Ask Mattel 2/1/2014: Pre-Toy Fair Insight on MOTUC

Toy Fair is just around the corner, but Mattel is back with a few more answers before their 2014 lineup is revealed later this month.  Read on for the latest from Mattel on MOTU and more.

Kastor’s Korner: With the Sky Sled (Jet Sled), Battle Lion, Griffin, Swift Wind, Panthor, and Battle Cat, can we see some (clear) vehicle flight stands for 2015? The style can be borrowed from the Wind Raider, with a smaller base, a ball connecter for the Jet sled, and a removable cradle piece for the beasts for flying or jumping action poses.

Mattel: We can confirm there are no plans for a stand like this in 2014 or 2015. We are putting all of our resources into finishing the vintage line. But we would love to consider something like this for 2016 or beyond!

Kastor’s Korner: What is being done to ensure Multibot can separate his torso from his pelvis for 2015? Modulok was clearly sculpted to perform this essential function, and buyers would hate to see this omission happen twice.

Mattel: We have noted this and if/when we get to Multibot we will do all we can to keep this separator.

Kastor’s Korner: With limited SKUs available necessary for unique characters, do He-Man and Skeletor variants (Flying Fists and Terror Claws) fall in the 2014/2015 roadmap?

Mattel: There will be figure variants in the two year wrap up. Galactic Skeletor has already been shown!

Kastor’s Korner: Have there been discussions to add a boot cut and injection molded ankles to the Princess of Power figures? Matty stated they would look into it, but characters like Flutterina still have limited leg articulation and exposed ankle pins, which will become weak from her presumably heavy wings.

Mattel: We will pass this along to design and engineering! Flutterina is already in production and has the current type of ankles.

Kastor’s Korner: Can Design please explain (at a high level if necessary) how they absolutely can’t achieve female figures’ tights (similar to Strong-Or) instead of a skirt (ex: Standor)? Both examples are nicely contoured without a problem. Female bucks and their tooling have absolutely nothing to do with this obvious issue.

Mattel: The animation style tight swimsuit look that some fans are looking for in the female figures is just not physically possible without restricting the articulation. The way the skirts fold and hang on non articulated, non plastic hand painted prototypes is not physically possible on a plastic production toy. We hope this helps.