23 replies to this topic

[New Frontier]

Who would you want tackling the Star Trek (franchise as a whole) action figure and ship/role play license next and why?

I would go for NECA and Hasbro simply because i think that they both produce figures that are extremely popular with their respective target markets.

NECA:
They own the world of 7 inch action figures and more recently so with many of their figures now having more articulation than they used to have - i think this is the perfect choice for Star Trek to really get into a market DST have been awful at advertising for. NECA are solely a company that target the specialist stores and collectors/older fan who want more detail and quality than a kids toy and are willing to pay more money than they would for a kids toy. NECA in my mind would be given a license that would cover every aspect of Star Trek from TOS through to Enterprise and as well as Star Trek and Star Trek 2.0 with the new movie figures coming out first.

HASBRO:
The masters of Kids toys without a shadow of a doubt. Why CBS went with Playmates well i don't even think God knows but what will be will be. Had i had my way i would have given the license to Hasbro with the potential for them to keep their license for many years to come and model their Star Trek line on their Star Wars line. By and large kids want smaller figures so that they can play with them with play-sets. Parents like them because there small enough so that they can be packed away easily enough (excluding play-sets) plus Hasbro have become the leading company in this field and Star Trek would just add to their success with Transformers and Star Wars over a period of time. Hasbro in my mind would be given a license to produce Star Trek and Star Trek 2.0 figures with the chance to do Star Trek 3.0 (if there is to be a third) as well as TOS and TNG including their respective movies.

The thing is - Kids seem to like the 3 3/4 inch scale so it is ideal for the next movie to have a company that has so many licenses that kids LOVE (Transformers, Star Wars, Marvel, GI:Joe) - older kids (i mean us) seem to go for the larger figure because it enables companies to put more detail in their figures - NECA and Hasbro are the best of the bunch. in my mind DST and Playmates are the worst of the bunch so for Star Trek 2.0 i hope that by the time the merchandise comes around Paramount/CBS have got NECA and Hasbro onboard to produce some really amazing figures for both kid and the "older kid" in all of us above the age of 16.

[Jedigreedo]

I don't know for sure. The only company that I feel could compare with quality 6" figures would be Mattel due to the DCUC line, but I HATE the drama the pathetic management causes. Honestly, I would be fine with DST if their management hadn't nose-dived.

NECA - I wouldn't mind due to their excellent sculpts, but the production versions tend to suffer from poor quality control and they'd simply be statues.

Hasbro - Since they would probably focus on 3 3/4", I wouldn't collect them. As well, they're not all that great when it comes to reliable distribution or availability with their exclusives. Plus, they're ridiculous when it comes to proper updates to items. They perfected "1 step forward, 2 steps back" long ago, in order to keep things fresh so that people keep buying new figures. In fact, it really seems like DST is trying to play by Hasbro's rulebook.

The only company that I truly believe could properly handle the Trek line would be Mezco, but they have their own set of problems. They're very variation and exclusive-happy, which makes some of their figures very hard to get. Although the aliens would probably look FANTASTIC, and they could cater well to 3 3/4" lovers as they have had the best 3 3/4" figures in a long time.

[The_Donster]

zzzzz's, another who should have the license thread Sorry guys, but it doesn't matter who has the license, it's going to be a hard sell.

[knightone]

And every company will have one flaw or another. So there will be numerous complaints no matter who has the license.

[Gothneo]

zzzzz's, another who should have the license thread Sorry guys, but it doesn't matter who has the license, it's going to be a hard sell.

And every company will have one flaw or another. So there will be numerous complaints no matter who has the license.

I agree with both of you. I really think that with the speed in which movies are in and out of the theater these days it makes little to no sense to do mass marketed action figures to support movie. Sure there will be exceptions, but for the most part all movie lines in the past few years have failed to meet the manufactures expectations.

It seems to me all the really successful kids toy lines have TV media tie ins. For example, Star Wars has the Clone wars show.

Right now the only companies that are making action figures I buy are DST and Mattel.

[Jedigreedo]

That's very true.

[pickard]

NECA would be my choice for a collector line. I don't care if my figures are "statues". All I want from my figures (except the ones I buy for my young children) is that they stand and are stable in a nice pose.

[knightone]

It seems to me all the really successful kids toy lines have TV media tie ins. For example, Star Wars has the Clone wars show.

Yes, to keep people interested in a franchise, you need to constantly remind people that it is alive and fresh. A weekly series, numerous media tie-ins, merchandising, etc. Movies are in and out so fast that the same is true for their merchandise. It's out just as fast as it came in. Out of sight, out of mind, as they say.

[bgiles73]

Star Trek as a TV show is just more of the same old Berman-Braga era thing all over again. Do something new. Paramount/CBS-

DO AN ANIMATED SERIES ALLREADY!!!!!!!


I would have loved to see Hasbro take a shot at Star Trek, but we would be in the same boat we are now with Playmates- A canceled and incomplete line. I'm still bitter about the canceled Indiana Jones line so I definately didn't need them dropping another line I liked!

Mattel wouldnt be bad either for 3 3/4" if they were done like the "Avatar" figures. Those hip-hinge joints are all the difference on those- Take some notes here Playmates, if ya'll somehow keep things going on your Star Trek line! The Jake Sully figure that came with a wheel chair would be a good base model for any Trek figure. If Playmates would have followed this example the Trek figures torsos wouldn't have been so boxey! The T crotch on that figure is designed much better allowing for more Points of articulation in less space. It also allows the Jake Sully figure to have more of a tapered torso than say 2009 Movie Kirk.

I'm on the fence about NECA. I like what they do, but I don't think they would be a good fit for Star Trek. Horror and Video Games seems to be more thier department!

I would go absolutely Ga Ga over some Character Options Star Trek figures. What they have done with Dr Who figures is nothing short of amazing! They have a wide range of characters, plenty of aliens, some nice play sets! That company has thier s!@# together! If DST were to throw in the towel maybe CBS should try sending that license on the other side of the pond awhile!

[bgiles73]

Well maybe not the first way I would have thought of doing Star Trek Animated, but I don't think it would hurt anything:

http://trekmovie.com...comment-2394982

[New Frontier]

I completely agree with those who feel that Paramount/CBS should do animated Star Trek - they have got to keep the kids interested if they want the kind of success Star Wars has had with the kids in the toy shops and also to keep Star Trek in people's minds. Also letting Seth McFarlane do a Family Guy parody would be a fantastic way to keep Star Trek in the loop - Anything that gets the name Star Trek out there and in a way that is still geeky but in a good way then PP and CBS would be foolish not to peruse any course of action.

[weyoun_9]

I would go absolutely Ga Ga over some Character Options Star Trek figures. What they have done with Dr Who figures is nothing short of amazing! They have a wide range of characters, plenty of aliens, some nice play sets! That company has thier s!@# together! If DST were to throw in the towel maybe CBS should try sending that license on the other side of the pond awhile!

I have to agree, actually. I've been admiring these at my nearby retailer. I don't buy them because I don't know the show at all, but I love the variety and their ability to address ALL that has come before, with past doctors, characters, aliens...the packaging is also clearly tied together but also delineated between current and past.

I have to say I'm really not interested in a Star Trek: Animated. I haven't loved what I've seen of Clone Wars and it seems to be that the toys came first and the show is a long commercial for the toys.

Also, a new Star Trek live action series doesn't have to be a regurgitation of the Braga era. Next Gen and DS9, IMO, were both new and fresh series without being too formula driven. Even Voyager had a few notable characters. I think a new crew, a new time period, and a brand new team could develop a great new show. Just not right now. The JJ-verse crew needs their time on the big screen for a while. I think after their 3rd film Star Trek could make a safe and fresh return to the small screen. But that's a different topic...

Is it too much to have several licenses out there? NECA could handle the aliens and original characters and DST can keep headswapping...

Oh...and sidebar...I LOVED collecting action figures as a teenager. Although I can see where $15 per figure would be limiting for teens.

[Wildcard]

Hasbro: For the sheer assurance that there would be vehicles and playsets.

[thecapn]

Hot Toys. Sure, we'd only get a few, not whole crews, but if anyone can really show the dedication it would be them. Now that is a LOOOOOOONG shot, but still

I'd love to see:

TOS Kirk DX with PERS head, and additional "Casual" Uniform top and "WNMHGB" Uniform.
Accessories:
Tribbles!
Phaser with removable Phaser 1
Phaser Rifle
Communicator
Additional hands, including fists

TOS Spock DX and additional "Cage" and "WNMHGB" Uniforms, including additional Spock head from WNMHGB
Accessories:
harness and jacket from "Cage" and "WNMHGB" (He wore the harness in the second one)
Phaser with removable Phaser 1
Communicator
Cage Communicator
Cage Laser Pistol
Tricorder
Additional hands, including salute

TOS Pike
Accessories:
harness and jacket
Cage Communicator
Cage Phaser
Shield and Spear

TNG Picard DX with PERS head, and additional "First Contact" Uniform
Accessories:
Phaser
Phaser 1
Tricorder
First Contact Phaser Rifle
First Contact Phaser

And so on. Hot Toys usually picks a few "key" characters to focus on, so I'd bet they end with that. (I really want a Pike!!!)

[VulcanFanatic]

I bet Hasbro getting the license would mean an animated series and tons of new figures, ships and playsets, if they use the same formula they have with Star Wars. Hasbro has kept animated shows on the air it seems just to keep its toys selling and it seems to work. Hot Toys would be great for a collector grade figure and i would buy them, but Hasbro could turn out some great toys to play with and display.

[Gothneo]

Ok... ^^^^ That would be cool!

I think I'd be all in for a Hot toys line of "Star Trek Captains". Give me the 5 captains and then add some extras afterwards like a TOS Spock.

Honestly... any company that would offer me 5 Captains would be fine by me, Though I'd like some articulation to be able to pose 'em in sitting or standing positions.

We really only got a Kirk, Picard and Sisko out of DST. The ENT Archer that AA did is terrible IMO and I'm really bummed to think that we'll never see a Janeway from DST.

[weyoun_9]

We really only got a Kirk, Picard and Sisko out of DST. The ENT Archer that AA did is terrible IMO and I'm really bummed to think that we'll never see a Janeway from DST.

Really? I think he's one of the better of my collection! I'm surprised...what is it about him you don't like? Granted the rubber body suit thing is kind of a pain...but other than that...

I totally agree that it's a crime not to have a Janeway. If it ends, this line will always feel incomplete without Janeway and her crew... (or even some of her crew).

[VulcanFanatic]

I have all of the Enterprise figures, and while they are not my favorite figures i think for the most part they look great. The rubber suit is a pain but i still think Archer looks pretty dead on likeness wise.

[Gothneo]

Really? I think he's one of the better of my collection! I'm surprised...what is it about him you don't like? Granted the rubber body suit thing is kind of a pain...but other than that...

I totally agree that it's a crime not to have a Janeway. If it ends, this line will always feel incomplete without Janeway and her crew... (or even some of her crew).

The rubber body is what ruins the ENT figures. THe Away Team figures are fantastic. My ENT figures can't really sit, can't stand... they are always falling over or falling off my shelf... it was just a terrible execution of a figure... I'd love to have a Archer done right.

[VulcanFanatic]

The rubber body is what ruins the ENT figures. THe Away Team figures are fantastic. My ENT figures can't really sit, can't stand... they are always falling over or falling off my shelf... it was just a terrible execution of a figure... I'd love to have a Archer done right.

I really wish i could get some inexpensive, decent stands for these figures, especially the Enterprise figures. Not talking about stands like the Playmates have, since AA and DST figures dont have peg holes in their feet. I would like some stands that have a waist holder. Since i have so many figures, it would be nice to get a lot of these stands, inexpensive ones preferably. Anyone have any ideas? Would Michaels or hobby stores have something like that? I get so tired of picking up figures off of the floor, luckily none have been damaged yet.