PENDRAGON'S POST: DC Universe Classics

Showing posts with label DC Universe Classics. Show all posts

Monday, April 26, 2010

Ask Matty - An Open Call For Questions Due May 1st

Have a question for Mattel then look no further.

On every 1st and 15th of the month, Matty opens himself up to questions from his fans.

Next round of questions are due May 1st with answers on May 15th.

5 random questions will be selected bi-monthly and submitted to Matty, for him to answer.

Just enter your question into the comments section at the end of this post.

PLEASE NOTE: Mattel can not answer questions about unannounced figures (i.e. "will you do a figure of Psycho Pirate in 6" scale), production runs, acquiring new properties or logistics in production.

Pendragon's Post has the right to edit and remove any and all comments, as deemed necessary.

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ASK MATTY: MATTY ANSWERS 4/1/10

Matty took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions.

1. Toyguru and Matty confirmed several times that the hyper-stylized, so called ‘anime” look of the 200X figures, should be retired for good. And also that POP/NA/200X figures that didn’t have an action figure in the ‘80s MOTU line would be introduced in MOTUC, sculpted in the same way as if the figure was going to be made in the ‘80s but with added detail and improved articulation. However She-Ra and Count Marzo were sculpted with static body parts that are entirely reminiscent of the 200X line and NECA statues (windblown hair for both and windblown cape for Marzo). This is a very modern approach to action figure sculpting that didn’t even exist in the ‘80s. Although it might make head movement easier it actually limits pose-ability in the sense that the figures can only be posed in display settings that allow for blowing wind (it’s impossible to place them in settings like the indoors of Castle Grayskull or Royal Palace where there is supposed to be no wind). Online polls done on the Mattycollector forums show that collectors would prefer “vintage style” neutrally positioned hair and capes. Why have Mattel and/or the Four Horsemen opted for such a modern approach for these two figures, in a line that is supposed to be strictly classic?

This was actually noted by upper management and we will be toning down the amount of wind blown hair, etc. on figures for a more unified Classic look. The direction for the current line is to avoid the "anime" interpretation of the 2002 line as that look is retired.

2. We know you can’t comment on specific characters that haven’t been announced, but are “civilian” “historical” DC characters like Sgt. Rock or Jonah Hex being considered for a DCU treatment?

Absolutely!

3. On Mattycollector.com, you explained what the status descriptions meant, but you forgot one. Can you explain when it says “Currently Unavailable”?

This description means we are sold out but more may come in one day when we go into another run - like what we did for Stratos.

4. With all the constant problem there are every month with Digital River, are you looking into change to another provider?

We are committed to delivering the best service possible but we can not comment specifically on our relationship with Digital River.

5. Back to the Walmart issue, you keep saying Mattycollector is listening to the fans. But doing another wave exclusive to a store that has proven time & time again that they don’t care about the DCU line, doesn’t seem like you are listening to the fans. The fans are frustrated & just about had it with Walmart Waves. We do not want another exclusive wave. We want all waves available everywhere.

While we do listen to fans on our lines we also listen to retailers. Doing an exclusive wave for Wal-Mart is part of an overall strategy to bring DCUC to Wal-Mart stores and while we do take fan comments, this is not a particular issue we can let the fans vote on. Read more...

ASK MATTY: MATTY ANSWERS 4/1/10

Well, it's April Fool's Day & Mattel decided to have some fun the Q&A this time around.

We at Pendragon's Post are not amused at all.

1. Toyguru and Matty confirmed several times that the hyper-stylized, so called 'anime" look of the 200X figures, should be retired for good. And also that POP/NA/200X figures that didn't have an action figure in the '80s MOTU line would be introduced in MOTUC, sculpted in the same way as if the figure was going to be made in the '80s but with added detail and improved articulation. However She-Ra and Count Marzo were sculpted with static body parts that are entirely reminiscent of the 200X line and NECA statues (windblown hair for both and windblown cape for Marzo). This is a very modern approach to action figure sculpting that didn't even exist in the '80s. Although it might make head movement easier it actually limits pose-ability in the sense that the figures can only be posed in display settings that allow for blowing wind (it's impossible to place them in settings like the indoors of Castle Grayskull or Royal Palace where there is supposed to be no wind). Online polls done on the Mattycollector forums show that collectors would prefer "vintage style" neutrally positioned hair and capes. Why have Mattel and/or the Four Horsemen opted for such a modern approach for these two figures, in a line that is supposed to be strictly classic?

As I see it yes.

2. We know you can't comment on specific characters that haven't been announced, but are "civilian" "historical" DC characters like Sgt. Rock or Jonah Hex being considered for a DCU treatment?

My sources say no.

3. On Mattycollector.com, you explained what the status descriptions meant, but you forgot one. Can you explain when it says "Currently Unavailable"?

Reply hazy try again.

4. With all the constant problem there are every month with Digital River, are you looking into change to another provider?

Cannot predict now.

5. Back to the Walmart issue, you keep saying Mattycollector is listening to the fans. But doing another wave exclusive to a store that has proven time & time again that they don't care about the DCU line, doesn't seem like you are listening to the fans. The fans are frustrated & just about had it with Walmart Waves. We do not want another exclusive wave. We want all waves available everywhere.

Yes.

We'll keep trying to get some real answers for these questions.
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ASK MATTY: MATTY ANSWERS 2/16/10

Matty took time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions.

1) Part of the charm of MOTUC’s reusing parts and painting them differently is to make them look unique while they STILL look vintage, and from photos circulating the ‘net, replacing the baby blue with the new silvery paint on Evil Lyn and her staffs seems to make her appear more “Anti-Teela”, and less distinctive as vintage Evil Lyn. Secondly, her new eye paint aps changes her facial expression completely, losing the thick black and tight angles for her eyelashes/eyeline and the heavy black around the eyeball for a thinner, wider, and more rounded eyeline, now making her look “surprised” rather than a “sultry stare”. Lastly, the change in point of separation for her removable crystal ball (now the entire top half of her small wand vs only the first ring) sadly alters and ruins the entire retro-style design of the longer 200X-influenced staff as the 4 Horsemen originally designed. After Moss Man’s, Evil Lyn’s drastic and obvious changes and is a new trend that’s unsettling to many fans of the Four Horsemen’s original work. Can you comment on why these changes to the 4 Horsemen’s awesome designs were made in Evil Lyn, both in color and weapon design?

The Crystal Ball was completely designed by the Horsemen - removable headpiece and all. So what you are seeing is the Horsemen’s design - we didn’t change anything about it!

2) For Mattel’s toy engineers: it has to be asked again. Recent DCUC toys can’t look up or down. For MOTUC, there is RECENT talk of undoing Teela’s fine neck articulation to a neck swivel as there are somehow ONLY two options to fix her thin neck barbell problem for popping heads. Outside of a Barbie doll, why is a ball neck executed using a barbell system in the first place? Countless Star Wars, Marvel, GI Joe, and Japanese toys half the size and scale of Mattel’s toys and with even thinner necks than Teela or any other female figure released to date have a fully-molded (immovable) ball at the top of the neck where a head with a wider opening pops on and off effortlessly and moves in every direction very well. Can such a simple solution already used by various toy companies please be considered?

You will see improved neck articulation on DCUC starting with Wave 12.

3) With DCUC we’ve seen the teenage boy body type. With Wonder Girl being announced in Wave 14, will we finally be seeing a teenage female body type or will she be the standard female size?

She will be the first teen female with a new buck!

4) From internet reviews, the MOTUC stands appear both excellently crafted AND give us a level of customizability for various standing positions, so first, thank you! The biggest issue I find with these toys is that the ankle joint become weak due to their weight. Can we expect to get additional stand parts down the line for further customization, like taller Grayskull walls, weapon racks or clear waist clips coming up from the base to hold them in place? You’ve created an incredible stand system with holes placed to achieve these easy additions, creating potential dioramas if interconnected properly!

Yes, we do have plans for other stands and set pieces for MOTUC figures down the line! It’ll likely be about one a year with the stands being first.

5) Speaking to toy engineers at Comic Con about the hardness of the plastics on some of the long capes or long hair on wrestling figures and superheroes toys, it is my understanding that a factory can fit several smaller parts of a toy (head, arms, hands, feet and/or weapons) in one mold so as not to waste space in a given mold. The same plastic is then used for all pieces in that particular mold. Either for budgetary reasons or shortcuts by the factory unbeknownst to the company, sometimes factories will include a cape or hair piece in with the same mold as parts needing tougher plastics like the heads or limbs or accessories. I currently buy and love the MOTUC, DCUC, and your new WWE toys, and I see a similar possibility issue across the board for this reason. Can there please be a new Mattel edict that ALL capes, long hair, tunics, robes, loincloths, skirts, or any other articulation-inhibiting draping be cast with the plastic used for DCUC Mantis’ cape, one that the factories have to adhere to?

The material used for Mantis’ cape is actually a lot more expensive to produce compared to the thicker capes. Mantis required this additional cost to maintain articulation due to the unique nature of his cape attaching at the wrists. We will look at using the thin material when possible, but it is simply not something we can afford to include universally in order to keep figures at a low retail price. Read more...