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Post by /\/\att on Sept 18, 2006 0:52:56 GMT -5
Welcome to the Legions of Gotham 'Behind the Toys' area!Legions of Gotham is bringing you an inside look into what could have been..and what could, in theory, still be!
This is a line of toys that was proposed by our friend at Mattel, Frank Varela. Its called "BAT TOYS". Frank was kind enough to give all the fans here a look at what he had developed. This is a rare opportunity folks..most of these concept pitches never see the light of day.
I, for one, really like the idea. Its fun, and I think I would enjoy collecting it....and I would totally sport those shirts that Frank had made! (see below) If you like the idea too, let us know here...I'd like to show Mattel that the fans and collectors dig this idea...this is your chance to have a voice in what may get made in the future..let yourself be heard!
If anyone has feedback on this line you can also email it to me....the more feedback we get the better the chances are we'll make this happen. Drop me a line at matt@legionsofgotham.orgif you have comments!
Here is the concept, straight from Frank:************************* The concept for Bat Toys came to me before I started working for Mattel. I remember telling a friend about the concept over the phone. I described to him that it would be action figures shot digitally and placed them in a comic format, and the title of the project would be Bat Toys as a play on cat toys. Also, to make the images cool, you would manipulate the files on the computer. Since then, I've become familiar with Twisted Toyfare Theatre and Robot Chicken, and I enjoy those properties very much. However, I would have a more serious approach to creating a comic in such a fashion. At any rate, whenever I have an idea I think is worth saving, I store it in the back of my head and bring it out when the right opportunity hits. Little did I know that opportunity would hit in the form of a Mattel interview. I mentioned the idea to my boss during our initial interview, and I think that was one of the things that stood me apart from other designers. Not only did I have a decent portfolio, but I had real passion and understanding of DC properties. In addition, I was already thinking outside of the box, and my boss really liked the story behind my concept for Bat Toys. I remember her telling me that the story had, "a lot of heart." Well, as they say, the rest is history, and I got the job.
So, every year, Mattel has a seminar where a select group of employees take a week off from their usual workload and Brainstorm new ideas for products. When last year's Brainstorm came around, my boss came by my desk, and said that the brainstorm would be a good forum to present my Bat Toys concept. So, I put my name in and got selected to present. I presented my concept to the whole group, got a bunch of blank stares, and Bat Toys pretty much ended there. To this day, I still don't get what the group didn't see in my concept, but regardless I still think Bat Toys is a good idea. That's when it dawned on me that maybe I need to take my idea to a bigger forum. So, I'm going to present my basic concept for Bat Toys to you my fellow Batman comrades, and I really want to know what you guys think of it. If I get strong enough feedback, I might be able to make a compelling argument to the powers that be that Bat Toys may warrant a second look.
So, here is my formal write up of the concept: Bat ToysWhat is it?Bat Toys is a toy line comprised entirely of everything Mattel has done with the Batman license (animated, movie, and comic core) and is repackaged with a comic containing exclusive and original content. The basic premise of the comic is Toy Story meets Batman. By digitally photographing actual toys here at Mattel, the entire comic is created by manipulating those images with programs such as PhotoShop, Illustrator, and Maya. In short, Bat Toys gives Mattel a great opportunity to bring new life to existing toys by attaching an original narrative which in turn will help create a brand that could lead to new and numerous toy opportunities as collectors both young and old are shown an aspect of Batman’s universe from the perspective of an action figure. The Back Story:In the world of the Bat Toys, all toys are actually alive when their “owners” are not looking, and toy law dictates that no toy may allow an owner or any other real person to become aware of that toy’s sentience. However, the preeminent collector of Batman memorabilia in the entire world has disappeared, and all the Bat Toys, being the detectives that they are, have deduced that the evidence points to the unthinkable: a toy has broken toy law and kidnapped their owner. Consequently, the Bat Toys feel it is their responsibility to figure out the identity of the rogue toy and save their beloved owner before it is too late. Yet, none feel that responsibility more than a band of Bat Toy misfits who wish to solve the case before the others do in order to better their status within the microcosm of their Bat Toy society. Bat Toy Misfits:Bootleg Batman: was acquired after a police raid of a toy smuggling ring of “fake” Batman merchandise. The other Bat Toys snub Bootleg due to his illegitimate beginnings. However, ironically and unbeknownst to him, Bootleg Batman is considered by his owner to be the most valuable part of the Bat Toy collection since he was the only toy NOT to be destroyed during the police raid.Aqua Batman: is incredibly intelligent but equally unintelligible when speaking due to his breathing apparatus being permanently attached to his mouth.Plush Batman: because of his bulk and size, Plush Batman is very strong but not the sharpest tool in the shed with all that stuffing in his head. However, Plush is a Batman, and his heart is always in the right place.Ninja Batman: he is the most mysterious of the Bat Toys. Constantly disappearing and appearing when everyone is least paying attention, he is the strong silent type and only speaks when spoken to. Although, when Ninja Batman does say something, it usually sounds like he is reading from a fortune cookie.Here's the logo I designed: An example of packaging:And that's pretty much it. By the way, at the last Comic Con, I had these T-shirts made:I wanted to see if anyone would say anything, and I did get a raised eyebrow from a creative director at DC. However, I still don't know if that was good thing. At any rate, if any of you don't like the concept for Bat Toys, you have to admit the logo makes for pretty cool T-shirts. Well, let's hear it you guys.Frank Varela
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Post by arkhaminmate on Sept 18, 2006 6:27:46 GMT -5
That would've been awesome /\/\att! He had a brilliant idea. I hope we see those eventually.
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Post by JokerInc on Sept 18, 2006 8:00:35 GMT -5
I really like the logo and packaging, if your idea doesn't make it off the ground, Mattel should at least find a way to use that packaging design
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Post by Blackgate on Sept 18, 2006 9:29:50 GMT -5
Wow thats an awesome idea. I like everything about it, from the logo, to the packaging, to the comics. I can't belive none like this idea!
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Post by ??The Riddler?? on Sept 18, 2006 9:41:38 GMT -5
[shadow=green,left,300] I love it, I really wish to see these eventually. It's a really nice idea [/shadow]
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Post by Thunder on Sept 18, 2006 10:05:02 GMT -5
That would have been an awesome concept. It probably would have been the only time there was a licensed "Bootleg Batman" too.
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Post by Batlaw on Sept 18, 2006 10:37:14 GMT -5
Killer scoop!
I absolutely LOVE the packaging on these! A design that should most definately be revisted and taken advantage of on ANY future line.
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j3h
Legions Of Gothamite
Posts: 81
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Post by j3h on Sept 18, 2006 11:52:10 GMT -5
I like the idea that this could be a venue to get some hard to get items, such as the over seas only deluxe Batman figures (attack armor, acid blast Joker, etc to name a pair) on to US shelves. It would make the line look that much "newer" with no new tooling costs. The packaging is cool too.
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Post by jvisbatty on Sept 18, 2006 12:28:20 GMT -5
Not to be a spoil sport in my first post (my apologies), but the packaging idea, while very interesting doesn't seem very practical. As an identity, the Bat face/cowl is certainly recognizable and it looks great - in a perfect world toys would be very easy to pick out even from an endcap (if you were looking for Batman toys), but with the pointy ears, I'm not sure how it works with the current layout of most toy aisles. The "ears" would constantly be in the way of other blister figures above them. Most pegs and shelves are incredibly crowded and end up sharing pegs with "other" toy lines. I'm guessing they wouldn't work well and would eventually be "shelved" - in other words to sit on a shelf. Most would probably end up "laying down" on a shelf. I guess I see the packaging (while very cool in and of itself) as being a bit cumbersome to the retailer.
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Post by Batlaw on Sept 18, 2006 15:29:45 GMT -5
Not to be a spoil sport in my first post (my apologies), but the packaging idea, while very interesting doesn't seem very practical. As an identity, the Bat face/cowl is certainly recognizable and it looks great - in a perfect world toys would be very easy to pick out even from an endcap (if you were looking for Batman toys), but with the pointy ears, I'm not sure how it works with the current layout of most toy aisles. The "ears" would constantly be in the way of other blister figures above them. Most pegs and shelves are incredibly crowded and end up sharing pegs with "other" toy lines. I'm guessing they wouldn't work well and would eventually be "shelved" - in other words to sit on a shelf. Most would probably end up "laying down" on a shelf. I guess I see the packaging (while very cool in and of itself) as being a bit cumbersome to the retailer. hmmm I see what youre saying, but I think the peg hole/tag is just about paralel with the top of the ears (or would/could easily be made so). So I the packaging would ultimately be pretty "square" so as not to interfere with other product.
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Post by lamplighter on Sept 18, 2006 17:14:05 GMT -5
I love it! I would love to see each wave released focus on one style of figures, though (comic style, movie style, animated style) just so they fit with each other in size and design.
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Batleaf93
Legions of Gotham Police Officer
Posts: 234
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Post by Batleaf93 on Sept 18, 2006 17:55:14 GMT -5
I would love mattel to make a line simular to the man of steel line and make different waves of batman figures 1 movie, 1 comic, animated etc. Then rotate them again. Call it the cape crusader, or the world of the dark knight.
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Post by DrGreenEvil on Sept 18, 2006 18:21:13 GMT -5
I dont get it. Although I would be for an omnibus Batman line.
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Post by lamplighter on Sept 18, 2006 20:52:07 GMT -5
I would love to see a line that re-releases the best figures from each previous batman toy line. The best movie figures, the best animated figures, the best Legends of Batman or Legends of the Dark Knight figures. I don't want to see Deep Dive Batman, Space Suit Batman, Rocket Blast Batman. I want the best of the best. The comic idea to tie the figures together would work well.
One line could include Batman, Bruce Wayne, Robin, The Joker, Catwoman, and the Penguin from the Batman and Batman Returns movie collections.
I would buy the re released figures just so I could enjoy the ones I didn't get the first time around.
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Frank Varela
Gotham Tourist
Mattel Packaging Designer
Posts: 18
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Post by Frank Varela on Sept 20, 2006 20:27:26 GMT -5
I would love to see a line that re-releases the best figures from each previous batman toy line. The best movie figures, the best animated figures, the best Legends of Batman or Legends of the Dark Knight figures. I don't want to see Deep Dive Batman, Space Suit Batman, Rocket Blast Batman. I want the best of the best. The comic idea to tie the figures together would work well. One line could include Batman, Bruce Wayne, Robin, The Joker, Catwoman, and the Penguin from the Batman and Batman Returns movie collections. I would buy the re released figures just so I could enjoy the ones I didn't get the first time around. I think having one Batman or "the best of the best" would not do much for the story. I think you have to have characters that are flawed and kind of unwanted like Aqua Batman or Plush Batman to make the story interesting, and that's what Bat Toys and the Misfit characters are all about. Otherwise, the story is just another Batman story in the form of an action figure. The characters should have motivations that are different from the main character of Batman. Imagine that you are made in the image of Batman, who is the standard of perfection in your world, but you are flawed because you have flippers instead of boots. Yet, you are still expected to hold up this impossible standard. What would you do to change your situation? How would you achieve excellence in the face of obvious adversary? These are the questions that make this project interesting to me. You're proposing just another Batman line. Where is the heart and the context for the line? What is the point of difference for this line than from DC Super Heroes or DC Direct. Like I mentioned in my proposal, what makes this line different is the story, and the story should be different from other Batman stories because we are dealing with a different world from Batman's world. If this project were to get made exactly the way I propose it, once you start reading the story, I think you might find yourself rooting for Bootleg Batman or Aqua Batman.
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Post by J-Man on Sept 20, 2006 21:53:55 GMT -5
[shadow=purple,left,300]Concept lines like this one, I would imagine, would have to be a hard sell. While I think it's a great concept, I think it would initially confuse buyers, and would subsequently have a hard time selling to consumers. However, the packaging and individual stories are amazing.
The idea about redoing other figures is a completely different topic on its own. Personally, I support a complete overhaul of the early animated lines and movie figures. However, the likelihood of that ever happening is slim, so it will probably remain wishful thinking.[/shadow]
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Violator
Legions of Gotham Police Officer
Posts: 217
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Post by Violator on Sept 22, 2006 17:13:46 GMT -5
I like the packaging, but not the title font.
Honestly, the story is not something that interests me. It is like Toy Story meets Batman, and those are two things that I think does not mix well.
On the other hand, it's a Batman toy line, and thats what I do like. I would have liked to see a pic of Ninja Batman.
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Batleaf93
Legions of Gotham Police Officer
Posts: 234
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Post by Batleaf93 on Sept 22, 2006 18:01:05 GMT -5
yeah I don't really care for the storyline myself. However the packageing looks great. I think mattel should do a general batman line and have each wave have a different theme.
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Frank Varela
Gotham Tourist
Mattel Packaging Designer
Posts: 18
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Post by Frank Varela on Sept 23, 2006 14:22:45 GMT -5
OUCH! Well, to be honest, without something really new and different to add to a Batman line, I don't think Mattel would be interested in a thematic Batman line. You gotta have a really compelling reason to combine Batman movie stuff with Batman animated.
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Post by Batman Prevails on Sept 24, 2006 2:30:48 GMT -5
It's a creative idea but you need to understand that only a small minority would be interested in that. However having only single Batman line is an idea I have always embraced. Ever since the mid nineties the Batman lines have been confusing and a mess. As a result we now have 3(!) different scales of action figures (JLU, TB & BB, DCSH).
I kinda liked what Playmates did with the TMNT franchise in the early nineties with different themed waves (comic, movies and cartoons) with way they insured all interests were covered at least at somepoint. Best of all everything was in scale and compatible.
The scenario right now clearly represents the chaos and the fact that they don't exactly know how to sell and position action figures.
JLU is pretty much in scale with 'the orginal (Kenner) action figure' however over times the desire for larger figures has grown. Appartenly the Comic line scale wasn't too successful since it limited the option to have playsets and vehicles due to cost restraints. So when The Batman came along they've opted for an inter-mediate scale.
I think they should concentrate on an intermediate scale and establish it as a core line to brand Batman however they should not only restrict it the cartoon and the occasional theatrical release.
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Post by /\/\att on Sept 24, 2006 2:48:38 GMT -5
You have to keep the kid and mom factor in there guys. There has to be Batman toys for kids to enjoy, as well as collectors. This line is a good balance of the two, which isn't easy to find. If anyone has feedback on this line you can also email it to me....the more feedback we get the better the chances are we'll make this happen. Drop me a line at matt@legionsofgotham.org if you have comments!
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MauledVader
Legions of Gotham Police Officer
Posts: 112
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Post by MauledVader on Sept 24, 2006 11:30:21 GMT -5
Am I dreaming (hallucinating) or was there some talk of Batman / DC line coming out that would be similar to the "Spidey and Friends" (~ Fisher Price-style) line that's out there?... ...or is that just my wishful thinking??!!
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Gravity06
Legions Of Gothamite
Iron Chef
Posts: 32
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Post by Gravity06 on Oct 12, 2006 5:45:32 GMT -5
I love the concept. I have to agree that it would be a tough sell, though.
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Post by /\/\att on Oct 13, 2006 22:54:45 GMT -5
Am I dreaming (hallucinating) or was there some talk of Batman / DC line coming out that would be similar to the "Spidey and Friends" (~ Fisher Price-style) line that's out there?... ...or is that just my wishful thinking??!! Yep, its on the way. Its called "Super Friends" and will be shown at Toy Fair 2007!
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Post by pepsmatrix on Feb 16, 2009 15:13:31 GMT -5
I hate to be negative. but I don't like the storyline or the idea of the different Batman's. Especially the Plush Batman. My suggestion is to think of a new storyline, something to do with Batman himself and not involve The whole "Toys coming to life" thing. We have to stay true to the Origin of Batman. It's only my opinion though.
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