Ask Mattel 2/1/2013: Details On MOTUC 2014, Watchmen & More

Mattel is back with their last round of answers before this year’s Toy Fair.  This time out, Matty speaks on the priority of finishing Masters of the Universe’s sub-lines in 2014, plus addresses the likelihood of new flight stands and Watchmen: Year Two figures.  Read on for all the answers!

Kastor’s Korner: The smaller number of figures and more concise release plan for the Dark Knight Rises Movie Masters seemed to be a success– will a similar approach of fewer figures, more consistently updated be used for the Man of Steel Movie Masters?

Mattel: Sorry, the DC Team was unavailable this week for answers.

Kastor’s Korner: Is Watchmen being considered a “one and done” subscription, or is there a chance we could see a second year of characters, such as Moloch, Hollis or the Golden Age Minutemen?

Mattel: We’ll keep an eye on day of sales but at this time we do not have plans for additional figures past the 6 members. We’d love to do the Minute Men in time, but will need to be sure there is an audience for this first.

Kastor’s Korner: Design recently revealed using a PMS cool gray to color characters using white like She-Ra, Captain Cold, Teela, Adora, Zodac, Adam, Frosta, etc. With the obvious fan backlash, in the interest of following the Horsemen’s paint master, can the use of PMS cool gray please (and finally) be discontinued in favor of white?

Mattel: One of the issues with white is that bright white tends to look unfinished on plastic product. When translating the Horsemen sculpts to an articulated toy, the design team often needs to make choices and one of these is to use an off white to stand in for bright white. In the end this is a design choice and made on a figure by figure basis. We will certainly pass your comments along!

Kastor’s Korner: Since the 2014-15 MOTUC plan will focus on making the line feel complete, do certain sub-sets take priority over others? For example, is releasing the rest of the Horde considered more important than releasing the Snake Men… or finishing Princess of Power more important than rounding out New Adventures?

Mattel: The only faction that may fall short by 2015 is finishing all of the vintage New Adventures secondary characters. Everyone else, including major animated figures will be the focus. Not guaranteed, but we will make that the focus if we get a 2014 line. And it doesn’t mean 2015 is the end of MOTUC. We can always round up MIA New Adventures figures in 2016 and beyond.

Kastor’s Korner: Have there been discussions about flight stands for Swift Wind or the Griffin? They both only have flared “flying” wings and standing that way is a bit odd without them flying.

Mattel: It is something we look into but nothing to announce right now.