Bandai and Thundercats - Thoughts?
 

Bandai Gets Thundercats Master Toy License

So, what do you guys think about Bandai getting the license? Good, bad, wait and see?

I'm glad to see they are doing "classics" versions of the characters, but what I don;t understand is why they are doing both 6 and 8 inch figures?

8 inch are the classic figures
the 4 inch and 6 inch are from the new cartoon

i hope bandai does a good job on them look good from what wee've seen so far..
would of been awesome if the 4 horsemen would of did them though

Why not do classic figures in the 6 inch size so they can all be in the same scale? The sculpts look really good though so far.

I'm excited to see how it goes. I actually prefer the 4", I didn't get too many Thundercats back in the day because they were so large, this scale is a bit more collectible for me.
what really has me interested is their take on the Thundertank.

^ Agreed. That new Thundertank looks all sorts of sexy. I really dig the way the claws turn in to cycles/pods...really harkens back to the old Silverhawks plane.

Just be thankful that Mattel isn't handling the license, otherwise you would be lucky to see even a fraction of the toys at retail.

Amen to that....or else it would be 1 fig per month direct through the store.

Nah, it would be a case of 12 figures, 4 are Lion-O, 4 are Lion-O with a different outfit, 1 is Lion-O in a third outfit, 1 Mumm-Ra, and 1 other figure.

I'm shocked at how awesome and detailed the classic 8 inch figure looks to be honest. I wasn't expecting that. I'm a little disapointed that it's Lion-O and Tygra, would've vastly prefered Lion-O and Mumm-Ra.

As for the new series figures, I'm a little disapointed, they don't look nearly so detailed; while it's clear it'll follow the Animated Aesthetic, it looks like it'll be harder to crossdisplay with other lines.

And if Mattel was doing it they would look as bad as the smaller DC line

Personally, so long as they don't 100% suck, I think I am gonna stick with the 4 inch figures. Cheaper, more in less space on a shelf.

From what I've seen, I am loving the classic line. I'm still holding judgement for the 6" line of the new show. I've never been a fan of 3-4" figures, outside of Joes and SW. I think it was incredibly smart of them in following what Mattel did with the MOTUC line and creating a classics line for TCats.

I like what I've seen so far. The 4 inch one's look a bit plain, but I'm hoping for more out of the middle scale. I do like the new animated designs so I'm hoping they translate well.

YES! This tank has so much going on with it. The cartoon always showed the whole team using it to go into battle and Panthro was making so many mods to it as to be something like the Batmobile but when I saw the tank in person I was all "WTF?" With the 4" option it looks like the tank can hold a lot more as well as include a bunch of extra stuff.
Now that you mention Silverhawks, I wonder how well that line did and if there is a redux planned for that?
Heh... Or even Tigersharks.

It all depends. i'm kind of liking it, but bandai is currently doing things like Ben 10 so I'm not sure. On the other hand they did do the Gundam series so............

Just joined. I heard Bandai got the license a while back. But ever since then I haven't seen any pics. Time to go digging for pics. But so far I'm not liking the news about the classic versions being in the 8 inch scale.

Looks good. I'm eager to get that new Panthro.

I would have to wait until Toy Fair Pics
But right now, based off of preliminary pics, i'll go for the 4 inch scale and maybe a few from the classics line to have with my larger scale Masters and DCUC collection :cool:

i never attempted to collect the older figures but the idea of newer figures has me excited.

I'm not loving the new cartoons designs. I'm sure I'll get into it eventually. But the "classic" 8" figures are definitely getting bought!! So far I think they nailed Lion-O.

Where are the pics of the classic 8" figures? So far all I've seen are Cheetara, Lion-O & the Thundertank from the new cartoon.

here's lion -o
Classic 8 Inch Lion-O Revealed

Holy Crap! Now THAT'S what I'm talkin bout!

Where's Cheetara? Cheetara! Cheetara! MUST SEE CHEETARA!:eek:

i believe thats the only picture of the classics line so far . but hell yeah i can't wait for a classics Cheetara as well .. The 1st series is Lion-O & Tygra

Oh God, they better get around to Cheetara. I've been wanting a really detailed kick ass Cheetara for years. I don't care about the rest, just need Cheetara!

I'm sure Cheetara will be made very soon after all she is a main character

Knowing my luck they'll make Lion-O & Tygra, then Panthro & a Wiley Kit & Kat 2-pack & then cancel the line after that.:(

That would be just cruel if that happened:mad:

If they make Wiley Kit and Wiely kat before Mumm-ra I'll be upset. Lol

i'd like to see panthro and cheetara as the wave 2 figs and then whoever else after that, i was never that big on the thundercat villains so i would probably only collect the t-cats themselves for the 8 inch line. though i would get a Grune if they made him, especially if these figs were motu classics style so grune could come with a swappable head and armor to represent him when he was a thundercat and after he turned bad.

I'm still worried about Bandai - and I think I will be until I see all of the new toys on the shelves, in person. Then I can judge the quality and distribution.

Let's see a new Grune - maybe ghost versions of him and Jaga, like the Transformers Starscream ghost figures.

Pretty excited about these...Didn't think Bandai could pull off something cool, but looks like I was wrong. And the fact that we're getting classics too is a good thing.....
Now bring on Bravestarr, Silverhawks and some M.A.S.K and I can die..........

At first, I was very skeptical, but now...I've got a little more faith. I can't wait to see more.

I like what I've seen from both the 4 inch & the collectors line. I'm in 100% on the line. Can't wait for better pics at Toy Fair.

It will be nice to have vehicles and playsets.

From the few pictures I've seen I'm pretty happy about the both the classic figures as well as the figures from the new toon. Since the only classic figure I own is a Lion-O figure I bought from a thrift store, I'm totally happy they will be releasing some more poseable and detailed versions of the original 'Cats and Villains. I am hoping they do Bengali, Lynx-O, and Pumyra in both the classic and new toon lines.

I agree with Croaker 100% that its a matter of seeing them in hand b4 actually giving them a passing grade. I am very disappointed in what i've seen thus far :S

Its to compete with the Marvel Legends and DCs line thats similar. If i remember right most of the TC were slightly taller then humans. They will look great with all my Marvel Legends.

That's what I'm wondering too. The only figures that Thundercats Classics will be in scale with(going by figures from the past few years), are:

• Saint Seiya(Bandai America versions)
• Sigma 6
• Mattel Retro Action

6" is the more popular scale, a scale that MOTUC, Marvel Legends, DCUC, and other companies use for collectors' figures. Struck me as odd that Bandai America chose 8" for Classics.

Judging from what Mattel did with DCIH and how much they are now charging for DCUC, yeah, I agree! Man...hopefully they do Voltron justice.

They seem to be formatted like the small scale Power Ranger toys, same style articulation, scale, et al. Hmm. I'll have to see these in person.

Gundam died in the US under Bandai America. Gundam Wing was successful but the rest did not do well.

Same here

True, but what kind of backing did the other Gundam lines really have? If I recall correctly, which I may or may not, the other series that were produced had cartoons placed sporadically at different times so there really was no base. Plus the wing Gundams just looked cooler IMHO as opposed to ones that were based on an early 80's (?) Anime.

I think we'll all have a better idea after Toy Fair in NY. So far I am pretty optimistic.

...................................

Bandai released some pre-Toy Fair stuff.
2011 Toy Fair: Bandai's Thundercats Overview - Toy Fair - ToyNewsI.com
Love this Tygra figure!

Same here.

Some of the other ones had cartoons shown later in the night due to the more mature themes. I do agree that part of the failure was bad marketing decisions but overall, there was MASSIVE potential for Gundam in America that was not utilized, and it died a somber death at US retail. Having collected Gundam figures during that time(and somewhat now), there were some great releases on Bandai America's part, but again, bad marketing decisions.

Despite Wing looking more modernized and capturing the US audience, it was actually the most overrated series IMHO. The zenith for Gundam in the US, I think, was when Toonami started showing Endless Waltz. The 0079 series for some reason, was not allowed to be subtitled in the US unless it was the movie trilogy(the hell?).

There are plenty of reasons why Gundam failed in the US, and hopefully Bandai America has learned from that, and can apply what they learned with Thundercats.

hmm...i'm sort of on the fence on this one. Bandai may handle their own property well, but I didn't like the way they handled other properties (like Teen Titans). I hope they don't just make the core characters in various scales like they did with the Titans.

Right now, the characters I really would love to see (at least on their classic line) are the Lunatacs.

They are doing the classic line in 8" because the original figures were that size. I wish the classic line was 6" as well.

I been looking at the Ben 10 toys closely and I think they are pretty good. I am far more interested in the classic line right now but the new figures are starting to peek my interest.

MM

Was very unsure when I first heard of Bandai getting the licence... but having seen the figures, I have to say, I am quite happy. They're doing a good job (so it appears).

Boy, it seems like EVERYONE-fans and pros alike were impressed with Bandai's Thundercats presentation. Way to go! I wish it was fall. :)