Favorite Co. - New for 2016

[pylraster]

Redondasaurus is probably the best of the new ones. And that train! so cool!

[Faelrin]

Are those Cambrian figures only available in Japan? I really do like/want the Anomalocaris (blue), Opabinia, Hallucigenia, and Wiwaxia the most of the bunch. They don't look like they would be too much out of place alongside the Safari Ltd. Cambrian Life Toob figures either, though I don't know how big these are in comparison to the Toob ones.

[SBell]

Are those Cambrian figures only available in Japan? I really do like/want the Anomalocaris (blue), Opabinia, Hallucigenia, and Wiwaxia the most of the bunch. They don't look like they would be too much out of place alongside the Safari Ltd. Cambrian Life Toob figures either, though I don't know how big these are in comparison to the Toob ones.

So far, yes. Favorite hasn't had much luck getting into markets outside of Japan.

That doesn't stop some of us though...I already have the ancient fishes, and the Cambrian figures are on their way!

[Flaffy]

Are those Cambrian figures only available in Japan? I really do like/want the Anomalocaris (blue), Opabinia, Hallucigenia, and Wiwaxia the most of the bunch. They don't look like they would be too much out of place alongside the Safari Ltd. Cambrian Life Toob figures either, though I don't know how big these are in comparison to the Toob ones.

So far, yes. Favorite hasn't had much luck getting into markets outside of Japan.

That doesn't stop some of us though...I already have the ancient fishes, and the Cambrian figures are on their way!

Schleich fills the shelves with their overpriced monstrosities, leaving no room for other companies...
Well TBH, Japan is known to keep the best for themselves in terms of products, wouldn't be surprised if figures are the same as well.

[SBell]

Are those Cambrian figures only available in Japan? I really do like/want the Anomalocaris (blue), Opabinia, Hallucigenia, and Wiwaxia the most of the bunch. They don't look like they would be too much out of place alongside the Safari Ltd. Cambrian Life Toob figures either, though I don't know how big these are in comparison to the Toob ones.

So far, yes. Favorite hasn't had much luck getting into markets outside of Japan.

That doesn't stop some of us though...I already have the ancient fishes, and the Cambrian figures are on their way!

Schleich fills the shelves with their overpriced monstrosities, leaving no room for other companies...
Well TBH, Japan is known to keep the best for themselves in terms of products, wouldn't be surprised if figures are the same as well.

That is true--I think a lot of it has to do with meeting the various International standards. It's not that they don't (they likely exceed them) but the testing is expensive, and is different for every country/trade region, so they don't bother. Favorite (as Kinto) did start a presence in the foreign market in the ealry 2000s, but seems to have pulled back into Japan now, right when they are getting really interesting.

[Faelrin]

How would I go about getting them then (I'm in the US), or am I out of luck on being able to purchase these? I did see them on ebay but I'm not sure if the prices there have been inflated or not for them. Of course this will have to wait until I'm done with my additional purchases for the Beasts of the Mesozoic figures and stuff, assuming I can get these at all. 

[DC]

Black Hills was the last distributor.  I have the Marella and Anamolcaris and like them. I felt Kinto tend to do the same dozen figures over and over again, very nicely done but I like something a little different.  lately they have been branching out. 

[Daspletodave]

How would I go about getting them then (I'm in the US), or am I out of luck on being able to purchase these? I did see them on ebay but I'm not sure if the prices there have been inflated or not for them. Of course this will have to wait until I'm done with my additional purchases for the Beasts of the Mesozoic figures and stuff, assuming I can get these at all.

Brett can get all the current figures for you at good prices, straight from Japan.

[Daspletodave]

Black Hills was the last distributor.  I have the Marella and Anamolcaris and like them. I felt Kinto tend to do the same dozen figures over and over again, very nicely done but I like something a little different.  lately they have been branching out.

Over and over again is a bit of an exageration. There have only been two series - the original set of 14 models that came out in 2004 and is now retired. A Spinosaurus was added much later, making it 15 models (although the green and brown T-Rexes were the identical mold). A couple of years ago they rebooted the series, releasing 13 new models - they dropped the Apatosaurus, Deinonychus and Pachycephalosaurus but added a Velociraptor.  Again there were 2 T-Rexes, but this time they were different molds.

Over the same time period (2004 to 2016) how many T-Rexes alone have been released by Safari, Papo or Collecta? Talk about repeat offenders!

[Faelrin]

Should I let them know now that I'm interested in them? Or should I wait until I'm ready to purchase them (sometime after Oct 7 for the BotM survey lockdown)? At the very least I'm interested in the blue Anomalocaris, Hallucigenia, Opabinia, and Wiwaxia.

[DC]

Over and over again is a bit of an exageration. There have only been two series - the original set of 14 models that came out in 2004 and is now retired. A Spinosaurus was added much later, making it 15 models (although the green and brown T-Rexes were the identical mold). A couple of years ago they rebooted the series, releasing 13 new models - they dropped the Apatosaurus, Deinonychus and Pachycephalosaurus but added a Velociraptor.  Again there were 2 T-Rexes, but this time they were different molds.

Kinto has at least half a dozen series in production not counting the resin.  Only two of the My Favorite got distribtion in North America and that is what you are trefering to.  They produce many more series in Japan for the local market.

[Halichoeres]

Don't get too excited. Favorite has repainted some of their vinyl models, so if you're into big squishy dinosaurs, you might be interested.

[Daspletodave]

Now that I've got the five boxed sets, I have to say that these are the best models Favorite has done to date. I won't post any pics - they're available elsewhere on this site. Here is my take on the figures: the level of detail is just stunning. The Pentaceratops is one of the best ceratopsian figures ever produced. Redondasaurus is simply amazing. They even manage to pack a lot of detail on the smaller figures, such as the Coelophysis, Yinlong, and Sinoceratops (which can serve as a pretty close stand-in for a Centrosaurus). IMO the sign of a good dino toy maker is they take as much care with their smaller figures (ie Battat Gallimimus, Favorite Pachycephalosaurus) as they do with their much larger models. So if you were at all concerned about the size of these new Favorite releases (the Zhuchengtyrannus is only 19 cm long) don't be! You will be blown away by the quality of these ten figures.

Another observation - I think these sets may be the new formula for Favorite - include two figures with removable bases and a paper display background (it's the same background in all 5 sets, and the same as the one used in the Concavenator boxed set) in a colorful display box. The Concavenator set was the first set to have all these characteristics. I can see Favorite using this winning formula again next year - we might not get 5 sets every year, but I think we'll get one or two new sets for sure. It seems every year in Japan there is at least one major dinosaur exhibition, and Favorite is selling the merchandise.

[DC]

I agree the specialty box sets are their best figures, although the Cambrian figures run a close second

[Halichoeres]

Cambrian boxed set with a yellow repaint of the Anomalocaris, available in November.

[deanm]

Well at least I can now look for the yellow Anomalocaris to finish my set... 😀

[Carcharodontosaurus]

I love the Cambrian set! Does anyone know how an American can acquire it?

[Bucklander]

I love the Cambrian set! Does anyone know how an American can acquire it?

Send a PM to Brett (brettnj)

[RobinGoodfellow]

I love the Cambrian set! Does anyone know how an American can acquire it?

You can buy them directly from Japan, just sending a request to JPSelection:
https://jpselection.ocnk.net/contact/667e3cb26eea3c6e8447d4a7f78df4ce7cd20c7a60b81a87ece65eb376a8f5b7

[Hawk]

Do you have a photo of the dueling Yutyrannus next to say, oh, the Safari Ltd. Yutyrannus? I got this set on Ebay and am wondering what sortthe of scale they are in. 😊