Mattel - New for 2024

[CarnotaurusKing]

Not a big Mattel fan, but this and the Hammond Giggy are among the most fantastic dinosaur toys we've gotten in recent memory (from what I've seen). This Carnotaurus is decently accurate too, it's even got the thick tail base.

Hoping they release a Kenner-style Allosaurus, Utahraptor and Lycaenops. Not a fan of the Jurassic World Allosaurus design, so I hope they keep the anatomy as close to the Kenner design as possible, just with longer arms and bigger hand-claws.

[Dilopho]

Genuine question, what's the appeal of the rubber skin to people? I see people acting like they're some sort of incredible relics when a figure has it.
I would rather a figure be strong and sturdy.
Not being able to close the mouth is a little awkward, too.

[Bread]

Genuine question, what's the appeal of the rubber skin to people? I see people acting like they're some sort of incredible relics when a figure has it.
I would rather a figure be strong and sturdy.
Not being able to close the mouth is a little awkward, too.

I agree. This is a good looking figure besides the mouth not being able to close, but why this full rubber sculpt?

I think it would have been perfect for the HC Carno to get a full Demon Carnotaurus repaint. Arguably one of Mattel's best since they acquired the license.

[TheCambrianCrusader]

Genuine question, what's the appeal of the rubber skin to people? I see people acting like they're some sort of incredible relics when a figure has it.
I would rather a figure be strong and sturdy.
Not being able to close the mouth is a little awkward, too.

Its a combination of nostalgia for those old kenner figures and the tactile aspect of it. I have a few old kenner real feel dinos and they just have this very satisfying texture to them that hard plastic just don't have. It's hard to articulate without actually having them in hand. Not saying rubber is better or anything but they are neat.

[Flaffy]

Genuine question, what's the appeal of the rubber skin to people? I see people acting like they're some sort of incredible relics when a figure has it.
I would rather a figure be strong and sturdy.
Not being able to close the mouth is a little awkward, too.

I agree. This is a good looking figure besides the mouth not being able to close, but why this full rubber sculpt?

I think it would have been perfect for the HC Carno to get a full Demon Carnotaurus repaint. Arguably one of Mattel's best since they acquired the license.

Because the original Kenner Demon Carno was also full rubber, and had no jaw articulation.

As for appeal?
1) Nostalgia for folks who grew up with the original Kenner toys.
2) New / Young fans who missed the original Kenner line having the opportunity to collect these retro-homages at reasonable prices.
3) Rubber gives a unique tactile stimulus that sets these figures apart from their hard plastic counterparts. Folks who can't keep their hands off their favourite figures should be able to relate.

[Prehistory Resurrection]

[Prehistory Resurrection]

Hammond Collection Atrociraptor "Ghost" and Scutosaurus revealed:

[Giganotosaurus]

I can't wait for the Atrociraptor!

[andrewsaurus rex]

scutosaurus looks good.  Surprising addition to the HC.

[Pachyrhinosaurus]

Looks like they took inspiration from the TLW figure for scutosaurus. Interesting we haven't seen an estemmenosuchus yet, too.

[Faelrin]

Atrociraptor Ghost is looking so good. Kind of glad I held off the Dominion set with it. Hope they do the rest too.

The Scutosaurus is a pleasant surprise. The 2020 is probably the more scientific one (and last year's repaint of it), but I love this throwback to the TLW Kenner figure.

Edit: Actually I think the skin resembles more the reconstruction in this image image from this paper:



I think the skin detail of the original Kenner figure, and the previous Mattel ones were based on an older reconstruction right? Also the retired Safari Ltd Scutosaurus, and the recent Wild Past one I think (which I think was sculpted before the linked paper came out). For comparison here:

[Gwangi]

Oh wow, I am so excited for that Scutosaurus. What a pleasant surprise! Ghost looks nice but I don't think I'll get any Atrociraptor.

[TheCambrianCrusader]

HC Scutosaurs huh? Odd choice but I'm always down for more Permian representation. Atrociraptor looks good

[PrimevalRaptor]

For JP designs I did like the Atrociraptors a bit so that one and ESPECIALLY the Scutosaurus (that's an amazing surprise!) are on my "I'll probably get those" list...if they even make it over here. Distribution of smaller figures is atrocious (hah) in Germany...
Also wondering if that means we may get Lycaenops or Estemmenosuchus down the line, we do have great accurate Estemmenosuchus ofc but articulated versions would rule.

[Flaffy]

I never would've guessed Scutosaurus of all things would enter the Hammond Collection, and I'm certainly not complaining either!

Now then... BRING BACK HIS BUDDY THE ESTEMMENOSUCHUS! Would love to see more Permian fauna in general from Mattel. And there's only a select few Kenner species that Mattel has yet to do. From the top of my head at least:
- Estemmenosuchus
- Lycaenops
- Ornithosuchus
- Coelophysis

[Flaffy]

Another angle. Seems a bit off the more I look at it. The lack of rows of dorsal osteoderms is a shame, which surprisingly the mainline figure does better. And also goes against what the Kenner toy established in its design.

[Gwangi]

The Atrociraptor has an upside down leg. 

[TheCambrianCrusader]

The Atrociraptor has an upside down leg. 

Yikes didn't even notice that when I first saw it.

[Dilopho]

I wonder if they're gonna take up both of the upcoming HC announcements, or if it's gonna be just one of them like the other ones this year have been doing. With multiple figures sharing an announcement.

[Eatmycar]

The Kenner toy also has spikes coming straight down from the lower jaw like daggers, so I can't say I'm mad if Mattel deviates from that.

I do love that they have a QC control issue on display though. For all of the weird nitpicks people like Marco find about decos or details in blink-and-you'll-miss-it stills, the real problem with these toys is the flood of QC issues we see every release. That needs to be solved more than any proportion issues, canon accuracy, any of that crap. Product hitting shelves with upside down legs, missing body parts (one of my pyroraptors has no roof to its mouth!), or duplicate body parts are the things that ruin the toy immediately.

I shouldn't have to treat buying a $14.99 toy like Russian Roulette and be worried that my copy is going to have a blob of glue on one side of its face if I order it from Amazon.