Q and A Archives - Page 20 of 26 - ActionFigurePics.com

AFP Hasbro G.I. JOE Q&A for 1/15/10

The Hasbro JOE team is back with another round of Q&A. Thanks to Ray from the Fwoosh for these questions.

1. Hypothetical question… If the ROC movie hadn’t existed would you have pretty much stopped the 25th line anyway and rebranded into a new line, or would it have kept going untouched?

Hypothetically, we may have developed a new theme as we strive to continuously keep the brand fresh and relevant.

2. Have you ever considered doing modern updates of monster type Joes like the Bio-Viper, Monstro-Viper – because the customs you had on display of those were awesome.

[Pics courtesy of the Hasbro JoeCon 2009 coverage by ItsAllTrue.Net – thanks Noisy!]

Great question! This is something we find very exciting and are looking into it, although they may not look exactly like the customs – we may use cues from them as inspiration for future planning.

3. What was the reasoning behind the new Snowcat’s paintjob? As opposed to the original look.

We aim to keep the line fresh and offer cool new looks where possible.

WWE Interview with Mattel Designers Derek Handy and Bill Miekina

WWE.com has posted a two part interview with designers Derek Handy and Bill Miekina. They talk about their backgrounds and influences, the challenges and joys of working on WWE, and meeting the wrestlers. Great stuff!

Also be sure to check out our pre-launch interview with Derek and brand manager PJ Lewis.

Among a mere handful of individuals responsible for all WWE products are lead designer Derek Handy and fellow key design point man at Mattel, Bill Miekina. With a combined 17 years of experience in toy creative, design and execution, the pair juggles everything from sculpting and mechanical architecture (Handy’s handiwork) to paint deco and accuracy (Miekina’s expertise).

In an exclusive interview with WWE.com, Handy and Miekina detailed their crucial roles within the plastic-molding pantheon at Mattel – those responsible for the greatest WWE toys in the history of the squared circle.

via WWE: Inside WWE > WWE Mattel > News > Mattel Q&A Part 1.

Poll: Masters of the Universe Classics Moss Man Ear Flocking

mossmanearsnoears — Masters of the Universe Classics Moss Man - Ear Flocking Options (credit: Daniel B)

Mattel has heard the fan outcry on the latest flocking issue with the Masters of the Universe Classics Moss Man – a lot of you want Moss Man with his ears unencumbered by green flock. They posted a question for us on their Facebook page (emphasis is mine):

Quick Updates

Hey everyone,

So a few quickies. First we hear you on Moss Man and the ears. Fans seem split but here is what might be possible.

Mossy is already in production. If (and that is an “if”) we can effect a change it means some fans will get flocked ears, some no flock. And it will be random. Are you okay with that?

Second, we had a great meeting with Digital River today and it looks like the bugs have been worked out. We’ll also be updating the FAQ on the site to review the return policy as well as offer more information. If you are still having issues with an order, post your order number on Facebook and we’ll get it resolved.

We’re still looking into new shipping options and overseas distribution, but first we need to get all the kinks worked out before expanding to any new areas. The last thing we want to do is rush things.

The Retro Action Green Arrow is almost sold out. More Retro figures will be out this Spring at Toys R Us and other online retailers. We’ll have wave 2 to show at NYTF in Feb.

And if you are in the LA area, be sure to check out the MOTU art show opening this weekend. Aside from some great artistic interpretations of the MOTU world, you can also check out a display of all the MOTUC figures as well as some upcoming releases and a new figure to be revealed Friday night! (hint: it is a celebrity figure and will be one of our SDCC MOTUC items). Full details are in our news section.

That’s it for now!

Matty

via Facebook | Mattycollector.com: Quick Updates.

So our question to you is this:

Pre-Launch Interview with Mattel WWE Team – PJ Lewis and Derek Handy

The wait is nearly over.

It’s been over 22 long months since Mattel announced it had won the master toy license for the WWE from long-time holder JAKKS Pacific, and now we’re just ten days away from the official launch date. Even with the WWE team at Mattel completing their final prep for the launch, they were kind enough to answer our questions about the most anticipated toy line of 2010.

We spoke with PJ Lewis and Derek Handy from Mattel. PJ is the brand manager for the WWE toy lines, and Derek is on the design team.

Q: Hi – thanks for taking the time to speak with us today. PJ, to start, can you introduce yourself?

PJ Lewis: Hello. My name is PJ Lewis and I am a Senior Brand Manager at Mattel. I’ve been at the company 4 years and had the opportunity to work on Speed Racer, DC Universe, Cartoon Network Brands, and more.

Q: WWE is one of the most coveted licenses out there. How long has Mattel been targeting the license, and what were the key points that made acquiring the license possible?

PJ: There are so few brands in the action figure aisle that are true evergreen brands like WWE. Simply, when something like it comes available, you go after it. As for key points, we are a creative, passionate team with global reach unmatched in the industry. I’d like to think these all helped the license come our way.

Q: Let’s talk about the toys, due to hit shelves January 1, 2010. First, can you tell us a bit about each line and who they’re targeted at? We know Flex Force is aimed at kids, but who’s the primary target for the Basic figures, Elite Collection, and Entrance Greats?

Basic Series 1:

Basic Series 2:

PJ: Basic Figures are the day in and day out replicas of the WWE roster. They average 15 points of articulation and capture the changing decos and new talent additions. The Elite Collection are designed for collectors and fans that want to take it to the next level. These feature 25+ points of articulation, authentic ring attire, and what we hope to be the best deco you have ever seen on a WWE figure.

Continue reading “Pre-Launch Interview with Mattel WWE Team – PJ Lewis and Derek Handy”

AFP Ask Matty Round-Up for 12/16/9 – Redux

Toy Guru was kind enough to resend answers that were lost in the cloud – well, at least 4 out of 5 of them! 😀

1. We were glad to hear that sales of the DC Universe Classics Color of Fear 2-pack were strong. Were they strong enough for you to consider additional multi-packs via MattyCollector.com? If not, what are you thinking about for exclusive DCUC product on MattyCollector.com?

Unfortunately none of the DCUC 2 packs performed well enough to keep the assortment going in 2010. We are looking at other ways of bringing DCUC figures to Mattycollector.com, but there will not be any additional 2 packs at this time.

Continue reading “AFP Ask Matty Round-Up for 12/16/9 – Redux”