Toynami Reacquires Voltron License

Joe Moore · 10-03-2013, 07:00 AM

Voltron License Returns To Toynami and New Items Teased

Joe Moore · 10-03-2013, 08:20 AM

It'll be good to see Voltron toys available outside of a sub service. Wasn't really impressed with Mattel's offering. Hope Toynami can breath life back into the brand.

Lody666 · 10-03-2013, 09:51 AM

Good to see Mattel not having this license any longer considering how badly they screwed up the sub

Kelvacos · 10-03-2013, 11:28 AM

Hell yeah!!!!!!!!

Iceman · 10-03-2013, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lody666

Good to see Mattel not having this license any longer considering how badly they screwed up the sub

How did the sub get screwed up? The figures looked decent I thought. Were they at least well made?

trebleshot · 10-03-2013, 12:06 PM

I think it was scale issues between the Lions and the cast, but I'm going off vague memories of what other people posted who actually bought into the sub.

I'm really curious to see how that new die-cast version turns out and if it will be as big as Mattel's version. So far, nothing has come out to compete with my old sets (20" plastic version and 12" die-cast/plastic version). I think they were both made by Trendmasters, but I'm not sure about the jumbo one.

But I will admit a lot of it had to do with it being a sub from Mattel and the price tag.

Rattrap Primal · 10-03-2013, 01:44 PM

will we see pilots or just the component lions/ vehicles/ robots?

BAD MOON · 10-03-2013, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trebleshot

I think it was scale issues between the Lions and the cast, but I'm going off vague memories of what other people posted who actually bought into the sub.

I'm really curious to see how that new die-cast version turns out and if it will be as big as Mattel's version. So far, nothing has come out to compete with my old sets (20" plastic version and 12" die-cast/plastic version). I think they were both made by Trendmasters, but I'm not sure about the jumbo one.

But I will admit a lot of it had to do with it being a sub from Mattel and the price tag.

I thought Mattel's Voltron Subscription was pretty rad. The size of the completed Voltron was awesome, and the figures were pretty well made. My only complaint was the spring-loaded legs. In combined form the legs had the tendency to pop out from their stuck-in position.

I'm game for any new Voltron from Toynami though. Bring on the light-up eyes.

TxBart · 10-03-2013, 03:32 PM

So, does that mean that they will be making an entirely new ground up toy? I hope they license that miracle productions Dirugger XV for sale here. It's engineered and it's tooled. If it meets safety standards, then why not?

Dr Kain · 10-03-2013, 04:17 PM

Meh, means nothing to me. Unless Toynami actually plans to do figures of the characters themselves that Mattel did not do, them having the license is meaningless. If all they are going to do is reissue a lion Voltron with light up eyes, the license is meaningless. Now if they decided to do a MP Vehicle Voltron and do figures of the characters, then them having the license means something good.

Dr Kain · 10-03-2013, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxBart

So, does that mean that they will be making an entirely new ground up toy? I hope they license that miracle productions Dirugger XV for sale here. It's engineered and it's tooled. If it meets safety standards, then why not?

Because that thing is a defective piece of garbage. Have you actually seen the pictures from people who got it? The plastic is warped or broken in areas, the paint is terrible. It is pretty much just a high priced bootleg.

TxBart · 10-03-2013, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr Kain

Because that thing is a defective piece of garbage. Have you actually seen the pictures from people who got it? The plastic is warped or broken in areas, the paint is terrible. It is pretty much just a high priced bootleg.

Well in that case, I retract my original statement.

Dr Kain · 10-03-2013, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TxBart

Well in that case, I retract my original statement.

Here are just a few pictures from guys over at TFW:

ultraman zoffy · 10-03-2013, 11:49 PM

Wow... those Dairugger pics are depressing. Glad I didn't bite on that thing.

trebleshot · 10-04-2013, 07:22 AM

And that's the primary reason I don't currently own any Dairugger toys.

I would love to see Toynami take a crack at it as well, but you have to know that they're gonna do the lions first. Then maybe the 5 corresponding pilots (or maybe even all 6) and a few other characters, if they do figures at all. Then they'll finally get around to the other Voltron teams. They are a business and they have to go where they think the money is, not just where we'd like them to go with the license.

Hell, I'd much rather Toynami hand off the figure-making duties to S.H.Figuarts. Then Toynami can stay focused on the mechs. Make it all in scale and I'd be hard-pressed not to be all-in.

Enigma2K2 · 10-04-2013, 05:18 PM

I TOLD YOU that vehicle Voltron wasn't worth it!!!

And hopefully they won't just stuff Voltron down our throats, and go nuts with an occasional Ro-Beast.

Shin Densetsu · 10-04-2013, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Moore

It'll be good to see Voltron toys available outside of a sub service. Wasn't really impressed with Mattel's offering. Hope Toynami can breath life back into the brand.

I doubt it man. Why? These are just re-releases of their existing product. The Jumbo style Voltron had more of a realistic styling that sticks out when compared to old Jumbo Machinders and Shogun Warriors. The only thing in common is size. I can see what they were getting at but it kind of misses the point.

In addition, Toynami's diecast MPC Voltron was the most problematic of all their MPC Voltron releases. Broken tabs, diecast weighing down joints due to being placed in bad areas, et al. The misleadingly labeled "metallic edition"(the only thing metallic was the paint...) was actually all plastic and was the better toy as it was stable due to lack of diecast. I have it and it's decent. Could be better and a Bandai/Tamashii SOC would blow it away, but for a Voltron toy, it's a neat modernized version.

Toynami is better off re-releasing the plastic edition in metallic paint bundled with their canceled display stand with the extra weapons. Charge $100-150 and call it done.

Daisuke Fukuda, who designed MPC Voltron, is no longer with Toynami. So even if Toynami DOES plan actual new product, I doubt it's going to surpass their previous Voltron toys.

Not to say Mattel did any better. Mattel made a toy that could've been awesome back in the early 90's when the show was being rerun on the USA network, and pretty much killed any potential it had by making it an online exclusive. I admit if I saw those things in stores I might be tempted.

Not to mention Mattel barely did anything with the license.

Thugnificent · 10-05-2013, 05:46 AM

I like what Mattel did with the brand, despite that they actually did very little with it. While I don't own one, I'd like to someday assemble Mattel's giant version.

As for Toynami, hopefully they release new types of the guy and hopefully branch out to other Voltrons. Mind you, who knows if those other types are involved with the license sold to Toynami. Not like WEP plays up Vehicle Voltron these days. Otherwise, not like Toynami did much with the brand either.

That is hella disappointing about that Masterpiece Vehicle Voltron. Wasn't going to buy one due to the cost, but that seals it.

I've always wanted Bandai to make a new Voltron (or whatever they call him out there). Their Soul of Chogokin stuff always looked impressive, and I'd like to see what they could do with the character.

10-03-2013, 07:00 AM	#1
Joe Moore Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 34,320	Voltron License Returns To Toynami and New Items Teased __________________ Last edited by Joe Moore; 10-03-2013 at 07:03 AM..

10-03-2013, 08:20 AM	#2
Joe Moore Administrator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 34,320	It'll be good to see Voltron toys available outside of a sub service. Wasn't really impressed with Mattel's offering. Hope Toynami can breath life back into the brand. __________________

10-03-2013, 09:51 AM	#3
Lody666 The ORIGINAL Lodi Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 511	Good to see Mattel not having this license any longer considering how badly they screwed up the sub __________________ My B/S/T List My feedback My eBay auctions WANTS: LEGO Haunted House

10-03-2013, 11:45 AM	#5
Iceman MUtant Overlord Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Tennessee Posts: 2,754	Quote: Originally Posted by Lody666 Good to see Mattel not having this license any longer considering how badly they screwed up the sub How did the sub get screwed up? The figures looked decent I thought. Were they at least well made? __________________ BST

10-03-2013, 12:06 PM	#6
trebleshot Dark Lord of the 'Ark Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,224	I think it was scale issues between the Lions and the cast, but I'm going off vague memories of what other people posted who actually bought into the sub. I'm really curious to see how that new die-cast version turns out and if it will be as big as Mattel's version. So far, nothing has come out to compete with my old sets (20" plastic version and 12" die-cast/plastic version). I think they were both made by Trendmasters, but I'm not sure about the jumbo one. But I will admit a lot of it had to do with it being a sub from Mattel and the price tag. __________________ Last edited by trebleshot; 10-03-2013 at 12:09 PM..