Thinkway's Toy Story Collection

Pixar's Feature Films Toy Story / Lightyear
#2541

I finally saw the boxed Lotso at TRU- I swear, put your nose to the package and you can smell the strawberries permeating through the packaging! The packaging design is very retro- reminded me of the box design for the Cabbage Patch Kids moreso than the Care Bears.

At Target, I saw something really strange: it appears that Target has an exclusive del to take those 3 aliens, and package them as single-releases. I saw single releases of the ‘O-shaped mouth’ and the ‘open-mouthed smile,’ but not the ‘closed-mouth smile,’ which I want to buy.

They also had the version of Barbie from the movie, but I swear her outfit is glossier and shinier than in the movie previews.

#2542

You know, I was really considering getting this set as well as the TSC versions of Jessie and Bullseye, since I would like to have poseable versions of the rag-doll type characters. But if only Bullseye’s front legs are hinged, then he’s not really poseable, is he? I was hoping to have him in a rearing back pose (not sure if it would balance even if he could move that way), but now I’m really not seeing the point of those front leg hinges. It’s a shame, really.

Regarding the Woody and Buzz Potato Heads, does the back of the box make it sound like it’s the Toy Story Mr Potato Head dressing up as Woody or Buzz? That would be hilarious, and I really hope someone thought to do that.

#2543

Hi everyone,

I have been following this thread pretty much from page one, and have just decided to register here so I can join in the discussion about Thinkway’s Toy Story Collection, of which I am a huge fan.

I currently have a complete collection so far as UK availability goes, (Buzz, Woody, Aliens, Army Men, Rex and R.C).

Additionally I have an original 1961 Fisher Price Chatter Telephone - see pics below. I urge anyone to try and get a hold of this fabulous toy where possible, as in terms of authenticity you can’t get any better than the real thing. I got mine off e-bay for the better than bargain price of £1.04 (that’s slightly more than one dollar for you US folk). When you consider this toy is nearly 50 years old that equates to nothing short of a steal.

He has the correct original wooden base, original chord, wheels, eyes, and stickers. For such an old toy he is in very good condition in fact, with only slight tearing on the decals and a small amount of dirt / general wear. Most commonly you can only find these things in a very poor state. I gave him a good clean when I got him but intend for the moment not to do any further restoration work becuase in his current state he closely matches Pixar’s final render of the Chatter Phone character from Toy Story 3. His bell and rolling eye feature still all work perfectly.

For anyone thinking of purchasing the re-release of Chatter Telephone from UK retailer Hawkins Bazaar url=http://www.hawkin.com/find/category-is-All/Price-is-5,0-to-10,0/product-is-09881[/url] please be advised that it is not wholley accurate to the orginal toy, nor screen accurate to Pixar’s character version. Differences include a yellow chord instead of black and white, thinner, paler wheels, larger nose paint application, incorrect pull chord at the front and plastic base. If I had the choice I’d urge you to go for the original of course, though the re-release is a good buy if only for the fact it comes with authentic looking packaging.

Enough words… let these pictures speak for themselves. (Note*Pixar’s film version of the Chatter Telephone has added eyebrows and eyelids that are not present on the orginal toy… this was undoubtably to add a greater emotional range of expressions to the character):

I hope this has been useful to some of you thinking about getting a Chatter Telephone for your collection - I couldn’t be happier with mine.

No sniff of a whisper yet for any Wave 2 stock in the UK, not even Mr. Potato Head. I check Toys R Us in Southampton regularly - but nothing. Strangely though they do have Rex back in, but with the new white background Toy Story Collection logo which means that they have had new stock. The absence of Mr. P is getting frustrating now, especially because in the US he has been around for a long while now.

Any questions, or if you would like to see more pictures of my collection… feel free to ask. Thanks. :slight_smile:

#2544

i totally agree with you. I live in the UK aswell and my toys r us have no new toys apart from rex and mr and mrs potato head(non-collection). I have got woody, buzz, rex, rc, soldiers and aliens and im dying to get the hamm which only the american disney stores have. I would just like to point out that, do you know when we are going to get the new collection toys in because our disney store has hardley any. I have found a toy story collection mr potato head on ebay for £50.00 on the uk buy it now (just to let you know)
many thanks, callum

#2545

Most of the dates for the UK are from June 1st. I wouldn’t hold to that though. I don’t expect to see the second wave of figures until mid/end of June at the earliest. As for Mr P, The Entertainer is the only shop offering him now. Most sites list him as June. I’m picking one up from store tomorrow if they still have him.

#2546

Ah just my luck… The Entertainer toy shop in Southampton disappeared a few months ago to be replaced by a Rockbottom Toystore. I was unaware that they currently had them though, good news at least.
I’m tempted to order one off their website but I like to see the product in person when I buy it, and can sometimes spend upwards of ten minutes making my choice (this was especially the case with the aliens, where there were about 15 boxes on the shelf and I carefully went through each looking for the best paint job, and most pristine packaging). As it is I think I can wait till June the 1st… just.

Come to think of it there are a distinct lack of any Toy Story products round about it seems, unless you count the Toy Story Lego line which is currently rife. Even the Disney store only has one shelf of products which hasn’t been updated in months. Come the film’s release however I expect merchandising to be very high, so we here in the UK are just gonna have to hold out, painful though it is. I’m particularly eager for the Thinkway Chunk to come out - he looks hillarious. I hope he is in scale with the rest of the Collection series.

Ooh, just noticed some development, Lotso is now listed on Tesco.com here. This at least suggests he has arrived in the UK and will be ready for sale shortly.

#2547

UK buyers should check out smythstoys.com/

As for the dates, who knows? I had Mr P on pre order from play.com from way back in Feb. They have put him back every week since then. I guess they will be here when their here.

#2548

Went to Target yesterday and (while I didn’t buy anything) was so happy to see the tremendous Toy Story lineup. TSC Buzz, Woody, Bucket o Soldiers, & Mr. P. (Yup! He’s at Target now!), along with one-pack aliens, TS3 packaging Slinky Dog, and a cheap version of Jessie with yarn hair, in which I got really excited for, only to realize she’s off scale. Oh well. Also many buddy packs. The view was so cool, I took pictures. =)

Mr P, Woody, and Buzz look awesome next to each other, you have to admit.[/img]

#2549

i still want to see pics and stuff of lotso…all these people saying they see him at the store but no pics or anything

#2550

Really? I’d thought by now someone would have posted pictures of him.

#2551

I found potato head and bought him. He is so cool. He was at toys r us. Pic coming soon! :smiley:

#2552

okay, thanks I’m going to get the regular since the utility belt one doesn’t have magnets and boomerang/rope.

#2553

According to the Disney Pixar Facebook page they have features for all the new characters (I will not list Lotso , Ken, and the Chatterphone because we already know those)

Chunk:
Chunk will rock your world! This gargantuan creature sports protective shoulder spikes, while his ferocious fists are ready to smash whatever enemy gets in his way. Chunk’s oversized limbs are fully poseable, making him ready for hours of imaginative fun. As an added bonus, the press of a hidden head spike will spin Chunk’s facial expression from friendly to fierce! No batteries necessary.

Dolly:
Dolly is a soft and sweet dress-up rag doll, and is the perfect gift for any young child! Her floppy body and sunny smile will make her an irresistible new member of your family. Dolly has purple hair, googly eyes and gently blushing cheeks. She comes with a pretty blue dress, but templates are included to create and sew your own outfits! Machine washable on gentle cycle.

Mr. Pricklepants:
Frolic your afternoons away on woodland adventures with Mr. Pricklepants! This charmin
lederhosen-wearing hedgehog is from the Waldfreunde collectionof premium imported plush toys. He may look prickly, but the plump and fuzzy Mr. Pricklepants is made strictly for cuddling! Hand wash and air dry. Restore fluffiness with fingers. Made in Germany.

Sparks:
Sparks will fly – literally – during electrifying playtimes with your new robot friend Sparks! This retro-inspired toy has flashing red LED eyes and a blaster cavity that actually spits out real sparks when he’s rolled along on his sturdy rubber wheels. Sparks also sports telescoping arms with working pincers, and an elevator action that raises his entire body to new heights. Sparking action completely child-safe. Requires two AA batteries (not included).

Stretch:
Stretch is a fun-loving under-the-sea octopus friend that shines in glittery purple. Kids can count her eight rubbery legs and dozens of sticky suckers that are sure to stand up to rough-and-tumble play and extreme stretching. Toss her high on the wall and watch her climb her way down! Clean in mild soap solution to remove dust and lint.

Twitch:
Meet Twitch, the insectaloid warrior, where MAN + INSECT = AWESOME! This sturdy action figure stands over five inches tall, with more than 15 points of articulation, including ferocious chomping mandibles. Use his powerful wings and impenetrable exoskeleton to evade capture! Twitch is meticulously detailed and includes his signature magical battle staff and removable chest armor. For children ages 4 and up. Other insectaloid figures sold separately.

Trixie:
Trixie is a perfect playmate for prehistoric playtime! Visit the era when dinosaurs ruled the Earth!
Made of rigid, durable plastic and in friendly shades of blue and purple, Trixie features an expressive mouth and movable legs. This gentle Triceratops will feed any child’s imagination. Also available: Tyrannosaurus Rex, Stegosaurus and Velociraptor.

Peas in a Pod:
Peas-in-a-Pod will quickly become a parent’s favorite on-the-go toy. The soft, plush pod secures the happy peas inside with a durable metal zipper, making it perfect for the car or stroller. The Peas-in-a-Pod plush toy also develops fine motor skills by catering to a child’s natural grab instinct. Pulling the three peas out of the pod will provide repeated enjoyment for infants and toddlers, and soon they’ll learn to put them back in! Machine washable. Not for human consumption.

Buttercup:
Saddle up for fun and let Buttercup lead your child away on a magical adventure! This cuddly unicorn features velvety-soft, snow-colored fur with sparkly gold and pink accents. He sports a signature mythical golden horn and a fun-to-comb mane and tail. Buttercup’s durable plastic eyes are both charming and scratch-resistant. Hypo-allergenic. Ages 3 and up.

Big Baby:
Your little one will love this lifelike baby doll with his soft, cuddly fabric body and vinyl arms, legs and face. With dazzling blue eyes that open and close, this realistic baby encourages nurturing play. Eighteen inches tall, he comes dressed in an adorable yellow
onesie with matching bonnet, and has his own magical bottle of milk that disappears while he drinks! A perfect first doll for your special child. Machine washable on gentle cycle. Flame retardant

Bookworm:
Story time becomes extra special when Bookworm joins the fun! This bedtime reading companion encourages your children’s love of reading, while keeping them company with his happy smile. Bookworm’s sturdy flashlight features an extra-long-lasting light bulb, bright enough to read by without causing eyestrain. Two C batteries included. Ages 4 and up.

The reason I posted this is because if they have features it probably means they have a TSC version (except Big Baby because they have tons of baby dolls like that). Sparks is my favorite because he actually is supposed to show off real sparks. Hope you enjoy!

#2554

I think that those bios for all the characters were to give everyone a feel for what the toy was meant to do, but it’s an interesting thought.

#2555

http://img297.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=001oom.jpg

#2556

I have a question does any one think that thinkway would send me a replacment vest for woody i think mine is off its bigger then it should be and his badge is to far to the right any way thanks for the help.

#2557

How would you get the vest off? The pull string ring keeps it from being removed.

#2558

u can remove the ring that connects the string so u can take it off

#2559

I dont have pics yet but I can talk about him! Upon opening Lotso, I was greeted by a very strong smell of strawberries. Its not just a faint thing, its like Lotso is wearing a bunch of perfume. Anyway, he has five sensors in his body. One in each hand/foot and one in his belly. His hands activate his sayings, his feet can be tickled, and his belly recognizes hugs. Something to note, this bear seems very attached to me. He often speaks about how he gets so sad when Im not around. Very adorable if ya ask me. Those are my first thoughts. Any questions, feel free to ask!

#2560

So I got that Mattel Electronic Talking Jessie. I do want the Collection version but I also really liked this one because of the slimmer waist.

I had to get it from ebay.co.uk because ebay.com didn’t have her. I guess she’s a UK exclusive.

After looking at various photos I would say she’s to scale - roughly half way in height between the collection Buzz and Woody.

I compared it to photos of the Collection Jessie and while the collection one looks higher quality with the florescent white shirt and golden buckle, this ones just feels more like Jessie for some reason (But I’ll reserve final judgment for when I get the collection Jessie). Also getting this Jessie made me think about a valid point when it comes to the Collection version’s thicker waist. I don’t think its solely the voice box because the Mattel Jessie has a voice box yet has a very slim waist. However there’s no way that this Jessie would be able to balance on Bullseye. With the extra stuffing in the collection Jessie it would be easier for her to balance. Maybe they had to compromise screen accuracy so she could ride the Collection Bullseye - which is pretty important if you think about it.

I’m not going to get the collection Jessie for a while because when these toys first come out they seem to have a few problems which is evident with Jessie’s understuffed arms. It’s okay if you’re going to the store to buy them but I live in New Zealand where they don’t sell these and when buying online you can never be sure.

Also I thought it was worth mentioning that the Woody in this line says “Somebody poisoned the waterhole”