Tag: toy fair 2013

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Toys & Collectibles

Kai in the Sky: Square Enix/Play Arts’ DC Universe Figures

DC's Green Lantern Gets an Anime Make-Over from Square Enix/Play Arts
DC’s Green Lantern Gets an Anime Make-Over from Square Enix/Play Arts
The Future’s So Dark I Gotta Wear Blades…
The roll out for Square Enix/Play Arts roster of DC Universe figures, as previewed at NY Toy Fair 2013 in February, has begun with The Dark Knight Trilogy Batman and Bane currently available. Catwoman Selina Kyle as portrayed by Anne Hathaway, and Heath Ledger’s Joker will follow in the coming months.

Arkham Gals Won’t You Come Out Tonight…
Rounding out the Batman related characterizations, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy will add a twisted feminine touch to the Batman Arkham City series. Both are scheduled for mid-June 2013 release.

Ani-makeovers…
Also scheduled for release throughout spring and summer are the Anime-esque “Kai” Variants of DC’s revered heroes and heroines. Along with a samurai sword wielding Batman, the series will include sleek and angular spins on Green Lantern, Wonder Woman, and down the road Batgirl and Flash. The latter two were displayed in early prototype pre-painted versions that I think highlighted their beautiful geometric look. That said, The Flash should be spectacular in full color.

SkeletonPete Says…
Many of the characters were displayed with a host of swappable parts, including hands, weapons and masks. Please keep in mind that all photos here were taken of prototypes – in some cases still pending licensor approval. Final products may vary. You can see the official product images of these and other Square Enix/Play Arts collectibles at their website.

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Toys & Collectibles

Rare Earth: Safari Ltd. Collectibles 2013

The 3 Headed Hound of Hell Cerebus guards Sarfari Ltd's Mythical Realms
The 3 Headed Hound of Hell Cerebus guards Sarfari Ltd’s Mythical Realms

Birds, Bees, Flowers and the Trees…
Earth Day seemed the perfect time to plant a feature about the wonderful wares of Safari Ltd. since their replicas represent the breadth of Mother Nature’s handiwork from petrified prehistory to current woodland and oceanic fauna. The pruning (umm…editing) of this article took a bit longer than expected, so I’m a couple of days late but still in the spirit.

Miniaturized to Actual-Sized…
It’s always a thrill to enter Safari Ltd’s booth at the annual New York Toy Fair. This year what drew attention to the company’s presentation was a life-sized replica an allosaurus skull, an outsized change up from the dino dioramas that usually greet you. Fear not also on display were the new Dino Babies series. These little guys will surely elicit a smile in return to their own happy go lucky demeanor.

A Few of Safari Ltd's Dino Babies
A Few of Safari Ltd’s Dino Babies

Going Toobular, Your Way…
The recent addition of a fill your own Toob option is a great way to get all the figures you really want. The low to the ground kiosk makes for a fun hands-on experience for youngsters and creaky jointed but adventurous adults like myself. I would seek out stores that offer this option to get your collection started.

Hand Pick the Contents of Your Own Designer Toob.
Hand Pick the Contents of Your Own Designer Toob.

Fact and Fiction…
Safari Ltd isn’t all hard science. They’ve also set their sites on the fantastical world of myth and fairy tale over the last few years. New Mythical Realms figures include a winged ebony stallion called Areion, the three headed gate keeper of hell Cerebus, as well as Hercules in hunting gear.

If you’re feeling your inner Deanerys and want a few weird wyrms to mother, the super popular Dragons line continues to expand with the Golden Dragon and shiny black, red-eyed, Twilight Dragon. There’s also the Thunder Dragon with intrepid rider “Drake” perched upon his neck. The Snow Dragon gets a glow-in-the-dark treatment.

Toob’ed Mini Dragons will be available in a few days and include the Forest Dragon, Ice Dragon, Midnight Moon Dragon, Mountain Dragon, Cloud Dragon. Here’s my shot of the Mini Chinese Dragon. It reminds me of a favorite comic book creature, artist Jack Kirby’s Fin Fang Foom, first seen in Strange Tales #89 in 1961.SafariMacro_01

SkeletonPete Says…
I can’t resist putting these figures to work as models for some fun macro photographic experiments. Their sharp detail lends itself to close-up work. If you missed it, my 1933 King Kong homage, using a couple of Safari’s mini’s, is posted here.

Safari Ltd's Logo Gator Stalks My Home Brewed Bayou
Safari Ltd’s Logo Gator Stalks My Home Brewed Bayou

The complete selection of Sarfari Ltd’s newest collectibles, with release dates and ordering info, can be found here.

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Toys & Collectibles

They’re Dead, They’re All Mezzed Up: Mezco @ Toy Fair 2013

Mezco adds Universal Monsters Dracula to Rule Their Living Dead Dolls
Mezco adds Universal Monsters Dracula to Rule Their Living Dead Dolls
Beware the Eyes that Paralyze…
The Mezco Toyz Universal Monsters franchise will welcome Count Dracula to the Living Dead Doll team in October 2013. Mezco’s press release describes the figure thusly, “From his widow’s peak to the hem of his cape, every detail of Dracula has been captured. The Count wears one of the most regal outfits ever produced for a Living Dead Doll; he comes complete with full evening dress, his trademark cape, his famous medallion, his red Carnelian stone ring, and even his watch chain, have been carefully recreated. Special attention has been paid to his hypnotic eyes…”

Banner Day…
Mezco also announced a special limited edition Living Dead Dolls Banner for order only at Mezco Direct. The 18” X 36” 10 oz. vinyl collector’s item is emblazoned with the images of dolls from the soon to be released Series 25. Scheduled for May 2013 the new series adds 5 more terrible tots to the Mezco mix. Cracked Jack, Asa, Sospirare, Gretchen and Luna are the newest denizens of the Mezco netherworld.

LLD Scary Tales Vol 5: Spider Gang Miss Muffet, and the silent lamby Little Bo Creep
LLD Scary Tales Vol 5: Spider Gang Miss Muffet, and the silent lamby Little Bo Creep
Tales, You Win…
The Scary Tales LDD series will expand by two characters with Volume 5; Lil Bo Creep and Little Miss Muffet. The Bo Creep doll sports a dead lamb chapeau and Hannibal Lechter style face mask, while Miss Muffet represents for her gang “The Spiders.”

"Mad Moma" Norman Bates Gets the Mezco LLD Spin
“Mad Moma” Norman Bates Gets the Mezco LLD Spin
Psych-Out…
Also displayed at the NY 2013 Toy Fair was the Psycho inspired knife wielding Norman Bates dressed as dear ol’ Mother and a shocked bath towel wrapped Marion Crane. The prototypes were still pending licensor approval at the time of these photographs.

Living Dead Figurines Series 3 and Variants with Mystery box percentages
Living Dead Figurines Series 3 and Variants with Mystery box percentages

Mystery Boxed Mini’s Series 3…
Series Three of the Living Dead Doll Figurines adds 5 more characters and their variants to the blind boxed collectors’ favorites. These miniatures measure 2 inches tall and are a fun choice for any space strapped collectors.

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Film & Television Series Toys & Collectibles

Memento Mori: NECA Preps Predator Trophy Room

NECA's Predator Figures Trade War Stories in the Trophy Room
NECA’s Predator Figures Trade War Stories in the Trophy Room

NECA (National Entertainment Collectibles Association) has some really unique additions for your display shelves scheduled for 2013 and beyond. Their broad series of film and video-game licensed products are always expertly rendered and they have a sharp sense of the specialties collectors desire. Previous coverage of their product line can be seen here.

Heads You Lose…
One piece of particular interest spied at New York Toy Fair 2013 is the detailed replica of the Predator Trophy Wall as seen in Predator 2. Measuring 11” high x 12” across NECA says the limited edition diorama was created as “a reward to the fans who have faithfully collected all the various Predator figures and exclusives,” giving them a place of honor for the trophy skulls they’ve gathered. Not exactly what you’d bring home from the local bowling tournament but irresistible none-the-less. The backdrop comes replete with a massive toothsome lizard noggin as an exclusive. 7 more souvenirs of the extraterrestrial hunters’ quarry can be attached from your existing collection or purchased separately.

Limited Edition Trophy Wall…

Series 9 and 10 of the popular Predator action figure series will focus on two classics. Series 9 (June 2013) gives us two versions of Arnold Swartzenegger as Dutch Schaefer from the original 1987 film, as well as a semi-translucent “water emergence” version of his Yautja adversary. The “Jungle Disguise” Dutch is a spectacular piece, bound to be a favorite.

In Series 10 NECA chose to pay homage to the loveably loopy Kenner Predator figures by putting their own spin on the Nightstorm, Lava Planet and Hive Wars styles. These are currently scheduled for August release.

Predator Series 9…

Predator Series 10…

Loving the Alien(s)…
Of course you can barely utter the name Predator without alternately thinking of one of their prime prey, the Alien. NECA gives us a relaunch of the Aliens series, with Colonial Marines Hudson and Hicks, as well as a brand new xenomorph for them to battle. The marines measure approximately 7” inches tall and come with a hefty arsenal of weaponry and tech.

NECA's new 9" Xenomorph prepares to pounce on colonial marines.
NECA’s new 9″ Xenomorph prepares to pounce on colonial marines.

The new Alien measures an impressive 9” high and has 30 points of articulation, bendable tail, and extending interior jaws. NECA debuted these beauties at Toy Fair with a dazzling diorama including customized acid spattering wounded creatures. Sorry fans this one was for display only but it gave a great view of the extensive positioning the new creature toy is capable of. This one is a masterpiece of movability.

Just in case you have a hankering for the characters from the puzzling Alien prequel Prometheus, there is a full line of selections for you.

NECA has lots more in store including stunning 1/4 scale Adam West and Michael Keaton Batman figures and Lone Ranger, Kick Ass 2, and Carrie series. There are plenty of photos to share and I’ll be keeping you up to date as release times approach.

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Film & Television Series Photography Toys & Collectibles

Rumble in the Jungle: A Safari Photo Fantasy

king kong, safari good luck minis
SkeletonPete’s Photo Fantasy: Sarfari Ltd Good Luck Minis Prepare for a Rumble in the Jungle to Honor King Kong’s 80th Anniversary
Convergence…
The original 1933 King Kong – toys and miniatures – close-up photography. These are a few of my favorite things, and a bit of serendipity helped me mash them all up all into this one image.

Let Me Explain…
In the process of preparing continuing coverage of the 2013 American International Toy Fair I opened the little bag of goodies Safari Ltd offered to press folks reporting on their product line. Low and behold out fell a Tyrannosaurus Rex and great little gorilla, both part of Safari’s Good Luck Minis collection.

Since this coming weekend marks the 80th anniversary of RKO’s King Kong, I thought I’d have some photographic fun with the two Minis and a Polaroid close-up lens kit I purchased recently. I wanted to see how far I could push these simple screw-on adapters before shelling out for a “real” macro lens. I’ve also been contemplating what my first posting to Flicker’s Toy Photographers Group might be and this seemed a perfect opportunity to create a table-top tableau mimicking the thrilling battle between Kong and the T-Rex.

What It Is…
Using mostly household items, I did my best to recreate the mise en scene of Gustave Dore’s etchings which inspired the art direction of Kong 33’s Skull Island.

Along with the two Safari LTD. miniatures – which measure 7/8’s of an inch tall – there are brown and green bath towels as the foreground, plastic Christmas flowers that didn’t get stored away yet as the canopy, and a few slate drink coasters are the middle ground. A small acrylic painting of the Sedona, Arizona landscape I did twenty years ago is the distant background and some twigs from my front yard complete the effect. A frosted glass candle holder and a clear plastic bag were used to modify the output of a battery powered 126 LED light source.

Shot on a Nikon D300 with 50mm lens and +2 close-up adapter. I think the super-shallow depth of field produced by the adapter helps convey the look of an other worldly jungle. Aside from a slight crop the image is posted as shot, there’s no Photoshop post production.

Calling All Scream Queens…
Along with other “Kong-o-philes”, I’ll be celebrating the king’s birthday at NYC’s Film Forum screening this Sunday, March 3, 2013 at 11AM. The event includes a Fay Wray “scream-a-like” contest which should be a highlight.

What’s Up Doc…
Also see my recent post about Altus Press’s soon to be released pulpy pairing of Doc Savage and King Kong on Skull Island.