1/6 Hot Toys - POTC5 - Jack Sparrow Figure (Artisan Edition + Regular) Collectible Figure

[Wor-Gar]

I cannot unsee the sculpted hair now on the deluxe and standard. Especially when there is some real hair right next to it.

Given the price difference on InArt for rooted hair, and looking closely at the "real" dreads and braids, real ribbon details, and the cloth bandana, I have come to peace with my Artisan purchase. It is not so much more than InArt charges for rooted.

I suppose the real test will be: how much more 'real' does the head look in hand when all this detail is so tiny and minuscule...?

 

[Gipetto0812]

In the end I believe HT is charging $160-$200 more simply because they can. I haven't gone back and checked - how does that compare to what InArt charges to upgrade to implanted hair? Weren't they more like $125-$150?

Could just be that Sparrow's hair is a bit more complex given the mix of dreads, beads, wrapping and whatever else plus potentially coloring the hair the various colors from blonde to dark brown/black. If you look back, both Artisan Scarlet Witch and Artisan TDK Joker are more in line with the similar price differences between sculpted and rooted as InArt that you mentioned.

Scarlet Witch has a difference of $120 between the regular and Artisan, and TDK Joker has a price difference of $150. Scarlet Witch has all one color head of hair whereas Joker has to have the green dye added in to the brown/blonde

 

[The Buffinator]

You're right that it isn't necessarily a one off, but in 50+ releases over past eight months since the artisan line was announced, only four figures are Artisan so that could indicate an outside craftsman relationship at least at this point while they establish, test the market and prove the line.

Personally, I think its fine to offer the artisan at the premium price, but then just make it a wider release artisan that any interested customer could buy without bothering to make unnecessary "less-than" versions. For instance, while everything else looks fine on the DX/CE version of this (because they are essentially the same figure), I can't get over that shiny plastic bandana... come on put the nice fabric one on all version or otherwise just offer a single version that everyone can have. That sculpted bandana can't have saved production cost much. And why the silly diamond base? if you want to offer less expensive version, just offer the same figure with the diorama for more money or without the diorama for less money. And BTW another thing that baffles me a little, going to all the trouble of implanted dreads, then why stop at the hair on top of the head? Meaning those two chin braids should be implanted vs. sculpted as well.

Anyway, whatever, I am happy this is coming. I want to bid a happy Easter to those who observe it and a warm Cheers to everyone, hope all here enjoy today with your friends and families. JC

As I recall the WB100 Wonder Woman was their first foray into the wool hair implantation so I viewed that as their "testing the water" figure. After that did well they started with the Artisan label. But whether there's been 4 or 5 figures your point still stands about the possibility of an outside subcontractor being involved. We may never know for sure but if the line's here to stay it just seems to me that Howard C. would want to bring that know-how in-house from a control standpoint.

I agree that this should be 100% Artisan with the difference between regaular and deluxe being the diorama base. There definitely doesn't need to be 3 versions lol...

 

[Godfather1408]

Yuyan is Hot toys Viper, her work is pretty good but as far as out sourcing I'd imagine it's the same as inart.

Viper over seeing for inart and Yuyan overseeing Hot toys rooting production.

 

[webhead05]

I'm okay with there being three levels since I know some folks don't like/want dioramas... but then they went ahead and included the steering wheel with the Collector edition anyway. Would've made more sense to have an even cheaper Collector edition that comes with just the black base, then the Deluxe with the diorama, and then Artisan with all the bells and whistles, IMO.

 

[The Buffinator]

Could just be that Sparrow's hair is a bit more complex given the mix of dreads, beads, wrapping and whatever else plus potentially coloring the hair the various colors from blonde to dark brown/black. If you look back, both Artisan Scarlet Witch and Artisan TDK Joker are more in line with the similar price differences between sculpted and rooted as InArt.

Scarlet Witch has a difference of $120 between the regular and Artisan and TDK Joker has a price difference of $150. Scarlet Witch has all one color head of hair whereas Joker has to have the green dye added in

It's true that Jack's hair is more complex but its natural messiness and the presence of that bandana means that they can probably get away with the implant work being a bit less precise, whereas with TDK Joker and especially SW it will have to be perfect to satisfy people. But the price is what it is - no point in going back and forth about it any further. Plus odds are my waitlist won't convert and if it does it'll be well after I'll need to pull the trigger on the deluxe in order to get the best deal.

 

[Luisenigma1]

I just realized that the Artisan comes with the trinkets on his back braid like in film. Funny enough that's something HT didn't include on the sculpted versions, not even the Dx15 had it. Those small details missing do bother me a bit so I'm glad I scored an Artisan when I did.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

I honestly think it’s night and day difference. There’s a ‘fullness’ to the hair (and head by proxy) that just looks amazing.

 

[Wor-Gar]

I love discovering the little details on the Artisan -- like those real twin skulls on the dread.

On the regular deluxe those skulls appear to be part of the dread sculpt itself and smaller.

 

[Luisenigma1]

I honestly think it’s night and day difference. There’s a ‘fullness’ to the hair (and head by proxy) that just looks amazing.

View attachment 695670

View attachment 695671

Man I'm so excited for this release I gotta watch the movies again.

 

[lordnastrond]

I just realized that the Artisan comes with the trinkets on his back braid like in film. Funny enough that's something HT didn't include on the sculpted versions, not even the Dx15 had it. Those small details missing do bother me a bit so I'm glad I scored an Artisan when I did.View attachment 695669

I love discovering the little details on the Artisan -- like those real twin skulls on the dread.

On the regular deluxe those skulls appear to be part of the dread sculpt itself and smaller.

Cool that there are hidden little details we are still finding on the artisan,
Would be good to know what the back of the sculpted head's hair is like to see if it has those trinkets on the braids.
Am I crazy/blind or does the sculpted dreads miss the braid that ends in a cannon-fuse lighter?
In fact the more I look at pictures of the Artisan the more braids and trinkets in the hair appear to be missing from the sculpted
I've circled in red the trinkets on the artisan I can't find on the sculpted

Artisan:

Vs Sculpted

 

[Gipetto0812]

Cool that there are hidden little details we are still finding on the artisan,
Would be good to know what the back of the sculpted head's hair is like to see if it has those trinkets on the braids.
Am I crazy/blind or does the sculpted dreads miss the braid that ends in a cannon-fuse lighter?
In fact the more I look at pictures of the Artisan the more braids and trinkets in the hair appear to be missing from the sculpted
I've circled in red the trinkets on the artisan I can't find on the sculpted

View attachment 695723
View attachment 695724

That would appear to be the case. Looks like HT is reusing the DX15 hairpiece for the sculpted version(s) with the only change being swapping the two parts of synthetic "doll" hair for real wool hair

 

[lordnastrond]

That would appear to be the case. Looks like HT is reusing the DX15 hairpiece for the sculpted version(s) with the only change being swapping the two parts of synthetic "doll" hair for real wool hair

Yeah - I just looked through all the photos of the sculpted we currently have available and those elements in the artisan hair are completely missing
which is surprising as the cannon fuse and the large beaded braid are pretty prominent whereas things like the skull beads, the coin on the small braid by the face and the long dread that ends with a red and silver cap are a bit more easily missed.
Also that small braid by the face isn't plaited on the sculpted and the wrap isn't string or the right brown colour [instead being vaguely purple]
I'm also increasingly unimressed by the blue and silver coin in the dreadlocks on the sculpted - which looks pretty blobby in molding and paint app as opposed to the clean look on the artisan.
That same long braid on the sculpted is also missing the lower string detail and the burnt/ask like end bit [looking again like a used fuse]

 

[lordnastrond]

I'm actually kind of shocked that this is the only shot we have of the back of the artisan's head
It seems there are lots of trinkets and other details hidden behind the angle of the bandana, in fact from the DX15 we can see the bandana is currently positioned in such a way as the block exactly where the bird skull ought to be.
I have also circled in red the hints of other trinkets blocked from the picture's angle.
You'd think Hot Toys would take more than one picture of it given the amount of details hidden back there - show off your work!

There is also a pretty long braid at the back you can see from the front in one picture which is cool!

 

[Jcage89]

Man I'm so excited for this release I gotta watch the movies again.

On #3 already

 

[MarkKing]

I sort of like the first one and found the second ok...but this is in no way a great franchise.

It had 2 great movies...and that is it. I am glad this is being made, but Jack Sparrow is no Luke Skywalker nor is POTC LOTR in any way.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Anyone compare the dread trinkets on the Artisan to what Johnny actually wore in the movie?

 

[Gipetto0812]

Anyone compare the dread trinkets on the Artisan to what Johnny actually wore in the movie?

Now, why would we do that?

 

[Wor-Gar]

Doing it now... hard to find all those parts, but I did find some so I can assume HT must have some really good ref for the rest.

I do see we're missing a couple feathers in his hair.

 

[Cap'n Cook]

I sort of like the first one and found the second ok...but this is in no way a great franchise.

It had 2 great movies...and that is it. I am glad this is being made, but Jack Sparrow is no Luke Skywalker nor is POTC LOTR in any way.

I disagree completely. For what they are; popcorn switch off your brain blockbusters akin to a theme park ride; they’re great.

Sure they have their good ones and bad ones like most franchises but there is enough good in any of the films for them to be deemed enjoyable.

I don’t think, however, that anyone is comparing them to SW or LOTR, and rightly so!