Miss Piggy's Just Wearing a Towel--But Gonzo's got Bigger Balloons.
Written: Nov 25 '03 (Updated Nov 25 '03)
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Pros: Wonderful sculpts, unusual character selection, Piggy's in a towel!
Cons: ...none--these are several steps above similar products.
The Bottom Line: Palisades expands their Muppety offerings by dialing it down a notch.
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| JediKermit's Full Review: Palisades Mini Muppets PVC Set 1: Wave 1 |
For over a year now I’ve been singing the praises of a toy company that’s making all my naughtiest action figure dreams come true. Palisades Toys is in the middle of the most comprehensive line of Muppet toys ever made—in their first six series of action figures, they’ve made 49 different action figures! These include the well-known characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, but also more obscure characters like Lew Zealand (he of the boomerang fish) and new characters like Pepe the King Prawn. With plans in place to carry the line through 2005, you would think for fanatics like me it wouldn’t get any better than the line of action figures. But Palisades, knowing their target audience better than we know ourselves, has expanded their product line this year to give us something new and different: Mini Muppets.
The Mini Muppets are boxed sets of smaller Muppet characters, PVC (polyvinylchloride) figurines that you’ll sometimes see loose near checkout stands for sale. You typically see Disney, Sesame Street or other characters available, a few inches tall for about 3.00. What Palisades has done is take this format and (as they did with the action figures) raise the bar several notches. Instead of the cheap likeness, paintjob and finish we usually see on these, Palisades has taken the same care with the sculpt and paint applications that I’ve come to appreciate on their larger action figures. There are also several of the Mini Muppets that aren’t so “mini,” larger than their roughshod counterparts.
The first selection is divided into two sets, either of which are a treat, but combined make a solid first wave of characters: Set One includes Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and 2 Snowths; Set Two features Mahna-Mahna, Sam Eagle, and Thog. http://www.epinions.com/content_119837462148 This review will cover the first set.
Miss Piggy and Gonzo are two of my favorite Muppet characters, so it’s no surprise I was looking forward to this set. Add to this that Miss Piggy is wearing only a towel (and her trademark purple gloves) and its apparent Palisades has been reading my filthy mind! Honestly, I didn’t think I’d like the pig-in-blanket approach to the little statue, but when I saw it in person, I was hooked. We’re used to seeing Superstar Miss Piggy—this is my pig at her most vulnerable—shy—demure—the way we don’t traditionally see Piggy. It’s a nice touch, and an approach I don’t know if we’ll see again. Very cool. Palisades has departed from the Crayola Yellow coloring for her hair, and it improves the look of the character—she has more of a honey-blonde colored hair, with more subtle shading than we’ve seen on other Miss Piggy merchandise.
The Gonzo pose is taken from a scene in The Muppet Movie, where he’s carried away from the Bogen County Fair by a bouquet of balloons. He’s posed dangling from a cluster of balloons, and instead of standing on the black display stand, he’s on a clear plastic box, elevating him above his fellow figures. The effect is just enough to make him stand out, but fit in with the rest of the lineup. He’s wearing his plumber outfit that he wore in the first Muppet movie, which is one of my favorites, making him that much more special to freaks like me.
The Snowths are a pair of pink…somethings. They’re not cows, not monsters, not fish…but seem to have elements of all of these things. They’re best known as the back-up singers for the best-known of Muppety Scat Singers: Mahna-Mahna. One of the only sketches that was seen on the Ed Sullivan Show, Sesame Street, and The Muppet Show, you know the song: “Mahna-Mahna! Doo-DOO-Dee-Doo-Doo…” Or, alternately, “Mahna-Mahna! Ba-BEE-Ba-Pee-Dee…” and the two Pink Snowths sing the “Doo-DOO-Dee-Doo-Doo” part. They’re obscure, they’re cute, they’re essential because in the SECOND boxed set, you’ll find: Mahna-Mahna. So the two of them together give you a nice high. The sculpt on them is nice as well, and the two figures are standing on one black display stand…so close in fact that one has her hand on the other’s hiney. Hmmm. What this says about the Snowths? I’m really not sure.
I’ve been a hardcore collector of the Muppet action figures from Palisades, but was slower to warm up to the Mini Muppets. Right up until the time I saw them in the store. They’re very well made, and a great addition to (or beginning of) a Muppet collection. The line is starting small, but within the next year, will include everyone from Kermit to Bunsen and Beaker to the Electric Mayhem…this is the time to get on board with this line. It makes a great display, and if you’re someone who’s a more casual Muppet fan than I am, this is a fun way to collect some of your favorite characters.
You can find the Mini Muppets at Media Play, Suncoast, Sam Goody, Barnes & Noble and other retailers; they’re also available at several smaller stores and online sites—I recommend Boxingcow.com or Beanstoys.com for their excellent customer service.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 14.99
Type of Toy: Action Figure
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JediKermit
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 in Movies, Kids & Family, Books |
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Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
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Books, Movies, and Toys. Is there more to life?
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