SDCC 2016 – Exclusive Bandai America Q and A

While no one from our staff directly was able to attend this year’s San Diego Comic Con 2016, we were still able to speak directly to Greg Mitchell from Bandai America. We used social media yesterday to ask your questions about anything and everything Power Rangers related and Greg was kind enough to answer each and every single question.

Please click the “Read More” to read the full interview.

If you have follow up questions – please make sure to post them on the discussion thread linked to this news story. Bandai America will be checking the thread throughout the show and sending us follow up answers to your additional questions.

Please note – any and all movie questions are unable to be commented on at this time save for the items revealed in the case this weekend at the show.

UPDATE! We sent a couple of follow up questions and we received answers! They are at the end of the interview below!

TokuNation: With the recent release of the Legacy Limited Edition Dragonzord, a lot of fans are curious when we’re going to get the Black and Gold Legacy Titanus to complete the Black and Gold set.

Bandai America: We are happy to be hearing this request. As you know, we love Titanus and thought he was a heck of a toy. We want to keep things sequential if possible, so obviously it makes perfect sense that he would be the next Black and Gold release after the Mighty Morphin Megazord and the Dragonzord. However, Titanus is not a cheap toy but we are also aware that his after-market value has skyrocketed. In this case, it’s pretty simple – if fans want it, make some noise. The louder you are, the more likely we’ll be able to do it.

TokuNation: In the same light as the previous question, we’re also getting a lot of questions asking for a Legacy Tor or a Legacy Serpentera.

Bandai America: We love Tor. The biggest hurdle here is do you think the retailers will know who Tor is? I (Greg) bring him up in our meetings all the time but we also have to convince retailers that this is an item that needs to be carried. So like with the Black and Gold Titanus question, the more noise fans make the more likely this will happen.

TokuNation: Where are the Legacy Movie Black and Yellow Morphers?

Bandai America: As you know, the Red, Blue, and Pink Morphers are currently available in select stores throughout the country. We’re waiting to see how those sell through. Obviously if the sell through on them is great it will be a lot easier to have the retailers then go ahead and order Black and Yellow Movie Morphers. So please – if you like them and you want more, go pick them up if you haven’t already!

TokuNation: Will the new Power Rangers Movie receive the same treatment in the Legacy line?

Bandai America: At this time we are unable to comment on anything Movie related aside from what’s in the display case currently.

TokuNation: Will the Legacy line of Megazords and Roleplay items continue chronologically after Mighty Morphin and in to Zeo, or is there a chance that we could see a series skipped in lieu of another?

Bandai America: The chronological order bit has worked so far. However, if sales begin to wind down or slow down on the Mighty Morphin stuff and in to Zeo, there’s always the chance we could skip something. Obviously we want to listen to the fans – so if we get a large legion of fans saying how much they want, just for example, In Space or Lost Galaxy, then it’s entirely possible that we could then skip a Zeo or a Turbo to get to those series. The Legacy line is for the fans and we listen to you.

TokuNation: While not on display (and not even sure if you can talk about it but it is listed online at various retailers), is the Red Ranger Legacy Helmet a one time thing or could we see that continue with other Rangers?

Bandai America: We have this vision that we would like to see it continue. We chose the Red Ranger first because he was kind of the “first hero” and just a great choice to lead off the line with. These are $100 a pop though so the reality of releasing, say, every single Ranger in a series isn’t necessarily something that is going to be easy to do. This line especially could see Rangers from different series. We don’t have the helmet with us here, but when you see it you will be amazed at the amount of detail and care that went in to this thing. The pictures don’t do it justice – it has ventilation throughout the entire helmet so your visor doesn’t get fogged up and you don’t have to smell your stinky breath all day. And it’s super comfortable – it’s made to be worn. We have one at the office and everyone loves wearing it and it fits everyone – from the little pea-sized head person to the watermelon-sized heads. We really hope this line takes off. It will be at a future show on display – not sure if Power Morphicon or New York Comic Con – but when it’s up please take time to check out the amount of detail that this thing has.

TokuNation: We can’t help but notice the absence of three of the six Legacy Ninja Storm figures – namely Crimson, Navy, and Green Samurai.

Bandai America: So as you guys are aware the new Legacy line of figures comes with a “Build A Figure” Megazord. We realized right off the bat that the core three Ninja Storm Rangers had a Megazord. So when we decided to pair them with the first set from Mighty Morphin, we knew that we could start off the “Build A Figure” concept and have one set be completed in the first wave release using Ninja Storm. With Mighty Morphin, it will take two waves to complete that “Build A Figure” Megazord, and we didn’t want the concept of the “Build A Figure” to be lost between waves. On top of that, it works out great for the Movie – as you will have Wave 2 finish up the Mighty Morphin series and in that window of time the Movie Legacy figures will be available as exclusives at Toys’R’Us.

TokuNation: Before we forget to ask – are these new Legacy figures all exclusive to Toys’R’Us?

Bandai America: Glad you asked – so the non-movie Legacy figures are actually going to be available in all major US retailers including Amazon.com. This is huge for us because we are so incredibly excited for these figures – I (Greg) worked for a long time on making these a reality and I (Greg) am beyond excited that these are finally hitting stores soon. The chance for exposure on these figures has never been bigger and we, again, are super excited to see the fans’ reaction to these. As for the Movie Legacy figures shown in the display case here at SDCC, they will be exclusive to Toys’R’Us.

TokuNation: Having worked on the toy industry for some time, I (Kickback) can’t help but laugh sometimes at fan reaction to things like paint when you can obviously tell they are hand-painted.

Bandai America: Yeah, those are actually hand-crafted and hand-painted samples. The final versions will have more defined detail.

TokuNation: A lot of fans have been asking and even though I (Kickback) already know the answer, it’s best coming from you. Do the new Legacy figures come with their Power Weapons or blaster forms of their Blade Blasters?

Bandai America: So with the “Build A Figure” feature, each figure comes with a piece of their season’s Megazord. To keep the cost affordable, that means we couldn’t pack these with every accessory. But we also hear those who are completionists who do want everything possible with their figures. That’s why we’re using the Sixth Rangers as kind of way to include extra accessories. For example, the Mighty Morphin Green Ranger comes with an extra set of hands and the Sword of Darkness as well as his Dragon Dagger in place of a piece to build a Megazord. This means we could use those Sixth Rangers to include extra accessories for the team or just in general. We tried to kind of hint that with the show exclusive by packing him with the Power Sword and the sword for the Megazord. But we hear the fans and we’re coming up with a way to get those accessories eventually.

TokuNation: Is there any reason why there was no real new Power Rangers Dino Supercharge toys revealed at the show? We’ve seen things listed online but was kind of surprised not to see them at the show.

Bandai America: How do I say this? Everything has been revealed or that can be revealed. Obviously we have to time reveals with Saban Brands and Nickelodeon – don’t want to spoil the show. But if something has been in the show and we have a toy of it, we’ll show it off.

TokuNation: And Power Rangers Ninja Steel?

Bandai America: That’s more of a timing thing. We didn’t want to reveal way too much at one show and then having nothing left to reveal at another show. But if you remember Power Morphicon 2014, that’s when we really revealed the majority of year one product for Dino Charge.

TokuNation: You probably can’t answer the Movie bit of when we can expect toys on the shelf, but what about Ninja Steel toys?

Bandai America: For Movie stuff – stay tuned. Big announcements coming soon on Movie product. As for Ninja Steel…

TokuNation: Is it safe to say it will be Thanksgiving as it has been in year’s past?

Bandai America: Exactly. Dino Charge did so incredibly well with the early ship with Toys’R’Us that the other retailers jumped on board early and started releasing the product earlier than they had originally anticipated to. That formula seems to work really well for us so you can expect to see Ninja Steel toys in December, or sometime after Thanksgiving.

TokuNation: A few fans pointed out – we’re still missing the Spirit Rangers from Power Rangers Jungle Fury on Ranger Keys…

Bandai America: Any Ranger Keys that have yet to be released are always under consideration. The Ranger Keys are actually proof that if the fandom wants something and is loud enough, they can make it happen. The fact you can go to Toys’R’Us today, buy Ranger Keys for a toy line that hasn’t been out in almost 3 years, is a testament to the fans and that retailers will listen. Fans have asked for Megazord keys – that’s a little more complicated when it comes to new molding and stuff.

TokuNation: But say like Dino Charge keys?

Bandai America: Exactly! Always possible. If the fans want those Japanese only keys to be released in our scale in the US, it can happen if they voice up loud enough as they did with the Sixth Rangers and the remaining female Rangers.

TokuNation: Any chance on releasing older Megazords in the current Mega Collection line at Toys’R’Us?

Bandai America: That’s a line we really like. It’s a great chance for fans who are jumping in to the show and realize they really wanted the previous year’s Megazord – well it’s available in the Mega Collection so they don’t have to pay after-market prices on some of that stuff. We are always looking at different Megazords to put in there from previous years or maybe even earlier than that.

(NOTE: We were asked to forward what Megazords that the question-asker was specifically thinking of)

TokuNation: Last but not least – can we get some hints on upcoming exclusives for Power Morphicon and New York Comic Con?

Bandai America: You know, I woke up this morning thinking we had 6-8 weeks left for Power Morphicon and realized that nope, it’s in less than a month. So I won’t even bother with a hint – it’ll be announced in the next week or two. As for New York Comic Con … no hints, but we may reveal it at Power Morphicon or shortly thereafter. We actually have our meeting after this weekend on our set up for those shows.

—– UPDATED FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONS —–

TokuNation: Where are the Legacy Ninja coins?

Bandai America: Keep your eyes and ears open… (wink)

TokuNation: Will we see villains in this new Legacy line of figures?

Bandai America: That’s something we’d love to do if the fans embrace this new Legacy line like we’re hoping they will.