Scooby Doo 2015

Shib

The licenced plamobile figures just never look good to me personally. The Ghost busters ones aren't too bad but the How to Train Your Dragon ones are awful. 

CCC

People that are not into LEGO say the same about minifigures.

I always thought the Playmobil Ghostbusters looked weird in the eyes, as they are pupil-less brown blobs like the "classic" Playmobil characters (much like putting the LEGO classic smiley on a licensed figure). Then Winston gets white eyes with pupils.

pharmjod

I love Playmobil though. To me they are one of the best toys other than LEGO.

Shib

CCC said:

People that are not into LEGO say the same about minifigures.

I always thought the Playmobil Ghostbusters looked weird in the eyes, as they are pupil-less brown blobs like the "classic" Playmobil characters (much like putting the LEGO classic smiley on a licensed figure). Then Winston gets white eyes with pupils.

Thing is I don’t have the same criticism of the non licences play mobile figs

eggshen

This is cool! My kids have a joint interest in LEGO and Playmobil, I'll just have to see if I can talk the wifey into getting these. We already have too much LEGO (according to her) and our Playmobil is not far behind (again, according to her).

SumoLego

Shaggy's pants look odd as well.

Aanchir

There's something that's always funny to me about how often fans of classic fans (especially in Germany) often insist that LEGO should follow Playmobil's example by:

• introducing more non-story-driven, non-mashup themes
• focusing less on tie-in media
• focusing more on non-licensed themes
• being less American-centric
• making more historically accurate themes instead of fantasy action nonsense
  
• making themes less gendered
• making themes less heavy on shooting functions
  
• Etc.

Meanwhile, Playmobil keeps on demonstrating how many ways they want to do things more like what those same people DISLIKE about LEGO:

• picking up big-name American licenses like Ghostbusters, Scooby-Doo, NHL, Spirit: Riding Free, DreamWorks Dragons, and NHL.
  
• making story-driven and media-supported mashup product lines like TopAgents, Super 4, and Playmobil: The Movie
• Making intensely gendered product lines differentiated between boys (Knights, Pirates, Space, Wild Life) and girls (Country, Princess, Magic, Fairies, Dollhouse)
• Making even their traditional product lines like knights and pirates heavier on fantasy action nonsense and shooting functions.
• Etc.

If LEGO were really making a whole bunch of mistakes that Playmobil had successfully avoided, it's hard to understand why Playmobil would be playing follow-the-leader in this way!

mustang69

Shaggy actually reminds me of those creepy Coraline button-eyed people.

SumoLego

Aanchir said:

If LEGO were really making a whole bunch of mistakes that Playmobil had successfully avoided, it's hard to understand why Playmobil would be playing follow-the-leader in this way!

LEGO generated $5.4 Billion; Playmobil $770 Million in 2018.  I'd be doing whatever the first guy is doing.

Aleydita

SumoLego said:

Aanchir said:

If LEGO were really making a whole bunch of mistakes that Playmobil had successfully avoided, it's hard to understand why Playmobil would be playing follow-the-leader in this way!

LEGO generated $5.4 Billion; Playmobil $770 Million in 2018.  I'd be doing whatever the first guy is doing.

They're completely different toys. It's like comparing Coca-Cola and Twinings' English Breakfast tea, and drawing the conclusion that Twinings should do what Coke are doing.

CCC

Twinings making the same mistakes as Coca-Cola?

dannyrww

CCC said:

Twinings making the same mistakes as Coca-Cola?

That's better than the New Twininings they had back in the 80s. Thankfully they returned back to Classic Twinings.

Gibbo1959

dannyrww said:

CCC said:

Twinings making the same mistakes as Coca-Cola?

That's better than the New Twininings they had back in the 80s. Thankfully they returned back to Classic Twinings.

I think the New Twininings sounds like a splendid beverage to go with a nice game of cricket.

SumoLego

Aleydita said:

They're completely different toys. It's like comparing Coca-Cola and Twinings' English Breakfast tea, and drawing the conclusion that Twinings should do what Coke are doing.

Yes, I agree - but the prior discussion was about Playmobil following LEGO, or LEGO following Playmobil and the vast unwashed Internet being critical of marketing strategies.