Sunday, January 15, 2006

A reflection after cheap toy shopping

It is the Summer of 2003. Universal Pictures plans on releasing "The Hulk", a film based on the Marvel comic book that they hope will be a big money maker and develop into a franchise. Accompanying this release, there is a huge blitz of toy marketing, including big green foam fists for kids to wear and sock eachother with. The movie tanks, the possible franchise dies, and all the merchandise ends up in the discount bin.

It is the Summer of 2005. 20th Century Fox plans on releasing "The Fantastic Four", a film based on the Marvel comic book that they hope will be a big money maker and develop into a franchise. Accompanying this release, there is a huge blitz of toy marketing, including big orange foam fists for kids to wear and sock eachother with. The movie tanks, the possible franchise dies, and all the merchandise ends up in the discount bin.

A word of warning: Studios should now be wary of any Marvel property which could lead to marketing big foam fists. It's apparently the Kiss of Death.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Looks like the same kid...only more mellow.

:-)