where are the skeletons, cyclops and all those other cool fantasy monsters I saw in the Ray Harryhausen movies I watched and fantasy books I read? There's really nothing to do with them. They are boring.

I fought Aurora dinos with megos. My son has big rubber dinos, snakes, and monsters that are constantly getting captured and rehabilitated. I would say that the wizard, skeletons (ctvt), and princess need to get made and there is some adventure fodder.

I agree that a worlds greatest heroes and monsters of myth would be a fantastic line. We would be all over that.

I also mentioned Kaiju in another thread. Rubber monster and robot suits over mego bodies would make just about everyone in my household explode.

[megoscott]

Doc Mego has always talked about wanting to make the toys for his kids, and the Retro Actions are great that way. But if there isn't going to be a tv commercial campaign for them they are essentially relying on us Retro-Dads to market these toys to their kids and there's a limit to how far that goes.

[Werewolf]

I think you're envisioning a tremendous amount of cool stuff that's quite expensive to make unless it's supported by a television show or something with a big media budget.

How about a line of Fairies for girls then? Less costly to make and would uses standard bodies. Add fabric wings to some pretty dresses and you've got Fairie dolls. But if anyone is going to make stuff for girls they have to remember the sculpts have to appeal to them. The have to be pretty. The female head sculpts on stuff like the BBP figures are fine for what they are. But to appeal to little girls they have to be Barbie pretty.

[samurainoir]

I believe the generic stuff these days is strictly dollar store/discount chain. Unless you skimp on the quality, then the price point is too high to risk without a concept that has a solid hook/proven track record.

How does a small mom and pop boutique company compete with the marketing muscle, distribution channels, and general cross horizontal integration that the corporate conglomerates hive?

It has to be niche.

I honestly don't know anything about Breyer's girls/horses, but there's a company that seems to have found a market and a hook that was untapped. I know a gentleman who was once in charge of the Scholastic Book club and he once told me that the top sellers were boatloads of Pony books in a day and age where kids are supposedly not reading.

[HardyGirl]

None..... Sad to say most of the kids I know. Mine, their friends, kids in the neighborhood , everyone is in to video games and hi tech gadgets. They out grow toys in general very fast.

I have never seen a child even look at retro toys or any toys in general when I shop the action figure aisle. Just adult collectors and scalpers looking to pick up and sell to adult collectors.

I could tell you a few amusing stories with parents trying to push toys on their kids. Ooo wouldnt you like this? And what was said in reply.

As a teacher, who has taught both grade school kids and pre-schoolers, I have to say that i'd disagree w/ that. The truth is that kids would love to play w/ toys, if they were only exposed to them. Sadly, most people think as you do, they don't play w/ toys like we used to, so they'll just follow the trend and get them whatever electronic toy is popular at the time. And most kids do this so much, they don't know how to pretend anymore. But when I used to work w/ my older kids, I would bring my toys to school, and I would set up a story to pretend, once they get the hang of it, they really got into it! And I babysit enough kids of varying ages to know that even ones who are hooked on video games, could care less about playing them once they see my toyroom. They take one look at all my action figures and dolls and they're in Heaven! They can't wait to play. Don't underestimate kids, they can really surprise you sometimes.

[PNGwynne]

I don't disagree with that, they didn't even get their horse. But Mego found unlicensed lines were a dud for them and that perception has remained. I think you're envisioning a tremendous amount of cool stuff that's quite expensive to make unless it's supported by a television show or something with a big media budget.

Duds, maybe--but such beautiful failures...

[jimsmegos]

And it sounds like to me that some folks here should take this passion and start their own Mego-like kids line!

It's one thing to Monday Morning Quarterback right?

Very well said!

[Werewolf]

This thread is market research meant in a postive helpful way. Collectors, kids and families telling retro manufacturers what they'd like to buy and play with.

The Mego style is going to have to appeal to kids again to survive in the long term. Eventually you will run out of the shrinking niches of nerd Hummels and will have return to the broader market of kids or this style of toys dies with us.

[sprytel]

I am not into the 1:6 world... so I don't know the answer to this, but... do kids buy 1:6 scale, or just middle aged men who grew up on GI Joes, etc? Those figures seem to successfully rise from the dead. How are they doing it?

[The Toyroom]

My kids would like Twilight and Justin Beiber Megos....

[kingdom warrior]

WWE figures....with Ring

[jasonmego1277]

My son would bug me for Scooby Doo. He is absolutely crazy about scoob and the gang.

[Werewolf]

I am not into the 1:6 world... so I don't know the answer to this, but... do kids buy 1:6 scale, or just middle aged men who grew up on GI Joes, etc? Those figures seem to successfully rise from the dead. How are they doing it?

12 inch GI JOEs are getting another big push this year and they are aimed at kids, not collectors. Military, SWAT and Fire Fighter.