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Post by brant on Oct 16, 2003 23:20:03 GMT -5
Hello! This is just a friendly hello from the folks at Sideshow... we just stumbled across this forum, and have had a good time catching up on all the news and views. We've had a tremendously good time working on the new 12" Buffy figures, and it's really good to be reading the opinions from loyal and knowledgeable fans like yourselves. Your opinions and suggestions don't go unread or unnoticed. I'll be popping in from time to time to check out the buzz and answer any questions that pop up. I may even be able to sneak some news or previews on occasion. And for the first bit of news... The 12" Spike figure is just now up for pre-order at www.SideshowCollectibles.com. Spike is my second favorite Buffy character (after Faith), and I'm really pleased with the way he turned out. Yes, I've read the gloves/no gloves debate - but the knife/cross is a VERY fun accessory, and we wouldn't want poor Spike suffering from any fiery religious accidents. I promise that we'll get the black nail polish worked onto Spike in the future. And believe it or not, the head sculpt looks even better in person than it does in the photos. |
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Post by BtVSFigs Admin on Oct 16, 2003 23:37:26 GMT -5
Hello  Thanks for coming to the forum! If you want our input we are SOOOO MORE THAN HAPPY to give it to you hehe. The Spike is AMAZING as are the new Buffy and Angel. Are the heads scanned or hand sculpted? |
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JP
Potential Slayer
Posts: 400
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Post by JP on Oct 17, 2003 0:44:47 GMT -5
Hey, Sideshow Brant! Nice to see you! Since you've seen Spike up close, could you tell me what color his eyes are? James Marsters eyes are blue, but it looks like the 12" Spike has brown eyes. Any chance of this getting fixed? Also, has Sideshow considered doing a line based on Once More, With Feeling, the musical episode? I remember how good Anya, Tara, Dawn and Buffy looked in that episode, and I would really like to see them done in those outfits. And, this would be a great way to get the main cast produced! I'm trying to hold off on buying any Sideshow Buffy figures until I know that I'll at least get an Anya figure, but knowing that this idea could happen would make me much more willing to order. I'm guessing that Wave 3 is going to be Xander/Willow, which would make sense, although they didn't wear anything really memorable in the Musical, so start the musical line after Xander/Willow are released. Then: Anya "Bunnies"/Tara "Under Your Spell" Dawn Ballet with removable dress/Giles Buffy "Life's a Show"/Sweet blue outfit The upcoming Buffy looks weird with her hair up, so this one could come with it down, and she could have a removable leather coat with that red shirt and jeans. Once More, With Feeling had so many good outfits and ideas that could make great figures. Sweet could even come with a henchman, or do a Gentlemen type deal where three henchmen are made! That would be pretty cool. Also, that would mean only three main credits characters are missing from the line-up, and a wave following the above of Cordelia and Oz would be great, and then Riley with Adam. I got really excited when I saw Spike and planned all of this out, and let me tell you, this line could be awesome! Does Sideshow also have the rights to make Angel characters, like Fred, Gunn, Lilah? I don't know if MAC will ever make these guys, and I'd really like to get them. Anyway, welcome to the forum! |
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Post by Willfan on Oct 17, 2003 0:51:04 GMT -5
Hi and Welcome!
Sideshow-10000, MAC- -122331334234
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Post by brant on Oct 17, 2003 1:28:04 GMT -5
Hey JP, Thanks for the great reply and the kind welcome! Okay, don't take offfense, but I'm going to answer a couple of your questions and ignore a couple others (just because I have to). We have serious intentions of producing all the main cast members - at some point. We don't want to break your wallet by releasing too much too quickly, so you're going to have to be a little patient in order to get everybody you'd like to see. Anya *is* high on the list of potential figures, but isn't coming before 2005. Don't skip the other figures that you like waiting for her... I don't want you to have any regrets.  Buffy's hair is "up" for a good reason - articulation. Unfortunately, sculpted long hair really hinders articulation. When possible, we are going to go with the hair "up" or "back" look to keep the figure as poseable as possible. For Faith - I can only think of one time she ever pulls her hair out of her face - and the figure does have long hair, down. In the future, we may experiment with rooted hair - but we don't like to do roto plastic heads (like Barbie) because you can't capture the same amount of facial detail in roto molded plastic. And Spike's eyes... will be blue. Our painter likes to give blue-eyed characters sort of a hazel ring around the blue. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. His eyes will be more blue in the finished product. Same is true for Buffy (her eyes are an odd color, sort of hazel/green/blue). |
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Post by slayerinterrupted on Oct 17, 2003 2:24:54 GMT -5
That's some great news Sideshow Brant!! Sounds like there are some fans among Sideshow and that can only spell good for your line! I was a major fan of your first Hush offerings a couple years back and was disappointed that you didn't follow up with other Scoobies. I also understood that Sideshow only owned rights to that particular episode. If you don't mind my asking, what changed? Did you renegotiate the contract recently or was that rumor only just that? If you did renew the contract, do you now own rights to do any Buffy or Angel cast members? I doubt you'd be going to the well of minor characters anytime before you produced the major ones, but there are some HUGE gaps that Moore has let slide for the longest that I would like to see Sideshow fill in eventually. For instance, for Angel, is there any chance for a Doyle or Lilah? These would make GREAT Sideshow direct exclusives. And I know they would sell out. And there's so many versions of the main characters that could be done (Willow alone would fill out a shelf nicely) as well as Victorian Angel, Drusilla, Joyce, Principal Snyder, the Mayor, Glory, Riley and more! It would also be nice to see a properly done Master figure from the first/second season of Buffy (the Moore fig is ok, but doesn't look much like the actor) with something other than just CANDLESTICKS! I have so many requests as I'm sure do others that I could go on all night, but I won't...for now. Welcome to the forums, and thanks for breathing new life into this line. I look forward to a whole shelf of Sideshow Buffyness in the future. Oh, and any chance we'll be able to see some protos of Faith soon? Is she still slated to be released the same time as Spike? I hope she comes with the dagger and maybe a crossbow and/or stake. |
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Post by Lior Knight on Oct 17, 2003 5:56:28 GMT -5
Hi Sideshow Brant, welcome to the forum!  I was wondering if you could tell us what changed in the new Buffy figure (except the hair and the cloths) that made price grow from 29$ (like the previous one) to 45$? Thanks. |
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Post by BuffyLover on Oct 17, 2003 7:17:51 GMT -5
Wow, thanks so much for posting in the forum. It means a LOT to the fans when companies actually talk to us and let us know at least some of what is going on. I was thrilled when I saw you were continuing the line! Especially since you made a new Buffy. Don't be afraid to burst our wallets! Most of us would rather wait a months in between instead of MANY months. We are so tired of waiting. I do have one small question, did you use old body (face) scans for the Buffy figure? Just curious if the cast came in an scanned for you or if they did in the past, or if these are hand done. Again thank you so much for your feedback here, and keep up the good quality Buffy stuff. By the way is there a chance we will see another Buffy figure in the fututre? That is, after the main cast is done.
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Post by Rogue on Oct 17, 2003 7:22:40 GMT -5
Welcome Sideshow Brant! We appreciate you taking the time to post here and give us a heads up. The new 12" figures are looking awesome! Hehe sorry about the gloves rant in that thread... it does make sense that he has them since he comes with the cross. But then you said, "I promise that we'll get the black nail polish worked onto Spike in the future." That's interesting... maybe another 12" Spike down the line? Cool... Anyways thanks again for coming here and posting! Edit: i hate some of the smileys... this one  in particular is rather useless since i needed a  instead of a . |
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Post by Alyrenee on Oct 17, 2003 10:26:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the info Sideshow Brant! It is great to have info straight from the source. All the folks here have such excellent ideas to share!
I completely adore the first buffy and gentlemen. Though I hope the new buffy will be able to hold her stakes better! Also, will the new buffy (and faith) have the same ankle articulation? The other buffy has some difficulty holding more dramatic poses? Hav eyou consider giving her booted feet more like the CyGirls???
Thanks again for posting!!! And pics would be great!
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Post by BoredNow on Oct 17, 2003 14:58:04 GMT -5
Hey Sideshow! First a little sucking up! Did you know what is my favorite action figure company? A couple of hints: They make Buffy action figures ... They release things ON TIME ... They ADVERTISE ... Basically they do everything that MAC doesn't but SHOULD ... YOU GUESSED IT! SIDESHOWWW!!!!!!!!!! OK, now it's time to beg ... I NEED A 12" ANDREW FIGURE!!!!!!!!!! I don't just WANT one I NEEEEEEEEEEEEED ONE!!!!!! and XANDER ANd Willow ... AND ANDREW. And i LOOOOVE the Spike and Angel!!!!!! Thanks!
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Post by brant on Oct 17, 2003 15:23:56 GMT -5
Whew, great questions. Let me try and tackle some of them.
Ankles - the new Buffy will have the same style ankle articulation as the old one, except that the join will be much better at holding poses. Faith will have all new boots, like the CyGirls you mentioned.
Price increase - supply and demand, cost increases. We made a LOT of the Hush Buffy figures, the edition size for the new ones is going to be smaller. When you make fewer units, the cost for each unit is higher. BUT we can do a better job ensuring higher quality in the cut/sew and paint etc with fewer units. I think you'll get more bang for your buck this time around.
The Master - actually, I thought MAC made a good choice to include the candelabra with the Master. He's not the kind of guy to use weapons, he's more about setting the mood...
Buffy hands and stakes - yes, she will definitely be able to use her stakes this time.
Buffy / Angel - at the moment, we're focused on the Buffy show only, but that's not final. There's just a LOT of Buffy goodness.
Andrew - he did have some quality moments is Season 7, didn't he? I loved the Trogdor reference in the finale - BURNINATE! Of course, Giles stole the scene...
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Post by Lior Knight on Oct 17, 2003 15:34:49 GMT -5
Whew, great questions. Let me try and tackle some of them. Ankles - the new Buffy will have the same style ankle articulation as the old one, except that the join will be much better at holding poses. Faith will have all new boots, like the CyGirls you mentioned. Price increase - supply and demand, cost increases. We made a LOT of the Hush Buffy figures, the edition size for the new ones is going to be smaller. When you make fewer units, the cost for each unit is higher. BUT we can do a better job ensuring higher quality in the cut/sew and paint etc with fewer units. I think you'll get more bang for your buck this time around. The Master - actually, I thought MAC made a good choice to include the candelabra with the Master. He's not the kind of guy to use weapons, he's more about setting the mood... Buffy hands and stakes - yes, she will definitely be able to use her stakes this time. Buffy / Angel - at the moment, we're focused on the Buffy show only, but that's not final. There's just a LOT of Buffy goodness. Andrew - he did have some quality moments is Season 7, didn't he? I loved the Trogdor reference in the finale - BURNINATE! Of course, Giles stole the scene... Thanks for answering the questions and explaining everything, Sideshow Brant. Like people mentioned earlier, it’s great that you guys, at Sideshow, do such a great job with the figures and also listen to your customers. Way to go! ;D |
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Post by Glory on Oct 17, 2003 17:28:03 GMT -5
Hey, this is very cool. Thank you very much for visiting the forums! It's sort of a small community so don't worry about being flooded with questions in a thread. I have a few questions.... - Is Willow really far up the line? I was thinking about her and he season 5 hair would make a pretty good sculpt. You know, she could be wearing something a little more funky and Willowesque. Like her outfit in "Tough Love" (I Owe You Pain!). And take it from MAC, she sells like a friggen hotcake. And also...bag o' knives! - Does Faith come with her knife? I mean, how else can she gut the Barbies and Kens at the toy store? - Will we see Faith soon? (Can you tell how much I anticpate her?! ) - How are bases going to look? Are they elaborate or like the first Buffy figs? - Did you use scans of David Boreanaz, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Eliza Dushku, and James Marsters to make these possible? Cause they're like dead-on! - |
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Post by BtVSFigs Admin on Oct 17, 2003 17:38:05 GMT -5
ahhh yes! Tough Love Willow! Mr. Brant take note of that!! She's got the short hair, good accesories, good base potential (floating), good accesories (knives), and the clothes would cover all the joints which I've noticed ya'll like to do. |
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Post by Raven on Oct 17, 2003 18:05:35 GMT -5
How nice to be able to pick an insiders brain!
Thanks for the visit and answering everyone's questions. I'm looking forward to Spike immensely. I have even got a friend who doesn't collect figures interested in buying Spike, because of the beautiful sculpt.
Looking forward to seeing the future projects.
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Post by brant on Oct 17, 2003 20:15:51 GMT -5
Willow is a tremendously fun character - there are SO many choices for her appearance. Think more 3rd season for her first appearance.
We have used scans for Buffy, Angel, and Spike. However, scans don't make things as easy as you might imagine. After the scan is used to make a wax landscape (think of topography maps with the squared elevation lines), a sculptor has to clean off the ridges/hard lines and add all the fine detail. Next time we do a figure this way, I will post images on the site showing the first output and the final sculpt. It's a really fascinating process.
For Faith and other upcoming characters, we have done the sculpting the old fashioned way.
The bases for these figures are NOT the same as what was previously included with Buffy. These will actually help her stand - unlike the old one. Our standard 12" figure base is a round plastic disc with a plastic stem and wire wasit clip - you can find images of it on our site. We will be featuring the Buffy logo on the bases.
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Post by JusticeDemon on Oct 17, 2003 20:20:06 GMT -5
Thanks for the insider-info, I can't wait to see the in-progress shots. I hadn't planned on buying all of the Sideshow Buffy figures, but I'm seriously reconsidering it.
By the way, have you given any thought to a "Once More, With Feeling" line of Buffy figures? It's one of the most memorable and requested moments in the Buffyverse, and I know you guys would do a tremendous job with it. Thanks again!
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Post by Lior Knight on Oct 17, 2003 20:20:25 GMT -5
Willow is a tremendously fun character - there are SO many choices for her appearance. Think more 3rd season for her first appearance. We have used scans for Buffy, Angel, and Spike. However, scans don't make things as easy as you might imagine. After the scan is used to make a wax landscape (think of topography maps with the squared elevation lines), a sculptor has to clean off the ridges/hard lines and add all the fine detail. Next time we do a figure this way, I will post images on the site showing the first output and the final sculpt. It's a really fascinating process. For Faith and other upcoming characters, we have done the sculpting the old fashioned way. The bases for these figures are NOT the same as what was previously included with Buffy. These will actually help her stand - unlike the old one. Our standard 12" figure base is a round plastic disc with a plastic stem and wire wasit clip - you can find images of it on our site. We will be featuring the Buffy logo on the bases. Will you guys be selling these bases separately as well, for the previous 12” Buffy figures? |
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Post by xander000 on Oct 17, 2003 21:57:42 GMT -5
Hi, it's fun to know that some people care about us!! I watched some old season two episode today and I came accross What's my line part 2 (where new sideshow spike come from) and I was wondering if there is any chance to see KENDRA in sideshow futur line, what do you think?I meen she a great character even if we see her just in 3 episodes.and a other one I would like to see is Joyce I meen come on she Buff mommy she as always been there.
My idea for figure are not the usely one I know but I hope sideshow will consider it?
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in particular is rather useless since i needed a 
Shine on down...
