Me too. The worst part is, it's a cursed line (both companies that attempted it went bankrupt just as they were making them... I'd call that a curse)... and there's never going to be an opportunity like that... at least for another 5 years, and i don't think I'd even bother buying them 5 years down the line. I said it in the replicas thread, but Mattel paid lipservice to a potentially profitable 40th anniversary line with overpriced reused figures of too little characters. I hope Hasbro does better.This thread makes me sad! If only Palisades would've lasted through the first few waves!
The action figure industry is very tough and both companies Fun 4All and Palisades Toys were small fish compared to Hasbro, Mattel or even NECA. Remember a time when NECA had so many things announced that either got canceled or took forever to actually come out? So that's why I wouldn't call Sesame Street cursed.Me too. The worst part is, it's a cursed line (both companies that attempted it went bankrupt just as they were making them... I'd call that a curse)... and there's never going to be an opportunity like that... at least for another 5 years, and i don't think I'd even bother buying them 5 years down the line. I said it in the replicas thread, but Mattel paid lipservice to a potentially profitable 40th anniversary line with overpriced reused figures of too little characters. I hope Hasbro does better.
Hey, if I were a toy company, I wouldn't touch it. Yeah, I could go on about the over saturation of TERRIBLE action figures (cough cough... mostly from MacFarline... cough cough). And you gotta admit, Palisades DID have a bit too many products at once at some point. I'm completely disappointed they jumped on the Lego style figures though... and the blind box stuff they did was WAYYY ahead of its time. But there was a LOT of garbage on the shelves from various third string companies at the time. I always hated "Twisted Children's Fairy Tale" Cool sculpt for the sake of cool sculpt breakable junk that came out of lesser companies (again, MacFarline) at the time. Now it's all about vynals... and even then, they're becoming passe. I actually have like 3 of them (A Smurf, Sabertooth and Michelangelo) and I only got them because they were on sale.The action figure industry is very tough and both companies Fun 4All and Palisades Toys were small fish compared to Hasbro, Mattel or even NECA. Remember a time when NECA had so many things announced that either got canceled or took forever to actually come out? So that's why I wouldn't call Sesame Street cursed.
McFarlane's stuff actually does pretty well. It's his Simpsons Movie and clunky Hannah Barbara lines that kind of stunk up the shops and even those were quality representations of the characters. But now McFarlane is focused on sports figures. I just don't understand the appeal, but to each their own tastes.Hey, if I were a toy company, I wouldn't touch it. Yeah, I could go on about the over saturation of TERRIBLE action figures (cough cough... mostly from MacFarline... cough cough). And you gotta admit, Palisades DID have a bit too many products at once at some point. I'm completely disappointed they jumped on the Lego style figures though... and the blind box stuff they did was WAYYY ahead of its time. But there was a LOT of garbage on the shelves from various third string companies at the time. I always hated "Twisted Children's Fairy Tale" Cool sculpt for the sake of cool sculpt breakable junk that came out of lesser companies (again, MacFarline) at the time. Now it's all about vynals... and even then, they're becoming passe. I actually have like 3 of them (A Smurf, Sabertooth and Michelangelo) and I only got them because they were on sale.
All I want is at the very TINY least a decent quality affordable PVC set series like I've said hundreds of times. Hasbro's buddy packs would be perfect. I'd see the first couple lines being simplistic Ernie, Elmo, Big Bird (though, if he were to be in scale, he'd be sold separately) type stuff with more fan favorites later on.
I liked when they first came on the scene with their Austin Powers, Shrek and Beatles lines (I wish I had more of the Beatles stuff... sadly never had the money when they were around). Then when they did those ugly monstery things, the whole company just got too big and just made statues disguised as action figures. I got the Hong Kong Phooey one, but I was mortally afraid to open it.McFarlane's stuff actually does pretty well. It's his Simpsons Movie and clunky Hannah Barbara lines that kind of stunk up the shops and even those were quality representations of the characters. But now McFarlane is focused on sports figures. I just don't understand the appeal, but to each their own tastes.
The thing that I don't get is that when it comes to T-shirts, they do some pretty adult stuff (Not as adult as a TMNT shirt I can't even say the caption of... let's say it's one of the most x-rated double entendres possible... and 4Kids licensed it), but they seem fumble thumbs when it comes to everything else. I can't express how lackluster the 40th anniversary stuff was, and how much of a wasted opportunity it became. Recession or no recession. But then It seems that Fisher Price wasn't all that good with toys anyway... Elmo Tickle Hands? No way those would sell.I think Sesame Workshop could make a mint releasing wildly repainted pudgy sculpts of Elmo, Ernie, Oscar and the gang for collectors of all ages. I don't think they have capitalized off their characters the best way they can. Some say it's because Sesame isn't supposed to be a commercial machine, but that's what funds their programs and I've seen some really cynical toys out there before. I think the license and design hoops must be difficult because they really could do a lot with the brand and there are plenty of smaller-scale companies that would love a stab at it.
I agree. And they're doing some great things with the Scooby Doo brand now that I think would work great for Sesame.I liked when they first came on the scene with their Austin Powers, Shrek and Beatles lines (I wish I had more of the Beatles stuff... sadly never had the money when they were around). Then when they did those ugly monstery things, the whole company just got too big and just made statues disguised as action figures. I got the Hong Kong Phooey one, but I was mortally afraid to open it.
Personally, I just don't like the blind box Ginsu figures. They seem to be totally alien to why Japanese blind box figures have so much appeal. And other than the line of Bust Ups, the TRUE market of small, buildable mini statues is an untapped market.
Plus, they don't even have candy in them. I once got this amazing Golgo 13 figure (at half the cost the American counterparts cost EVEN with import fees)... came with a little package of Smartees like candy.
Anyway... yeah...getting back to topic
The thing that I don't get is that when it comes to T-shirts, they do some pretty adult stuff (Not as adult as a TMNT shirt I can't even say the caption of... let's say it's one of the most x-rated double entendres possible... and 4Kids licensed it), but they seem fumble thumbs when it comes to everything else. I can't express how lackluster the 40th anniversary stuff was, and how much of a wasted opportunity it became. Recession or no recession. But then It seems that Fisher Price wasn't all that good with toys anyway... Elmo Tickle Hands? No way those would sell.
All I'm asking for is another line up like this... maybe double pack them similar to what Mattel failed at doing... It seems like the most cost effective way to get out more fan favorite characters... some that didn't even get to be merchandise yet. I'm not saying they should go crazy and make Don Music or anyone like that. Just a nice The Count or Guy Smiley. Characters that still manage to pop up today. They can get out of the doldrums of just Elmo and make some scratch too.