MindStyle Fraggle Figures Revealed

[beaker]

After 9 months, pictures of the Fraggle Rock figures have finally surfaced:

http://www.plasticandplush.com/plasticandplush/2008/07/sdcc-2008-minds.html
(click on em to enlarge pictures)

Pretty cool, they look like the texture/style of ceramic Hallmark ornaments meets the Applause 1988 Fraggle pvcs.

[matleo]

Cool! there are actually better pictures here....

http://www.flickr.com/photos/photowhore/2712786377/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/photowh...7606420877624/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steampirate/2712874440/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucy_anne/2715908314/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucy_anne/2715094801/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucy_anne/2715095565/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucy_anne/2715908630/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucy_anne/2715095259/


They were posted a few months ago on page 12 of this thread...

http://forum.muppetcentral.com/showthread.php?t=36541

[muppetguy]

How big are these figurines, they don't look big at all? AND when will these be available and where? Thanks!:excited:

[frogboy4]

After 9 months, pictures of the Fraggle Rock figures have finally surfaced:

http://www.plasticandplush.com/plasticandplush/2008/07/sdcc-2008-minds.html
(click on em to enlarge pictures)

Pretty cool, they look like the texture/style of ceramic Hallmark ornaments meets the Applause 1988 Fraggle pvcs.

These images surfaced and were posted about quite some time ago. :confused:

[TheJimHensonHour]

Yep indeedy, and I still don't want em' :\

[frogboy4]

Aw, I want them. I just don't want to have to buy a billion blind boxes to get them. Few companies know quite how to market to the Muppet/Henson/Fraggle fan or those with even a casual interest. We do seem more finicky than others. You can't just slap a pair of googly eyes and get most of us.

I'm just glad they went with a traditional style. PVCs are great and allow for more fluid poses. I believe if these are seen as successful that the company could issue larger sized sculpts. I am just not sold that MindStyle is the company to do them due to the high expense of their other items. They are more of a general urban vinyl collector based company than a fan based one.

I’m just glad that what is pictured here amounts to more than kitsch. These are done nicely.

[beaker]

I went through the Fraggle Rock figure thread, and remembered all the endless 2001-2008 Muppet figure threads I glanced. And its interesting how fussy fans can be. Muppetdom is extremely underground. Much more so than even Firefly and Farscape fandom. Just sucks to see so many people be hyper critical and poo poo the few drops of rain we get.

Mindstyle has done some pretty cool posable action vinyl figures(of the Kid Robot variety) I was thinking these Fraggle figures would be more in the $5 Japanese gashaphon vein, or *gasp* articulated and smooth.

Either way, I can't wait to get all these...but whats this? Like the Corgi Electric Mayhem polystone figure set, or the Palisades Electric Mayhem mini figure set...these dont seem like they'll ever see the light of day.

Personally I hate how by 1997 the giant, almost none articulated, grotesquely detailed style has overtaken every segment of the collector figure market. You go to any toy aisles, and kid's toys...from Ben 10 to DC Super heroes have a nice smooth, 4" figure look. As an 80's child, I always preferred that kind.

The idea that figures shouldnt be articulated anymore seems bizarre. So definitely, it'd be great to someday finally get articulated Fraggle figures.

In the meantime, it's too bad these don't seem to be getting made anymore.

[frogboy4]

I went through the Fraggle Rock figure thread, and remembered all the endless 2001-2008 Muppet figure threads I glanced. And its interesting how fussy fans can be. Muppetdom is extremely underground. Much more so than even Firefly and Farscape fandom. Just sucks to see so many people be hyper critical and poo poo the few drops of rain we get.

Mindstyle has done some pretty cool posable action vinyl figures(of the Kid Robot variety) I was thinking these Fraggle figures would be more in the $5 Japanese gashaphon vein, or *gasp* articulated and smooth.

Either way, I can't wait to get all these...but whats this? Like the Corgi Electric Mayhem polystone figure set, or the Palisades Electric Mayhem mini figure set...these dont seem like they'll ever see the light of day.

Personally I hate how by 1997 the giant, almost none articulated, grotesquely detailed style has overtaken every segment of the collector figure market. You go to any toy aisles, and kid's toys...from Ben 10 to DC Super heroes have a nice smooth, 4" figure look. As an 80's child, I always preferred that kind.

The idea that figures shouldnt be articulated anymore seems bizarre. So definitely, it'd be great to someday finally get articulated Fraggle figures.

In the meantime, it's too bad these don't seem to be getting made anymore.

I just stated that the Fraggle figures were reportedly postponed - not canceled. They are intended to coincide with the upcoming film. MindStyle can afford to sit on their license and exploit it later for greater gain instead of the secondary market getting all the spoils. Way of the world.

There are many different types of figures on the collectibles market. I know this because I sell all sorts of them every week. Also, the Muppets aren't the least bit underground anywhere I have been. People know about them. There has been a scarcity of projects to synchronize with product sales. That's the big mystery and that's changing as we know. Pretty soon companies are going to be a little more competitive with quality in their Muppet items as I believe they will become more popular in the coming year.

I agree that PVCs can be high quality pieces and that's what these look like to me. Articulation does not drive the collectible figures market - brand name does. Those little somewhat stiff and mildly articulated Star Wars figures are hands down the most popular figural item in any mainstream or independent toy store that carries them. The Henson properties are finally getting the pixie dust needed to root the band names of Muppets and Fraggles.

[KermieBaby47]

I want 'em, bad. But blind boxes? Really?

You'd think they'd've had laser surgery by now.






I keed, I keed.:p

[beaker]

I just stated that the Fraggle figures were reportedly postponed - not canceled. They are intended to coincide with the upcoming film. MindStyle can afford to sit on their license and exploit it later for greater gain instead of the secondary market getting all the spoils. Way of the world.

There are many different types of figures on the collectibles market. I know this because I sell all sorts of them every week. Also, the Muppets aren't the least bit underground anywhere I have been. People know about them. There has been a scarcity of projects to synchronize with product sales. That's the big mystery and that's changing as we know. Pretty soon companies are going to be a little more competitive with quality in their Muppet items as I believe they will become more popular in the coming year.

I agree that PVCs can be high quality pieces and that's what these look like to me. Articulation does not drive the collectible figures market - brand name does. Those little somewhat stiff and mildly articulated Star Wars figures are hands down the most popular figural item in any mainstream or independent toy store that carries them. The Henson properties are finally getting the pixie dust needed to root the band names of Muppets and Fraggles.

1. Aw, well I can see that making sense...but is the Fraggle film still on? And Im guessing it wouldnt even be out til 2010?
Remember how 2008 was suppose to see Dark Crystal 2?

2. Yeah, everyone knows who Kermit, "the two old guys", Gonzo, ect. are. But FANDOM. Ive never encountered in my life, in all my years going to comic shops, coffee shops, online, college, ect
anyone who was a passionate fan of the Muppets other than folks ive met from here(online or in person)

Ive met plennnnty of Firefly, Star Wars, Star Trek, Twilight, Buffy, Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG1/Atlantis, ect buffs.

As Luke once said, there's maybe a thousand hardcore rabid Muppet/Jim Henson enthusists like us. I started consciously collecting Muppet/Sesame/Jim Henson related merchandise
since the early 1980's, and its strange to me how you just never encounter people who are like us, with more than a passing
interest.

3. My dream has always been to see Muppets given the Star Wars treatment: An endless array of 3-4 3/4 inch articulated figures ala 1978 Fisher Price or the 2003 Jack in the Box Muppet figure line.

[frogboy4]

Most certainly the Fraggle film is still on. Check out writer/director Cory Edwards' blog (http://coryscuriosities.blogspot.com/) that he updates with all of his news (much of it of the Fraggley kind).

As this is typed - I am filling in for one of my freelance clients at his collectibles/toy store down the street from the Metreon (you probably know the one). There's a stack of beautiful Palisades Swinetreks with First Mate Piggy that just don't move like other items of the similar size and a fraction of the quality. We have Super Scooters, Beauregards, Helmet Gonzos, Crazy Harrys and Johnny Fiamas to keep her company. It really is all about the frog.

Anyway, all of these products are mixed in with talking Shaun of the Dead figures, Firefly ornaments (that sell remarkably well), Joker figures, Lord of the Rings animaquettes and a five foot tall Princess Leia statue. Last week I brought my slightly modified, beautiful MR Gonzo poser puppet and stuck him right next to her. There were surprisingly fewer gawkers than I would have imagined. That dude is 95% spot on as I have styled him.

There are fans of the Muppets, Fraggles and all things Henson, but without a current project there isn't enough interest piqued to push healthy unit sales numbers. And, let's face it, that's what the game is about. Profit. Even in the limited edition market. Most of the work produced these days is made by hardworking freelance artists, modified and produced cheaply in China and sold by "Suits" to retailers.

With the new Muppet media push along with the new Fraggle film there will be a Henson renaissance in media and products. I assure you. It's just not there yet even if the fans are.

[beaker]

With the new Muppet media push along with the new Fraggle film there will be a Henson renaissance in media and products. I assure you. It's just not there yet even if the fans are.

Totally. We're at the moment that ten years ago we were hoping for. We didn't know it would take a decade, but it's well worth the wait.

And hey, maybe this is like 1996 in the Star Wars community, right before the massive 1997 relaunch of Star Wars? We can say we were "pre 2009" fans:)

Say, what toy store you be talking about? The one on market?
Metreon is pretty much tumbleweed cricket city.

And holy smokes, THANK YOU so much for posting that Fraggle movie writer blog. I can't believe I never saw that before. Wow. I like how in this modern era, there's no longer this disconnect between directors/writers and the fans...because, well the writers and such are just as big of fans as us.

Still, its a bit surreal that Fraggle Rock of all franchises is to get a threatrical treatment and a big push. I thought itd never happen

[frogboy4]

Totally. We're at the moment that ten years ago we were hoping for. We didn't know it would take a decade, but it's well worth the wait.

And hey, maybe this is like 1996 in the Star Wars community, right before the massive 1997 relaunch of Star Wars? We can say we were "pre 2009" fans:)

Say, what toy store you be talking about? The one on market?
Metreon is pretty much tumbleweed cricket city.

And holy smokes, THANK YOU so much for posting that Fraggle movie writer blog. I can't believe I never saw that before. Wow. I like how in this modern era, there's no longer this disconnect between directors/writers and the fans...because, well the writers and such are just as big of fans as us.

Still, its a bit surreal that Fraggle Rock of all franchises is to get a threatrical treatment and a big push. I thought itd never happen

The Metreon is still busy. They have the Sony and Playstation stores, but other fare has left due to the price of rent and the struggling economy. Also the ownership recently hiked the rates on new contracts. Even the Tokyo Pop kiosk left a couple weeks ago. Now we have people coming in for Pokemon cards. We don't carry that stuff or comic books, but we do carry some Anime figural work.

Action Figure Freddy is a smaller shop across from the new Westfield Shopping Center that houses Bloomingdales and a gazillion floors of so many things. It's doing well even if the Virgin store won't make it after Christmas.

Anyway, customers seem to be very fond of the Muppets, but purchasing tastes are all about video game figures and anime versions of things. It's a bit uninspired. It reminds me of the barely-functional humans in Wall-E that needed to be told "Red is the new Blue" so that they could follow suit. Personally I'll take a Fraggle over that any day.

Cory's blog is really a nice touch that shows he wants to connect with his audience. He wants to reassure us about the project and that can only help later. He seems like the Ken of movies.

[Redsonga]

Well as far as anime 'taking over' I was a fan loooong before it was a fad, so please don't think of us all as mindless zombies ;). The same goes for video games and comic books for me :3. I was always more than a little disappointed every summer when I went to San Fran for my leg appointments and found how few of those card shops actually had comic books :(. *sigh*
Anyway, the trouble is I think, that a lot of shops don't keep selling things long enough to see that there are people that want to buy them..Most of all in malls where shops seem to come and go every week :P. And when they do sell things it's only that high end collectables that a tiny fan like me with twenty dollars in her pocket couldn't afford if we saved up for a year :(

[Drtooth]

Well as far as anime 'taking over' I was a fan loooong before it was a fad, so please don't think of us all as mindless zombies ;). The same goes for video games and comic books for me :3. I was always more than a little disappointed every summer when I went to San Fran for my leg appointments and found how few of those card shops actually had comic books :(. *sigh*

The anime stuff is... uh... kinda dying out, actually. A Shame really, I was looking forward to quality One Piece merchandise. Plus the stuff I like, for the most part, isn't even licensed in the US (Daggnabbit, Mattel... bring back M.U.S.C.L.E. Ban Dai's Ultimate Muscles were nice, but not in the same vein) The gamer stuff has completely taken over everything. And you know me, I like a good Mario or Sonic game, but I've always time for other things.

I think the Muppet stuff completely cooled off just as the toy line was ending. I haven't seen anything outside of plastic Keychains and T-shirts since. I think the Fraggles will fit perfectly into that market, especially for the 80's nostalgia crowd. Though, frankly, I don't know if it's best to wait 1-2 years for the movie or release them middle of next year.

[Redsonga]

I actually wouldn't know if anime is dying out in shops because I don't live remotely near a comic shop :P. I get most of my fandom thingies now ether right from Japan or watch fansubs of series that aren't here in the US yet..It is a shame when a series has dubbing I really really like but the company drops it..I am still waiting for the rest of I'm Gonna Be An Angel and Child's Toy :(.

I don't think they should wait to put out the fraggle toys...In a perfect world I think it would have been nice if they had started working on the FR movie a couple of years ago itself, so that the series boxset would have been out at the same time as the movie for the holidays :). But I know, they had to know the fandom and money was there first..but still, it would have been nice^.^...

[Drtooth]

I actually wouldn't know if anime is dying out in shops because I don't live remotely near a comic shop :P. I get most of my fandom thingies now ether right from Japan or watch fansubs of series that aren't here in the US yet..It is a shame when a series has dubbing I really really like but the company drops it..I am still waiting for the rest of I'm Gonna Be An Angel and Child's Toy :(.
It's dying off from television. And I think the gaming industry is a huge reason of that. I keep seeing new DVD's being announced, but only one or 2 companies even bothers now.

That said, we're basically getting the same new stuff over and over, and the classics and older animes get the shaft because they look... well... old. Someone has the rights to Doraemon, but they're just sitting on them. If you can't make something that's about as popular in Japan as Sesame Street is here, then you know something is wrong. (plus I want my freaking Kinnikuman available legally with at least subtitles)

That said, I don't know where a lot of these people who aren't Muppet fans are. I've seen a lot of Muppet Merchandise in 2003-5 get bought up rather quickly...even the left over stuff (Maybe a Movie Theater Scooter here and there... and the Odd Gonzo doll not marked down). I think the Jim Henson creatures are doing well around me, but I have to check.

But then again, I think it is a good idea to wait for these figures. Economically, we're not going to be in good shape for quite some time. By the time the movie gets closer, I'm sure things will be better, and buying toys won't have to play second to food and housing.