Originally Posted by Yellow Ranger (Post 706966)

I honestly wonder how Hasbro has made both Marvel Legends and the Star Wars Black Series successful when both Bandai and Mattel have tried and failed with the collector figure market.

Originally Posted by SPLIT LIP (Post 706990)

Because unlike PR, Hasbro actually gives a shit.

But really, it's because PR does not have the adult following those two brands do. Rangers is not fondly remembered for its broad age appeal. It is almost always targetted twords children nearly exclusively. Star Wars and comics (not just Marvel but it was the biggest of the industry for a good while) have not been so limited to Saturday morning cartoons as the main source of memories. Star Wars and Marvel are older, have told more sophisticated stories, have reach a broader audience. It's not hard to appeal to them. They're ingrained in culture in ways PR can not and likely will not ever be.

It certainly doesn't hurt Hasbro that they offer a great variety of characters and appeal to more history. Bandai only really does Rangers. Then again it's hard to be diverse and offer multiple "doses' of PR's history when people wnat full teams. A wave of Marvel Legends can be Spider-man, Iron Man, Wolverine, and Punisher, but a wave of PR needs to be a whole team.

Originally Posted by MnemonicSyntax (Post 707024)

And, despite in many cases both fandoms having characters wearing brightly colored spandex or skin-tight suits, the Power Ranger/Sentai fandom is the laughing stock compared to the superhero fandom.

Also, I saw the Saber-tooth Tigerzord today at Target and it looks much smaller than I thought, in addition to appearing to be quite "kiddy" in appearance, and the paint didn't really look all that hot either.

Originally Posted by MnemonicSyntax (Post 707024)

And, despite in many cases both fandoms having characters wearing brightly colored spandex or skin-tight suits, the Power Ranger/Sentai fandom is the laughing stock compared to the superhero fandom.

Originally Posted by KaijuUltraFan (Post 707035)

MMPR does cast an abnormally large shadow in the US. I know people that wont even begin to try and watch Ultraman or Kamen Rider or any Tokusatsu because they're like, "I don't like that Power Rangers sh*t."

..it's like, not everything Toku is Power Rangers. Only Power Rangers is Power Rangers.

But they cast that impossibly large shadow over everything.

Originally Posted by TokuChris (Post 706934)

From what I have heard -

Originally was planned for Holiday 2017 but got shelved and pushed to Holiday 2018 to be one of the final "# of 25" special anniversary items. I do not have 100% confirmation on that which is why I don't run with it as a news story. That would mean the Lion Fire Megazord was pry pushed forward from Spring 2018 or Summer 2018 to Holiday 2018 to ensure there was a $100 item available for Power Rangers during the holiday season. What's even stranger - Lion Fire Megazord was originally supposed to be a Wal-Mart exclusive (I do have confirmation on that), but as to why it moved to Toys'R'Us? Anyone's guess.

As to everyone's comments on Bandai/retailers/etc.

It's important that everyone understand how the toy industry works before we get up in arms at anyone for anything.

1) Bandai creates toy line pitch, with mock-ups of product
2) Retailers decide whether or not to "buy in" to the product at their stores and give feedback on everything from gimmick, to line-up of characters, to packaging
3) If yes - Bandai begins production
4) If no - Bandai goes back to the drawing board

Certain companies have more pull and power than others. Hasbro, for example, hardly gets a "no" anymore. But back in the day? I remember speaking with Aaron Archer over the course of WEEKS on how much of a pain in the ass it was to get the Robots in Disguise Scourge toy, with the chrome trailer, released in the US. No one wanted it. The price point was a weird one (like $35 or something) and retailers were afraid it wouldn't succeed.

What happened? It went on to be one of the more successful Toys'R'Us exclusives and Transformers now has a firm grip on Toys'R'Us for exclusives (ie: the Masterpiece line).

So why do all the expensive toys end up at Toys'R'Us? Think demographics. Who shops at Wal-Mart and Target? Everyone. Especially people on a budget. Who shops at Toys'R'Us? People looking to drop cash on expensive toys. Therefore, put the expensive toys at Toys'R'Us.

As for the Legacy 6.5" figure line ... the real reason Bandai wants to keep the "Build a Figure" aspect of it is because it makes it easier to sell to retailers. The downside? We may see more and more MMPR related figures as "Build a Figure" in future assortments (ie: The Psycho Rangers). Why? Because retailers WANT more MMPR. But these figures are NOT selling with Build a Figure, and if you put weapons instead of figure pieces, you remove any chance that someone is collecting to build a Megazord.

Not that it matters without the girls (who needs legs for their Megazord?).

In short - the blame is 50/50. Retailers have the power and can easily influence a company to produce what they want (who wouldn't? I don't want to sell your toy if it doesn't sell, I want to move that toy and get my profit, if I don't then I don't want it in the future). But Bandai in the end manufactures the product and continues to cheapen out. They will give you a variety of reasons (cost, demographics, testing, blah blah blah) ... but in the end, the less they spend the happier their shareholders are, especially with product line(s) that have dropped considerably in sales since Dino Charge hit the shelves.

Kyuranger adaptation will reverse the trend - I'll guarantee it. With a better show as well, you can expect the toys to be pretty popular. No more "recolored Megazords for auxiliary zords" ... I can promise you that. And if I'm wrong, then oh well ... chances are I'll buy it (as long as it's not too horrible looking) as I love me my Kyuranger.

Originally Posted by Yellow Ranger (Post 707017)

And DC is just as big as Marvel.

Originally Posted by KaijuUltraFan (Post 707035)

MMPR does cast an abnormally large shadow in the US. I know people that wont even begin to try and watch Ultraman or Kamen Rider or any Tokusatsu because they're like, "I don't like that Power Rangers sh*t."

..it's like, not everything Toku is Power Rangers. Only Power Rangers is Power Rangers.

But they cast that impossibly large shadow over everything.

Originally Posted by SPLIT LIP (Post 707165)

Arguably.

But really, DC has always had its collector safety in DCC. Marvel is a juggernaut as far as toys (and merch in general) go. Thanks largely in part to the MCU. DC's films however are not only often unpopular, but are hard as hell to market as far as toys go. What kid would want figures of the Suicide Squad? Marvel has this insanely broad appeal with fantasty and sci-fi and "grounded" characters to choose from. DC has... Batman and Superman, and maybe the Justice League.

DC has DC Collectibles for its bread and butter as far as collector-focused toys go. Because it kinda has to with its characters.