The Walking Dead Action Figures - Insider Chat

[Antman]

This thread is dedicated to talking about the McFarlane "The Walking Dead" figures (and statues). There's someone very well connected in this thread.

Purchase here

Spoiler

This Fall The Walking Dead comes to the toy store with McFarlane Toys action figures of Rick Grimes, Daryl Dixon, Zombie Biter and Zombie Walker. Available for purchase November 2011.

http://blogs.amctv.com/photo-galleries/the-walking-dead-mcfarlane-action-figures/intro.php

 

[spawnshop]

We will be continuing the Comic line in 5", but the TV line will be transitioned to a 7" Collector Series after series 9. Although, the Daryl on New Bike will be in scale with the originals. There was discussion of continuing the 5" for specials and exclusives, but nothing confirmed for that.

As for the "Big Heads", those are not bobble heads. The figures are for the construction sets, but now come with a stylized "Big Head". As it is planned now, it will also come with a standard sized head so you can still add them to your construction universe and dioramas. We felt this was a really fun way to spruce up the blind-bag figures (Which will no longer be blind-bagged). They will be sold in small display cases too, as shown in the images from Toy Fair. Now you know exactly which characters you are buying.

 

[Themadpatter]

That COMPLETELY sucks.
Bye bye to collecting Walking Dead figures then!

I'll just get the pops and that will suffice. Will have to get customs made for Rosita and Aaron.

Now, I aren't a business runner in any way, but this seems like a terrible move... I already see a lot of people quitting the game. Also, practically demolishing the nine series worth of collecting, so characters like Negan, Dwight and Alpha can never be in scale with the rest when they appear in the show?
People having to get a whole other line of characters just seems like a really crappy thing to do and I'm sorry but I thought McFarlane was better.

I wish you luck in your 7 inch line, but I won't be getting it.

 

[NoodleChow]

@spawnshop

Are those mini big heads a match for the 5" scale figures? Like with little to moderate modding are the heads scaled to kinda fit with the main line or are they too big or too small for them? Cuz then I could finally have a Season 1 hat Glenn, can prolly put together an Aaron figure, and use most of the rest as alternate heads.

I'm glad the comic line will continue since I'm a bigger fan of those but really sad to see the scale change for the TV figures. At least keep them for exclusives or whatnot.

 

[kassle]

@spawnshop - as always, I appreciate your honesty with us. I've greatly enjoyed being a part of what you share here, and being on the fan side of sharing our enthusiasm for your product with you.

I have to be honest, and hope to say this in a respectful and constructive manner: you guys have had access to a small group of superfans here, as well as the larger 7,000 member group on FB. Why not reach out and do some large scale polling to see how your fans felt about switching scales 6 seasons into the show after asking people to invest their cash in a 5" scale for years now?

Additionally, I could understand if the 5" line was on it's last legs and people weren't buying, but that seems not to be the case at all...

The ego of making a decision that completely changes what you've been asking us to invest in without speaking to the fans who literally pay the bills...I don't know how to experience it as anything other than a huge slap in the face.

Again - I have appreciated all of your honesty and energy and love for TWD, but I will be checking out on the brand.

 

[Coda]

@spawnshop I too appreciate the opportunity you've personally provided us members by being so gracious here. I mean no disrespect to your hard work either. However, I completely agree and second what @kassle has said.

I've been a collector of many lines for most my life but nothing has captivated me in the way this TWD TV series line has. It's made me, as well as countless others feel like a part of something more than just "toys." For this change to be made without so much of a simple inquiry from the people who truly do "pay the bills" it really does bring about a distaste for the company. I won't put my hard earned cash into the pockets of people who would do this to their dedicated fans. (I can see im not alone in this.) I just can't justify a reason. I guess this means I'll be checking out as well.

 

[spawnshop]

Yeah... Will those little big heads be an approximate size match to the 5" figures?

Also what are the chances of zombies being in the 7" line. It looks like character selection will be more along the line of the 12" figures.

From what i understand, and what the sales team tells me, the zombies are just not great sellers. It seems the biggest sellers are the main characters, and the rest of the humans. Of course, Rick, Daryl, Michonne will be the popular ones. I'm sure we will start working some zombies into the new scale though.

As for the Big Heads, the bodies are in scale with the construction figures, and the Big Heads are in scale with the 5" figures.

 

[spawnshop]

@spawnshop - as always, I appreciate your honesty with us. I've greatly enjoyed being a part of what you share here, and being on the fan side of sharing our enthusiasm for your product with you.

I have to be honest, and hope to say this in a respectful and constructive manner: you guys have had access to a small group of superfans here, as well as the larger 7,000 member group on FB. Why not reach out and do some large scale polling to see how your fans felt about switching scales 6 seasons into the show after asking people to invest their cash in a 5" scale for years now?

Additionally, I could understand if the 5" line was on it's last legs and people weren't buying, but that seems not to be the case at all...

The ego of making a decision that completely changes what you've been asking us to invest in without speaking to the fans who literally pay the bills...I don't know how to experience it as anything other than a huge slap in the face.

Again - I have appreciated all of your honesty and energy and love for TWD, but I will be checking out on the brand.

I understand everyone's frustration. I, myself, expressed my opinion against the decision. And trust me, we did not do this to bamboozle anyone just for an extra buck. We had to make a decision as a company what to do with our brands. So, and not only for TWD, but with all of our new brands, as a company, decided it was time to go back to our roots and get back to larger more detailed figures.
I will say that these new figures will definitely hold the details.

I'm personally more excited for these than the 5". I wasn't at first, but then when i saw how awesome these looked right before Toy Fair, I was floored. They are fantastic, trust me.

 

[spawnshop]

@spawnshop I too appreciate the opportunity you've personally provided us members by being so gracious here. I mean no disrespect to your hard work either. However, I completely agree and second what @kassle has said.

I've been a collector of many lines for most my life but nothing has captivated me in the way this TWD TV series line has. It's made me, as well as countless others feel like a part of something more than just "toys." For this change to be made without so much of a simple inquiry from the people who truly do "pay the bills" it really does bring about a distaste for the company. I won't put my hard earned cash into the pockets of people who would do this to their dedicated fans. (I can see im not alone in this.) I just can't justify a reason. I guess this means I'll be checking out as well.

Again, sorry to hear about everyone's disappointment. I think everyone is just so upset that the 5" will no longer be around that they are just simply writing off the new 7". Again, trust me, they are awesome.
And we do appreciate everyone's loyalty to collecting the brand.
I'm sorry to hear fans of TWD are "checking out". At least give the new figures a look in person when they hit the stores. I think you will be happy.

 

[Coda]

@spawnshop thanks for the quick response and your honesty. It's greatly appreciated. I hate to push on but I think after series 9 my ship has sailed. But I am of course naturally curious. Will we be given more details this weekend? Like where exactly are these 15 points of articulation, how will these lines be distributed (how many series per year, how many characters), are there accessories? I can't afford to start over and my anxiety over getting B list characters before the figures up and change again stop me from this new journey but I'm still curious. (From a far lol)

 

[ccs]

Yeah, I'm done. I do not buy the good intentions thing either. Good intentions would be having both lines going not trying to force fans into rebuying figures they already have.

 

[Johnny Utah]

Baffling. Moving away from McFarlane and Walking Dead now. What a way to piss off customers.

 

[Real Scooby]

From what i understand, and what the sales team tells me, the zombies are just not great sellers. It seems the biggest sellers are the main characters, and the rest of the humans. Of course, Rick, Daryl, Michonne will be the popular ones. I'm sure we will start working some zombies into the new scale though.

As for the Big Heads, the bodies are in scale with the construction figures, and the Big Heads are in scale with the 5" figures.

OMG; it happens again, something I really like and dig to collect is ended during its high time, that sucks So I decited do not start on the construction sets, since I am pretty sure this will end again when I refocus on them.
For me it just feels like Hasbro´s move from super-articulated back to 5POA in their 3,75" Star Wars line

The Big Heads heads are in scale to the 5" ? Are these "realistic" or someway stylizied ? Can´t figure it out exactly on the TF photos. I might get back into customizing if the heads are of any use. I really would have loved to see those figure finalized in the original line, at least the Zombie Shane, Zombie Church Lady, Aaron and Season 1 Glenn. Could have lifed if you would use body repaints when needed. At least I can add Daryls new bike, I was asking for since its deput on the show.

This line mixing ( construction body with 5" head ) IMO is a bad move.

As for me I will definatly NOT start again collecting from the beginning, because of both, bugs and shelfspace.

 

[Jabs4783]

Longtime lurker here, I've been intending to join up for ages just so I can say how much I've been enjoying the line but never got around to it. It's a shame that the recent announcement is what has spurred me into action but I feel that any and all feedback is important at this stage.

First of all @spawnshop, I have really enjoyed and appreciated your participation within the community and this is what has contributed to me buying into the line to the extent that I have. I haven't collected action figures except for the odd Star Wars guy since I was a teen, but when I saw how good TWD figures were getting and being comfortably in my 30's with disposable income and a passive interest in new toys, decided to buy the odd one or two starting with Glenn and Maggie. Then I needed a Rick, Darryl, Carl and so forth. I then stumbled upon this forum and various other social media in which McFarlane partake in and enjoyed the way the company interacted with the fans and listened to what their needs. For this reason, I bought into the line and now I pretty much buy all I can to support it and do my part to ensure it's continuation.

Anyway, moving on from the boring backstory, the recent announcement of a change in scale has left a bad taste in my mouth and I'm on the fence now as whether I'll even get series 9, which I was very much excited about. I can understand why a change of scale is good in a business sense but such a major change was sure to alienate fans who have been loyal and frankly I expected better. I thought the line was doing quite well, yes, the zombies may have a harder time at retail, but I believe limited articulation is at play here. I love the comic series zombies such as the punk and pin-cushion but the burnt walker and swamp walker not so much. Also, the odd exclusive is just not gonna cut it (if that's even a remote possibility), they just don't make their way over to Australia.

I can't see myself investing in 7inch scale now and I highly doubt that it will end up covering most, if any, of the B list characters such as Rosita, Sasha etc let alone C list and beyond. I'll just go back to having a passive interest and see how it goes.

I guess all I can is that I hope our feedback is heard loud and clear but if not thanks for the memories!

 

[Themadpatter]

@spawnshop

With the 7 inch line, can we feel confident in getting B List (Rosita, Aaron, Sasha) and maybe even C list (Joe) characters with speed in the new line?
I really really don't feel like waiting another 6 years without a Rosita, by which she'll probably have died and be a long gone character.

The one thing that could make me consider getting the 7 inch line is some sort of assurance we won't have to wait even longer for the characters we've been waiting forever for

 

[ImDrunk]

First of all, thank you @spawnshop for being here for the collectors and listenning to our requests, you have my respect man.
I'm baffled at the decision of ending the 5'inch tv line, absolutely shcoked. I hope you reconsider the decision because those 7'inch figures will make the walking dead line go downhill.
It was awesome collecting these and discussing with everyone here but I'm sorry to say I am done with Mcfarlane, they could have at least informed us of this or maybe even put a poll out there to see what the response was but no they dropped the news on us like it was no big deal. It was great fun, awesome memories from everyone on here but this is the end for me, I will not buy something I am not impressed by and considering this will now be 7'inch, that means we will have oceans of Ricks and Daryls, maybe we will get Carl and the rest of Rick's group (the most famous ones anyway) and Negan but other than that I don't see them making a Sasha or a Lori or a Shane.

Mcfarlane you can say goodbye to my money and I really hope people express their disappointment like they have on here.

Until some other time, ImDrunk has left the house

 

[SimbaUK2015]

I just want to say a big thank you to @spawnshop for being our constant voice and advocate amongst the fandom, it has been much appreciated and I am sure yourself was disappointed that the 5" line was discontinued. I myself am not angry but just very disappointed. The 5" line had so much longitivtiy and popularity that it could have continued for a long while. I am just sad that fabulous characters like Rosita, Sasha, Negan, Jesus etc will never be made in TV form unless McFarlane does exclusives. I really hope McFarlane can do a u-turn on this decision when they see how popular the 5" line actually is. I had hoped the 7" could co-exist with two 5" waves per year. Just didn't expect the line to end so soon.

 

[kassle]

I understand everyone's frustration. I, myself, expressed my opinion against the decision. And trust me, we did not do this to bamboozle anyone just for an extra buck. We had to make a decision as a company what to do with our brands. So, and not only for TWD, but with all of our new brands, as a company, decided it was time to go back to our roots and get back to larger more detailed figures.
I will say that these new figures will definitely hold the details.

I'm personally more excited for these than the 5". I wasn't at first, but then when i saw how awesome these looked right before Toy Fair, I was floored. They are fantastic, trust me.

Thanks for the reply. I believe you fought for us. You've been a good voice for the fans, reminding them we want female characters, Dale, Shane and Beth (which the poll ended up proving).

I'm sure the 7" line will have nice details...but that isn't what has fandom upset. We've supported you guys. You asked us to invest in a 5" scale. And we have for 5 years. But mid-way through the TV story, the rug is being pulled out from under us. I could understand if a decision like this was being made post-show cancellation. But to do it in the middle of a narrative, while people are actively watching and have been actively collecting the scale you guys sold us on...it's heartbreaking.

As for the marketing guys saying Walkers don't sell - I'm sure they have good reason for their findings. If these marketing guys are so in touch with the numbers and the fans, what sort of research was done with us to find out how we felt about switching scales?

But these are the same marketing guys who said the fans didn't want Beth (who then won the Fan Poll)...

 

[NoodleChow]

@spawnshop

I'll give the 7" line a looksee when they hit but not too into 7" scale figures. Will they be a separate dedicated line or will they be folded in with the other 7" figures like anime/game/etc licenses you guys have planned. Like how many TWD figures do you guys plan on having made each year?

And is there an estimated price for the mini big head figures? Already planning on modding those heads for the main line. Get Rosita in that line please.

 

[joossa]

I'm sure the 7" line will have nice details...but that isn't what has fandom upset. We've supported you guys. You asked us to invest in a 5" scale. And we have for 5 years. But mid-way through the TV story, the rug is being pulled out from under us. I could understand if a decision like this was being made post-show cancellation. But to do it in the middle of a narrative, while people are actively watching and have been actively collecting the scale you guys sold us on...it's heartbreaking.

Well said.
I'm saddened by the news about the 5in TV line.

 

[Johnny Utah]

I just want as many Ricks and that bobblehead Shane scaled up in the new line. Finally Andrew Lincoln's likeness can be shown off and not buried by paint.