If Sideshow ends the line, could Hot Toys pick it up?

[The Josh]

Well, character choice is always something that can hurt a line. No baddies in LOTR didn't help it at all. I don't think Belloq was a bad choice. I think it was the version that could be called into question if you had too. If they had gone with him in the ceremonial robes that would have probably played out beter.

 

[MaulFan]

Well, I think I can chime in as the Indy collector who's POV is most represented in the larger percentage of the collector base of the line. Figures aren't cheap, and space is limited, and I like Indy enough to get figures but selectively. Belloq never had appeal to me, I only ever had him on order for the environment. Even in cermonial gear, I might have been a bit more tempted, but probably not much. Belloq's a character that I think you really have to love Indy and Raiders to want to spend over $50 on a figure for. As a figure, especially non-cermonial, he's just a guy in a suit with a gun, nothing all that visually interesting to appeal. Even Toht, as a pricey figure, isn't very visually tempting, but having the melty face and the accessories gallore makes him as a figure more interesting.

I really think the only characters/looks that have great mass appeal to help this line are Mola Ram, Indy variants, possibly Marion, and Henry Sr., after that, at $90 each it gets more selective for the more casual collector like myself.

I don't care if Hot Toys knocked Belloq out the park, I still wouldn't care to own him. HT running the license isn't the answer, it's not the quality of products, it's the quality of characters to be made as products. Indy's characters really only suit a line like Hasbro where you can get tons of people at a cheap price. At SSC-HT prices, it's a tough property. It's better suited to dioramas. Some characters can be boring as a figure, but a nice diorama capturing them in a classic moment elevates their collectible draw and value.

 

[DinoLast]

Some characters can be boring as a figure, but a nice diorama capturing them in a classic moment elevates their collectible draw and value.

I agree, there are loads of scenes in all four movies that would make a great Dio

 

[aussieinnyc]

I don't care if Hot Toys knocked Belloq out the park, I still wouldn't care to own him. HT running the license isn't the answer, it's not the quality of products, it's the quality of characters to be made as products. Indy's characters really only suit a line like Hasbro where you can get tons of people at a cheap price. At SSC-HT prices, it's a tough property. It's better suited to dioramas. Some characters can be boring as a figure, but a nice diorama capturing them in a classic moment elevates their collectible draw and value.

I disagree. I think the quality of Sideshow's paint is really starting to hurt their products. It's not bad, but it certainly hasn't evolved and improved in line with the increases in their figures costs. And it definitely hasn't improved to compete with the work being put out by HT. The best that can be said for the paint on Indy is that it doesn't detract from the figure, but as can be seen from the custom jobs that are around, a good paint job improves the Ford likeness 100% (I'm still not convinced that what comes out of the box looks much like Ford). As for Belloq, I think they've got both a slightly off sculpt and very average paint working against them.

I also wouldn't be surprised if the loose pro body with Indy was responsible for cancellations of both him and Belloq.

 

[choopie]

Well, character choice is always something that can hurt a line. No baddies in LOTR didn't help it at all. I don't think Belloq was a bad choice. I think it was the version that could be called into question if you had too. If they had gone with him in the ceremonial robes that would have probably played out beter.

I tend to agree.

I want to get Belloq because I like the character and I want to support the Indy line. But I have no interest in the environment and I'm not paying $70 for this figure. If I do get him, it'll be down the road when e-tailers are trying to move this thing for half price at Christmastime.

I think Sideshow missed the mark by not including dios in the product announcement. We could have seen some remarkable scenes recreated. But at this point, we'll be lucky to see a new PF or 1:6 with the way things are going, so such as well. I'm still angry that Indy was not included in Sideshow's Toy Fair line-up.

 

[kl241]

I agree, it's the quality. You can tell they half-assed it on Belloq because they knew he wasn't going to sell without the pedestal. I would have been pleasantly surprised if they had put some quality and effort into Belloq - the paint, the clothes, etc. as they did with Indy but you can tell they just didn't really care. They couldn't even dry-brush a little gray highlights in his hair. The portrait and the paint and the clothes make him look like a cartoon caricature. Without the Indiana Jones stand, you would think he was some two-bit Al Capone thug. This really was a kiss of death for this line and I pray Toht doesn't suffer from the same lack of quality. He had better be as good as Indy or better.

 

[Sonic The MadHOG]

I emailed them last year to ask about a Christopher Reeve Superman figure and got exactly the same reply; I figured it was a stock reply, which was confirmed when I emailed them asking if they would consider doing a line based on Coronation Street starting with an Ena Sharples figure and got the same response.

Imagine your surprise if they did get back to you & said no to Indiana but actually we're working on Ena as we speak

 

[JustinLuck]

As a figure, especially non-cermonial, he's just a guy in a suit with a gun, nothing all that visually interesting to appeal.

A lot of people are looking for quality 1/6 suits. Imagine if Sideshow went the extra mile to tailor a high quality suit (along with real tie) for Belloq that is above the usual 1/6 offerings by competitors. People would purchase him, not only for the character, but also for the suit. They could have done other things to spice up the appeal as well, such as include a second head with attached hat, some new hands that aren't just a repeat of Indy's, and some glasses to go with the wine bottle.

 

[LordAzrael]

Name one line where Hot Toys have gone deeply into it.

The most I can think of is Pirates of the Carribean and that only got as far as it did while the third movie was current. Hellboy got 2 figures, T4 might get up to 5, and Batman only got two characters x 2 incarnations each.

Indiana Jones is basically a dead franchise now the last movie has past. There are unlikely to be further sequels so you're really only selling to the diehard fans - something HT has never really approached. The vast majority of their licences are about the hot current thing rather than digging into nostalgia.

Whilst a HT Indy sure would be great, I don't know it would be a big improvement on Sideshow, and the range would certainly be less than Sideshow would produce.

 

[JustinLuck]

I emailed them last year to ask about a Christopher Reeve Superman figure and got exactly the same reply; I figured it was a stock reply, which was confirmed when I emailed them asking if they would consider doing a line based on Coronation Street starting with an Ena Sharples figure and got the same response.

LOL, here we go again! It took about a week to receive a reply, so at least we know someone reads them...perhaps!

On Tue, Feb 24, 2009 at 7:59 AM, Justin wrote:

Hi, Do you have any plans to release the Thin-bodied True Type? This is the body type I need to purchase for many of my Sideshow figures.

date Fri, Mar 6, 2009 at 8:40 PM
subject Re: HotToys Form Feedback - General Comments
mailed-by hottoys.com.hk

Reply

Hello Justin,

Thanks for your valuable comment & support in Hot Toys products!
The information will be forwarded to our production team for their reference.
Please keep visiting our official website for getting our most updated news!

Best regards,
KT/ Hot Toys

 

[Shai]

 

[JustinLuck]

Would it be ironic if Sideshow quietly ends the line claiming "lack of interest", Hot Toys picks it up and their releases become instant best sellers?

Seriously though, does Sideshow really think they can't sell Indy because lack of popularity? And how do we know if German Indy is the last in this line? I guess it will depend on sales. I dislike how Sideshow keeps us in the dark on the status of licenses. Sideshow probably ended the LOTR line a year before actually letting us know...it was 'on hold'.

 

[thenammagazine]

Would it be ironic if Sideshow quietly ends the line claiming "lack of interest", Hot Toys picks it up and their releases become instant best sellers?

Seriously though, does Sideshow really think they can't sell Indy because lack of popularity? And how do we know if German Indy is the last in this line? I guess it will depend on sales. I dislike how Sideshow keeps us in the dark on the status of licenses. Sideshow probably ended the LOTR line a year before actually letting us know...it was 'on hold'.

When did GTG come out? It'd be interesting to know if they knew he was the last figure as they released him or if there was a meeting post release to discuss the poor sales and overall burial of the 1:6 line.

 

[JustinLuck]

Now that Hot Toys has borrowed the T2 license, do you think there is hope for the Indy line? We have seen what a difference there is between Sideshow's T-800 and Hot Toy's. Who doesn't want quality Indy figures?

 

[Deckard]

Sideshow just needs to hand over every 1/6 license to Hot Toys and stay the hell out of the market.

They've clearly shown they have no interest in trying to compete or upping their own game along with their prices. Why use the GI Joes license if your just going to make them look differant anyway, make your own original line. Let them do their statues.

Give HT Indy, Gi Joe, and Star Wars, because frankly they just deserve it and so do we.

 

[hunnipot85]

Hot Toys Indy and SW would be amazing.

 

[EVILFACE]

Now that Hot Toys has borrowed the T2 license, do you think there is hope for the Indy line? We have seen what a difference there is between Sideshow's T-800 and Hot Toy's. Who doesn't want quality Indy figures?

Hot Toys would trump SS's Indy.

Sideshow just needs to hand over every 1/6 license to Hot Toys and stay the hell out of the market.

Give HT Indy, Gi Joe, and Star Wars, because frankly they just deserve it and so do we.

I would say no. SS has done a fantastic job on Joe and a pretty good afordable job on Star Wars. No way would HT come close the the lineup we've gotten.

 

[SwedishHeat]

Now that Hot Toys has borrowed the T2 license, do you think there is hope for the Indy line? We have seen what a difference there is between Sideshow's T-800 and Hot Toy's. Who doesn't want quality Indy figures?

No, Indy has no legs left.

There was a Q&A with Diamond Select Toys, and they canceled their remaining Indy solicits due to lack of interest. Interest from fans is irrelevant, retailer interest is what matters, of which there is none. It doesn't help that nearly every single licensee put out sub-standard product, but that's water under the bridge at this point.

Sideshow sells direct to consumers, Hot Toys does not, neither does DST, neither does Gentle Giant (sort of), which is why Sideshow's Indy line has lasted longer than any other company's.

 

[Deckard]

I would say no. SS has done a fantastic job on Joe and a pretty good afordable job on Star Wars. No way would HT come close the the lineup we've gotten.

Your right, they'd do characters that were important like Chewie and the driods... Instead of waiting 3 years for an o.k. Vader.

 

[EVILFACE]

Vader was worth the wait and so will Chewie and the droids . . .