Our very own Sentai Tamashii is attending New York Comic Con 2015 and had some time to sit down with Greg Mitchell from Bandai America. We had asked on our @TokuNation Twitter account for some of the questions you guys had for Bandai America, as well as some of our own.
We asked around 12 questions and got answers for pretty much all of them! More Ranger Keys … we remind them which ones not to forget (and it looks like they almost did!). A 5″ Talon Ranger figure? Why does the Legacy line continue to rise in price – especially that $80 Falonzord? And does the Legacy Thunder Megazord have that attack sled formation? We got the answers! Click on “Read More” to read our Q&A!
TokuNation: The Falconzord looks awesome! A lot of fans are concerned with what they see as a price hike – early listings in Toys’R’Us computers show it at an $80 price point but the toy itself looks rather limited with the lack of a Megazord mode. Can you elaborate on the higher price for the item?
Bandai: Our goal is to never charge more for an item than what it’s worth. We don’t want to have fans going broke trying to purchase any of the items we release, especially from the Legacy line. As to why the figure is listed at $80? Will have to get in touch with the R&D (Research and Development) team – they price items based on what the cost is, whether it’s material (diecast metal) or special features (electronics). If it costs $80 then there’s a reason for it.
TokuNation: Fans want to know – do the individual zords in the Legacy Thunder Megazord combine to form the “sleigh/sled” mode like the original, or just the Megazord mode?
(Original answer removed till further clarification can be given)
UPDATE!!! Bandai followed up with our interview and wants to get 100% clarification on the attack sled mode from the design team. We will update yoh when they get back to us.
TokuNation: The Legacy Communicator looks great! What special features does it have with it? Also, we can’t help but notice the lack of green, white, and gold options for colors…
Bandai: We are currently working on the sounds for the communicator (listening to the fans input) as well as any other special features that it will include. We should have it finalized within the next couple of months. The initial release is what you see in the display case (in terms of colors), but that doesn’t mean we won’t do something with it again … so keep your eyes peeled in the future.
TokuNation: The sound for the Talon Ranger was unlocked last Thanksgiving in the Dino Charge morpher, and listings have been found in computer systems for the zord. What are the odds of getting a 5″ Talon Ranger?
Bandai: Unfortunately we cannot comment about this at this time. Again – keep your eyes open, a lot of interesting things are going to be revealed and released in the future…
TokuNation: Any chance of some more 5″ Legendary Rangers to be released? We are in a dinosaur theme series, with an entire team (minus one) of Dino Thunder Rangers begging for a release…
Bandai: Again, cannot comment on that right now. Going to advise again to keep your eyes peeled because there’s a lot of great things coming in the future.
TokuNation: Another site reported in a discussion with you here at NYCC that Ranger Keys will be complete in 2016 … we just want to advise you not to forget the Spirit Rangers in Jungle Fury (Elephant, Bat, and Shark Rangers) if you’re releasing more (three more US-original Rangers)
Bandai: Our goal is to finish all of the Ranger Keys in 2016 – whether they are female keys, sixth Rangers, extra Rangers, etc. Honestly not sure if these three are on the list. NOTE: Bandai had us E-mail them the names of these three Rangers so they could get the information to the right individual(s) for the Ranger Keys as they do not want to miss any.
TokuNation: With the popularity of Dino Charge, especially with the older fanbase, has there been any discussion with Tamashii Nations and/or Bluefin Tamashii Nations at trying to get a release of the Kyoryuger Figuarts (all except Red were Tamashii Web Exclusives) in the United States?
Bandai: While both companies are aware of what the other is doing and releasing, cannot really say what they have in store in terms of anything Power Rangers related. NOTE: Our own Sentai Tamashii felt like this answer wasn’t as much of a dodge as it was stating they don’t really know if there’s any plan or idea to bring them over. Our feeling is don’t hold your breath (but hey, we could be wrong too!).
TokuNation: Kickback would like to remind you that it’s never too early to plan out the Legacy Zeo Gold Ranger collection of merchandise.
Bandai: (lots of laughter) Yes, we’re aware how much Kickback loves the Zeo Gold Ranger. Let him know we haven’t forgotten. Stay tuned, you never know what could be coming.
TokuNation: In a totally unrelated note with absolutely zero meaning in it, would you rather spend two years traveling around by TRAIN or two years learning how to be a NINJA?
Bandai: (lots of laughter again) I totally see what you’re trying to do there. That’s an awesome question and an awesome way to word it. But you know we can’t answer that one :)
TokuNation: What message would you like to give to the older fanbase of toy collectors for Power Rangers?
Bandai: Always keep your eyes peeled, we have lots of awesome things in the works. We try to keep the older fans in mind in everything that we do. The fans in general – they are why we do what we do.
TokuNation: Any chance of a Legacy Thunder Slinger?
Bandai: That’s definitely something that has been brought up in our meetings. It’s obviously something we’ve looked at. But will it happen? That remains to be seen…
TokuNation: The usual question – any plans to expand Legacy outside of Mighty Morphin? Kind of running out of things…
Bandai: That’s something that a lot of our team has been wanting to do and looking to do for quite some time. Obviously we can’t comment on anything at this time for it – but in 2016/2017, the Legacy line is going to be pretty awesome. NOTE: In our own Sentai Tamashii‘s words, the line will “flourish”.
Our own Sentai Tamashii sat down with Greg Mitchell from Bandai America for some questions and answers based on what you fans asked us on our Twitter as well as some of our own questions.
NOTE: We paid attention to what they answered for other sites and did our best not to ask duplicate questions. Poisandra and Ranger Key questions had been asked a ton, so we did not ask those.
http://news.tokunation.com/2015/10/1...-america-29541
One sound that the communicator could (hopefully) include is the oft-forgotten three-note "offline" noise. Would definitely make more sense the MMPR theme again lol
EDIT: In case you are unfamiliar or have forgotten - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yTSOXSuT94&feature=youtu.be&t=7m5s @ 7:05
Complete punt in the pricing issue
They don't have an answer other than because we can until we can't
No way they should be commanding SOC prices for legacy stuff
theres absolutely no reason why the Falconzord should be $80, electronics or not. Thats flat out highway robbery especially given many collectors will want 2 or even 3
You didn't ask them, but what is their official line on why I'm being denied a poisondra figure.
Hold on, I'm laughing at "We don't want fans to go broke, especially with the Legacy line"
Sucks that the questions I wanted answered the most either had vague and dodgy answers.
Oh well. I guess I'll have to wait.
Here's just a thought of mine of the Legacy pricing... Would removing the diecast maybe drop the prices? Because right now, the prices I'm seeing are making me picture a lot of shelf warming of the stuff until it goes on clearance.
Heck, my local TRU has Legacy Sabas, movie White Ranger Morphers, Tigerzords, AND black Megazords all collecting dust on the shelves right now.
I just wish they'd make Legacy Zords out of mostly plastic. All the metal on Dragonzord and how it weighs down the Megazord... makes it unfortunately a pass for me. A difficult one, but still a pass. :/
One would think TRU or other retailers will have something to say about the pricing if it's gonna clog shelves
I mean Hasbro jacked up prices and reduced complexity on their figures just to stay on shelves, and they move more volume than legacy shit
Eventually BoA will have to come down or walk away
Read the answers that Bandai gave and here what I think
Talon Ranger might be a con event figure in the future don't think they will release it with dino charge
Legendary Rangers don't think it gonna happen there is just to many figures to release from dino charge core 5, dino drive, extra rangers, and villians
This question got me really angry " stating they don’t really know if there’s any plan or idea to bring them over" REALLY Bandai now is the time to bring the Kyoryuger Figuarts over while Dino Charge is airing not when the show over. I feel Bandai out right lie about plans cause in the past they did the same thing with Gokaiger and Ninniger figuarts never happen ugh
Keep reading: NYCC 2015 - Q&A with Bandai America - Page 2
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