Toy OTD: Monsters On Ice Toys: Smitty & Needleman Plushes

These plushes are some the rarest Monsters, Inc. toys that I have - I think they were only sold at the Monsters On Ice show that toured a while back, and I've never seen them again. Not at the theme parks, not on eBay... they just disappeared!

I really love Smitty and Needleman, so I bought these toys in spite of the fact that they're just okay, quality-wise. In a way, though, they feel a little like hand-crafted toys - they've got a naive charm to them!

The basic shapes and colors are there, and most of the simplified features look fine. The fabric 'hardhats' and Needleman's pinched upper lip are the most awkward details. I'm not sure Needleman really needed his chin hair, but it's an interesting touch. To their credit, the designers and manufacturers didn't add anything to the characters, either - at least they're not dressed with/holding extraneous clothing or props that the characters didn't own or wear in the film.

Neither of them stand up very well, there's no wire armature inside to make them posable, and there's no accessories (not that I really need any). Some plushes manage to balance on feet loaded with heavier plastic 'beans', but no such luck here.

I have no idea who manufactured these - the tag only has licensing information on it. These were sold loose at a handcart (or maybe a kiosk) outside of the show, and I think they were both less than ten dollars each.

I still can't find these toys for sale online anywhere - all I can say is keep that eBay favorite search running... good luck!

Toy OTD: Monsters On Ice Toy: Mike's New Car

The Kenneth Feld Disney-themed ice shows are yet another source for Disney/Pixar merchandise. Some items have never been offered in any other venue!

For example, when the Monsters On Ice show was touring, a moderately-sized, plastic version of the vehicle featured in Mike's New Car was sold at the concession stand. As far as I know, this toy was exclusive to the event, although a much smaller version was made separately from the show and sold elsewhere.

This is a good toy, but its primary virtue is obscurity. The sculpt, paint work, and construction are above average, but not anything that would grab your eye if the subject were a more common vehicle. It's sturdy enough, but there's really no other special features or embellishments other than free-rolling wheels. I don't remember any packaging to speak of (maybe a tag for branding), but if you don't want this particular car as a toy in the first place, it probably isn't going to convince you otherwise.

This item isn't for sale online right now, so yet another eBay favorite search might in the cards for you. Good luck!

Toy OTD: Hasbro Monsters, Inc. C.D.A. Agent Figure W/Sound

The original Monsters, Inc. figure line is pretty nice - the toys aren't necessarily loaded with features or meticulous detail; but they are streamlined, appealing versions of the movie's characters.

The C.D.A. agents weren't an obvious choice for toys, so it's cool that one was included in the line-up. There's not a lot of articulation here, but the sculpt and colors work well, and the figure's solidly balanced. There's an extra feature, too - at the press of a button, an antenna pops up (with a sound clip from the film) from the top of the backpack.

These toys have been sold out for seven years, but they're still easily found on eBay. You can get one right now for $8.09 + $8.25 shipping.

Toy OTD: McDonald's, Monsters Inc. Abominable Snowman Happy Meal Figure

I always like to show that it doesn't take elaborate manufacturing techniques or sky-high price points to make a cool, fun-looking toy. At least, that what I hope to prove - I love super-elaborate, boutique-y toys, but I don't want to come off like some kind of snob. Well, most of the time I don't...

Here's another poster child for simplicity in toymaking - there's three points of articulation, and three paint passes at the most. Of course, the figuremakers were lucky enough to start off with a great design that my buddy Ricky Nierva did. The sculptor here did a fine job of preserving the design's appeal, even though the source character's fuzzy and the toy's an all-plastic figure. The colors may not be spot-on-model, but I think the spirit of the law is maintained. It stands well by itself (the sculptor didn't show off and over-pose the toy), and you can pose it a little bit yourself for extra play value.

A lot of fast-food toys try to jam some sort of gimmick into a toy - I'm assuming they don't feel confident that the 'source memory' (or whatever you want to call it) won't inspire a purchase, so a rip-cord motor or slide viewer or something is added that has nothing to do with the film story or the character, and mainly winds up hurting the sculpt because this extra feature has to be accommodated. I understand that some of these items were designed when the script was still in flux - ofttimes, big plot points are dropped, leaving some of the merchandising in the lurch. Still, it's a shame.

The Happy Meal promotion for Monsters, Inc. is of course long gone, but you can still get a snowman (plus seven others from the line) for $15.95 + shipping.