Information on merchandise for the new CGI series.

by **Marion** » Sat Apr 23, 2005 9:16 am

This was on the Fanderson website:

A range of New Captain Scarlet action figures, vehicles and utility equipment produced by the Japanese toy manufacturer Bandai is scheduled to go on sale in June. A wide variety of merchandise from other manufacturers - including books, games, posters, apparel, confectionery and calendars - will be tied to the broadcast of the series in the autumn.

So it looks like things are starting to happen - at last. Presumably, these are the launch dates aimed at generating interest for the original TV transmission dates in September...?

by **chrisbishop** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:24 am

Found this page while searching information on the net last evening - the images are VERY interesting. And considering we didn't get to see much about it recently - it seemed like a good idea to post the link here.

Mailorder Express - Captain Scarlet toys

Neat, eh? I am guessing that the 'out of stock' announcement means that it's not available yet - like it does for certain item on Amazon.

by **Marion** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 7:29 am

Very interesting. It does look as if the mannikin is rather too large to ride comfortably in the Rhino, though. I mean for the scale of things - the Rhino is a big machine in the series.

Maybe that's just the way the photo has been taken?

by **Mary** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:18 am

Hmm...

Do you think the designers of the Cheetah got a TEENSY bit of inspiration from the Cadillac division of GM? :angel)

Cheetah

2005 Cadillac CTS-V

by **Scarlet Lady** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 4:43 pm

It's a possibilty...

:-D

by **chrisbishop** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 3:21 am

According to earlier reports:

"...[The Cheetah] has been designed for the series by a top car designer, Peter Stevens, who previously worked on models for McLaren, Jaguar and Lotus. "

by **Kambei** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 1:54 am

From the looks of that Scarlet figure, methinks that Bandai have ripped off the molds from some of Hasbro's GI Joe figures

by **shadokp** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 1:07 am

I see that amazon.co.uk now lists the new Captain Scarlet DVD (season one) for a October 17.

I have also heard that a series of 8" figures is in the works!!!

KP

by **shadokp** » Tue Aug 09, 2005 8:44 pm

I found some photos and info on the Corgi line-up for the winter and it includes the classic SPV, SPC and Angel Interceptor as well as the new Rhino, Cheetah and Angel craft. Each are sold separately or in sets -

http://www.corgi.co.uk/CorgiSite/TV2005CS/CC96399.htm

I hope the color scheme is more realistic for the Rhino.

KP

by **shaqui** » Sat Sep 03, 2005 6:00 pm

I just bought (tee hee hee) the new Deluxe Rhino. And bloody hells bells, was it a job to get out of it's packaging!? Were they worried they might break out themselves and go on a rampage? I've never had so much bother getting a toy out of its box! It took a pair of scissors (to cut the wire holding it to its card box base), a pair of pliers (to pull the wire free of the Rhino wheels it was caught in), and about 15-20 minutes. Boy, are some kids gonna get infuriated with this one!

That said, smashing looking toy!

by **Kambei** » Sun Sep 04, 2005 11:07 pm

I thought I remembered seeing a new series merchandise thread somewhere. Put these up in the CGI section, but it can't hurt to put them here as well:

http://www.tesco.com/books/browse.aspx? ... No=40&N=23

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 35-9797454

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 35-9797454

I did a search for the annual. The publisher's website comes up negative when searched, and the only link I could find was to Amazon, which is putting out a 4 to 6 weeks notice. Considering that the rest of the books have a February 2006 publishing date, this does not bode well. It seems very odd to me that the books will only be available after te series has ended. Unless we are looking at a new season of the CGI in 2006? That is the only way the publishing dates would make any sense. With the collectibles market the way it is today, merchandise has to come out while a series is still on air for it to make a real impact. Before, that is, the next thing comes along. This is the MTV/X-Box/Playstation Generation. Goldfish memeories and short attention spans. This block of episodes goes off the air at the beginning of December, which is when the merchandise should be in the stores. Too take in the Christmas trade.
We will still remember the series in February. But then we are the real fans.

BTW, I love the toys. They look superb. At least they got these right.

by **shaqui** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 6:08 am

Kambei wrote:I did a search for the annual. The publisher's website comes up negative...

I've been told that the annual will not be released this autumn. It has been put back to next year. :cry:

I've emailed Egmont for details but have yet to get a response.

by **yorkie** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 12:41 pm

I really can't understand the merchandising and marketing people. At least the Bandai toys are out in time for "season 2" and christmas. Corgi will have the Rhino in January so they'll just catch those who got money in their christmas stockings.

Granada are doing the marketing of the show (not sure about the merchandise) . They even sold the series to themselves (at a discount???) then bury it in a saturday morning slot. I now just pray the series is successful enough for a new season to be produced or for Gerry to be able to make other CGI shows.

by **Kambei** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 1:30 pm

[/quote]I've been told that the annual will not be released this autumn. It has been put back to next year. :cry:

[/quote]

What is the point of that? I get a feeling that we are not going to see an annual at all unless we get another season.
I believe that Granada does not have a clue what to do with this series, or which age range to market it at. To be honest, I never considered Granada's marketing division to be very good. I am thinking back twenty years here when Sherlock Holmes was one of their flagship programmes. A couple of books got released, and the occassional video. They are just as bad these days, and seem to rely on the weekly television guides to give them publicity.

Compare this to Doctor Who and the BBC. The promotional advert for the Christmas special went out after the final episode in July. That is what I call advance publicity. Plus, you couldn't look at a television magazine without seeing a picture of a Dalek. Books, posters, toys, games, magazines, mugs, sonic screwdrivers and new novels. All available during or just after the series aired. Learn something here, Granada.

by **shaqui** » Mon Sep 05, 2005 1:58 pm

As poted in the CGI threads, I've received a reply from Egmont;

"I am told there were various reasons, chiefly that it was felt that the brand was not quite strong enough this year. It is felt that we will do an Annual next year.

I hope this rather vague answer helps."

The William Potter interview about the new 'Captain Scarlet' magazine will hopefully make clear issues of licensing and branding in current publications.

It is not always Granada's fault - Egmont bought the license to do the annual but have now changed their minds. Obviously they are a commercial company, and had to decide if the annual would sell - it's their call.

It does put the magazine in a much stronger position, as the only publication available for a few months - and this on top of Will Potter's editorship. We really couldn't have a better person helming the mag in its formative issues.