Ignohippo said:
My concern (from working with Palisades) is that the approval process is so slow with Disney that a product will get initial approval from disney and then adjustments can't be made from that point on because it takes too long to go back through the approval process.
I don't think it's so much the lousy proto pics that have us so worried – it's the lack of info. The pictures from MR of Kermit and Animal still look terrible but we know they look much better in person. For me, MR has my $300, so (to some extent) I think that entitles me to know what the item that I've purchased will look like.
And I also want to see this line survive, so the lack of communication from a Marketing standpoint really doesn't make much sense in my opinion.
You're exactly right. Even if the approval process were streamlined the changes could delay manufacturing and distribution for several months. There are rare occasions when that isn't a factor. Disney's approval process can be schizophrenic. Sometimes they rubber-stamp things that require more inspection, at other times they drag their feet on "no-brainer" alterations. I also think they are married to the idea of assigning print PMS colors, intended to be used in print media and cartoon representations, on these real life replicas. It's not that Disney doesn't get the Muppets in this case. I don't think they get puppets in general.
Luke said:
Just to point out we are not "lucky" that they release proto pictures and they are not doing us any kind of "favor". The whole reason they put out proto pictures is to get the pre-orders in and market the line somewhat. It was the same with Palisades only they delivered in the communication area way better most of the time. I always laugh when i hear companies start to hint at taking away preview pictures when things don't look good for them yet when they have a great product they can't wait to release them. I agree really that they should just make the thing and then show pictures and sell it, but nowadays to even break even on these kind of speciality products they need a few months of pre-sales before they even go the last step and push the button on the production line.
Well said. This is undoubtedly a magnificent product, but I think something important is being forgotten. We are still customers. Their product could not exist for long without us. We're somewhat crazy people for wanting these life sized Muppets in the first place, but we're the market. That being said, I can understand and agree with creating a comfortable distance between all of us fantastic types and internal information. Palisades did that a little too, but were a rarity among peers. Their input process, although sometimes criticized, was unique and really worked to make a better product.
I sometimes feel that MR would like to cherry pick the public feedback about their product, but that's really not how it works in the collectibles market. You'll get the Kool-Aid drinkers, unsatisfied wingnuts and thoughtful fans with good suggestions put out there. That's how it goes. Nonetheless, this dialog is paramount to this sort of product.
We aren't lucky to be getting anything if we're paying for it. It is beyond cool these items were green-lit into production, but now that they are MR has a responsibility in living up to Henson's Muppet legacy. So far with Animal and Kermit they've done a stellar job! The representational photographs on their site are inexcusably atrocious and nobody seems interested in changing that. There must be something else going on - apathy, haste, thinly-spread graphics or marketing department? All I know is that we're pretty much in the dark. That leads to these long diatribes by concerned fans. These sometimes can be useful in keeping a brand or product in the minds of consumers, but in this case it appears to be growing into negative buzz.
I find it a little presumptuous to say that we the fans and consumers should either cheerlead or sit quietly and wait for whatever approved crumbs to be leaked - and then still temper remarks because the approved photos are poorly taken. This buzz can be fixed and with little time or effort, but it would have to come from the MR side. They are a great bunch of people and I'm sure everyone here would like to hear from them. A real update is past due.
Certainly the point could be given that no company has responsibility to provide any update information, but that would be poor customer relations. This is a specialty product in a specialty market. Such updates are vital to success. In all honesty I'm feeling that things like the Gonzo jacket color hasn't really been altered, or at least much, since its convention photographs and I don't think it's a creative decision. There's likely a time, money or licensor factor at play. Ken Lilly really had a way of politicking around things. That is one of his greatest underappreciated talents!
I feel that MR would be greatly helped by listening to a few ideas from fans. Ideas can sound critical, but Palisades was never scared of that. I say this because there's a lot of evidence supporting the idea that there's a void between Terry Angus' beautiful prototypes and notes and the manufacturing process. Wish I knew more about puppet building, but many talented people on the Muppet Central Forum do. It should not have taken so long to resolve this nose issue. The sock thing should have been stripped away as being the completely wrong way to go from the start.
I just want to hear some news. It's easier to believe the worst when all we've had to go by is horrible prototype photographs and confirmation of incorrect clothing color.
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