The Willow Polystone Statue

[Star Puffs]

If I wore a bra, I'd burn it in your name. Thank God she isn't bent over doing Oz's laundry, huh?

Oh of course, I do not love the hyper-sexualised fan-boy aesthetic so I must be some bra-burning "activist".

I do not speak for all female collectors of course, but Buffy was a female-driven show with a female-majority audience, so I feel it is perfectly reasonable to expect products that are not patently designed for one particular segment of the male audience. And a lot of male fans are undoubtedly less than pleased with her representation too.

But clearly the Tom wants Buffy the Vampirella Slayer. FAIL.

 

[JosephCPR]

https://www.sideshowtoy.com/prod_photos/jpg/200056_press11.jpg

 

[erik352]

wow! thats a nice hi-res pict! I can see Faith more clearly, and she's pretty spot on sculptwise I think.....

 

[Star Puffs]

Him? Star Puffs is a guy?

No.

Well, I hope this contraversy continues because it was great for sales of the Adam Hughes Mary Jane comiquette. And I definitely want this line to do well.

Well, if you really wanted this line to do well, Sideshow needed to dial down what they perceive as 'sexy'. Most comic book readers are men; most Buffy watchers were/are women.

These maquettes would have been a brilliant line to target to women under 35 who grew up watching Buffy and now have disposable incomes.

But instead of appealing to a wider demographic and thus improving its business model, Sideshow decided to bank it all on fan boys who just love this pin-up girl style and a few dire hards that cannot say 'no' to Buffy collectibles.

 

[sarakawa]

Well, I'm not a buffy fan but these buffy pieces are even appealing to me. I think Sideshow is catering more to a male audience because most collectors are probably male. It's a risk, sure, because I can see most of the viewing audience being female but hey, it makes sense. Like I said, for someone who has only seen a handful of buffy episodes, these statues looks great to me. I think these kinds of collectibles will always fall towards "making it sexier" cuz let's face it, sex sells.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

I don't think the Willow piece is so bad. Yeah, it's a little flirty, but nothing blatant. The Faith statue is obviously a bit more risque, but then so was Faith. I could definitely see where some female fans would be turned off by the pin-up style. These were ass kicking chicks and the poses certainly don't convey that. They were definitely designed with the male customers in mind.

 

[Chapter 2099]

Word of the day: "Beautimus"

(byü'tə-məs)

1. (adj.) Something that is both beautiful and fabulous. Often used to describe something that worked out perfectly or in one's favor.

Example: Sideshow's Willow statue is beautimus.

 

[Chapter 2099]

I'm really excited about this release. I'm sorry to hear that there are some negative comments about this piece.

In the end, I'm happy with the way it turned out and am looking forward to some in-hand pics next year.

 

[Cuddly Vampire]

I just ordered the Ex. Willow wasn't always a bookish, asexual, person in the series. She was sexy and playful at times (particularly in her college years) and I think this statue captures that element of her character nicely.

 

[Stampe]

Only 250 ex and it's not even on low quantity alert by now. And I stayed up late not to miss it Times must be really tough.

 

[blue_rogue]

Asking for a non-refundable deposit this time of year isn't going to help sales.

 

[olvidadero]

Only 250 ex and it's not even on low quantity alert by now. And I stayed up late not to miss it Times must be really tough.

That's what I thought. I gess we should get prepared for this line to be a three piece line, like Angel or the Premium Formats. At least we didn't get only Buffy, Angel and Spike. Willow and Faith are a true gift to fans and collectors of Sideshow Buffy figures.

 

[sueworld]

So I just saw the full design for the first time (I've been busy since before SDCC and this just kind of slipped by me because I assumed I would buy it whenver it became available). That pose...that miniskirt...the magically inflated bust.

I am just so sick and tired of this unnecessarily sexualised, fan-boy mentality that Tom, Sideshow's Art Director, keeps pushing. When it is Marvel women being tarted up to his satisfaction, it is one thing because that is the nature of the beast with comic book art. I can make peace with seeing beloved characters treated thusly.

But this Willow statue really crosses the line into disrespect. It shows that Sideshow views Buffy characters as sex objects rather than strong, pioneering heroines. Think I am overreacting, look to the right of Buffy.

My, my someone is just too damn sexy for her shirt. Sideshow's 'vision' for Buffy is loud and clear.

Well Sideshow just saved me a ton of money to spend on custom 1:6 head commissions because I am canceling all of my preorders for their merchandise. No Star Wars. No LOTR maquettes. No She Hulk PF. You have to vote with your wallet.

Same here, but then I remember the Willow from the TV series, who at that point in time was shy and had great feelings of insecurity in the early years when It came to her own body, rather this this pumped up tarty version that Sideshow seem to have pulled out of their collective arses.

I do not speak for all female collectors of course, but Buffy was a female-driven show with a female-majority audience, so I feel it is perfectly reasonable to expect products that are not patently designed for one particular segment of the male audience. And a lot of male fans are undoubtedly less than pleased with her representation too.

Well said.

 

[binky]

So I just saw the full design for the first time (I've been busy since before SDCC and this just kind of slipped by me because I assumed I would buy it whenver it became available). That pose...that miniskirt...the magically inflated bust.

I am just so sick and tired of this unnecessarily sexualised, fan-boy mentality that Tom, Sideshow's Art Director, keeps pushing. When it is Marvel women being tarted up to his satisfaction, it is one thing because that is the nature of the beast with comic book art. I can make peace with seeing beloved characters treated thusly.

But this Willow statue really crosses the line into disrespect. It shows that Sideshow views Buffy characters as sex objects rather than strong, pioneering heroines. Think I am overreacting, look to the right of Buffy.

My, my someone is just too damn sexy for her shirt. Sideshow's 'vision' for Buffy is loud and clear.

Well Sideshow just saved me a ton of money to spend on custom 1:6 head commissions because I am canceling all of my preorders for their merchandise. No Star Wars. No LOTR maquettes. No She Hulk PF. You have to vote with your wallet.

I agree with everything you’ve said. It’s a shame that with the resources as a largish collectibles company who made their first mark with these quirky, under-appreciated franchises that they now have at their disposal, this is what they came up with. Some of that R&D should’ve been spent in the creative team they assembled for this piece actually watching a few episodes.

I am in the middle of my annual marathon of Buffy and Angel start to finish and this year am taking my 22-year old nephew along for the ride. We just finished season 2. He’s a normal testosterone-ridden young man. He appreciates the pretty girls in the show (and punctuates it frequently with exclamations of “She’s purdy!”--kind of annoying, but he means well), but I’m proud to say he also GETS that their being cute is the secondary part of their appeal, and being (or becoming) capable, strong, brave, etc. is why these female characters are so amazing and different from anything that came before (and few since).

I get that a big part of the show as with a lot of good drama was exploring female sexuality (though mostly through Buffy). I get that Alyson Hannigan is a versatile actress who can easily pull hot off when called for, but honestly, from Willow, geek princess, whose cuteness came from being an insecure, nerdy wallflower for pretty much all of the first 3 seasons, they got this? Really?

I appreciate artistic license and putting your own creative spin on a popular franchise but when the result is so far off the source material, what really is the point? Is there that large an overlap between Buffy fans and the T&A contingent that seems now to be Sideshow’s target market?

I realize some of this will sound harsh and unfair. I’ve tried to sit it out, calm down, analyze things rationally, not post from the hip (though I couldn’t help myself a few times in this and other threads already). Sideshow is a business. They try to make stuff that they can sell for a profit. Honestly, I think if they’d made an authentic Willow statue, she’d be sold out by now. I hope if she lingers like Buffy did, they will realize she could have been more successful and do better for the next one (not quit and kill the line like they normally do). I am ready to siphon off some funds from my customs and Hot Toys budget if it happens.

Anyway, back to your regularly scheduled ogling.

 

[Something Sexy]

Oh of course, I do not love the hyper-sexualised fan-boy aesthetic so I must be some bra-burning "activist".

I do not speak for all female collectors of course, but Buffy was a female-driven show with a female-majority audience, so I feel it is perfectly reasonable to expect products that are not patently designed for one particular segment of the male audience. And a lot of male fans are undoubtedly less than pleased with her representation too.

But clearly the Tom wants Buffy the Vampirella Slayer. FAIL.

I would love to see that proof.

 

[morbidaj]

My wife was involved in the study of Buffy from a cultural point of view..and attended many classes and conventions.. and even offered courses at the local university. It was 95% females that attended without exception... at least in the midwest area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_studies

 

[Something Sexy]

My wife was involved in the study of Buffy from a cultural point of view..and attended many classes and conventions.. and even offered courses at the local university. It was 95% females that attended without exception... at least in the midwest area.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_studies

Well people attending those doesn't not mean that more woman watched the show.

Not going to bring up an argument but I bet it was closer to even.

 

[morbidaj]

It means they are more rabid and obsessed with the show, and more likely to purchase and collect items related to the show... which goes back to the point the poster was making.

 

[BuffyGirl]

I'm really excited about this release. I'm sorry to hear that there are some negative comments about this piece.

In the end, I'm happy with the way it turned out and am looking forward to some in-hand pics next year.

I'm with you. And I think she'll sell out. Not just because of her low es. But because I think people love it enough to want it. You're always going to have people who dislike something, and others who love, love it! I think it's a mix of Willow and Aly, not just Willow alone.

I think closer to the time she releases, she will be sold out.

 

[BuffyGirl]

I would love to see that proof.

Sorry to double post. I should have multi quoted but oh well.

When I go to the cons around here and there are Buffy actors there. The line up usually has a 50/50% of sexes. Also, when they get to line up to ask questions, there's usually more guys up there than girls. I think it's an even fan base. The ages may vary. We may have younger guys loving it than older ones (I could get my mom into it more than dad). But I still think it's about even. That's my opinion. Not to be confused with a factual statement.