tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post3920200568386270925..comments2024-03-05T21:05:36.848-05:00Comments on CommentaramaFilms: Shameless MerchandizingAndrewPricehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-29614982217240177792014-02-24T02:16:53.057-05:002014-02-24T02:16:53.057-05:00Wow, this brings back memories. I used to videota...Wow, this brings back memories. I used to videotape Transformers, pause their transformations frame-by-frame--and then go build my own out of Legos! (Yes, they actually transformed, unlike today's licensed off-brand building block sets.) I wish I took more pictures of those...<br /><br />I watched a few episodes of my favorite shows in later years, and was appalled at how slow the pacing was. (He-Man, Thundercats--I'm looking in your general direction.)<br /><br />One of my favorite cartoons in the 80's was the anime import, Robotech. (And to a lesser extent, Star Blazers.) For those of you unfamiliar with it, it was a serialized multi-generational story about humans who adapted technology from a crashed alien spaceship, creating vehicles that transformed into robots (piloted by humans). The multiple generations were actually because it was made up of 3 entirely separate shows from Japan which all just happened to have similar vehicle/robot technology. With a few script rewrites & name changes, it fit together pretty well. Worth checking out.<br /><br />P.S. The Lego Movie is AWESOME!!! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-49486114494039712822014-02-21T23:17:56.062-05:002014-02-21T23:17:56.062-05:00John, LOL! So true! :DJohn, LOL! So true! :DAndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-64312552420902993262014-02-21T20:14:51.804-05:002014-02-21T20:14:51.804-05:00As a kid I was always torn between Star Wars and L...As a kid I was always torn between Star Wars and LEGO. But now, I discover, there is Star Wars LEGO. We live in an age of paradise.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18105609617071999765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-79351750467104045612014-02-20T01:09:25.079-05:002014-02-20T01:09:25.079-05:00tryanmax, there WAS a cartoon for Dino-Riders.
He...tryanmax, there WAS a cartoon for Dino-Riders.<br /><br />Here's the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lor_uUkJkkw" rel="nofollow">link</a> for the first episode (Youtube)<br /><br />As for the bad guys, the "troops" (Rulons) started out with three basic types- asps (snakes), hammerheads, and antors (ants) as you mentioned. The bad guy leader- Krulos- looked like a frog wearing a dome. (He was voiced by voice actor extraordinaire, Peter Cullen- Optimus Prime himself.) As the series went on, they introduced villains with different-shaped heads- as well as other humans on the good guys' side who hadn't been before.<br /><br />The other notable difference was how each side communicated with their dinosaurs. The Dino-Riders used "amps"- devices that allowed them to talk through artificial telepathy and build trust. The Rulons employed "brain boxes"- literally devices clamped to the dinos' heads that controlled them like puppets. Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-88984242141721623082014-02-19T12:31:42.923-05:002014-02-19T12:31:42.923-05:00Wulfscott - I swear if I had back all the money I ...Wulfscott - I swear if I had back all the money I spent on the various iterations of The Boy's Thomas sets, I'd be able to pay for a semester of college. Right in the middle of The Boy's obsession, they stopped production of one set entirely and issued a new on with different track and engines, forcing me to buy yet another set and start populating that - they would fill Andrew's Lego trashcan, I'm sure.<br /><br />I will say this: the electronic HO trains sets they made were fantastic. The engines and cars were inexpensive, well-detailed (eyes flicked back and forth while running) and well built. The couples are easy for a young kid to manipulate, so you can leave a 5-year old laying on the floor, hooking up his own trains on the track under the Christmas tree. They're probably still made. Really good toys.<br /><br />T-Max - Know what the '60s Joe said to the 80's Joe? <br /><br />"Mine's bigger."<br /><br />Sorry. Couldn't help myself. I'll be nice from now on.KRSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-87427162630779557792014-02-19T10:32:34.430-05:002014-02-19T10:32:34.430-05:00Kit, Pokemon came after me, though I gotta say, th...Kit, Pokemon came after me, though I gotta say, the catchphrase "Gotta Catch 'Em All" resonates with this 80s kid. Those collectible card games were probably the last hurrah for TV tie-ins. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-71939959035729442162014-02-19T10:30:37.581-05:002014-02-19T10:30:37.581-05:00Daniel, I'm trying to remember when I stopped ...Daniel, I'm trying to remember when I stopped collecting stuff. All I'm sure of is that by 6th grade, LEGOs had eclipsed everything for me. And I will admit to breaking them out still, from time to time. I'm not sure if my 4-year-old is quite ready for my old sets, but I look forward to it! <br /><br />Since we're well into the obscure, I'll reveal that my prized collection was RockLords. (The bastard cousins of the GoBots.) I had the entirety of series 1 and 2, and as much of 3 as I could get. (They were never that popular, and the final series didn't even hit shelves in all places.) tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-54248391338512036742014-02-19T10:21:52.941-05:002014-02-19T10:21:52.941-05:00Rustbelt, I had some DinoRiders, too. Not many. I ...Rustbelt, I had some DinoRiders, too. Not many. I didn't think those had a cartoon show, though? Did I miss it? I remember being annoyed that the figures were on a slightly smaller scale than GI Joes, but that the bad guys were pretty cool. They had animal heads on human bodies. I remember cobras, hammerheads, and ants, but wasn't there a fourth? tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-91934317866197328602014-02-18T23:23:23.041-05:002014-02-18T23:23:23.041-05:00Mine was Pokemon. I loved Pokemon as a kid. Though...Mine was Pokemon. I loved Pokemon as a kid. Though it didn't have action figures as much as cards and video games. <br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcfdoSuC6MI" rel="nofollow">LINK</a><br /><br />I did have a few Ghostbusters (Real and Extreme) as a kid.Kithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01453591141757808708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-80025909160392814362014-02-18T21:44:03.822-05:002014-02-18T21:44:03.822-05:00I collected a little bit of most toys mentioned my...I collected a little bit of most toys mentioned myself. I definitely watched and enjoyed TMNT and Gi Joe. I remember collecting quite a few Joes and TMNT, I had a few He-Man toys, as well as Silver Hawks, Transformers, and Ghostbusters here and there, and I also had a few Dino Riders and enjoyed watching the movie quite a bit when I was a kid. The T-Rex with the dual laser helmet was one of the coolest things to watch back then. I stopped collecting them around 5th grade or so, the occasional game-related collectible aside, but I do remember quite a few of these things!<br /><br /> - DanielAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-11090424783920818522014-02-18T19:21:09.874-05:002014-02-18T19:21:09.874-05:00The Dino-Riders commercials were awesome. "Ha...The Dino-Riders commercials were awesome. "Harness the power! Dino-Riders!" Jasonhttp://www.rigelchase.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-53585964999622978022014-02-18T18:56:39.803-05:002014-02-18T18:56:39.803-05:00I'm definitely a member of tryanmax and Jason&...I'm definitely a member of tryanmax and Jason's "era bracket." And how I weep for the children of today. The stuff they get is mostly knockoffs of this and that. I still stroll through the nearby Toys R Us. These days, Legos (eternally cool) are the only things with any creativity. Action figures for movies and cartoons couldn't be more generic. And interestingly, most of the Transformers for sale are updated anniversary (of any time frame) or just G1 re-releases. In other words, they're making more money by appealing to adult collectors than reeling in more kids. I guess the new stuff- which, IMO, looks WAY too anime-inspired- just isn't catching on.<br /><br />But as a proud owner of an original Optimus Prime (I forgot to put on the 4x6 of stickers), Soundwave (with Buzzsaw), Starscream (hinge long worn out), and more He-Man figures, vehicles, and playsets than I can list, I declare my allegiance to the great age of "toys cartoons."<br /><br />As for the obscure...yes, Jason, I, too, remember Silverhawks. But what about Dino-Riders? Dinosaurs outfitted with futuristic weaponry? What could be cooler? And, of course, the Inhumanoids- a.k.a. the one with the monsters that freaked out all the girls! (Dangling them in plain sight equalled guaranteed screams. Yes, I had a bad streak at one time...) <br />And it just so happens that my neighbor had a collection of Andrew's cartoon bane- the Centurions. Now, first of all, I want to say the toys were genuinely cool and robust. (They could survive rigorous use.) And second, (having seen a few episodes recently), the cartoon was actually quite good, using sci-fi themes, schemes real terrorists might employ, and even some social criticism- around the parts where they showed kids how to put the suits together, of course.<br /><br />Sadly, I never was much of a G.I. Joe collector. Well, that's what modern sci-fi conventions are for!Rustbelthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12190297078043033514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-50989140369646768272014-02-18T17:47:06.535-05:002014-02-18T17:47:06.535-05:00wulfscott, like I've said, it was a very narro...wulfscott, like I've said, it was a very narrow window that you had to hit just right. My little sister was the right age for Teletubbies, but she much preferred Barney. I couldn't stand either. My four-year-old love Thomas. And my six-year old has been hooked on Yo Gabba Gabba and Dora since she was born, just about. <br /><br />Still, in all those cases it's the show that precedes the toys, and they aren't making up new characters just to sell more stuff. As a parent who likes to limit the clutter, I really appreciate that. But when I was a kid, I very much enjoyed it the other way around. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-19210368739628671062014-02-18T17:23:32.071-05:002014-02-18T17:23:32.071-05:0080's cartoons. Like KRS, I watched earlier ca...80's cartoons. Like KRS, I watched earlier cartoons, and had no interest in most of the cartoons mentioned. I will bring up later cartoons that my kids watched (and that I spent tons of money on): Thomas the Tank Engine and Theodore Tugboat. Thomas had dozens, if not hundreds, of other engines, cars, buildings, and other equipment. As well, a local railway museum had a Thomas the Tank Engine day, which was their main fundraiser: the museum staff would dress up an engine to be Thomas and sell rides (and toys). <br />The kids also watched Teletubbies when they were small, but I never bought them those toys. I thought the Teletubbies were annoying and really had little educational value - not that a lot of these shows did, but IMHO Teletubbies was really bad. The kids, when they were toddlers, were mesmerized by the Teletubbies, but I thought the show never did anything beyond the bland and boring, even taking the target audience (toddlers) into account.<br />wulfscotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01753817510942803189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-50040600536640923032014-02-18T17:15:08.266-05:002014-02-18T17:15:08.266-05:00Andrew, KRS, I too had a massive amount of LEGOs. ...Andrew, KRS, I too had a massive amount of LEGOs. The trashcan was a good idea. I just used a giant cardboard box. Little pieces were always getting stuck under the bottom flaps. I'm pretty sure they still market "creator" sets, which are just a hodgepodge of pieces. You gotta go with kits, though, if you want any of the nifty little bibs and bobs that hang on the outside of the spaceships and castles. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-39534882291524662292014-02-18T17:12:46.787-05:002014-02-18T17:12:46.787-05:00KRS, no fair! 70s Joes were still on the 12" ...KRS, no fair! 70s Joes were still on the 12" scale. 3.75" Joes were a reaction to Star Wars figures. Plus, I take no responsibility for any crazy 70s hair stylings. I think there must've been a razor shortage along with the gas crisis. tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-10550522287798195942014-02-18T17:07:53.928-05:002014-02-18T17:07:53.928-05:00Jason, my man! I was like you where the sci-fi app...Jason, my man! I was like you where the sci-fi appealed to me slightly more. And spot on about He-Man. It was all over the place, genre-wise. <br /><br />I think the supposed evils of marketing to children are overwrought. We children of the 80s didn't grow into the materialist consumers our parents feared. We actually turned out to be much more hedonistic. (That is, preferring experiences to stuff.) tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-79386635209422195182014-02-18T17:02:32.048-05:002014-02-18T17:02:32.048-05:00KRS, Word went out that I like Legos, so all my re...KRS, Word went out that I like Legos, so all my relatives sent me Legos for every birthday and Christmas. It was glorious! And at the time, they weren't super expensive either like they are today, so you got more bang for your buck.<br /><br />In terms of the sets, I... could... not... agree... more! Nothing beats a huge package of blocks. But they don't sell those anymore. Everything is formed sets. And while some of those are cool (I happen to have a very nice pirate ship), they just don't give you the raw power of a pile of small squares and rectangles. I wish they would sell more blocks and let kids use their own creativity again.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-37132353964619379482014-02-18T17:01:47.625-05:002014-02-18T17:01:47.625-05:00Dave, I'm not sure if the term "action fi...Dave, I'm not sure if the term "action figure" was coined with the introduction He-Man, or if it was coined earlier as a way to sell dolls to boys. Either way, it's cynical marketing at play. :-Ptryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-33440150785024275642014-02-18T16:55:44.392-05:002014-02-18T16:55:44.392-05:00Tryanmax - There was a whole slew of bearded Joes ...Tryanmax - There was a whole slew of bearded Joes - blond, red, brown, black and they were part of some production run in the early 70s, adventurers or something. I want to say I saw a black guy with an afro once. They had kung fu grip and their eyes changed - weird looking dolls.<br /><br />Andrew - You had a trashcan of Legos? A trashcan? Why couldn't you be my neighbor? At the risk of sounding cynical to T-Max again, I have to say that the one thing that bugs me about Legos today is that you can't seem to buy a tub of assorted parts - it's always a kit, airplane, spaceship, boat, building, whatever. Some are quite cool, but sometimes I'd like to just expand the boy's collection without it being a "thing."KRSnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-12347289644381644142014-02-18T16:55:28.521-05:002014-02-18T16:55:28.521-05:00tryanmax, I knew about Thundercats at the time but...tryanmax, I knew about Thundercats at the time but it didn’t appeal to me. I had a problem getting into non-sci-fi fantasy stuff, things with magic and dragons and swords*. Space travel, robots, and lasers were my big thing.<br /><br />*Although, I was into He-Man, so that was the odd exception at the time, but I think the fact that it had its sci-fi elements helped. I knew Thundercats did, too, but I think it just felt too strange for me at the time. <br /><br />Re: the 80s toy/toon boom. I was born in 1981, so I had the good fortune to live through that era. I don’t think there’s been a time since when kids had more choices on television or in the toy isles. And also, that we had a lot of original, American-made shows and toys. If you think about it, who ever heard of My Little Pony, Care Bears, He-Man, She-Ra, Jem, Thundercats, or M.A.S.K. before they aired? A lot of the stuff today is anime or anime-inspired, plus you have properties that are just redos of Marvel or DC characters and of course – the 80s – (My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, I’m looking at you. :D ). Deregulation let toy companies come up with more characters that might get featured on television, and the companies could make some serious coin in the process. For good or bad, it opened the door for more American creativity. <br />Jasonhttp://www.rigelchase.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-49277586821089331482014-02-18T16:05:12.803-05:002014-02-18T16:05:12.803-05:00I had a Captain Kirk doll in the 70s. They were st...I had a Captain Kirk doll in the 70s. They were still called dolls; I'm pretty sure the term "action figure" hadn't been coined yet. My sister had lots of Barbies, so if the <i>Toy Story</i> movies are to be believed, my Captain saw plenty of "action", if you catch my drift. Dave Olsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-61519542925257634542014-02-18T15:36:07.602-05:002014-02-18T15:36:07.602-05:00tryanmax and KRS, I had some of the 12inch Joes wh...tryanmax and KRS, I had some of the 12inch Joes when I was a kid. I also had a complete set of 8 inch Star Trek dolls. They were awesome. :)<br /><br />Plus, I had a trashcan full of Legos.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-69933471804504189362014-02-18T15:34:23.596-05:002014-02-18T15:34:23.596-05:00PikeBishop, That's how it plays in my memory t...PikeBishop, That's how it plays in my memory too -- slow motion. It was quite a scene. Adults weren't supposed to act that way, but these did.AndrewPricehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11312364467936820986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7059293386881623259.post-61503231108352424582014-02-18T15:20:17.072-05:002014-02-18T15:20:17.072-05:00djskit, I haven't seen any of the new Care Bea...djskit, I haven't seen any of the new Care Bears stuff. I'm not sure that I even knew there <b>was</b> new Care Bears stuff. I'll have to check it out. <br />tryanmaxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09881154741574720094noreply@blogger.com