DSTChuck has released a new Diamond Select Toys Q&A over on their
Art Asylum website for your viewing pleasure.
In this weeks edition focuses on Minimates questions. Check out the entire Q&A below:
Dana Perkins
Hi, Just a quick note regarding the character and supporting cast of the Mighty Thor. I’ve seen a lot of people on various boards/sites mentioning that they would love to see some classic comic book product featuring Thor and his colorful supporting cast. So, here’s to hoping that Art Asylum as some Thor merchandise in the making. For example, Minimates of Thor, Beta Ray Bill, and the Warriors Three would be fantastic. Thanks for your time, Dana
DSTChuck: Dana, while the movie line and the presence or lack there of, of a character in that has nothing to do with the comic line, many times we’ve ramped up the comic releases for the family that has a movie release. We might not go as deep as we have in the past this year due to the simple fact that there are three Marvel movies over three months this summer.
Salvador Sandoval
HI! I love your T2 Minimates! I wanted to know if there was a chance you could do predator minimates. That would be so cool to have all the commando team and of course a predator! thanks for the cool toys!
DSTChuck: We have expressed our interest in both Aliens and Predator franchises to Fox and so far have not been able to come to an agreement.
Dave McDonald
I’m not sure if you will have these at Toy Fair or if they are even in the plans but after seeing their cover of FF #1 please tell me you are doing everything in your power to get us a Future Foundation minimate box set or series. I need those uniforms and how about using those smaller father/son bodies to give us Franklin, Val and possibly Artie and Leech.
DSTChuck: Right now we’re not working on one and 2011 is pretty set so I don’t think they would happen this year.
Adam Stoeckle
Many of the recent Spider-Man minimates are missing web details on the forearms and the back of the legs that were standard on previous figures. Is this going to be standard going forward? It has a significant negative impact on the overall look of the character.
DSTChuck: Its something we’ve been looking at but a final decision has not been made.
DJ Sampsell
what can we expect for x-men first class minimates
DSTChuck: One series of two packs in TRU around the time of the movie.
Kevin Rettie
So I absolutly love Marvel Comics and I love the Marvel Minimates, the character selection is just amazing. It seems like the rate these come out (wave 40!) that more obscure characters can get made. Thats why I was wondering about 2 teams: 1. The X-Force before Uncanny X-Force. Domino, Vanisher, Wolfsbane, and Elixer. and 2. The New X-Men. Surge, Hellion, Rockslide, Dust, Mercury, Pixie, Anole, and Prodigy. I absolutly loved these comics and was just wondering if any of these characters have ever been thought about being made. Thanks.
DSTChuck: Kevin thanks for the love. Right now neither team is planned but we are constantly looking at the new editorial and X-Men families both classic and current for material.
Bradley Jacobs
Its been quite a while since the Battle Beast license was announced. We’ve seen several variants of the same Crocodile Battle Beast and some fantastic new animals at SDCC 2010. I was disappointed to see no news about the future of this line at this year’s Toy Fair in New York. What is the status of the license and will we be seeing any product for the line anytime soon aside from the existing Crocodile? Thanks for your time!
DSTChuck: There is nothing major planned to be released for Battle Beast at this time. We are still working on stuff behind the scenes to make sure we do this right.
Matt Macduff
What’s going on with the Halo minimates. This line is amazing, easily some of the best stuff yet. Though it seems it may be in trouble already. Every TRU I’ve been to has the line as discontinued, and the announcement of the prophets set being cancelled, seems to be a dark cloud over the future of the line. Please give me good news, or at least a Carter and Emile two pack before it ends.
DST Chuck: I have no idea why your TRU would tell you the line is canceled we have purchase orders in hand from TRU and showed all the way up to series 4 at Toy Fair this month.
B ‘R
Wow! I can’t stop looking at the new first class minimates, they look amazing! I’m always impressed with the detail that goes into your products. I was wondering if the line shown in the gallery was it, or if there will be a banshee and Moira release? (I guess I have to include angel salvador in this, although I don’t think shell be in much of the movie.) And while I’m in the marvel subject- GREaT work on captain america! Why even bother with hasbro!
DSTChuck: X-Men first Class is going to be one series and done. With movies its very hard to come up with a line plan and designs 9 months before the movie comes out and many times before you have even read the script so much of the First Class line was made by making a “gut call”. So there will be no Banshee or Moira in that line.
Kyle Osterhoudt
Since there are now going to be Marvel VS Capcom 3 minimates are there any plans to do the characters in their alternate costumes? Like Taskmaster in his UDON tactical body armor costume? Thanks
DSTChuck: Any Marvel VS Capcom characters we did would be limited to how they appear in the game.
Joe Hill
I am very excited for the Marvel vs Capcom 3 Minimate Announcement. Out of curiosity, does the license include all Capcom characters, or just ones that appear in the video game? If it does include all the characters, would you be interested in expanding beyond just Marvel vs Capcom 3, say to make Resident Evil or Mega Man? Thanks!
DSTChuck: Just characters from both sides that appear in the game.
Matt Strawbridge
Hi, Why did the regular Thing released in Marvel Series 37 not have the original head and hands that were shown previously? The head piece doesn’t match the face on the figure now. Will there be another Thing soon to fix this with a part swap? He’s currently in the New Avengers as well as the upcoming FF (Future Foundation) and those’d both lend to a couple of swell sets. Thank you, Matt
DSTChuck: I do not recall the specific reason for the change but I am sorry your not happy with it. Right now we’re not working on New Avengers or FF Minimates.
S. P.
Hey there! I just gotta start out by saying X-MEN OVERLOAD!! From wave 31, 34, 37, TRU wave 9, the 2010 SDCC X Force and Jim Lee exclusives, both AOA sets, New Mutants, Uncanny X Force, Excalubur, and more, we’ve seen a huge amount of X-men dominance. I figured it would die down because of the Thor and Captain America movies coming in a few months, but future releases are still dominated by x-men with TRU wave 10, wave 41, age of x boxed set, vampires boxed set, and the first class boxed set. So, my question is, are you going to start to focus on the avengers more in the future, or are you guys just HUGE x-men fans?
DSTChuck: Hey to you! I think there is some sort of Avengers event in 2012 that we might want to pay some attention to. We could always do more Spidey’s if you want!
Benjamin Hayden
Dear Art Asylum: I really like your Minimate figures, but I was wondering if you ever thought of making Minimates of the General Mills Cereal Monsters? I would love to have Minimate figures of Boo Berry, Count Chocula, Yummy Mummy, Frankenberry, and Fruit Brute.
DSTChuck: Way back in the day the crew did look at and work on some Post characters but it did not get much of a response from the buyers.
Justin B
Yes, it’s me again with some new Ghostbusters minimates questions. 1st I just want to say I love you’ve answered pretty well every question I’ve ever asked and I thank you for it. I’ve never seen a company take so much interest in their customers like this before. 2ndly, I love what you’re doing with the Real Ghostbusters Minimates and I sit in anticipation waiting for their release. On to the questions: 1. How many waves and boxset releases do you have planned for the RGB line, including the 2 of each you’ve showcased at the Toy Fair? 2. Will you ever go back to the movie franchise for a wave or boxset of missing character variants? for example: Energized Scoleri Brothers, Judge Wexler, Ghost Nanny Janosz, Dana with Baby Oscar, GB1 Janine, maybe even a GB2 Louis head piece with Ear Muffs? Sorry, went on more of a wishlist than a question. Thank you again for everything!
DSTChuck: Justin you’re welcome, we answer every question that comes in here, unless it really redundant so keep them coming! Glad you like the line plan we really think its one of the best plans we’ve come up with. I think we’re thinking just two waves for TRU and three box sets for specialty, most of which we showed at TF. I would not say we’re NEVER going back to the movie franchise but we have no plans at least for 2011 to go back to it and in fact have no plans right now at all to go back to it.
Will Reid
I have been collecting your Minimate series… mostly Marvel and your movie series… Iron Man… Terminator… Battlestar Galaticia… etc… But I think you guys should get the rights and do a series for the movie… STARCRASH… It has quite a cult following… and I think the minimates would sell well…
DSTChuck: Thanks so much for being such a big fan! I have to be honest, we’ve never discussed it but we’ll check it out!
