[Tarquinius]

Something I've been noticing more and more about 3 3/4; MU/GI Joe actually seems to be the anomaly.

A lot of the 3 3/4 market is dominated by half articulated or minimally articulated toys. Mattel is at the far end of the spectrum which complete enrages us.

But look at Unimax which does Bravo Team/Ages of Actions/Assasin's Creed/Crysis 2 figures.

They feature DECENT articulation but some of what they lack almost borderlines on common sense. For example they don't have ball jointed hips, and there arm articulation is a little bizaare.

The 4 Horsemen's toys (ironically affiliated with Mattel) specifically the Outer Spacemen feature very very very minimal articulation. I'm still not sure if that was part of the design to capture that old toy feel (as it is mimicking an older toy line).

Even some of Hasbro's own toylines have interesting articulation. Some of the Star Wars lines featured minimal articulation (WHY DOES MY JANGO FETT NOT HAVE KNEES!!!). The Indiana Jones figures again have minimal articulation.

So I think truly...the standard for 3 3/4 is minimal. You have your 90 degree leg (back and forth) joint, elbows, shoulders, head and torso. This is what most 3 3/4 toys tend to subscribe to.

The GI Joe line since its 3 3/4 debut I think has almost featured the most articulation you can find anywhere. I don't know if it changed anything, but it raised the bar higher and it challenged others. Now MU is doing the exact same thing.