Star Wars Rebels Action Figure Revealed
The official Star Wars site has revealed the first of the new Star Wars Rebels action figures, The Inquisitor. Check the site for all of the details, but what jumped out at me most — besides the cool design of the character and the fact that he’s hunting Jedi — is that this is a five point articulation 3.75-inch scale action figure . . . clearly designed for kids!!!
Hasbro and Disney are both no doubt hoping that Star Wars Rebels attracts a new generation of kids to the Star Wars universe, and seeing the first reveal feature the classic Kenner five points of articulation gives me hope that these will be both playable and affordable. It feels to me like this series — both the toys and the animation — is off to a great start.
And I can’t wait to see what Hasbro unleashes at NYTF in February. Come on, Imperial Troop Transport toy!!!
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My first impression is that Hasbro is “ruining” their figures by decreasing articulation, but that’s from a collector’s perspective. You might have a point that kids prefer figures that are more solid and playable without twisting into a gangly mess. I’d be curious if most kids feel this way, or if they, too, prefer more articulation now that they’re used to it.
I got a young nephew who doesn’t actively dislike more articulation, but he gets frustrated because he can’t make his more complex toys stand up. So this might actually appeal to him …if he can be bothered to stop playing minecraft.
@Kevin – It is pure speculation on my part, but I suspect kids 6 or 7 and under find more articulation slows and frustrates play. And parents probably — almost certainly –the prices on figures with lots of articulation too high.
And with both Hasbro and Mattel producing more five point articulation figures these days I suspect something has happened in research and sales that supports fewer points of articulation.
@Chris – A few days ago, during a call about other stuff, Matt (Doughy) and I were discussing how kids trade toys for apps and consoles these days. I know if the ipad has existed when I was a kid I would have chosen that over lots of other toys.
Phil – I think it’s less about research that kids want less or more articulation and much more about retailers wanting toys they can sell for a $5 price point. That’s the rationale I’ve heard for the new Star Wars Saga Legends and so forth.
I don’t think this is about what kids prefer – it’s that kids are happy enough with five points which allows retailers to sell them for less, whereas collectors demand more.
But yes, between rising production costs and kids’ true preferences – digital toys – action figures will be increasingly divided between barely-articulated, cheap figures for kids and expensive, highly-articulated figures for collectors. Action figures are well on their way to joining the ranks of baseball cards and comic book collecting as niche hobbies rather than a rite of passage for children. (And console videogames are next.)
Weird…I wrote a long reply that apparently just vanished into the ether. Ah well.
@Poe Ghostal – I hate when that happens.
That’s happened to me a few times here! I just thought Phil didn’t like what I had to say and promptly deleted it! 😉