You’ve probably noticed that the Minimate Headquarters has been unusually quite lately.  Nothing to worry about, the staff are just on a short break.  We will be back soon with more crazy Minimate goodness.

Stargate SG-1 cancelled!

Daniel Jackson minimate custom by The Mad Hatter.

By Fujis

On Monday “Gaters” were shocked with the news that Stargate SG-1 was not being renewed for an eleventh season. Stargate: Atlantis, the spin-off series, was renewed for a fourth season and will fly solo for the first time.

Since Diamond Select Toys holds the Stargate license I’m sure that they and Art Asylum toyed with the idea of Stargate Minimates. The cancellation of the flagship show might put these plans in jeopardy although I think that taping into the Gaters market, since it is so devoid of action figures, might still be a good move.

What will be interesting to see is how the cancellation affects the market in Vancouver. Many people are employed by the Stargate franchise and this cancellation means that the people who have come to count on the series for regular work will be forced to look elsewhere. I wasn’t in Vancouver at the time but I imagine that people felt the same when the X-Files went off the air (although I think they did their last few seasons in LA).

Gaters need not fear however as plans are in the works for a new Stargate project, whether it be a mini-series, motion picture, or another fully-fledged spin-off series Stargate has proven it’s staying power and is no doubt on the way to becoming a multi-faceted property like Star Trek.

Which begs the question: Who would win in a fight: Captain Kirk or MacGyver, er, I mean Colonel Jack O’Neill…

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Click here to check out the cancellation news on GateWorld.

Click here to check out The Mad Hatter’s Neverland. And send Jamie an email and tell him we need the full Stargate minimate line-up.

MinimateMultiverse brings you an all new contest!

Replicate a Comic Cover or Scene from any of your favorite books, but with what else? Minimates!!!!

Here are the rules:

1.) Each entry must provide one picture of your 3-D creation from your favorite book, be it a cover or panel scene. Sky’s the limit!
2.) Each entry must provide one sample picture of the source art that you are using for your creation.
3.) Custom minimates are allowed but not necessary.
4.) You can use any materials for your design. Settings/Backdrops can be made out of paper, plastic, lego, or nothing, it’s your choice. You can also use design sets from other toys.

The design must capture the essence of the source that is being depicted. Use your imagination folks. Your design can be from any book whether it’s DC, Marvel, or an Independent, it’s up to you. Complexity doesn’t mean it’s the best way to go. Simple clean designs can go a long way. Lighting and Camera angles may or may not make a difference. Please submit your two pictures in this thread. Please keep pictures a manageable size. Both US & International Entries Welcomed!

Dates:

Entries will be accepted between now and September 25th at 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.
Voting will begin September 26th at 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time thru October 4th at 12:00 AM Pacific Standard Time.
Winners will be posted October 5th.

The PM Ballot system will be used for the voting.

Each submitted ballot must list in order, the top three best designs you feel represent the source art the best.
1.) Best Representation
2.) Second Best Representation
3.) Third Best Representation

Anyone can vote, even the participants.
If you are a participant, you cannot vote for your own entry.
The 10 point minus system will be used to calculate the results.
Points awarded will be as follows: 1st will get 10pts, 2nd will get 9pts, 3rd will get 8pts
During the voting period, please send all PM ballots to Amazing.JL For the top prizes we have Maximates!!! That’s right, those high priced resin pieces are available for you to win!!
Start building your Sentinel Army! Have Galactus devour your Mini-Planet!!

1st Prize: Will receive Both a Sentinel and Galactus Maximate
2nd Prize: Will get One Maximate of their choice. Galactus or Sentinel
3rd Prize: Will get One Maximate of their choice. Galactus or Sentinel

Any Maximate selection may be substituted for any Three Non-Variant Marvel 2-Packs or C3 Set.

Good luck to all! Now go crazy!!

By Fujis

“To be honest these have not done as well as we would have hoped so I can’t say for sure when wave two will come out.”

-Chuck

In the first Ask DST: Marvel Minimates Q&A over on the AA forums Chuck revealed that the future of the Streetfighter II/Darkstalkers line is uncertain.

Discussion on the Minimate Multiverse forum began almost immediately regarding the reasons behind the failing property and pointed at factors like availability of the product, to the inclusion of the less-popular Darkstalker characters, to adding to the oversaturated SF2 toy line-up.

Whatever the case may be Wave 2 is in trouble. If you can’t live without them my suggestion would be to head on over to your favorite online store or local comic book store and preorder as many 2-packs or cases that you can afford. Saving a line might take more than money but it certainly wouldn’t hurt.

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Click here to join the discussion on the MMMV forum.

Click here to check out all of Chuck’s answers in the Ask DST: Marvel Minimates thread.

Now you don’t!

By Fujis

Unapproved control art of Tony the Tiger from the Kellogg’s Minimate line appeared and disappeared quickly from the Art Asylum boards in what appears to be a communication breakdown between the company and the forum leaders.

Or perhaps it was a carefully calculated move…

Nothing generates more hype and attention for a line than accidentally revealing unapproved images or information. It riles people up and creates a web of underground distribution where people pass the image around and marvel that they managed to secure a look at the forbidden fruit. Well played Art Asylum, well played. Crossing into territory already covered in three waves by Medicom and their Kubricks might be a questionable move but with this accidental image leak the line is off to an auspicious start.

Or there really was a mistake and someone got a heap o’ scorchin’ emails with subject lines reading: WTF?! and TAKE IT DOWN!

Regardless, one question remains: how will these figures be distributed? Is this going to be a mail-away type deal whereby you need to send in so many UPC codes plus shipping and handling or will the minimates be packed in with the cereal? I seem to remember reading concerns that kids might choke on the figure if it was actually in the cereal box but I’m sure they would be in a plastic bag which would render it’s killing potential ineffectual to all but the slowest of children. And it would probably be best for the collective gene pool if those kids choked on them anyway.

Personally I’m hoping for a pack-in scenario, mostly ’cause it’ll be cheaper, but I think we’re in store for a mail-away. As I said before this is a grrrrrrrreat marketing move by Art Asylum to get kids familiar and interested in the Minimates brand.

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*edit* - about 15 minutes after I finished this article the actual control art went up. Click the picture below to check out the thread on the AA forum.

Stephen Colbert put the Minimate community “On Notice” today on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show”.  Part of the recurring Colbert Report segment of “The Daily Show”, the On Notice board serves as an announcement that he’s got a problem with you. 

The On Notice board warns that the listed people, places, and things are dangerously close to being “Dead To Me.”  It is unknown at this time why the loveable Minimates would be in danger of becoming a hated nemesis of Stephen Colbert.  Several theories abound but some of the most enduring rumors say that Colbert has a problem with Minimates’ little blocky cuteness.  Of course, “Owls” were also on the list at one time and they are neither blocky nor cute.

There is hope that the Minimate Community will be removed from the list.  During the July 12, 2005 episode of The Report, Colbert explained the procedure that people placed On Notice should follow.  Persons must answer the “summons” within 60 days or risk being placed on the “Dead To Me” board for eternity.

There is hope.  All of Canada (except for Nunavut) was previously “On Notice” but was able to get off the list before the first episode aired.  Let’s hope the Minimate Community has similar success.

The Minimate Multiverse is back online.  And just as I was starting to re-learn what sunlight and fresh air feel like.  It pulls me back in!

Post comments here until the Minimate Multiverse returns.  Poetry welcome!

Comic Book Guy keepin’ it real.

By Fujis

In an article entitled “I feel a great disturbance in the Force…” I tried to generate some hype around pictures of a Star Wars Clone Trooper Minimate in what Comic Book Guy might refer to as the “Worst Episode Ever” here at the HQ.

I left the article open ended so it seemed like I had either stumbled upon or been given news of an impending Star Wars minimate line.

Not taking into account the fact that this was before the SDCC when something of this nature would be revealed or the fact that the figure had been in our customs gallery for months or that it’s made from a 3″ Minimate (which I didn’t realize until now) I moved ahead with what I thought would be a cool way to peak people’s interest and maybe even start an internet rumor or two.

Well, thanks to my lack of skullduggery and our web-savvy readers this chicanery was revealed to be nothing more than a hoax. The figure is indeed a custom, as many had already concluded, and was created by Jamie over at the Mad Hatter’s Neverland.

Jamie’s Clone Trooper in action!

Click the picture above to check out the custom Clone Trooper in question as well as Jamie’s other custom Minimates. And from now on I’m leaving the rumor-starting to the pros over at Fox News.

The Minimate Multiverse forum (MMMV) is down but it is being worked on.
Vote in the new poll during the downtime! Results from the previous poll will be analyzed in a future article.