[$$] Mattel Reports Surprising Sales Drop

January 31, 2014, 1:59 pm

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REGION: Toys for Tots drive a resounding success

January 31, 2014, 2:08 pm

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Local fire departments in Robbinsville and Plumsted teamed up with the Marine Corps. Reserve Toys for Tots annual campaign to provide toys as Christmas gifts to less fortunate children in the community.

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New TMNT Micro Comic Fun Packs From IDW

January 31, 2014, 2:14 pm

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Sexy Mood

January 28, 2014, 9:20 pm

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I went to bed last night and before my foot even crossed the doorway to my bedroom, the first sexy t

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Garden Helper

January 29, 2014, 3:00 am

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Day #61

January 29, 2014, 4:01 am

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Ugh. Headaches- the arch nemesis of creativity. I’ll riffle up some old pics to keep you enter

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Buster's Mini Me

January 29, 2014, 6:51 am

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Back before Christmas, we received TheBark Magazine at work. When we were slow, I was looking throug

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Happy Chinese New Year!

January 29, 2014, 7:15 am

≫ Next: TFCC announces pirates vs. knights at BotCon

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TFCC announces pirates vs. knights at BotCon

January 31, 2014, 2:00 pm

≫ Next: Going For The Gold With A "Could Have Been" Steiff Olympic Mascot

≪ Previous: Happy Chinese New Year!

Back at the beginning of Januar y the official Transformers Collectors Club revealed that part of the BotCon exclusive box set would involve pirates, but left the rest to speculation. Not quite a month later the other half of the set has been revealed to be knights!

The cover for the next issue of the club magazine coming in February shows off the faction symbols. The pirate symbol is that of the Star Seekers, first seen on the Transformers Prime Thundertron figure, rather than the symbol seen in the teaser preview linked above. The other symbol is a more knightly version of the classic Autobot symbol.

Inside the pages the magazine will also preview the first figure in the set: Canonball. His inclusion as captain of the Star Seekers rather than Thundertron indicates that this is a different continuity from what we've previously seen. There has been a lot of speculation as to what the knight figures will be since there aren't a lot of knight themed Transformers. A lot of eyes are looking towards recent Beast Hunters repaints as an obvious source for figures.

I actually like where they're going with this theme. It's nice to have something original to BotCon again rather than rehashing previous toy lines as modern repaints. I probably won't be willing to spend the money on them, but they should be fun to look at.

TFCC announces pirates vs. knights at BotCon screenshot

Going For The Gold With A "Could Have Been" Steiff Olympic Mascot

January 31, 2014, 2:48 pm

≫ Next: Grimlock Mr. Potato Head is one big spud!

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Like many people all over the world, Steiffgal's got the Sochi Olympics on her mind! After all, what's not to enjoy about watching world-class sport competition, the pageantry of it all, and hearing the life stories behind some of the athletes? It's also very interesting to take a look at the Olympic mascots that have been the face of goodwill behind the games over the years. The 2014 Sochi games are represented by the happy trio of a polar bear, snow leopard, and a big white bunny - and are the first mascots decided by popular vote. But you know that the idea of a "logo" to represent the summer and winter games is a relatively new concept, starting only in 1968?

Despite its tradition for creating special edition pieces for important events and occasions, Steiff has made surprisingly few licenced Olympic related souvenir items over the years. The best-known one is Olympic Waldi, who was the mascot for the 1972 summer games in Munich. He was made in a plush and wooden version, and both are highly collectible today. These collectibles are pictured here on the left. But there was another Olympic Steiff close call just a few years later, in 1980. Here's that story!

The world "crossed the pond" for the 1980 Winter Olympics, which were held in Lake Placid, New York. The mascot for these games was Roni the Raccoon. Roni was designed by artist Donald Moss, and inspired by the appearance of the hats and goggles used by many athletes participating in the winter games. Roni was named after the Adirondack mountain range, which were the mountains on which the competitions took place.

Based on their previous success with Olympic Waldi just a few years prior, Steiff did give it their best in an attempt to get a license to create Roni mascots. According to Steiff records and Dee Hockenberry's Steiff Bears and Other Playthings Past and Present...

"In 1978 and 1979, Steiff, through their US representative, made presentations to the American Olympic Committee in order to obtain a license to make 1980 Olympic souvenirs. The prototypes were made incorporating the Lake Placid mascot and Olympic logo. Although the samples were attractive, an official license was never granted."

Steiff proposed an 11 inch standing plush version of Roni, as well as zipper top handbags featuring the soon to be famous raccoon. You can see these items here on the left; the images are from Dee Hockenberry. Neither were created, and it is assumed that the only a handful of samples of these items are tucked away in the company's archives.

Steiffgal hopes this discussion of these "could have been..." Steiff Lake Placid Roni Olympic souvenirs has been worthy of a gold medal for you!

Have a question about one of your Steiff treasures? Let's talk! Click here to learn more!

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Grimlock Mr. Potato Head is one big spud!

January 31, 2014, 3:00 pm

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Thanks to listings by Brazilian website Distribuidora de Brinquedos Hobby we're getting our first look at a new series of Mr. Potato Head Transformers figures unexpectedly based on G1 rather than the upcoming TF4: Age of Extinction movie. The variety of figures include two versions of Grimlock, three Optimus Primes, a Starscream, and a Bumblebee.

The biggest set is the big Grimlock with Optimus Prime. Or is it Optimash Prime? Grimlock is in dino mode and towers over Prime. Looks like he'll have some hip articulation thanks to the way Mr. Potato Head figures work and an articulated jaw. Prime is all new rather than a re-release of the original and has some 'neck' articulation, basically sliding on the peg that connects to the body. He also comes with a shield and flame sword.

The next listing is for a three-pack of figures consisting of Bumblebee, Grimlock, and Optimus Prime. Bumblebee is interesting because of his inclusion of a battle mask. Grimlock is in some sort of weird t-rex mode, but it just looks like Mr. Potato Head is wearing him as a hoodie. Prime looks to be a translucent version of the one that comes with the bigger Grimlock, or at least that's what the Photoshop seems to be indicating.

Lastly we've got 'transforming' versions of Optimus Prime and Starscream. Transforming is a very loose way to describe them. Basically you're just moving the potato from a bot body to vehicle parts, it doesn't seem like any other parts are being shared between the two.

I'm pretty happy with these. I really want the Grimlock and Optimus Prime set, I might get the rest if I can get them cheap enough. Hasbro has been making a lot of Mr. Potato Head figures, but this is easily my favorite run.

[via Seibertron]

Grimlock Mr. Potato Head is one big spud! screenshot

Polar Bear Cavey

January 31, 2014, 3:30 pm

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The Polar Bear Cavey duo will be released on Monday February 3rd 2014 at 8PM London Time (3PM ET) over at the Cavey Shop. The handmade plush features white soft polar fleece and is embellished with a hand-cut teddy bear muzzle. The (plush) Polar Bear Cavey is limited to 100 numbered pieces and will run […]

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POP! Vinyl Ghostbusters Figures From Funko

January 31, 2014, 3:54 pm

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NECA 7" Alien Dallas Figure First Look & Pacific Rim Series 3 Pakaged Pics

January 31, 2014, 5:20 pm

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Theatrical Premiere Of The Anime Feature Tiger & Bunny The Movie: The Rising Comes To The U.S. In March

January 31, 2014, 5:36 pm

≫ Next: Monstermatic App – Design and 3D Print

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Monstermatic App – Design and 3D Print

January 31, 2014, 6:54 pm

≫ Next: Yosuke Ueno x Mighty Jaxx Never Negative Again Release (02.01)

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We reported on the Monstermatic app back during its run on Kickstarter, and now the app that connects your creations with the world of 3D printing is available. Monstermatic is a free app that inspires kids of all ages to engage in creative play. It provides a quick, fun and easy way to design monsters […]

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Yosuke Ueno x Mighty Jaxx Never Negative Again Release (02.01)

January 31, 2014, 7:27 pm

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First we gave you the rendered version of Yosuke Ueno’s upcoming figure with Mighty Jaxx, the ‘Never Negative Again’ art figure. Now we have the painted master, as well as the release date for all of you! Mighty Jaxx notes that each figure will be hand painted to capture the...