Is a Star Wars CMF line viable?

[pittpenguin123]

Some guy up there said poly bags are ok because they are not sold. I do remember buying a few red armed c3po's from tru

they are not supost to sell them.

[HawkLord]

In general, the promo polybags are not supposed to be for sale individually, but TRU is really lax on the subject. Each promo polybag is supposed to be part of a larger "with purchase" type promo, but oftentimes TRU employees don't get the memo or don't care. I've been able to get most "with purchase" TRU promos just by going to certain TRUs that just put them in a dump bin the week they come in our buy offering to buy them outright.

Again, the promo factor is how polybag minifigures get around the Hasbro action figure license issue.

Another good example of this is Funko Pop Vinyl figures that must be created as bobble heads for their Star Wars and Marvel figures. This is also necessary because even though the Pop figures have no moving parts or features and are a stylized version of the character they represent, Hasbro can still claim they are "action figures".

The other important thing to remember is that Hasbro's contract only applies to the US, which is why other action figure companies are permitted to make Star Wars action figures in other markets, like Asia, for example.

Now, prior to 2006, Hasbro did have a license on the 12" action figure product. But in 2006, they gave it up to Sideshow Colectibles (and subsequently Hot Toys by extension). So, there is a precedence for product license types to be renegotiated.

[Artanis I]

Another good example of this is Funko Pop Vinyl figures that must be created as bobble heads for their Star Wars and Marvel figures. This is also necessary because even though the Pop figures have no moving parts or features and are a stylized version of the character they represent, Hasbro can still claim they are "action figures".

It's interesting, because the term "action figure" is marketing ploy to sell dolls to boys without using the word "doll" - which has girl-y connotations these days. Those Funko Pop things don't do anything and aren't really designed for playing with either, so they're not really action figures or dolls, but statuettes purely for display. Making them bobble-heads shouldn't make them any more or less of a statuette, you'd think.

[Kman860]

It's interesting, because the term "action figure" is marketing ploy to sell dolls to boys without using the word "doll" - which has girl-y connotations these days. Those Funko Pop things don't do anything and aren't really designed for playing with either, so they're not really action figures or dolls, but statuettes purely for display. Making them bobble-heads shouldn't make them any more or less of a statuette, you'd think.

I know, you'd think an "action figure" would have some action in it :laugh:

[pittpenguin123]

I know, you'd think an "action figure" would have some action in it :laugh:

not in Hasbro's eyes... I'm looking at you non posable 5 total joint figures

[HawkLord]

It's interesting, because the term "action figure" is marketing ploy to sell dolls to boys without using the word "doll" - which has girl-y connotations these days. Those Funko Pop things don't do anything and aren't really designed for playing with either, so they're not really action figures or dolls, but statuettes purely for display. Making them bobble-heads shouldn't make them any more or less of a statuette, you'd think.

That's very true and that's the going point about all of this that's the most frustrating - Pop Vinyls, Lego minifigures, none of these are "action figures" by definition.

My only hope is that Hasbro sinks more to the bottom. Granted they're in the top three of toy makers, but Lego came up and pushed everyone down. Hoping something like this happens again or something else to make Disney rethink the license.

[pittpenguin123]

That's very true and that's the going point about all of this that's the most frustrating - Pop Vinyls, Lego minifigures, none of these are "action figures" by definition.

My only hope is that Hasbro sinks more to the bottom. Granted they're in the top three of toy makers, but Lego came up and pushed everyone down. Hoping something like this happens again or something else to make Disney rethink the license.

Disney would be stupid not to change it. Way more money in legos then black series figures, and hasbro dosnt do a good job of stocking those.

[HawkLord]

Exactly. And what's great is we've already seen a push by Disney to carry their own action figure line over the Hasbro one. Disney stores used to carry the Hasbro Black Series figures and last year they stopped so that they can carry their own Disney Elite Series. The Elite Series is essentially the same product as the Black Series, only a slightly larger scale - 7" as opposed to 6". This shift shows that Disney had the guts and foresight to move away from old, stale products like the Black Series. Disney also stopped carrying the Hasbro Marvel 6" figures in exchange for carrying Diamond Selects 6" line. Again, moving away from Hasbro.

[Enforcer Zer0]

I think a collectible series is totally viable! People (including me) are going bookoo-for-bucks over the Disney series, imagine how much money they would make if it was Star Wars! Plus that's a good way to get figures that aren't necessarily well known or are in "boring" scenes that Lego would not make into a set.

[xboxtravis7992]

I had no idea Disney has its own in house action figure line.

It's hard though to judge how well Hasbro's sells are for action figures since their product line is very diverse (lighsabers, Nerf Guns, helmets, vehicle sets, board games, etc.) But the fact Lego grew so rapidly to outsell brands such as Hasbro is amazing because Lego sells just ONE main product, Lego bricks. Even variants such as CCBS, Duplo, and Technic still are %100 compatible with traditional Lego Bricks.

In short Hasbro rose high on multiple product types, while Lego got there on just one. If anything it shows the immense power of Lego's brand and product design.

So yeah I think Disney could probably see there is immense demand for Star Wars Lego Mininifigures. And if Disney can run its own action figure lines with out Hasbro, couldn't Disney just as easily permit a Collectible Mininifigure line? (Especially seeing that any lawyer who calls a minifigure an action figure is boarding on insanity...). The real question is would a line like that sell well enough Disney would authorize Lego to do it even at expense of pissing of Hasbro? Or maybe Disney prefers Lego's current strategy of sticking rare figures into $70 sets...

Edited May 3, 2016 by xboxtravis7992

[Venkefedo]

I would love an SW CMF line. There's plenty of potential there, even with popular characters (like, ANH Han Solo but with a stormtrooper belt printed on his torso and maybe dual-molded dark-blue/black legs for his boots, rather than printing... which still leaves a regular ANH Han update available for an actual set, with his normal gunboat printed on dual-molded legs... Bespin Luke is long overdue, but they could have a regular version in one line, and a "damaged" version in another (with torn pockets & whatnot, a messier hairpiece maybe, a "NOOOOOO!" face). There are aliens they could make new molds for that could easily be reused in sets (Ishi Tib head, Abednedo head maybe, reprints of Bossk's head for a Saurin from the Cantina, other Trandoshans from TCW, Mas Amedda headgear for use with other Chagrians, etc). Look at how many variations Hasbro has released of various characters, some with the most minor changes... Lego could EASILY make a batch of SW CMFs with some major players from the various films as well as minor players from the films, TCW, Rebels, maybe--MAYBE--even the new comics & whatnot. They could easily tackle a few series of SW, I think.

Consider how many TFA variations we still don't have: they could make other pilots like Jess Pava, Ello Asty, Nien Nunb... we still need a Luke... Leia in her dress from the end of the movie, Rey in her Resistance outfit, Poe in the pain orange jumpsuit or an officer's uniform (with captain badge), Finn without the jacket (I mean, that's kinda bland, but it's an option), Han in his new heavy coat, Hux with hair & without his overcoat (the former is DIY, but the latter requires a new print, as the other First Order officer uniforms don't seem to match his). We'll probably be getting more TFA sets eventually, but that could take some time... and if VIII really begins right where VII ends as it seems, then the first wave of VIII sets could easily feature the Luke & Rey figures from the end of the VII. But the point is there's still fodder, and Lego might not get to them in sets anytime soon (think how long it's been since we had Bespin Luke, Leia, Lando... Dagobah Luke... even Endor Luke was so long ago the faces were still yellow and the grey of the torso was old 'dark grey' rather than 'dark bley'). Might even be a decent way to update OT pilots with new X-wing helmets with molded visors like TFA's helmets, and you could have the heads feature a chinstrap on one side, but a regular face on the other and maybe a hairpiece so you could have 'em without their helmet, too. That could be fun!

Hasbro's appeal has severely diminished for me over the last few years, with poorer distribution, lessened articulation & accessories, more difficulty in locating the more collector-oriented SA figures, etc... I wouldn't mind at all if Disney renegotiates the licensing deal in a couple years to allow Lego to have access to "action figures" solo. Maybe then we could get CMFs and some more interesting Battle Packs with another couple of minifigs and without wonky little "throw some bricks together and have something launch, that'll be good enough" builds (not all are like that, but some sure feel that way)

[Kman860]

not in Hasbro's eyes... I'm looking at you non posable 5 total joint figures

Which now sell for the same price ~14 point figures did 5 years ago.

@Venkefedo, I've had the same issue with Hasbro lately, getting really mad at them and I've been wishing they would get a little competition (I think they don't care any more, I mean they have the very definition of a monopoly on 3.75 inch figures), but that's a topic for another forum.