October 15th, 2012
736 comments
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
New 3.75″ Figures and playsets in 2013 – Poll
New 3.75″ Scale Action Figures and playsets in 2013
In a recent interview for www.toysnplaythings.co.uk, Character along with several other companies have talked about their future plans for Doctor Who Products.
You can read all the interviews and stories via www.toysnplaythings.co.uk magazine or click on the image below.
One quote however appears to give us some major news on new figures and sets…
What exciting new products will you have coming out in future?
“Our product range will be diverse and innovative, in addition to the figures and playsets that have been released, Autumn 2012 will see the first Doctor Who App-related toy in which you connect your smartphone to a physical device enabling kids to digitally battle Daleks, Cybermen and Angels as they appear in their actual location on screen via augmented reality. We have huge expectations from an exciting new toy range for 2013 with new scale action figures, playsets and role play toys. Construction will continue to grow with the introduction of Series three micro-figures and all new playsets based on the upcoming episodes.”
The current 5 inch figure range
- The Classic series figure range will stay the same scale, 5 inches.
- No more new series figures will be made in the 5 inch range.
- Rory was the final new series figure to be made for the 5 inch scale range, although there may be re-releases (Like the B&M Dalek and Cybermen sets).
The new 3.75 inch figure range
- The new scale range will be 3.75 inches which is industry standard. This means the toys will be more compatible with other ranges.
- There are no plans to release already existing figures in the new scale range. (Excluding Daleks and Weeping angels seen in series 7)
- Photos of the range will not be released until next year.
- There is a possibility stands if costs allow but priority will be given to the figures.
- There will be a range of four playsets.
Above is what we know so far thanks to Alasdair Dewar.
Please leave only sensible and constructive comments on this article
Categorised under: 
The Doctor Who Site
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Merchandise
Flickr
YouTube
Nicholas Dickens
October 16th, 2012 - 6:36pmI did despise the 3 3/4″ line is the industry standard. For who? Hasbro?! Yep. Follow a toy company down the pan. That was my initial thoughts.
Anyway, here I go with my penny’s worth on this news (and some facts, opinion and thoughts on the current action figure market).
In regards to Star Wars, those figures (good that they are, and the figures based on the CGI Clone Wars cartoon series are VERY good), they are very expensive (due to a shrinking fan base, and the high material costs (oil)).
They have even canned the vehicles range, which is why Star Wars figures were made that size. So children could buy the figures at that new size.
This is a gamble for CO. A lot of children 8-10+ will have large collections, and if I was that age, I’d be more gutted if my Clare Osgood wouldn’t be the right size next to my Amy Pond, or Fourth Doctor. Not if she can fit in an X-Wing fighter, or go on a date with Savage Opress, or fight Iron Man, or cook a meal for Spider-Man.
If a lot of these children leave the range, what are the odds other children will fill the void?. They may just call it quits and move on.
I’ve recently packed in my Star Wars, I was a big fan of the Vintage Collection (figures, with masses of articulation) on classic 1970s and 80s style cards.
This is what collectors want (and children are making up less and less of the buying of these figures).
The Marvel range scaled down in 2007 (briefly for the Spider-Man 3 range) to 3 3/4″. Then they had to offer the core figures like Mary Jane, Spider-Man, Sandman, Venom in the traditional 8″ range.
The Iron Man figures in 2008 were still the 8″ range. Then with Iron Man 2, the economic downturn, and Hasbro’s woes, they plumped to do figures at smaller scale.
The woes of Hasbro were a poorly received Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen movie and even poorer selection of a toy range.
Then the fact they realized there probably will never be a live action Star Wars TV series, the dramatic drop in ratings for The Clone Wars series. Coupled with the fact that Hasbro had signed a 10+ year deal to make Star Wars toys in 2007, which will take them to 2018.
They have pretty much ditched articulation on the Clone Wars range. Going back to a classic SW articulation of 5 points… Neck, shoulders, hips.
They have given up on worldwide distribution. Basically North America, Canada, Japan and possibly Australia, and North Western Europe (UK, France, Germany, etc).
Most of these decisions are Hasbro’s fault, poor selection of product, far too many peg warmers, too many popular characters been made too scarce.
And worst of all indifference to fans. Hasbro labour under the belief that kids buy most if their product. They do not. Adults (geeks/nerds/Star Wars fans) buy them.
The Thundercats range is a classic, textbook case in how to screw up a property. Most people despised them, they looked awful and cheap. They died very quickly. They weren’t like the old Thundercats (unlike the Masters of the Universe) range, poor design, poor sculpts, poor articulation. Like a lot of toys today, they look like they were made decades ago. They were in a word… Pathetic!
The DC stuff is equally rubbish. Look in any TRU or Walmart, idles are choked full of Green Lantern, Superman Returns, Batman Begins etc figures.
The Brave and the Bold range sells well, because it is a larger size. Barbie sized Monster High dolls have been a big hit for Hasbro, helping end MGA’s stranglehold on the girls doll market, and enabling Mattel to not rely solely on the Disney license (Disney’s Princesses, Hannah Montana etc) for sales success, and to put it’s courtroom bruising with MGA behind them.
Star Wars and Marvel and DC seem to rely on Lego, or other manufacturers to save them with lines aimed at a much more juvenile audience 5+ years and older.
Most children are turning away from action figures and fashion dolls. Preferring more electronic activities. Now with apps and mobiles they’re turning away from Playstation, XBox and other devices that snapped up children’s attention spans from Barbie and Action Man/G.I. Joe.
It’s a shame CO have had to turn this way, but these things happen.
As I said to my good friend Ryan, nothing lasts forever. I hope the ranges continue, both New Who 3 3/4 inch, 5 inch Classic Who, and the Character Build lines. Time will tell, it always does.
I’m sad in that my figures will not blend seamlessly, but I’d rather both Classic 1963-89 & 96 and NuWho 2005+ stays with one manufacturer.
I think the prices will come down a bit in price, not by more than a £ or two. Look at Star Wars, they’re around the £8.99 to £9.99 range anyway. IF the range is handled well in a creative way (sculpts, painting, quality control, release selection) then I’ll be happy. If not. Well it was great while it lasted.
I hope CO really push this, but I guarantee this is the last throw of the dice. With the massive tooling costs, (it is the equivalent of starting from scratch) the line will flounder and die very quickly. They are in a difficult position. If the range is to be a hit, they’ll need lots of product to make, market, and sell. If it doesn’t, will they continue? No!
It would have been better to market a range with a new Doctor.
Will children (and most importantly adults) buy another 2010+ era Console room? TARDIS? Eleventh Doctor?
What about little Johnny’s new metallic Paradigm Daleks? They’re not the same size as his old primary coloured ones.
All these are legitimate questions and concerns.
I hope the range IS A HUGE SUCCESS. I hope we get many, many Doctor Who toys, for many, many years, both Classic and NuWho.
On the positive side of things, I think CO will do well. They’ve not made decisions like Hasbro, or Mattel, and I think it’s down to basically the economic troubles all customers and retailers are having, coupled with very high production and materials costs. The change in scale will hopefully prove Doctor Who can be a mass market success again for CO, like it was in 2006, 2007, 2008. I think having less product has not helped with the show being off the air for most of 2009, with just a few toys released at the end of 2009 it was a poor time for people buying the 5″ range, and it’s never properly recovered. I think the Paradigm Daleks and the rest of the 5″ range did well, but with the recession and now a depression, it’s really squeezed things for both CO and buyers of the range. Hopefully this new range will help that to change.
The question for me is “Will I buy them?”
Yes!, yes I will. Unless they’re of the lamentable Hasbro Marvel studios quality (Iron Man 2, Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor, Marvel’s The Avengers lines) I will buy them. IF they’re as good as the Clone Wars/Star Wars and previous CO Doctor Who ranges I will be delighted to buy this range.
It’s an exciting, and slightly sad (on a shallow, superficial level) time. If the figures don’t do well, well there’s lots of other Doctor Who merchandise that I shall buy, but it’ll feel like the heart has been lost a little for me without an action figure range.
I wish Character Options and all Doctor Who action figure fans the best. I hope the range us as good as the 5″ range has been, and better too. Looking forward now to May 2013, and keeping my fingers crossed the range, and it’s *now* older brother range “Classic” Doctor Who is and stays a huge, huge success for CO.
Dalek Strategist
October 16th, 2012 - 7:50pmWell said! People need to give them a chance, otherwise, CO will just stop making Doctor Who figures.
Radburn
October 17th, 2012 - 7:44amSpot on!
tardismanic
October 16th, 2012 - 6:35pmshame clara oswin wont be a 5 inch figure unless that is a suprise
HarryReeves2000
October 16th, 2012 - 6:26pmwhy would they do this? they are just making us pay more for new figures and thety wont fit in the tardis? or any playsets! WHAT THE HELL! IM NOT GETTING THESE! i might as well quit likeing doctor who, sell it all, and will have money tp start a new craze :'(
dalek eternal
October 16th, 2012 - 6:40pmthey would fit in the tardis but theyd look a bit small
McGann is the Doctor
October 17th, 2012 - 12:48pmDon’t quit liking Doctor Who, just quite buying the new-series figures.
Classic figures will still be good, and the show itself is going from strength to strength 😉
Trenzalore 64
October 16th, 2012 - 5:59pmI am not sure about the new scale, but then again the 5 inch doctor who figures may become a must have or a rare.
Anonymous
October 16th, 2012 - 6:01pmsome are already rare like the 10 figure sets.
Trenzalore 64
October 16th, 2012 - 6:02pmWill this effect the price overall, making them cheaper.
The Supreme Dalek
October 16th, 2012 - 5:58pmI’m still shocked at this, but I might buy some just to see what they are like.
drwhofan4ever
October 16th, 2012 - 5:54pmi would just prefer if they kept them the same size
Fezmeister
October 16th, 2012 - 5:52pmThis gives me the perfect opportunity to stop collecting CO’s figures, then. Thanks CO!
TheMadManWithABox1
October 16th, 2012 - 5:45pmR.I.P 5″ figures new series figures
2005 – 2012
It’s a shame they’re ending the range. I’ll see what these 3.75″ figures are like before I bother to complain about them
Moxx of Who
October 16th, 2012 - 5:50pmShame they couldn’t carry the 5″ range just till the 50th and series 7.Maybe they thought they finish with Rory and do no more.
TheMadManWithABox1
October 16th, 2012 - 5:52pmYeah I would have loved a 50th anniversary figure set
The Monitor
October 16th, 2012 - 5:45pmAs a collector running out of space (I have every CO figure that I know of in original packing, and many packing variants), I really hope that the new packets take up far less space than the current ones. Sometimes you could get 8 figures in the packet with one in.
Some of the Star Wars packing is so slender, it has the collector in mind.
craig
October 16th, 2012 - 5:42pmAlso, it is really stupid that they are still continueing 5 inch on classics, either have them both 3 inch(which I DO NOT WANT)or keeep them both 5 inch, cus what if I want to do a video about The Gunslinger maybe meeting the classic Cybermen
DalekSupreme08
October 16th, 2012 - 5:28pmWhy is there no poll option for “Not going to buy any of them”?
Mr Evil Fez
October 16th, 2012 - 5:52pmBecause we already know how many will pick that option. 🙄
Last0fthetimel0rds
October 16th, 2012 - 5:26pmI’m not buying the new scaled new series figures.
We’d all have to buy another Tardis Police Box, a new interior, a new Doctor etc and i’m not sure that they’ll look that great anyway.
I want 5 inch!
Radburn
October 16th, 2012 - 5:13pmSo CO have killed off the 5″ range except for Classics – We should have seen that coming with the endless repeats of the same wave tweaked. Ok – So we downsize to 3.75″ Scale. The only worry here is bad detailing, articulation or endless duff variants of the same figure in a Wave of Ten (Doctor in Top Hat, Doctor in Stetson, Doctor with Creamcake, Doctor with large…) or the fact that they will get smaller but the price will stay the same for less! I’ll wait & see? If I don’t like the look of it – It will be glub, glub, glub, CO…
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 5:28pmthe endless repeats were probably a result of having to fulfil poor existing orders that would not generate the money to warrant investment in new figures.
dalek eternal
October 16th, 2012 - 5:11pmNot to happy on the change but ive come round to the idea as star wars figures and playsets will be compatible with dr u can have the dr driving an at at or fliyng an x wing but if this means u can get more playsets and good playsets like an accurate 11th dr tardis with lights and sounds and dalek space ships then bring it on i will pay up to 10 pound for them but hope their cheaper than they are now and i hope the quality remains good with similair style articulation but yes this is bad for us in some ways but it does have its benefits
dalek eternal
October 16th, 2012 - 5:12pmts also a good thing the classics are still 5 inch as i prefer classics anyway hope they dont chnange but instead of scale change they should of done six pack episode sets and 10 figure series sets like theyve done before
Anonymous
October 16th, 2012 - 4:52pmon the cover of the toys and play it looks like the doctor is doing gangnam style 🙂
Dr Doak
October 16th, 2012 - 4:49pmim a true dr who fan i think these 3.75 figures will look great with my collection and hopefully there will be cheaper prices
Anonymous
October 16th, 2012 - 4:49pmhopefully 5 pound
Doctor 909
October 16th, 2012 - 4:45pmBooboo will the new size for the figures be the same as the amilla pond figures
Anonymous
October 16th, 2012 - 4:46pmbad feeling yes
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 4:47pmsomething like that
matt smithy
October 16th, 2012 - 5:06pmi checked. They are even smaller.
Robert
January 18th, 2013 - 8:57pmIf they are the same size as amy pond then I MIGHT buy them if they are smaller than that then Im not buying them
doctor who 19
October 16th, 2012 - 4:27pmwill they be the same size as star wars
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 4:30pmyes
timelord327
October 16th, 2012 - 4:44pmthat’s kind of a turn up.. sort of
doctor who 19
October 16th, 2012 - 8:39pmyay i have lots and lots of star wars figuers
sheepinafez
October 16th, 2012 - 4:01pmif they make them much cheaper i will be very happy if they are the same price then i just couldnt buy any
MrWho63
October 16th, 2012 - 3:42pm5 inch figures are the best.
cannot put bigger figures on the same shelf. are goung to plead CO to carry on witt them
alfred
October 16th, 2012 - 5:21pmwell the new figures will be classic
…………………………..eventually
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 5:23pmyes, you might get your 5″ handbot in a few years time
Dalek Jake
October 16th, 2012 - 3:18pmEven though I do not collect figures any more it’s shocking to here there will be no more 5inch figures.
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 3:24pmBut there will be, anything is possible right up to the end of series 6, remember Churchill, providing someone wants to commission and pay for it.- Series 7 onwards its 3.75″ CO themselves are looking forward no backwards.
David
October 16th, 2012 - 2:58pmWe all talk about the compatibility/playbility whatever etc etc so why they just didnt start making 3.75” figures from the beginning in 2005?
Anonymous
October 16th, 2012 - 3:03pmThey were not intended as action figures, originally it was just two scaled non-poseable figurines to go with the RC Daleks (hence the “disco dance” pose), they then decided to add articulation and the range kicked off from there.
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 3:13pmdid well at the time, that was 7 years ago, things change
David
October 16th, 2012 - 3:24pmSome things don’t change booboo. The Smurfs figurines for example have been that size since the 60’s and now the collections are huge. Changing the scale of figure is a massive change, meaning they did something wrong(with the price,maybe,or the appeal/quality of figures,or retailer business,i don’t know) otherwise they wouldn’t change it.
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 3:31pmAnd the classics will remain the same size. some things continue to work and others dont.
The decision has been made and i would think development is well advanced to and the 1st figures have been completed
Doctor who rules
October 16th, 2012 - 5:56pmSo we are never seeing 5inch
Dtron Wunder
October 16th, 2012 - 2:48pmAll I have to say is R.I.P 5inch new series figures , they brung me hours of fun and pleasure ! At least we are still getting the classic 5 inch
The Casterline
October 16th, 2012 - 2:24pmnow thats why i was getting a bad vibe from co lately
sorry im part hypiey, mystic and soming else(cant spell)7there is no way i am getting these
goodbye co 5″ figures
poojoo
October 16th, 2012 - 2:15pmwell i stopped collecting 5″ figures about 2 years ago and only got Rory as a one off! But if these are cheaper, and the playsets are good, i will buy one, Clara Oswin and thats it!
CG
October 16th, 2012 - 2:04pmOh no, this means we will never get a series 6 or 7 Amy in 5″ and won’t get a Brian Williams in 5″. Please don’t do this!!!! =(
Anonymous
October 16th, 2012 - 2:09pmNot necessarily, if CO give UT the permission to have more new series exclusives then it is possible it could be them, although the chances are very small.
alfred
October 16th, 2012 - 5:24pmwell the new figures will be classic
…………………………..eventually
Scott
October 16th, 2012 - 1:14pmIm actually quite upset about this was really looking forward to more five inch figures and can’t stand little ones, and I bet the price won’t go down either really disappointed with you character options what a dumb thing to do
DarkKnightDalek
October 16th, 2012 - 1:06pmSTAR WARS HERE WE COME!!!!!!!!!!
DarkKnightDalek
October 16th, 2012 - 1:01pmCURSES TO CHARACTER OPTIONS NOT COLLECTING THEM ANYMORE CO WILL LOSE THERE MONEY HA HA HA HA 😀
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 1:06pmhow can they loose money by stopping a line they probably weren’t making any on?
DarkKnightDalek
October 16th, 2012 - 1:08pmcharacter Options will lose money because people won’t buy the new scaled and ranged figures
booboo
October 16th, 2012 - 1:32pmI estimate that 50% of current 5″ buyers will end up buying something and 50% will give up – but then there is a whole new market of younger fans who want playsets and playability factors which they don’t get with the 5″ line and the chances are there are not many of those buyers on here.
If i were 10 year old buying a few 5″ figures might appeal but after a while i would get board, but buying a few figure that are smaller but have playsets and accessories to go with them and fit in with my star wars etc etc figures would appeal much more.
In fact in years gone by people were far more interested in what playsets were coming rather than the figures, anyone renumber Tracy island?
Time Lord
October 16th, 2012 - 1:37pmTo be honest that makes perfect sense, I think the younger fans (and some of older ones) could be in for a treat.
Anonymous
October 16th, 2012 - 1:42pmI don’t even think 50% will go to the 3.75”. I could see quite a few moving to the classics and hoping for the new series ones to come back.
andrew
October 16th, 2012 - 2:03pmStill got all three of my Tracy islands booboo!! Only they all missing the stickers cus of my curiosity lol!
McGann is the Doctor
October 16th, 2012 - 12:56pmNot getting them.
Hope the line fails.
Making them smaller will not save the brand.
They need to make better figures and better choices, and get them back in stores.
Making them smaller (a HUGE inconvenience to us fans) is not a solution.
The reason they are getting kicked out of stores is because of all the peg-warmers. One thousand billion Peter the Winders are still out there lining the shelves in the UK for crying out loud !
Make figures that people want CO ! There’s yoru solution. 😡
McGann is the Doctor
October 16th, 2012 - 12:56pm“your” solution.
andrew
October 16th, 2012 - 2:04pmI think if they released classic figures into stores, that might help, and they have more options with that now that the new line is going to be smaller and cheaper!