Papo 2020

[PhilSauria]

Interesting. If CollectA at times appears stylized in such a fashion that it appears "cartoonish', remember that cartoons have an effective power to communicate the essence of the subject through their very stylization. This is a trait that makes them attractive to many people. The same can be said with Papo due to their dramatic poses. Some would decry the cartoonish aspect of the former, others the overly dramatic (at times) of the latter, Even Schleich has its own distinctively subjective approach to designing dinosaurs, an approach that sometimes attracts, sometimes repels. I think that it's so very difficult to capture, objectively, the total package of attributes and characteristics of animals that we have never seen and never will, in the flesh. But we will continue to try and no doubt will continue to scrutinize those who explore and test the boundaries of the real.

Well said, and I agree with you.
Despite our own personal preferences  and favorites regarding the style of each figures we collect, it's is nice to have differences in how each one looks.
To me as a collector, it is these differences in style and interpretations that makes it exciting, accurate or not.
If all the figures looks the same and always striving to look as what we call the perfect version of the species, then it would be so boring and I would probably stop collecting.
😂

Totally agree with all of the above. A big part of the appeal of collecting for me is seeing the various interpretations of these animals by the artists in each company (I have a whole section just full of Triceratops figures, for instance).

[Faelrin]

I agree with this as well. Even if I don't like every figure from each company, there are more then enough for me to go around that I do like. In fact it's at a point for me where I'm very much having trouble keeping up with my ever growing wishlist, especially for the numerous brands out there these days.

[Shonisaurus]

I never even cared about ever getting a Papo Giganotosaurus and even I am extremely disappointed. I can mentally justify their previous odd poses but they've gone way too far with this one. Its like they are pushing the limits of feasibility purely for the sake of it rather than for any aesthetic value. It would be forgivable if it looked cool, but it doesn't even do that, it just looks really lame with the little bent tail. Oh well.

Actually, as bad as the Giga pose is, it's *possible* that the tail isn't as short & stubby as it appears in the one pic we've seen. It looks to be coming straight out at us and that makes it look shorter than it actually is, maybe from a different angle the tail would be seen as being longer. Of course, then it would be angled sideways in an unnatural & I believe impossible angle, but it would at least not be so short & stubby (assuming of course that this IS the case and it's actually longer than it appears in the pic).
Also, is it just me but does the head, while very well sculpted, appear just a little bit too big for the body?

My opinion is that we should not judge the new giganotosaurus with the naked eye, we only have a promotional photograph, perhaps our assessment not only of Papo giganotosaurus, as the rest of the figure will vary when more photographs of each figure of each brand are revealed.

Regarding the feathered tyrannosaurus by Papo, I am in favor of some being encouraged by this great brand in making a new version of the "king" dinosaur of all time.

[SidB]

Well I agree CollectA is overhyped. I personally think they look like bath toys.

No wonder Anthony Beeson left the forum... 

I too really disagree with the "overhyped" assessment. Certainly the CollectA brand has its fans and those, like myself, who appreciate and praise its adventurous spirit of being willing to take a chance on newly discovered genera/species, but, then, so do other companies as well. Papo is possibly chief among these - and that's okay, since despite its flaws (often stunning ones), the Papo brand is unique in its production values, capacity to make products that "feel alive," and so on. Certainly the Giganotosaurus suffers from this tendency generated by a short-term hyper-anticipation, but water finds its own level. Disappointment ebbs away somewhat and then, as Shonisaurus points out, we again look forward to the next great hope, in this case, maybe a feathered T-rex. The expectation will necessarily be that maybe, just maybe. Papo will not disappoint and will really knock it out of the park.
On one hand, sometimes there's a fine line between being perceptive, insightful and constructively critical and on the other, using these qualities to denigrate an entire brand unfairly, and by association, the fine individuals (like Beeson), to whom we, as collectors, owe so very much. The line may be fine, but it's noticeable. Though not a heavy collector of CollectA, nor a Papo completionist, I am grateful for the contribution that companies such as these make to this hobby in which I delight.

[Loon]

S @SidB I apologise for contributing to the "over-hyped" conversation. As @Shonisaurus said, the disappointment will cool eventually. Also, as many others have said, it is good to have choices and for different companies to bring their own flair to each release. So, next time, I will not go after others for liking different figures than I do. Even if I dislike the figure and have expressed that dislike, I still have a plethora of other options to pick from.

[stargatedalek]

Spoiler

I don't think anyone's arguing that older CollectA figures look good.

I and some of their newer figures like this one are innacurateley designed and very cartoonish

Nothing really cartoonish, though I doubt our definitions of the word are the same. Also, nothing's particularly inaccurate, the feathers are speculative, not inaccurate.

The skull is inaccurate, and the feathers, if there was any, should be all over the rex as in the safari featherd rex

[close]

You mean like there ORIGINAL version?

http://dinotoyblog.com/2015/07/13/tyrannosaurus-rex-feathered-deluxe-by-collecta/

and not the UPDATED Version your showing that reflects the current consesnses?

A) Most recent paper =/= any form of inherent consensus. There simply is no consensus on what the Tyrannosaurus impressions are let alone what they mean for reconstructing the animal as a whole.
B) The strangely specific ridge of feathers exactly along the center of the back both looks ridiculous and is highly improbable statistically to the point where I would categorize it as inaccurate. Certainly "more inaccurate" than a largely feathered Tyrannosaurus which, while less likely than a more moderately feathered reconstruction, is still within justifiable reason unlike this weird mohawk thing.

I love CollectA, I think they do great work and they do it at a simply remarkable pace. But that Tyrannosaurus is a monstrosity; a subpar execution of a terrible design.

[SidB]

S @SidB I apologise for contributing to the "over-hyped" conversation. As @Shonisaurus said, the disappointment will cool eventually. Also, as many others have said, it is good to have choices and for different companies to bring their own flair to each release. So, next time, I will not go after others for liking different figures than I do. Even if I dislike the figure and have expressed that dislike, I still have a plethora of other options to pick from.

No apology needed from anyone really - I've ridden the same train myself, getting caught up in the excitement and drama of the discussions (especially with the Battat Terra dynamics of recent memory). My piece was just a sort of counterbalance stating what most of us know and tacitly acknowledge already, except when sometimes trying to wrestle with the "right" words in the heat of the moment. All part of the fun, for sure.

[Duna]

I will give a hug, dear Giga! 

[Loon]

Ummm...wow...

[DinoToyCollector]

Hm... I fear this perpective will not change opinions about this figure...

@Duna
Great find and good to see you have a heart for him 

[Faelrin]

Where did that new image surface from? And huh... it really does look like it wants a hug with its jaw closed.

Edit: Despite the shrinkwrapping on the skull, I really do find it a bit more appealing here than initially. Still I want to wait for in hand pics for this one, and the price.

Also is it just me or is there an obvious seam on the tail?

[Duna]

@Duna
Great find and good to see you have a heart for him 

I found one more of the Chilesaurus along some newer 2020 other figures: https://animalkingdoms.co.nz/blogs/blog/papo-new-releases-2020

[Flaffy]

This image somehow makes the pose even worse. Jesus.
The discount Godzilla pose does not look good on this figure.

The chilesaurus looks a bit better though. Still a very painful looking pose, it looks like it's being stepped on.
I really want a Chilesaurus figure, but I'll have to wait and see if the Papo one is worth picking up.

[Loon]

This angle makes me think it'd go well with a figure of a cowboy on horseback approaching from the left.

[oscars_dinos]

@Duna
Great find and good to see you have a heart for him 

I found one more of the Chilesaurus along some newer 2020 other figures: https://animalkingdoms.co.nz/blogs/blog/papo-new-releases-2020

WOW this looks so much better then the first image now I actually like this figure...as for our sad boy giga.... its getting harder to defend it (especially after seeing everyone photoshop fixes).... it is oddly cute now tho so I guess that's something

[LeapingLaelaps]

The Giga's pose reminds me of monitor lizards fighting, how they stand up on their hind legs and sort of "hug" each other.

[oscars_dinos]

agree

[DinoToyCollector]

I'm not sure which one is the right but the two Chilesaurus pictures are mirrored:

[Blade-of-the-Moon]

I will give a hug, dear Giga! 

If nothing else it would look cute with the tiger cub..

[Faelrin]

So I had a peak at the images in that link, and it looks like we are getting a new (mini?) playset too? If I'm being honest I think Schleich pulls off the better playsets, but I'm sure someone somewhere might get some use out of this.



Also I am in love with this Pheasant. Yet another species I've been wanting a figure of for a while, and it looks like Papo will be delivering with this one here too for me (if not anyone else):



Also yes. That tiger cub seems to be just another in what seems to be a Papo tradition now, in regards to poses like this. No doubt it'll be nice next to their adult standing tiger figure though.