Mattel - New for 2025

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

Wow I forgot that was today. Disappointed I didn't get a shot but hopefully I find a loose one somewhere down the line-- I was going to open it anyway. Surprised it sold out so quickly considering some of the past exclusives like Malcolm and Wu lasted a while after the fact. I decided to cut down on Mattel figures anyway though given how much space they take up. I'm only really interested in original trilogy figures at this point. This definitely seems like the kind of thing that should have gotten a regular release.

[Faelrin]

@Ikessauro I had a feeling it probably didn't, but I don't think I can say what I was thinking here, and it was the first alternative word that came to mind. Also what did you mean with this, "Gotta love neurodivergent justice sensitivity"? Don't want to misinterpret it.

A @andrewsaurus rex Unfortunately they've been doing this for years, ever since Hammond back in 2019 (and Nedry the following year, which the supply situation might have been even worse with). Honestly this is the second set I've had to pass on because I couldn't afford it come time, but that's partially my fault from what I got earlier in the month (I get paid next week, ugh). The only other one I've missed out on because of not affording it was the Outhouse Chaos set, whereas the Spielberg one was neat, but it wasn't one that interested me enough to jump for. Every other one has either had better supply (or just had less demand who knows, like Jimmy Buffett and Ray Arnold), or I just got extremely lucky with (Nedry and Hammond). Something like this definitely should have had more supply to go around though. Hopefully they will do a mass retail version later on, which has happened with Hammond, Nedry (raincoat in both Legacy and HC), and Ray Arnold (HC).                         

I don't really know of fan/collector boycotts working either. Have there actually been? I've seen it time and time again when a community is upset and calls for a boycott, but not enough people follow through for it to even work, never-mind all the masses that don't pay attention to social media, forums, whatnot. Outside of the con exclusives the primary target audience is still children, so they'd still be getting by without us collectors anyways, especially for a corporation as large as Mattel.

@Pachyrhinosaurus Neither of those were SDCC exclusives, just exclusive to retail on Mattel Creations.

[Carnoking]

I'm not sure boycotting would have a huge effect on this line in particular given that... it's dinosaurs. I think part of why Mattel is able to keep pumping out new, arcane species completely unrelated to the franchise is because there's something of a mass appeal. Whether there's a new movie tie in or not, dinosaur toys are sure fire gifts for kids during birthdays, holidays, or even just as a random treat seen while out shopping.
Sure, you take away fan support and they'll lose a good chunk of revenue but I think the lines that would be first on the chopping block in that case would be the higher end figures or anything involving human characters (which were already seeing get scaled back on)
Meanwhile, the mainline would just keep chugging along because fan or not, there is always someone who will buy a dinosaur toy.

[andrewsaurus rex]

well, the Playmates Star Trek demise wasn't because of an organized boycott.  It was just because a very high number of collectors all finally got p'd off enough that they stopped buying.  Now days, with the internet it should be easier to organize a boycott.  But that's up to the collectors of this line...they have to decide when they've had enough frustration. 

I don't really collect the Mattel JW/JP line myself, just the odd figure that i feel fits into my 1/18 dino collection.  I did consider collecting the line a few years ago, but when i discovered that several of the figures that appealed to me were very hard to find and expensive as a result, i passed on the idea.  I understand the frustration of hard to find, very desirable exclusives from collecting other lines in years gone by. 

[bigjay]

I got very lucky and managed to snag one - I am disappointed that it isn't a standard release, though. I'm hoping they put up a properly retooled/upgraded HC T. rex somewhere down the line as a non-exclusive figure (if only because then I won't be too nervous to open it...)

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I planned my schedule to be inside sitting down so I could order it. I was there an hour prior to release. added to cart, did four captchas, waiting in like over 15 minutes then did all the payment stuff only to be told it was sold out and removed from my cart.   minutes later it was 150.00 on eBay and 250 or more now.

[Noideaforaname]

minutes later it was 150.00 on eBay

The sad thing is, with fees and shipping costs, this is probably only breaking even.

[Shane]

Toy collecting has always had exclusives, and they're actually easier than ever to get these days (not to say they're easy, but it wasn't too long ago that there was no online option, and if you didn't attend the con in person, eBay or a collectible shop was your only hope).

It's not likely this is going away any time soon. Take it from someone who's been collecting toys for 35+ years, the only way to win this game is not to play.

[Prehistory Resurrection]

[Flaffy]

With how high the bar HC Giga and Spino set, I think we're due for a completely new HC rex sculpt with comparable quality. The OG one is showing its age.

[Shane]

With how high the bar HC Giga and Spino set, I think we're due for a completely new HC rex sculpt with comparable quality. The OG one is showing its age.

I think this is at least somewhat likely, depending on how popular the HC line remains. Obviously things like Indominus and Indoraptor are likely on the to-do list, but the T. rex is a relic from before the HC line really found its "groove", and got into the more consistent style of articulation that works with the sculpt that we see in Carnotaurus, Allosaurus, Giga, Spino. So I think if the line has enough legs, a new rex is not out of the question. I think it would probably be based on a different film though, either a buck/bull or one of the later film designs (older JW Rexy or Rebirth).

[Flaffy]

With how high the bar HC Giga and Spino set, I think we're due for a completely new HC rex sculpt with comparable quality. The OG one is showing its age.

I think this is at least somewhat likely, depending on how popular the HC line remains. Obviously things like Indominus and Indoraptor are likely on the to-do list, but the T. rex is a relic from before the HC line really found its "groove", and got into the more consistent style of articulation that works with the sculpt that we see in Carnotaurus, Allosaurus, Giga, Spino. So I think if the line has enough legs, a new rex is not out of the question. I think it would probably be based on a different film though, either a buck/bull or one of the later film designs (older JW Rexy or Rebirth).

I regard the JWR design as the best rex we've had since the original. I definitely would like to see it in the HC line.

[Faelrin]

Even folks on instagram and reddit are saying the same. We need a new T. rex sculpt period. The Rebirth one would be great. The mainline toys don't really nail the colors depicted on the film one, so it would be good to see what a HC one could pull off. That said a proper Buck or even a JPIII bull would be appreciated too.

[andrewsaurus rex]

i would imagine (hope) that all future T rex figures Mattel releases are going to be patterned after the Lab Lockdown and Power Devour rexes...ie bulkier bodies, thicker tails etc.  I figure the older, skinnier Rexes are a thing of the past.

It seems to me "Rebirth" is a chance to revamp many of their dinos into scientifically more accurate ones and at the same time get a whole bunch of new sales on the same dinosaurs they've sold over and over these past many years..

[crazy8wizard]

I think if they're explicitly meant to be the one from Jurassic Park and World that the skinny look is appropriate but I also much prefer the Rebirth look. More chunky dinosaurs is a trend I'm glad to see hitting the mainstream.

[Flaffy]

Not bad. A novel species wave. Don't really see the need for these to be in the Hammond Collection though.

[Carnoking]

I'll take HC over mainline any day. Would be awesome if they come in some distinct packaging to distinguish the novel species from the movie species

[Carnoking]

I will say, whereas I like the idea, I'm none too smitten with the Ornitholestes. The Mussaurus is.. fine? But the Dryosaurus is giving big WWD vibes, and I am all about that

[Gwangi]

The Ornitholestes has raptor feet? 

The other two I might be interested in. Especially a Dryosaurus, a favorite of mine thanks to Jurassic World: Evolution.

[crazy8wizard]

The Ornitholestes has raptor feet?   

Actual Ornitholestes has raptor feet.