As a toy fan, it’s weird to get midway through February without seeing a mountain of awesome news from some of our favorite companies pouring out of New York Toy Fair. Sadly, due to the ongoing global pandemic, the New York Toy Fair 2021 was cancelled to ensure the safety of those who normally attend to showcase (or peruse) the newest toys and collectibles that will be hitting the market in the coming year. While we weren’t able to explore the showroom floor at The Javits Center in New York City this year, we were thankfully able to catch up with Zach Oat, the Marketing Supervisor for one of the top toy companies on the market: Diamond Select Toys.
This week, Diamond Select Toys released several new solicitations, which may sound like pretty standard fare for a major collectibles company, but there was something special hidden among these new solicits. Discretely slipped into this week’s announcements with little fanfare (outside the usual excitement for a new DST reveal) were two new items based on an all-new previously unannounced license for the company. This means a major new license had fallen into their lap that could have major implications in the future.
Diamond Select Toys has officially obtained a license to produce toys and collectibles based on licenses owned by Hasbro.
Hasbro is, to say the least, one of the largest manufacturers of toys and collectibles in the world. On top of producing toys we know and love, Hasbro has several original intellectual properties that made big names for themselves including Transformers, G.I. Joe, Dungeons And Dragons, and most recently the Power Rangers brand (which they purchased outright in 2019 from Saban Entertainment). To see another company producing toys and collectibles based on an original IP owned by another toy company is almost unheard of in the toy industry. This is a major licensing deal that opens up a lot of doors for Diamond Select Toys to do some really cool new products that Hasbro would have never made themselves.
The new licensing deal between Diamond Select Toys and Hasbro is an “umbrella deal,” meaning that it gives Diamond Select Toys the ability to produce toys and collectibles based on many different brands that would fall under the Hasbro “umbrella.” Today we spoke to Zach Oat of Diamond Select Toys who was able to confirm which brands that DST now has access to. These include:
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- Transformers
- G.I. Joe: Real American Hero
- Power Rangers
- And three additional licenses that will be announced soon!
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As Diamond Select Toys produce a fairly diverse number of collectibles across their various product lines (like Minimates, Vinimates, Select Figures, Gallery PVC Dioramas, Premiere Collection, to name a few), it begs the question of what limitations they might have for these new Hasbro brands. When asked if the licenses for these Hasbro brands are for “use across the board” as far as what kinds of products they can make for them, Oat said:
I’m not sure if its necessarily an ‘across the board’ thing, I know some of the licenses we obtained were with specific product types in mind. I can’t say specifically which licenses are going to end up in which lines.
While Oat couldn’t elaborate on exactly what the plans were for many of these new Hasbro brands, he was able to expand upon some of the big reveals for this week’s solicitations like the new Transformers Minimates Box Set and the G.I. Joe Destro Gallery PVC Diorama Statue.
Minimates are something we are looking at doing for both Transformers and G.I. Joe. We are definitely going to do more PVC Dioramas as well. I can’t specify say which ones just yet, but we are going to be doing Gallery PVC Dioramas like the Destro one that was announced for both G.I. Joe and Transformers brands. I haven’t actually seen any other designs yet, but I know we are going to be doing some high-end statues as well in the future.
Oat elaborated that while they were not quite ready to be formally announced yet, the new G.I. Joe Minimates are in development as a figure 4-pack and should be solicited very soon. No characters have been confirmed for this box set at this time, although with G.I. Joe there are certainly plenty of heroes and villains we would love to see appearing in a Minimates box set!
In addition to the new Transformers Minimates Box Set and the G.I. Joe Destro Gallery PVC Diorama, the new solicitations for this week were jam-packed with some amazing new products including pieces for licenses like Bruce Lee, Marvel, Star Wars, and The Crow! You can check out the full solicitation details for all of these items below at the end of this write-up.
One of the coolest new pieces solicited for the first time that isn’t part of the Hasbro license deal is an all-new Star Wars Premier Collection Bo Katan statue. This piece is unique in that it is not based on Bo Katan‘s appearance in the fan-favorite Disney+ streaming series The Mandalorian. Instead, this one is derived from her look in the Star Wars: Clone Wars animated series. Although based on the animated series, this piece has been given an overall more realistic aesthetic rather than a stylized animated look.
The Crow is another major new license for DST which was first announced at Toy Fair last February. The first release in this line is a Walgreens exclusive version of The Crow Select figure which is just starting to hit stores now! This retailer’s exclusive version of the figure features the character without his trenchcoat and with alternative accessories, which is different from the upcoming specialty stores release where he is wearing the trenchcoat. The variations between the two versions make each of them different enough that they absolutely seem worth double-dipping for fans of The Crow.
This week an all-new and hauntingly accurate-looking Legends in 3D 1:2 scale bust of The Crow‘s lead character Eric Draven (played by the late Jason Lee) was announced which joins the upcoming The Crow Gallery PVC Diorama that is set to release this summer. Zach Oat was, unfortunately, able to confirm that there currently aren’t any plans for The Crow Minimates. However, there is a second The Crow Gallery Select PVC Diorama in the works for release in the near future, so it is certainly a great time to be a fan of The Crow franchise if you are a collector.
Fans of the long-running Marvel Minimates line will be glad to hear that Wave 80 is expected to be shipping in early summer after some delays. This wave has an “espionage” theme with characters like Deathlok, Mockingbird, Constrictor, Spider-Woman, Ghost, and Stealth Suit Iron-Man. After that, comes Series 81, which is X-Men Dark Phoenix-themed. Much later in the year, we’ll see Series 82, which is themed around the Fantastic Four. These are all set to be wide releases available online and at specialty stores.
Walgreens stores will continue to receive several Marvel Minimates retailer exclusive sets including Marvel Animated and Marvel Movie and TV-themed waves. From Marvel Animated, there is an upcoming wave based on the classic X-Men The Animated Series from the 1990s including Cyclops, Jean, Juggernaut, and Mr. Sinister. Meanwhile, from the live-action side of things, new Marvel Minimates sets based on the upcoming The Falcon And The Winter Soldier series are starting to hit stores ahead of the show’s premiere in March 2021. While that series is getting Minimates, Oat stated that there were no plans at this time for any sets based on the WandaVision show.
In another exciting announcement for exclusive Walgreens Marvel Minimates, Diamond Select Toys has announced plans to take a look back at a few older Marvel films that they had missed out on in the past. While no specific films were named, we were able to confirm that these new Minimates would not be the fabled lost wave of Ghost Rider (2007) nor would they be from any iteration of the Fantastic Four films. We do know that they would be from the Fox era of films, which still leaves quite a few options open that people would absolutely love to see in Minimates form.
If you’re an animation fan, then Diamond Select has got you covered! A ton of cool new items based on iconic animated brands are coming that are out of this world! Invader Zim is getting an all-new Invader Zim Select figure line later this summer that will arrive in figure 2-packs that are absolutely loaded with accessories. There will also be an Invader Zim Gallery PVC Diorama coming very soon. Sticking with the visitors from outer space theme, Oat was able to confirm that there are more Iron Giant collectibles on the way with a new Battle Mode Vinimate releasing soon. More figures are also planned for the license.
Oat was happy to confirm that more Avatar: The Last Airbender products are coming, with Wave 5 of their Avatar Select figure line soliciting later this spring and Wave 6 in the planning stages. There are also a few more Gallery PVC Dioramas on the way for the brand which has quickly become one of Diamond Select Toys’ top licenses.
Last but far from least was an update for the Lord Of The Rings license. The first wave of Lord Of The Rings Select figures, which features Legolas and Gimli, is set to begin shipping this month! Wave 2 with Frodo and a Nazgul is set to ship in April, while Wave 3 with Aragorn and a Goblin are set to release later this summer and have not yet been formally solicited. Each of the six figures across the three waves will include a part for a build-a-figure of the evil Sauron who looks to be an absolutely massive figure that Lord of The Rings fans won’t want to miss!
Oat also let us know that there will be an all-new never before seen Lord Of The Rings Gallery PVC Diorama coming that will be *mostly* in scale with the other figures in the line, but that is gigantic in size. We were not able to confirm just what character or creature this large-scale PVC figure might be, but with Lord Of The Rings, there are plenty of excellent options available when it comes to large-scale designs.
We have included all of the new Diamond Select Toys solicitations that were just released below along with pre-order links so that you’re able to add them to your collections!
Bruce Lee Gallery Earth PVC Diorama
A Diamond Select Toys release! The master has landed! The latest entry in the Bruce Lee Gallery Diorama series captures the superstar in action, wearing a blue coat and pants and shattering a stone tablet with one stomp of his feet. Made of high-quality PVC, this approximately 9-inch sculpture features detailed sculpting and paint applications and comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Nelson X. Asencio, sculpted by Rocco Tartamella! (Item # MAR212004, SRP: $49.99) Pre-Order Here.
G.I. Joe A Real American Hero Gallery Destro PVC Diorama
A Diamond Select Toys release! Cobraaaaaa! The forces of good take on the forces of evil in the new Gallery Diorama line based on G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero! Arms dealer Destro kicks off the line in style, firing a wrist missile as he makes his getaway in an underground river. Measuring approximately 10 inches tall, this sculpture is made of high-quality PVC and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. It comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Mark Wong and Tony Simione, and sculpted by Jorge Santos Souza! (Item # MAR212003, SRP: $49.99) Pre-Order Here.
Legends in 3D Movie The Crow Eric Draven ½ Scale Bust
A Diamond Select Toys release! Legends never die! The legendary star of the legendary film is now the newest Legend in 3D – it’s Eric Draven from The Crow! Measuring approximately 10 inches tall atop a rooftop-styled pedestal, this ½ scale bust of Eric features the likeness of actor Brandon Lee, and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Limited to only 1,000 pieces, it comes packaged in a full-color box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Designed by Joe Allard, sculpted by Rocco Tartamella! (Item # MAR212005, SRP: $175.00 Pre-Order Here.
Marvel Animated X-Men Sabretooth 1/7 Scale Mini-Bust
A Diamond Select Toys release! Bring on the bad guys! Sabretooth joins the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants in the latest release in the X-Men Animated bust line! Wearing his classic 1990s costume, with his claws ready to tear into Wolverine, Victor Creed stands approximately 6 inches tall atop a pedestal base. Featuring cartoon-accurate paint and sculpting, he is limited to only 3,000 pieces and comes packaged with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a full-color box. Designed by Barry Bradfield and sculpted by Paul Harding! (Item # MAR212007, SRP: $89.99) Pre-Order Here.
Marvel Comic Gallery VS Dark Phoenix PVC Diorama
A Diamond Select Toys release! The VS series of Marvel Gallery Dioramas continues with one of the most powerful villains of all! Dark Phoenix emerges from a flaming phoenix symbol in her classic red costume, ready to take on any and all comers. This approximately 10-inch sculpture is made of high-quality PVC and features detailed sculpting and paint applications. It comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by Uriel Caton and sculpted by Victor Hugo Sousa! (Item # MAR212008, SRP: $49.99) Pre-Order Here.
Marvel Comic Premier Collection Black Widow Resin Statue
A Diamond Select Toys release! Gun at the ready and Widow gauntlet raised, Natasha Romanoff charges into battle in the newest entry in the Marvel Premier Collection! Measuring approximately 11 inches tall, this dynamic resin statue features detailed sculpting and paint applications. It is limited to only 3,000 pieces and comes packaged with a certificate of authenticity in a full-color box. (Item # MAR212009, SRP: $175.00) Pre-Order Here.
Star Wars Clone Wars Bo Katan Premier Collection 1/7 Scale Statue
A Gentle Giant Ltd. release! For the glory of Mandalore! Mandalorian freedom fighter Bo Katan blasts her way into the Premier Collection with this dynamic, customizable statue! Featuring interchangeable helmeted and unhelmeted heads, and alternate helmet-holding and gun-holding arms, Bo Katan engages her jetpack in this 1/7 scale, approximately 11-inch statue. Limited to only 3,000 pieces, it comes packaged with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a full-color box. Designed by Barry Bradfield and sculpted by Alejandro Pereira! (Item # MAR212001, SRP: $175.00) Pre-Order Here.
Star Wars: A New Hope Darth Vader 1/6 Scale Mini-Bust
A Gentle Giant Ltd. release! The Dark Lord of the Sith ignites his crimson lightsaber blade in this all-new 1/6 scale mini-bust! Depicting Darth Vader with his cape in one hand and lightsaber in the other, this approximately 8-inch bust features detailed sculpting and paint applications. Limited to only 2500 pieces, it comes packaged with a numbered certificate of authenticity in a full-color box. Designed by the Silva Bros., sculpted by Anissa Tchoub. (Item #MAR212000, SRP: $120.00) Pre-Order Here.
Star Wars Legends in 3D TIE Pilot 1/2 Scale Bust
A Gentle Giant Ltd. release! Watch out, Red Leader! This menacing TIE Fighter pilot is coming up on your six o’clock, and the newest Legend in 3D! Standing approximately 10 inches tall atop a mechanical-looking pedestal, this half-scale bust captures the iconic helmet design with detailed sculpting and paint applications. Limited to only 1,000 pieces, it comes packaged in a full-color box with a numbered certificate of authenticity. Designed by Joe Allard, sculpted by Oluf Hartvigsen. (Item # MAR212002, SRP: $175.00) Pre-Order Here.
Transformers G1 Minimates Series 1 Box Set
A Diamond Select Toys release! The greatest generation of Transformers is now the next generation of Minimates! Capturing the armor details of four classic characters – Optimus Prime, Bumblebee Starscream, and Shockwave – each 2-inch mini-figure features multiple points of articulation and is fully poseable. Painted in a metallic color scheme to mimic the original 1980s toy releases, this set of four comes packaged with weapons on a blister card. Designed by Barry Bradfield! (Item # MAR212006, SRP: $29.99) Pre-Order Here.
Are you excited about the new Hasbro licensing deal at Diamond Select Toys? Which of the newly solicited items is your favorite? What do you hope to see them do with the Hasbro licenses next? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below and be sure to stick around Geek Anything for more great updates on Diamond Select Toys!
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