Exploring Robotech Merchandise - Mechs, Jets and Figures from Macross and beyond!

A video so good I completely forgot I'd pulled it together?! Anyway, better late than never! Whilst Harmony Gold got the rights to produce some merchandise associated with their Robotech combination of several anime shows, there were also products from others based on the component anime for the show. This is just a little snapshot, but does highlight some of the highs and lows quality wise...

[@P3SS3SSOd]

That's a very interesting figure, the Rick Hunter. It's definitely made as a doll, the comb's an obvious giveaway there, but the body is much closer to a Barbie Ken/Jem Rio from the mid 80s. I can only imagine this was something that confused western toy marketers as boys aren't traditionally going to buy a Lynn Minmay doll, but girls might, and they'll need her 'partner'? I seriously can't imagine marketing Robotech as a girl's TV show but maybe this was one of those instances where the romance angle of the storyline was perceived as something the girl's market would watch too, so getting a couple of dolls on the shelves might have been a concerted effort to cash in on this aspect? Boys and girls toys were very separately marketed then as: far as licensed lines went, but this could be something of a forward-thinking move on Harmony Gold's behalf. This would be consistent with the lack of love for it in the current boys-toys vintage collectable market too. Just some minor musings anyway. Great video, as always, Mr Excelsior!

[@CosmicToys]

‘Sticky helmet’ lol
Yes, that’s the plastic degradation

[@CosmicToys]

I wonder what they were actually thinking by designing a doll like that for what is obviously a boys toy line. I mean, would those 8-10 year old self be seen dead playing with that?