We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Character 2013 Doctor Who Merchandise News
Character 2013 Doctor Who News
From Toy World Magazine
Character has plenty in store for Doctor Who, which will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2013.
In addition to Doctor Who Character Building, there will be a range of new 3 3/4 inch figures and playsets, including new companion Clara, portraying characters and storylines from the latest series in a new, smaller scale.
Pocket money price points are also covered with Doctor Who Mashems, plus a range of Heritage Sonic Screwdrivers, depicting the tools of past incarnations of the Doctor.
drjakeyoung
January 15th, 2013 - 12:01pmdoes anyone think its weird that character options announced to bring down the size of the figures about a week after that really weird 11th doctor bust with a bered thing was announced, and the majority of us complained saying they should bring out some new figures for series 6 and 7. I think that might have something to do with it…
booboo
January 15th, 2013 - 12:03pmthe decision to change scale would have been taken months ago probably
Jamie Fletcher
January 15th, 2013 - 11:48amSo the Three Doctors Set set is now released, but so far FP and CO haven’t announced anymore Classic Sets. Is this the first time in years there hasn’t been a Classic or Exclusive set announced for pre-order? I do hope their not going to bunch a load of releases together in November like they did in December 2011.
Mjanus
January 15th, 2013 - 4:53pmIts a shambles really the whole figures business….an incomplete set of cybermen..no classic console even though all classic doctors released…no matter how much of an apologist one is for this company and those who back them youve got to say they havent really got much of a clue.
booboo
January 15th, 2013 - 5:08pmI do not apologise for anyone – we are figure collectors as well, the whole reason this site is here. Difference is i understand the process and cost involved and the market which clearly you dont.
This site is for constructive comments about the news article in question – not continuous CO bashing which clearly is all you want to do so we will end this right here.
Anonymous
January 14th, 2013 - 5:03pmthis is not good news at all! Why 3/4 inches figures? WHY?!!!!!!
The Supreme Dalek
January 14th, 2013 - 4:34pmBooboo,
See how last year we had the Victory of the Daleks SDCC Exclusive, do you think that there is a possibility that there might be a 5″ inch exclusive this year?
Steampunk Doctor
January 14th, 2013 - 5:39pmHopefully , and underground toys make them so their is a great possibility we will be getting a 5 inch figure
booboo
January 14th, 2013 - 5:58pmonly if its an existing mould probably now if you talking 2005 onwards
Mjanus
January 14th, 2013 - 1:34pmHeaven forbid anyone posts a critical remark or two on this site…..It vanishes faster than the TARDIS in Colony in Space…
booboo
January 14th, 2013 - 1:53pmIt vanished because you are criticising the wrong people
you only have these classics because underground toys and forbidden planet support and commission the range via CO, without them you would have nothing.
CO stopped marketing classic figures themselves with the exception of a few examples years ago.
Mr Evil Fez
January 14th, 2013 - 4:31pmDid you get my drawings Booboo?
Mjanus
January 14th, 2013 - 5:27pmSo in that case CO deserve a kick up the backside for stopping producing classics figures then regardless of who is backing them…the others deserve criticism for dragging their feet after the success of the mechanoids and third doctors set… and if you need to see how well the classics sell you should have sene how quickly my local B&M shifted its stock of Cybermen and Daek sets….
Hows that suit you Boo Boo ???
booboo
January 14th, 2013 - 5:54pmThey stopped them because large retailers weren’t interested the only reason you got the cheap classic dalek set 2 in b&m is because the moulds existed from the original set which was originally a toys r us and forbidden planet exclusive. The cybermen set was originally a Tescos set.
Whether you like it or not if a range does not have mass market support from retailers then its dead in the water unless someone steps in as has happened with the classics.
Same goes for the 5″ new series range, its run its course and now a change of direction is needed to keep the line fresh and mass retailers interested.
Fortunately there are a couple really dedicated people at character who have gone to great lengths to give us what we have already.
Mjanus
January 14th, 2013 - 10:42pmI’d have expected some effort this year of all years from CO and whoever is backing ’em and I’d have thought the yeti would have been the next popular choice for most classic fans…. Perhaps they ought to try approaching B&M to produce some new classics figures. B&M didnt have any problem shifting the several sets from the branch in my small town…. Mind you they were very sensibly priced and nicely produced. And the gold dalek even had better lamps on its head… !!! B&M eh who’d have thought theyd outdo others !!!!!!
booboo
January 14th, 2013 - 11:27pmB&M are only interested in low cost high volume sales which would not be possible with a brand new product, the only reason they had these sets is because the moulds and masks already existed so it would be very cheap to do a low cost one off large volume run for them – they will probably do it again with other previously released items if its worth their while. Daleks have mass market appeal and were just in the new series.
I doubt B&M would be remotely interested in funding and purchasing 5000 Yeti’s or any other new classic figure for that matter.
Mjanus
January 14th, 2013 - 10:46pmPerhaps they could repackage Scaroth, Sharaz jek and a few of the other figures bundled with the unwanted umpteenth companion/doctor figure which they decided to slap a new layer of paint on….
Mjanus
January 14th, 2013 - 11:34pmI can see it might be worth actually contacting B&M to find out…..
They certainly cant be any less negative than any of the others in their response… and even if the do start to sell packages of figures which had been bundled time and again it might be worth getting scaroth and the doctor for example if theyre sold at 9.99. After all who’d have thought three classic cybermen for under a tenner and three SUPERB daleks for 3 quid each…. Good luck to B & m I say……
booboo
January 14th, 2013 - 11:50pmThe Cybermen are mass market as well and had all been previously released in the age of steel sets and the Tescos set and earned their production, licensing and rights costs long ago.
The Cybermen and Daleks are Character funded products so they can do what they want. The others you are talking about are not
Mumble5557 Productions
January 13th, 2013 - 8:24amLast night the image of the first doctor from the 5 Doctors was leaked
Anonymous
January 13th, 2013 - 11:30amThat figure was revealed months ago.
booboo
January 13th, 2013 - 11:31amIt was shown “officially” briefly a few weeks ago then removed by the copyright holder
Its from an abandoned 2nd 11 doctors and will sadly never see the light of day it was said.
Mumble5557 Productions
January 13th, 2013 - 1:46pmThat was the first time I’d seen it they should release it with a Cyberleader and a Speared Cyberman
Imaginethatnodoor
January 13th, 2013 - 7:16pmWhere can I see this image???
Mjanus
January 14th, 2013 - 6:08pmWell its a pity that someone out there doesnt realise that they should be producing the classic aliens which can be built up as armies… the Mechanoids are a prime example…fans are crying out for the yeti we all know that an excellent prototype is out there… and Im sure there must be a queue of fans waiting for the wheel cyberman the attack cyber controller and even a moonbase variant…Its not rocket science and in my book if you want to make something a success you give people what they want..
booboo
January 14th, 2013 - 6:24pmI’m sure there are excellent prototypes of a lot of things out there but each mould needs to earn its money and development and rights costs, one step at a time, the process from start to finish is very involved and can fall down at any time – that’s why they dont like leaks because it gets peoples expectations up when not everything may be approved and finalised, this can take months and months.
There have been prototypes made that will never see the light of day for many different reasons.
I do however agree that their might be a demand for “Expansion packs” such as a twin pack of gel guards or mechaniods for example
Whether that would be commercially viable is another matter
BPPwhovian
January 13th, 2013 - 1:16amWhy would they make so many figures in 5″ and then change it to 3 3/4″. Do they want to go bust?!?!
Anonymous
January 12th, 2013 - 8:46amWhy why are they making 3 3/4 size figures?
I know that’s the old dapol size!
That is why the figure size is odd.
Connor
January 12th, 2013 - 3:44amWhat happens when the 12 doctor figure comes in the future! He will not suit any of the other doctors in hight scale! And I so wanted Clara and the new outfit of the 11th doctor and now its going to be wierd around all the other figures! 🙁 and I so wanted the new cybermen design and ice warriors(if they return)! Character options what have u done!!!!!
TheblueV3
January 11th, 2013 - 9:45pmI’ve looked through the online catalog but I can’t find the Doctor Who stuff, which page(s) is it on?
doctor hugh
January 12th, 2013 - 9:29amthe new merchandise will not be out until spring
oswin oswald
January 11th, 2013 - 8:33pmbooboo,will there be ANY more 5 inch figures any more? If so Clara would look awful to the doctor and others 🙁
booboo
January 11th, 2013 - 8:47pmAll classics will remain 5″
There is nothing stopping them re-releasing older figures but there will be nothing new from series 7 onwards in 5″
oswin oswald
January 11th, 2013 - 9:39pm🙁 is it confirmed? and why,what is the point in changing them if they know people would play with there other 5 inch figures?
Wholords2
January 12th, 2013 - 4:47pmFrom how it seems now it looks like we might
Get a few 5 inch nu who exclusives
oswin oswald
January 12th, 2013 - 8:40pmmaybe!
Mels
January 11th, 2013 - 4:42pmIt should be interesting seeing all this new merchandise. But until then I don’t know what I’ll be buying.
Trenzalore 64
January 11th, 2013 - 1:48pmI still think there is no point in making them smaller, we have had the same sised figures for many years. This makes the older figures oblelete.
John Smith
January 11th, 2013 - 11:07amI’ve lost my interest in the figures now. Although I’m looking forward to these new “Sonic Screwdrivers”. But, haven’t they released all of them already? I mean the one that Paul McGann showed up with at Armageddon 2010 was cool (it was made by WETA so of course it’s going to be cool)and I doubt that they’ll release that. So what could they do?
sharaz jek
January 11th, 2013 - 8:35amLOOKING GOOD!
KRYNOIDY
January 10th, 2013 - 11:07pmLook forward to the screwdrivers!
Dalek The Supreme
January 10th, 2013 - 9:43pmI don’t care about Character Building, but I’m interested in the new scale figures, but wether I get them or not depends on what the final lineup is, and how good the quality is too. There MUST be a modified 2010 Dalek from Asylum of the Daleks or I will not buy!
McGann is the Doctor
January 11th, 2013 - 10:51amWow, same here buddy except I really don’t care about the 2010 Daleks.
But I will say this: they were designed so that the neck part would scrunch down like the plastic shaft of a vaccuum cleaner’s tentacle, allowing them to fit through a door frame.
And there was supposed to be weapons folding out of that ironing board hump at the back, without these features being shown on the screen or being incorporated into the toy, what’s the point ?! ❗
Dalek The Supreme
January 11th, 2013 - 3:23pmI never heard anything about the neck section collapsing, but I’ve heard people working on the show talk about the secret weapon on the back. The point is having the Doctor’s oldest enemy in the new line as a brand new figure. As I said, these are the modified 2010 Daleks with shorter back sections and metallic colors from Asylum of the Daleks, not the original Paradigm from Series 5
BPPwhovian
January 13th, 2013 - 1:29amThey say that if the figure has been made in the past, no matter what design, they will not re-make it. So no, no Daleks or weeping angels.
the 13th Doctor
January 10th, 2013 - 8:50pmHeritage Sonic Screwdrivers cant wait to see them
Judooning
January 10th, 2013 - 8:11pmSounds good! I think i might have to invest in these new figures 🙂
Looking forward to the sonics!
Professor When
January 10th, 2013 - 8:00pmWhat page is it on? 🙂
Anonymous
January 10th, 2013 - 7:18pmWill we see some of the new figures at the toy fair, and when is the toy fair???
Mumble5557 Productions
January 10th, 2013 - 8:16pm22nd till the 24th this month
McGann is the Doctor
January 11th, 2013 - 10:53amInteresting, hope they have some interesting figures, this is Character’s new-series’s figures last chance saloon after all the turmoil we have been through since 2010, it better be good ❗
OswinOswald
January 10th, 2013 - 5:33pmI don’t no weather to start collecting the new figures. I defiantly would if they were the normal size. I’ll have to have a look first 😥
RORY DOCTOR RIVER POND
January 10th, 2013 - 6:33pmsame
McGann is the Doctor
January 10th, 2013 - 6:35pmSame here, I’m not happy about this but if the figures are good I will try them.
But if it’s the same old “variant after variant (the one million Cybermen and Angels) with strange choices for figures (Uncle, Peter the Winder and Hawthorne) and inaccurate paint jobs (the Doctor in Stettson, the red Rory figure)” then I will not bother 😛
OswinOswald
January 12th, 2013 - 2:14amI don’t know why they changed it. If they released figures that people actually wanted and not characters nobody cares about they would’ve made more money!
sharaz jek
January 10th, 2013 - 5:14pmwhats a “MASHEM”
Mr Evil Fez
January 10th, 2013 - 5:06pmWill they be like the Angry Birds mashems?
booboo
January 10th, 2013 - 5:10pmassume so but we havnet seen them yet, just seen this news today
Dr Evil Fez
January 11th, 2013 - 6:33pmI can’t wait!
cyberman6
January 10th, 2013 - 4:56pmNot news i was hoping for.
I hoped it would say something about the new scale of action figures. 🙁
Mumble5557 Productions
January 10th, 2013 - 4:48pmAny news of classics
drjakeyoung
January 10th, 2013 - 2:47pmnow clara is going to look awfully shorter than the other companions
TheMadManWithABox1
January 10th, 2013 - 10:54pmI agree tbh I’m gonna customise one insted for 5″
McGann is the Doctor
January 10th, 2013 - 2:02pmFinally some news, but apart from the mashems it’s nothing we didn’t already know.
I just hope there will be some good classics in store, REALLY want a Trial of a Timelord Sixth Doctor with a giant Robot and the Valeyard ❗
Oh, and the tools of the past Doctors should be interesting. Wonder if they will make the Sonic lance ? That would be cool
DOCTOR WHO ONE
January 10th, 2013 - 3:10pmThere is a 6th Doctor figure from the 11th Doctors gift set which is how he looked in ‘The Trial of a Time Lord’.
Anonymous
January 10th, 2013 - 4:14pmThat’s his costume from the Vervoids part I believe, not the Trial. rather complicated.
McGann is the Doctor
January 10th, 2013 - 6:32pmOh yes, I know of that but I want one with the bigger hair !
That figure also has an inaccurate waistcoat pattern, it has white stripes instead of red, so I just pretend that it’s an outfit from one of his lost seasons ❗