Mighty Orbots Kickstarter - The Toy That Never Was

[Blot]

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/themightyorbots/mighty-orbots-deluxe-combining-12-figure-1985-edition/

It's only less than two weeks left but I think it looks pretty neat. It's a Kickstarter to make a real toy licensed toy of the unproduced Mighty Orbots from 1985. No modern articulation or anything like that, just a big blocky thing with firing fists and diecast construction. Who knows if it will make its goal: $300 is a hefty asking price.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

It needs garish stickers that aren't accurate to anything.

 

[Shadewing]

I'm sorry, this isn't worth $300 to me. Considering that is the same price as Haslab Liokaiser; I'm just not seeing the value.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

I'm sure the margins on this are extremely low. The price might be reasonable. My problem is it just doesn't look enough like a design they pulled out of a time capsule. It needs chrome, stickers, and block colored accessories.

 

[Blot]

I'm sure the margins on this are extremely low. The price might be reasonable. My problem is it just doesn't look enough like a design they pulled out of a time capsule. It needs chrome, stickers, and block colored accessories.

That's the funny part: this is the design pulled out of a time capsule. The Toy Fair images from the 80s we have don't have any of the those things.

 

[CoffeeHorse]

Wow. So Mattel was like halfway ahead of the time there.

This Kickstarter one really ought to desaturate the blue, because that old proto looks better.

 

[Powered Convoy]

Some sad news, Albert, the person who started the Kickstarter unfortunately passed away a few days ago. The rest of the Mighty Orbots Kickstarter team is committed to seeing this through without him. Hoping that Albert gets his wish and it meets its goal.

 

[Powered Convoy]

That's the funny part: this is the design pulled out of a time capsule. The Toy Fair images from the 80s we have don't have any of the those things.

View attachment 33387View attachment 33388

Wow. So Mattel was like halfway ahead of the time there.

This Kickstarter one really ought to desaturate the blue, because that old proto looks better.

Yeah, this is extremely accurate to what was going to originally come out. From what I can tell, they mostly improved the head sculpts a little but as well as the transformation. Still mostly 1980's goodness with a couple of improvements.

I also wouldn't think too much about the difference in blue. Might just be image processing versus an old catalog scan.

 

[Powered Convoy]

There will be a live stream featuring Secret Galaxy and Ramen Toys tonight at 9 PM EST. https://www.youtube.com/live/BBdW7Gu2xVI?si=9-wUMNzy3TMM0NcN

 

[Axaday]

I backed it. But it doesn't seem like it is going to double its backing in 9 more days.

I was definitely a fan when the show aired.

Edit - Well, it made another $5000 during the night. $5000 a day would get it there.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

Don't Kickstarters usually see a surge in their final hours?

 

[Powered Convoy]

Don't Kickstarters usually see a surge in their final hours?

Typically. It's been suggested (by me and others) that they may want to reach out to BBTS or the like to see if they have interest in purchasing a large amount. Which they are looking into.

 

[engledogg]

At one point, back when I had more disposable income, I would have been all over this as I loved the show when it first aired and always wondered why we never got toys.

I really hope it meets the goal.

MIKE
engledogg

 

[Tm_Silverclaw]

As a super robot fan.. I want to like it.. I -really- do.

But even for an 85 combined toy.. it looks sooo bland. We had Devastator that year.. The two Voltrons where already out or about to be. This.. honestly looks like something I modeled in Blender and printed out.

 

[LBD "Nytetrayn"]

For anyone reading this thread and asking "What the hell's an Orbot?"...

 

[Powered Convoy]

As a super robot fan.. I want to like it.. I -really- do.

But even for an 85 combined toy.. it looks sooo bland. We had Devastator that year.. The two Voltrons where already out or about to be. This.. honestly looks like something I modeled in Blender and printed out.

Fits the aesthetic and honestly looks like the animation to me. Which I give the animation credit for. You can see the individual robots go from the more shapely forms to the blocky combined mode limbs. This definitely takes that form above all else.

It works as a vintage style toy with a couple of minor tweaks from what it would have been.

Would I like something like a Soul of Chogokin more...? Sure. But this may be the only thing we ever get.

 

[Powered Convoy]

New update. Ohno will be carded.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/themightyorbots/mighty-orbots-deluxe-combining-12-figure-1985-edition/posts

 

[Blot]

Some sad news, Albert, the person who started the Kickstarter unfortunately passed away a few days ago. The rest of the Mighty Orbots Kickstarter team is committed to seeing this through without him. Hoping that Albert gets his wish and it meets its goal.

I was on the fence leaning "yeah" when I started this thread but when I saw the update about his passing I admit I'm a sentimental enough sort that it pushed me over and back it. Figured if Albert was going to have a legacy with this I'd prefer it was a good one.

 

[Powered Convoy]

I definitely think that the surge over the last few days was driven by his passing and possibly the advertising from Secret Galaxy. It's sad to think had he not passed that it may have been more likely to fail. Even sadder that he is no longer here to see it likely succeed.

 

[Powered Convoy]

They added a carded shadow Ohno and a Tobor poster as an add on.