David Silva's Beasts of the Cenozoic and Eons mammoth Backerkit

[BlueKrono]

I'm still not clear on why they're not using KS for this one, but they're definitely going unseen by a lot of eyes without it.

[Faelrin]

They did a short little video (shared on the newest backerkit update) on the articulation, but it is unlisted for some reason. In any case here it is below.

[Giganotosaurus]

Do we think this should at least reach 185k?

[Faelrin]

Well the campaign is over 1/3 of the way there, and is nearing the 1/2 mark (about 20k to go). I think as long as the word is getting out there about it, the mammoths I think at the very least should be funded. My main concern is with the stretch goals. Eons really needs to get the gears moving on marketing this better if we are going to get there.

[Flaffy]

I think we'll reach the base funding goal of $185K. But like @Faelrin I am a tad worried about the 3 most exciting stretch goals for this campaign. I don't feel like Eons is doing a very good job at promoting this campaign. No reason to have literal promotional material (see video above) be unlisted and only for backers viewing.

[croco_105]

So apparently Eons has posted about this campaign on their youtube channel. But....its hidden under their community tab. Whoever is in charge of promoting this is doing a terrible job. Talk about hiding something in an obscure place. Their latest video posted four days ago has 271k views, come on show it where it counts.
https://www.youtube.com/@eons/community

I'm assuming they have filmed content about various proboscidean species as they mention this project has been about a year in the making. There are several publicity photos of the hosts posing with proboscidean fossils at the University of Michigan, London's Natural history museum etc (both mastodons which are not part of the campaign). What they should have done is launch episodes relating to the species in the campaign, perhaps one a week for the duration of the backerkit. At the end of each episode they could mention the campaign and show a figure to draw interest and attention.

The first few days of a campaign seem to be most important in drawing interest and funds, possibly also near the end when more goals get unlocked. However, we now know that nothing new will be unlocked until 185k is reached. With the exception of a few color variations such as a blonde and red haired 1/35th scale mammoth would be my guess (same mold as the 1/35th).

The thing is only those who follow creative beasts have seen the last three models (gomphotherium,platybelodon, moeritherium). Casual viewers of the campaign page will be unaware of these models as there are no images of them there. Thus, less interest again because you can't want what you don't see.

[Concavenator]

I clearly remember during the Tyrannosaur's and Cyberzoic's campaigns that the funding of several stretch goals seemed rather improbable at times, and yet all of them ended up being successfully funded. So... who knows? The funding of the whole project (stretch goals included) certainly appears way off right now, but I wouldn't say it's impossible. If those two previous campaigns have taught me anything, it's that, if we're talking about a Creative Beast Studio campaign, it will most likely be successful (the same may have been true for the Raptor and Ceratopsian campaigns, I wasn't really paying attention to them at the time).

I agree with the sentiment that the campaign's marketing on Eons' behalf is kinda poor, but I think Creative Beast Studio themselves could make up for that, since at the end of the day, it's also their project.

Interestingly, and if I'm not mistaken, this is their first campaign featuring exclusively non-dinosaur prehistoric animal figures. Let's see how well it does.

[Faelrin]

@Concavenator Yeah this is the slow period right now. First day or so, and the last day (if not the day before as well) are historically the days with the largest number of backers and funding increases. I think it will be slow going until the campaign is funded and the first stretch goal is revealed. Usually there's a bit of momentum after that.

[Flaffy]

@Concavenator I think the main difference is Eons heading this campaign, with David and co. focusing primarily on the R&D. David on his socials has largely avoided answering any questions regarding specific details of the campaign, directing them towards Eons/Complexly instead.

So whether this is because of behind-the-scenes legal mubmo jumbo, or David genuinely not having information about the details is up for debate. The previous campaigns headed by David himself have all been spectacularly transparent, clear and informative.

[Concavenator]

@Faelrin Yeah I do recall the first and last(s) days being critical for the two previous campaigns (and surely was for the others too). I also think the mammoths will be funded, and hopefully some of the stretch goals as well (if not all of them).

@Flaffy I see, I didn't know about that. Transparency goes a long way indeed...

[Faelrin]

Eons shared a new video featuring images of the Woolly mammoth prototype and the concept art for the stretch goals, but didn't once mention the campaign itself (which only has 23 days remaining, and is almost to the halfway mark), or even leave a link to it in their description.

I took it upon myself to make comments about it (one as a direct reply, and another as a reply to someone else). If folks could leave likes on those comments, it could help boost it, to help grab folks attention about the campaign, especially if Eons won't do it themselves.

Here's the direct reply I left, and probably the most important one that I would recommend folks help like.

Spoiler

Hey Eons you should add a link to your current Backerkit Prehistoric Elephants campaign (which only has 23 days left) in the video description, if not a link to it at the end of the video itself. It's great to see the figures (Woolly mammoth prototypes, and concept art for the other stretch goal figures) featured in a video on your channel, and hopefully it raises some awareness about the campaign. Just in case folks are wondering, the Backerkit campaign is between Eons and Creative Beast Studio to produce some of these prehistoric elephants as action figures. Currently only the Woolly Mammoth is available (in 1/18 and 1/35 scales, along with a 1/18 baby), and is about half way funded now. Gomphotherium, Platybelodon, and Moeritherium are all planned as stretch goals. Creative Beast Studio has shared prototype images of the the latter three on their social media accounts for anyone curious, but the Woolly mammoths must be funded first before some of those stretch goals can be reached and unlocked.

Edit: Before I forget, I appreciate seeing the goofy long bottom jaw proboscideans given some attention in this video. Any attention on the adorable Moreitherium is also appreciated. This video answered some serious questions I've long had about why the goofy faced Platybelodon and its relatives looked so wacky compared to our still surviving elephants (and recently extinct mammoths and mastodons).

[close]

Edit: I have revised the above comment based on the info @Primeval12 shared as I was using youtube redux, sponsor block, and u-block origin and was unable to see that there were links to the figures and campaign already present.

Here is the revised comment:

Edit 2: I changed my prior comment as I was using youtube redux in combination with sponsor block and did not see they have links to the campaign already present through the PBS Eons Store below the video description (caught wind of this on the Dino Toy Forum). Hence why I asked Eons to add that info to their video description and video earlier. Guess it is a bit silly to ask such when it was already present, but I just didn't notice it because of the addon's I have installed.

For folks wondering about the Woolly mammoth action figures and concept art (for the Gomphotherium,  Platybelodon, and Moeritherium), there is currently a Backerkit campaign (called Prehistoric Elephants, just search it on there) going on between Eons and Creative Beast Studio to produce some of these prehistoric elephants as action figures. Currently only the Woolly Mammoth is available (in 1/18 and 1/35 scales, along with a 1/18 baby), and is about half way funded now. Gomphotherium, Platybelodon, and Moeritherium are all planned as stretch goals. Creative Beast Studio has shared prototype images of the the latter three on their social media accounts for anyone curious, but the Woolly mammoths must be funded first before some of those stretch goals can be reached and unlocked.


Edit: Before I forget, I appreciate seeing the goofy long bottom jaw proboscideans given some attention in this video. Any attention on the adorable Moreitherium is also appreciated. This video answered some serious questions I've long had about why the goofy faced Platybelodon and its relatives looked so wacky compared to our still surviving elephants (and recently extinct mammoths and mastodons).

I also messaged on a post yesterday asking why they have yet to do a video on the campaign (especially when they asked to keep sharing the word) to help bring the word out, but yeah, ball dropped again unfortunately. Only Creative Beast Studio has been doing their part of getting the word out by sharing the concept art, prototypes, etc.

Oh and they also released a video about the baby mammoth's articulation today in another post on the campaign, but again it is unlisted, so here folks go.

That said at least there's been some recent updates raising some awareness about the campaign on their instagram page, but their youtube channel is really where it matters.

[Primeval12]

Below the video, it says "shop the PBS Eons store" and has images and links to the mammoths!

[EmperorDinobot]

I'm very excited.

[Faelrin]

@Primeval12 Oh I totally missed that as I'm using Youtube Redux (on my laptop) and the layout is based on one of the older ones. In any case I changed my comment then.

Also just after I made another instagram post on the campaign, we just got an image dump of scale comparisons of the mammoths and some of the other figures in the BotM and BotC lines (including a certain figure we haven't seen in a while).

1/18 scale:



1/35 scale:



Look how far we've come from those 1/6 scale raptors all those years ago (that I still adore btw)! It's only going to get better from here, if we can get all those stretch goal proboscideans unlocked, other mammals, and other clades of animals (like the upcoming Stegosaurus, etc).

[spinynettle]

I understand some of the criticism this campaign is getting, but I also feel calm about it potentially failing, and surprised at the ALLCAPS tone in the backerkit comments. If it doesn't fund, I have to imagine that some form of the figures will eventually see release as BOTC or Cyberzoic. Maybe there is a realistic fear of BOTC/Cyberzoic being barred from making those other figures later for some legal reason.

[Faelrin]

Honestly as long as the main campaign itself is successfully funded, worst case the stretch goals could be unlocked through like that backerkit pre-order store thing. The BotM ceratopsian series had to use that all those years ago, where the pre-orders acted as further funding to help unlock the remaining stretch goals that didn't get funded during the campaign (like the Pentaceratops, adult Triceratops, Torosaurus, etc).

That said need to wait and see how this goes from here. We are only in the second week, and nearly half way funded. Definitely slower then the other campaigns (and slower then the ceratopsians), but slow progress is better then no progress. Plenty of time for things to get moving along. Eon's new video will definitely help I'm sure (and especially so with the store section giving direct links to the campaign for the figures of interest). Might just need time for it to get out there, and viewed, which we have plenty of still.

Furthermore if this ends up like every other Creative Beast campaign, one could expect to see a huge funding push in the last few days. It will be slow going from here I'm sure, but I think we'll definitely get there one way or the other. Fingers crossed anyways, I want these figures so bad lol.

Edit: I noticed on the campaign page, there's a section now showing where the campaign has been shared. Such as on here, action figure news sites, etc. So the word is getting out there, it seems, and not just folks with tiny reach (like myself). It could be a lack of genuine interest (despite being one of the most famous prehistoric animals, but well it is also no T. rex), or there could be interest, but the figures are just too cost prohibitive for folks (especially the 1/18 scale adult, but well there is the smaller and much cheaper 1/35 option anyways), especially those impacted by stagnant wages and the price gouging on day to day goods and needs. Folks outside the US are no doubt impacted by the external shipping costs, customs fees or taxes, and whatnot.

Also here's the figures from most to least pledged for currently (as of posting this):

-147 Backers: 1/18th Scale Woolly Mammoth
-141 Backers: 1/18th Scale Woolly Mammoth and Baby Mammoth - Exclusive Snowy Variants
-70 Backers: 1/35th Scale Woolly Mammoth
-53 backers: 1/18th Scale Baby Mammoth

From most to least purchased add-ons:
-117 purchased: 1/18th Scale Baby Mammoth
-36 purchased: 1/35th Scale Woolly Mammoth
-22 purchased: 1/18th Scale Woolly Mammoth
-15 purchased: 1/18th Scale Woolly Mammoth and Baby Mammoth - Exclusive Snowy Variants

Combined totals:
-170: 1/18th Scale Baby Mammoth
-169: 1/18th Scale Woolly Mammoth
-156: 1/18th Scale Woolly Mammoth and Baby Mammoth - Exclusive Snowy Variants
-106: 1/35th Scale Woolly Mammoth

I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see the 1/18 adult and Snowy set is doing as well as it is. I suppose it makes sense, as if there's a lot of supporters coming from Creative Beast Studio, then the 1/18 scale figures would be of more interest due to the scale consistency with most of their other recent figures, rather they be the dinosaurs, or the few mammals (though both the 1/18 Smilodon and Andrewsarchus are ways off I imagine).

[Giganotosaurus]

I've backed the 1/18 Mammoth! Easily one of my most anticipated figures ever. It better get fully funded though!! 😜 At least y'all have lessened my worries.

[Flaffy]

Another reason this campaign might be going slower is due to the fact that there's only a single species available for initial pledging, the Woolly Mammoth. Save for the Tyrannosaur campaign (well, it is T. rex afterall), all others had multiple species to pick from for the base roster.

Raptors: Velociraptor, Tsaagan, Atrociraptor
Ceratopsians: Triceratops, Styracosaurus, Zuniceratops, Monoclonius
Tyrannosaurs: Tyrannosaurus
Cyberzoic: Allosaurus, Smilodon, Arctic Dragon
Proboscidean: Woolly mammoth

A part of me wishes the Moeritherium replaced the baby mammoth as an option for pledging.

[Faelrin]

Yeah I have no doubts the lack of variety has not helped. It's clear some folks here and elsewhere are not interested in the starting mammoths since they get figures all the time (even if these are like the first legit action figures of it, other then like Dino-Riders maybe all those years ago).

I love them though, as I've been wanting a big highly articulated mammoth action figure for a long time. Never thought it would happen (same with Smilodon too) but David and his team proving me wrong yet again and trying to make it happen. The Gomphotherium, Platybelodon, and Moeritherium are the cherries on top for me (but I understand if they feel like the main dish for someone else). Really hoping this campaign succeeds to its fullest. I want them all someday.

[croco_105]

Edit: I have revised the above comment based on the info @Primeval12 shared as I was using youtube redux, sponsor block, and u-block origin and was unable to see that there were links to the figures and campaign already present.

Same here, I had to turn off my adblocker to notice that little Eons banner. I read a statistic that 45-54% of internet users use ad blockers so many other would not have seen it either.