Jeremy Padawer, the vice president of entertainment brand marketing with Jakks Pacific, spoke with MMAJunkie today and released some new details regarding the new UFC action figure line.
The Action Figure Business
Action figures generate $1.5 billion in sales every year in the United States. More than one third of the “toys” purchased are actually purchased as collectibles by men 15 years and older.
“These are legitimate collectibles,” said Padawer, whose company has a four-year master toy license agreement with the UFC. “If you look online or in the secondary market, you’ll see where some of these action figures, specifically limited-edition ones, are selling for $200 to $1,000. It is amazing how strong the collector segment is in the action-figure business.”
UFC Legends
Padawer then went on to say that Jakks will be producing a limited edition series of UFC legends. He also stated that the company has plans to produce a “classics” line of figures that will go all the way back to UFC 1. He expects these types of figures to do well in the secondary market with collectors.
When
The first UFC figures will hit major retailers such as Wal-Mart, Target, and Toys”R”Us nation wide in late 2009. A broad launch of the action figure line is expected at the beginning of 2010.
July 6, 2008
i can’t wait until these figures come out. the first one i would love to get brock lesner, kimbo slice, george st. pierre or rampage jackson. I’m 11 and i’ve been a fan for like 4 years. But i don’t want to be a ufc fighter when i’m older because i’m scared of geting a roundhouse from st.pierre or get my brains knocked out by kimbo. Anyways lokking forward to getting these figures and see ya.
July 9, 2008
I hope they release a range of caricature style figures of the classics stars! I would love to see Mark Coleman, Dan Severn, R Gracie and oleg taktarov figures! That would be great
July 9, 2008
I agree except I prefer lifelike figures myself. Although the Round 5 figures are awesome!
July 10, 2008
Have you seen the Crocop high kick figure?
July 10, 2008
Sorry it took me so long to reply, yes I have and it’s awesome. I have wanted to buy it, just haven’t been able to afford it yet.
July 11, 2008
As the can guess I prefer the caricature style figures. Just wish I could have bought the Hao figures the first time they were released, lol.
Do Jakks normally only make the style of figure shown in the prototype section or do they make differer ranges?
July 11, 2008
Yes I think all of their figures are lifelike like the prototype pics, unfortunately for you.
July 12, 2008
I shall wait and see what the finialised figures look like! Still think I will collect the legend series tho