In 2021, veteran animation writers and toy collectors, Chris “Doc” Wyatt And Gavin Highnight, launched their unbiased toy firm, Wandering Planet Toys. Their first undertaking out of the gate was a Kickstarter crowdfunding marketing campaign for an formally licensed line of toys based mostly on the cult TV sequence. The prisoner. It was a powerful success, elevating ten instances greater than its preliminary purpose. With The prisoner toy line within the rearview mirror, Wandering Planet toys are prepared with his next Kickstarter campaign for the primary ever line of formally licensed Nancy Drew toys.
Since her debut in 1930, the character of Nancy Drew has appeared in lots of of books however has by no means acquired a toy license earlier than. Wandering Planet Toys goals to resolve that downside with this new line that includes retro-style 4-inch collectible figures based mostly on the basic Nancy Drew e-book cowl by a well-known artist. Rudy Nappi.
Rhythm had the possibility to interview Chris “Doc” Wyatt and Gavin Highnight by way of e-mail in regards to the Nancy Drew toy line’s new crowdfunding marketing campaign. Throughout our dialog, we mentioned what impressed the choice for this particular license, in addition to classes discovered from their first Kickstarter. Moreover, Wyatt, Highnight and Jenn Fisherthe president of the Nancy Drew Detectives and marketing consultant on the toy line’s packaging design, weighed in on the continuing debate concerning feminine motion figures.
Taimur Dar: After the unimaginable success of The prisoner toy line, I do not suppose individuals would have anticipated your subsequent toy license to be Nancy Drew. What made you pursue the Nancy Drew Toy License as your subsequent toy line undertaking?
Gavin Highnight: I feel from the beginning of Wandering Planet Toys I’ve wished to do a left flip when individuals count on a proper flip. It is good to shock individuals, it is good to maintain individuals guessing and Prisoner was very rewarding for us as we had the chance to supply collectibles for followers of a sequence that lacked collectibles. For me, it was a giant similarity between Nancy Drew and The prisoner, a multi-generational fandom, a very cool character who has by no means had motion figures. It made sense to us {that a} retro-styled Nancy Drew would look nice on the shelf subsequent to her books and followers would need it. (As followers of the books, we wished that).
Chris “Doc” Wyatt: Yeah, positively an sudden route. We received numerous messages considering our subsequent line could be one other cult British TV present from the 60s, 70s or 80s. We love these exhibits. We hope at some point to make numbers on all these emissions. However we additionally do not need to do solely This. We need to diversify. In our home we’ve a shelf of Nancy Drew books, those that my spouse and I learn as children, that our youngsters are studying now. Figuring out that Nancy by no means had a determine line, it felt prefer it was the right multi-generational toy undertaking.
Dar: How does producing a toy line based mostly on a beloved e-book sequence examine to a cult sci-fi TV present?
Hello : I had an ideal nostalgia for the quilt of the Nancy Drew (and Hardy Boys) books. So for me, it was a visible property from the beginning. Such wealthy and delightful storytelling on these covers. Doing tips based mostly on the quilt made good sense. I feel we have been so excited to convey these covers into the toy medium that we did not even think about them any completely different from a film or tv property. Every thing we would have liked to make an exquisite figurine was already there on this cowl, it was only a matter of consideration and precision within the particulars. The duvet artwork helped inform the tales and hopefully now these characters do it another way too.
Wyatt: Taking a quantity straight out of a e-book is a bit completely different than taking it from TV. One of many weirder variations is that pulling figures from the quilt means solely seeing the character from one angle. Now we have to do numerous guessing what the again of an outfit appears to be like like, or in some circumstances when there is a cowl that you simply solely see Nancy from the waist up on, you need to attempt to determine at what appears to be like like the remainder of her look could be.
Dar: Was there something you discovered or found throughout your first Kickstarter marketing campaign that you simply utilized to the Nancy Drew Kickstarter?
Wyatt: There have been so many classes discovered, on learn how to work with the manufacturing unit in China, on learn how to take care of freight customs points, on the logistics of transport numbers. It was loads to be taught. Hopefully Nancy will profit from all of this.
Hello : LOL, EVERYTHING!!!! The prisoner was tremendous enjoyable, however difficult in that we needed to be taught so many classes the onerous means and in entrance of an viewers of consumers/backers who’re excited and wanting to get their numbers (which they helped convey to fruition by supporting you) . I am certain with Nancy Drew there will likely be a complete new set of classes to be taught, BUT, there are some issues we all know learn how to do in a different way and we all know they are going to get higher, as a result of now we all know higher. The most important shock for me on the manufacturing facet, our manufacturing unit was way more useful, proactive and inventive with options than I anticipated, given the horror tales I had heard from different makers in regards to the manufacturing overseas (throughout Covid after we could not journey and meet nose to nose). The most important lesson, be very cautious who your execution companion is. You are able to do all the things proper, and if you cannot get your numbers into the palms of consumers safely, none of your efforts matter.
Dar: What was the working relationship like with Simon & Schuster? Are they concerned in each inventive resolution for the characters or do they go away you principally?
Wyatt: Simon & Schuster have been wonderful companions. They watch all the things, they’ve notes on all the things, however they at all times need to transfer the undertaking ahead, and they’re at all times enthusiastic and supportive.
Hello : Nancy Drew’s workforce at S&S has been so constructive, variety and constructive. I used to be confused once I realized they have been in a giant publishing home and never in a small company or one thing like that. No kidding, since Doc had taken the initiative to ask for the license and talk, I did not even notice at first that we have been coping with S&S. I’ve handled many various corporations and mental property homeowners throughout my inventive profession and may say that my expertise with the S&S Nancy Drew workforce contrasts properly with lots of my different experiences. Very grateful for them.
Dar: The frequent perception within the toy trade is that feminine motion figures do not promote. This angle is probably greatest exemplified by the truth that not too long ago fired Marvel President Ike Perlmutter was behind the choice to dam Black Widow toys for the Avengers films. What are your ideas on this notion and was this concern in some way addressed within the Nancy Drew toy license?
Wyatt: It’s a measurable indisputable fact that motion figures of feminine characters promote fewer items than motion figures of male characters; however is it as a result of the motion determine shopping for public rejects feminine motion figures, or is it as a result of toy producers are making fewer feminine motion figures, and subsequently fewer are being bought? Should you put just one Black Widow per crate, as a substitute of 5 Hulks per crate, guess what? Hulk will outsell Black Widow 5 to 1. That is a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Hello : After I was a child, I wished a Princess Leia figurine as a lot as I wished Luke or Han. When She-Ra got here out, I ventured to this pink ladies toy island to get one to assist my different toys struggle Hordak and Skeletor. And when Return of Batman Catwoman had run out of wrappers. I pestered some poor man from Service Merchandise to exit the again and open a suitcase for me so I might get one. Wandering Planet goes to make some cool hero interval figures. It is Nancy’s time, she has to placed on a great face, and Nancy Drew Thriller followers, no matter gender, age, something that deserves to have one of their assortment. As a result of we cater to collectors, and due to the nice flexibility of crowdfunding and trendy manufacturing permitting us to sort out smaller sequence of figures, we do not have to fret about these outdated concepts of what sells or what’s left on a peg.
Jenn Fisher: Nancy Drew is such a popular culture icon and has been for many years, that I feel it transcends the everyday norm within the comedian e-book world – she’s in her personal league. Tens of millions of followers have learn her books over the many years from all walks of life, so there is a various group of collectors excited to gather these characters and relive that nice Nancy Drew childhood nostalgia. So, it is no thriller to me that Nancy Drew will do nicely not solely with feminine followers but in addition with male followers.
Hello : Thanks for the nice questions! At all times enjoyable to stroll round a bit in regards to the course of and keenness of constructing these toys.
Nancy Drew retro-style motion figures and an all-new Kickstarter Novella are live now. You may see photos and data and make your promise, here.
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