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Paramount commits to Kidrobot films
Hot off the press...Found on Variety.com:Paramount Pictures has made a deal with Wildbrain to turn its Kidrobot branded collectible character creations into a series of feature films that will be a mix of animation and live action.
The films will be generated through Par's Nickelodeon Movies family label and produced by Scott Aversano, who made an overall producing deal with the studio after ankling his post as head of the Nick and MTV Films labels.
Kidrobot prexy-founder Paul Budnitz will be an executive producer along with Wildbrain head of creative Bob Higgins and prexy-CEO Charles Rivkin.
The limited edition vinyl figures are designed by Budnitz, and then painted by a group of graffiti and graphic artists and musicians. The figures, along with an apparel line, are sold in high-end stores, including Kidrobot stores in New York, L.A., San Francisco and Miami.
Aversano saw a complete collection of the characters and got the film idea while he was running Nickelodeon, and will spearhead the project as producer. The creatures come with no linear storyline, so the plan is to draft a writer for pen a story about ordinary kids who are transported into the edgy world populated by the Kidrobot creatures.
Wildbrain, which acquired the company from Budnitz, is the producer of the Nick Jr. series "Yo Gabba Gabba!," and "Higglytown Heroes" for the Disney Channel, and a prolific maker of commercials.
So...i really don't know what to say or how to feel about this. I would love to hear all of your opinions on this topic, is this going to ruin the "collectible" appeal of KR items, or has that already happened in your opinion and did you already think this kind of thing was inevitable!
7 comments
as long as the movies don't completely suck, I don't see a problem with this. You can get vinyl toys, particularly KR toys, at Urban Outfitters; the toys aren't that exclusive anymore.
If people want something based on collectible appeal, they should buy kaiju. Otherwise collect something because you like it. Because owning it makes you happy.
*stepping off soapbox*
Great point!
I might just have to use these exact words...and I will have to add ©HANA after it!
I learned a very long time ago that collecting for financial gain is not a good idea.
My only concern is what will this do to the custom scene?? When the shit hits the fan and this all comes to light and all the little kids are flocking to the theatres and toys r us to buy the latest mass marketed dunny,,,are people really going to ppay attention to artists like myself doing customs and actually pay for something they can just buy mass marketed for $9.99...
I have very mixed feelings about this... and In the end this isnt going to be good at all
john: haha! thanks. :)
osiris: "are people really going to ppay attention to artists like myself doing customs" - the casual fan probably won't, but we're talking about two different type of fans, imo.
The casual fan will buy a few and maybe move onto something new. Custom toys seem to appeal to the long-term fan who wants "art" as opposed to the "toy."
whats the difference with that and movie properties making vinyl toys? ie.some kubricks,medicom vcd's and certain Kaiju
I think because KidRobot toys started out as underground and collectible, where as making a movie and then making toys from the movie is more main stream...most vinyl fans tend not to like main stream and want to keep the scene underground, and hoard the toys as long as possible. If this happens this is really going to put Kidrobot on the map, and will expose the vinyl toy scene to many who have not heard of it.
But once again...this is all a business...so...
I think ART is ART. The more people you can share it with, the better. Being stingy with it is plain selfish. To keep something underground just to make sure it maintains its "coolness" is silly. I know that there are some really, really lame movie adaptations of things. (i.e. books, video games, comics, etc.) But that doesn't make those subject matters any less amazing in their own right. There will always be horrible comic book movies, but there can still be some gems. Through it all though, the comics themselves have (for the most part) stayed true to their art form and essence. Given the vast variety of styles in the designer toy scene I don't think people should be worried. Those who continue to love the scene for the ART and their own passion will remain. And those who just got into the biz to be "underground" and "hip" will fade away. Good riddance...
P.S. I could go on and on with this rant and give a stupid amount of analogies, but I digress... GOODNIGHT. :P
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