It’s safe to say that when it comes to 2020, it’s been a year you’re going to want to forget once we get past this pesky worldwide pandemic that is plaguing everyone’s lives. This year however has also seen some good and bad for the toy industry, with some really great toy releases this year.
1. Warner Bros. Shuts Down DC Direct
This came as a shock around the industry this past August, shortly after what would have been San Diego Comic-Con. Warner Bros. had abruptly shut down all operations of the toy aspect of the company, and many talented people working there lost their jobs during this dreadful pandemic. This one really hurt a lot of people, and I am still dealing with the shock and disbelief that I won’t get to catch up with some of these people at trade shows each year. This was shut down due to the impact of Covid-19, which has caused nothing but problems globally.
The good folks at DC Direct were always a blast to talk too, and I had the absolute privilege of going to their corporate office in Burbank, CA after San Diego Comic-Con 2016 for a visit. This was a great company, with great products that includes action figures, statues and busts, and sadly, nothing new is coming and some of these planned products have been cancelled.
2. Mattel Launches Masters of the Universe: Origins line
While 2021 is the official launch year of the line to mass market, we’ve seen this great franchise make a return this year with 80’s retro inspired figures with additional articulation and swappable parts and accessories. Masters of the Universe is going to be huge in 2021, with an animated series, a feature film, and more entertainment heading our way. It’s going to be a memorable year for the brand, and if you can find them now, you can pick up the first few waves at Wal-Mart Stores, or everywhere else starting around January 1st.
3. NECA Toys Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Line Explodes With Many New Characters
Following New York ToyFair, they have been releasing many of those revealed figures this year. From the Cartoon Classics line, there’s been figures like Zarax, Zork, the Triceraton Infantryman, Roadkill Rodney, Metalhead, Splinter, Baxter Stockman, Krang with his Android Body, and more on the way, The movie line has seen Super Shredder, Casey Jones and Raphael in Disguise, Tokka and Rahzar, Spirit of Splinter, and the Musical Mutagen Tour Turtle figures. From the comic line, we’ve gotten Shredder as part of the Lootcrate line-up. From the Arcade line, we’ve gotten the Turtles with their hoverboards, Slash, Leatherhead, Shredder, Skull Shock Turtle, and all of these line-up have more figures coming as shown in the visual guides.
This line-up is beyond impressive, and only good things are ahead for the brand. You can bet that there’s more coming not shown here, and hopefully, we’ll get the Neutrinos.
4. Diamond Select Toys Launches New Line of Star Wars figures
Getting new line of Star Wars action figures is nothing new, but something in the 7″ scale with great likenesses, accessories and detail. The first wave is available to order now at The Disney Store, and includes Boba Fett and Darth Maul. Hasbro has covered the market with 6″ figures since 2014, and now for the first-time, we’re getting good alternative to this brand outside of Hasbro and Bandai S.H. Figuarts, at a much cheaper price point compared to Bandai too.
5. Covid-19 Shuts Everything Down, including Toy & Comic Trade Shows
After New York ToyFair 2020, all trade shows and everything else got cancelled and postponed to next year. Back in February, Covid was in New York City, but we didn’t realize just how bad things will get the following weeks and months after the event. Since then, all trade shows, including San Diego Comic-Con, New York Comic-Con, and all other trade shows were cancelled due to this pandemic. Pretty much everything except a particular G.I. Joe Convention in Georgia back in June was cancelled. It’s truly something when you have to cancel big events like Comic-Con, which hurts the local economies of where these events would have taken place, and there is no making that up. With modern technology however, these events were held digitally with ComicCon@home video chat. So you got to see the panels and other things planned, and even if you didn’t have tickets, this was open to everyone, so there was a big plus to this.
There was obviously a lot more that happened to this industry this year, but these are the Top 5 things that stand out in my mind as we’re approaching New Years. Hopefully, some of 2021 will be saved and things will get back to normal.