[Spikey]

Thats made me think (forgive me for hi-jacking the thread Shukura but it seems like no thread in the changeling forum can ever stay on topic or a whole page) about Toy shops. I don't know if its true elsewhere but here in the UK you just don't get individual toy shops any more. Sure we have Toys-r-us, the Disney store and the warners Bros store and Toymaster and a few other chain stores but almost none that are not franchised names. Theres maybe two in London now and maybe one here in Essex.

This to be is a real Banal trend. Turning imagination into big bussiness. i was thinking on it earlier when Chigg brought up Pokemon (which I think is the most banal thing in existence) and someone mentioned the power rangers. How much of a service are we doing to out children with mass produced toys force fed to them by 30 minute adverts in the guise of TV shows? By designing the toys and toons to foster collection fever and must have histeria.

Oh come back Toy makers elves, all is forgiven.

[Swordsman]

(forgive me for hi-jacking the thread Shukura but it seems like no thread in the changeling forum can ever stay on topic or a whole page)

Heh. Ain't that the truth. I think I've almost given up on trying to keep each topic completely on-topic.

Sure we have Toys-r-us, the Disney store and the warners Bros store and Toymaster and a few other chain stores but almost none that are not franchised names.

You still have Warner Bros stores??? Wow. They closed all of them in the US a couple of years ago, which I really hated because I lean more towards the WB material than Disney. Lucky Brits....

[sandchigger]

Well, this is hardly a recent phenomenon. Just look at the G.I. Joe and Transformers cartoons from when we (meaning: I) were kids. Sure, G.I. Joe tacked on that public service spot at the end of every episode, but it existed for one purpose: to sell toys. And it worked. I had a helluva lotta Joe and Cobras when I was a kid. But they weren't my favorite toys, not by a long shot. I also had Legos, a toy so GREAT that you could use it to MAKE OTHER TOYS! How fabulous is that? Not to mention creative and glamourous.

[Spikey]

Oh yeah, the marketing thing isn't new, although I feel it has gotten progresively more cynical. But theres something about the modern set up that brings the two together and thus edges out toys that are not part of the mainstream buying plan. I get a catalouge for a scientific tou company but you never see their toys in shops. And you pretty much get the same numbers and items across the board.

Its like a deadly mix od two lesser chemicals.

Jeez I think I'm heading into being Undone. moany old fart that I am becoming.

[monsada]

I understand you. Here we also have Money'r'Ours, er Toys'r'us, and Disney Stores. We have even our own spanish-brewed chain stores, but the funny thing is that in some remote parts of our cities, you can still find people making wooden toys with their own hands (boggans anyone?)... that's glamorous

[Spikey]

Thats what I mean, thats so rare here now. I was sort of hoping people would read this and be all like 'nah Spike theres loads of those mom and pop toyshops here'. Sometimes its nice to be wrong.

[sandchigger]

Have you looked at some second-hand or used toystores, Spikey? There's glamour there...

[monsada]

Hey, we have here 'rastros', they are weekly gatherings of people selling second hand stuff.... they are really glamorous and you can find some good relics

This post has been edited by monsada: 18 October 2005 - 07:19 PM

[Spikey]

Have you looked at some second-hand or used toystores, Spikey?  There's glamour there...

yeah. Problem there is, in all my years I only found one and I don't think there are anymore in the south of England.

However the one I know is quite good for under 5 years toys, barbie or Action man (GI Joe) and they save any toy Hyena they get in for me. And yeah, I would have to agree, digging through the buckets wiht he other kids looking for the leg from an old batman toy is pretty glamourous.

[phuata]

Well, the nearest Toys'R'Us to here does sell Lego, and toy blocks, and nifty stuffed animals, as well as all sorts of fun family board games.

The potential to create your own glamour is still there, if you choose to put in the effort.

[phuata]

Thats made me think (forgive me for hi-jacking the thread Shukura but it seems like no thread in the changeling forum can ever stay on topic or a whole page) about Toy shops. I don't know if its true elsewhere but here in the UK you just don't get individual toy shops any more. Sure we have Toys-r-us, the Disney store and the warners Bros store and Toymaster and a few other chain stores but almost none that are not franchised names. Theres maybe two in London now and maybe one here in Essex.

They exist in small towns and cities in the Canadian prairies, though they're called Gift Shops and are often stuck with the name of the town/city on them.

[phuata]

There is no Glamour in retail, I assure you.

Maybe much of the time, but I've been to one Disney Store in my life, and I still (14 years later) own and make use out of the Mickey Mouse gloves.

*glamour sparkles*

[monsada]

Mickey Mouse gloves.... awesome

[Kuroukaze]

In referance to what Spikey said earlier...

Pokemon arn't that banal. They are rather cute if you get over the human characters in the show (and the TERRIBLE dubbing). Nintendo did VERY well with Pokemon, and the animated series in Japanese is great. You have to remember that the English versions that we get West of Japan is usually going to blow chunks no matter the subject matter (save for Cowboy Bebop and about 2 other animes that arn't that bad after the dub).

I want a Pikachu. Pikachu roxxorz.

[Spikey]

Well, the nearest Toys'R'Us to here does sell Lego, and toy blocks, and nifty stuffed animals, as well as all sorts of fun family board games.

The potential to create your own glamour is still there, if you choose to put in the effort.

OK Phauta, you're going to have to explain to me what you mean by that post. In the context of the conversation I can't see what you mean? Nobody has said the toys themselves were not Banal. And lego is pretty much sold everywhere? And after all, for a child, a cardbox box can be usded to create glamour so you can bet its not specific to any toys.

And Kuroukaze, I didn't mean Pokemon were Banal because of their execution. Banality doesn't work like that. Anything creative, just as the invention of the Pokemon and the stories about them really can't be banal. It would be daft to claim that any Manga or Animae, any art or entertainment was Banal. I was only saying the concept that I outlined, that Pokemon cartoons and such were specifically designed as a series of 30 minute adverts for a product is Banal. The Trend started by saban in which story and everything else are a secondary consideration to the big sell is Banal. In this threads context.

[monsada]

Has anybody also think that Pokemon just encourage animal cruelty? You see, pokemon are pets, and the owners of the pets (children) encourage that the pokemon (pets) fight among themselves. I can see then the same children who watch the show taking their real pets (dogs, cats, etc...) and encouraging them into fighting each other... (fighting roosters and the like...)(actually, who doesn't know a history about children imitating their heroes and having a tragic outcome?)

[Kuroukaze]

Unlike real animals though, the Pokemon are intelligent, cognitive, and capable of crushing large cities with their abilities.

[monsada]

Im not saying the contrary... also humans cannot fly and there have been cases in which some children have tried to imitate Superman... I don't know if you see my point

This post has been edited by monsada: 19 October 2005 - 11:18 AM

[Kuroukaze]

Well I do, it's just that a kid in a towel is much closer to Superman than Fluffy is to Pikachu. The way Pokemon are designed many kids don't mistake animals and pokemon. Pokemon are bright, colorful, dangerous, and have attitudes. Animals are not quite as colorful, far more dangerous, and are instinctual.

[monsada]

Well, I see Pikachu as a rabbit myself
Imagine what a child do with a rabbit and yellow painting.... 'Mom, mom, look at Fluffy, it's Pikachu now!'