EssentialKatara
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« on: Jul 06, 2006 06:41 am » |
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I have heard through the grapevine that amongst the action figures coming out there will be no Katara. Reasoning, I suppose, because girl action figures do not sell as well.
Any suggestions on what we can do about this? Anyone think we should all write to Nickelodeon and complain?
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Karalora
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« Reply #1 on: Jul 06, 2006 10:20 am » |
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Ugh, I was afraid of this. Does it ever occur to those bozos in Marketing that maybe, just maybe, female action figures would sell better if they were aimed at girls? Who organizes these focus groups, anyway? I don't remember my male peers being at all reluctant to pick up the Evil Lynn figure...
Seriously, how can you have Avatar without Katara? She's the glue, man, the freakin' glue! Maybe we should complain to whomever is in charge of these things, point out that the show is just as popular with girls as with boys and that omitting an extremely major character for misguided marketing reasons is only going to lose them customers and credibility. Nothing is faster at making me lose interest in "collecting the whole set" than finding out that they don't even make the whole set.
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« Last Edit: Jul 06, 2006 10:34 am by Karalora »
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omgasp
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« Reply #2 on: Jul 06, 2006 11:37 pm » |
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Haha Karalora, you're the coolest. It's a little strange that there'll be no Katara action figure because I had the impression that she was kinda the main character, next to Aang. The opening is told in Katara's point of view..
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Karalora
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« Reply #3 on: Jul 07, 2006 08:34 am » |
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Maybe I'll mention it to my dad when I see him tomorrow. He's a manager at Mattel, although I'm not sure what department; maybe he can pass the word along.
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MonCapitan
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« Reply #4 on: Jul 07, 2006 04:21 pm » |
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I think it is stupid that there isn't going to be a Katara action figure. As a main character, they should should include her.
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xlegend34
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« Reply #5 on: Jul 08, 2006 09:18 am » |
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they need to include her, what's Avatar without Katara?
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 Leaves from the vine, falling so slow. Like fragile, tiny shells, Drifting in the foam. Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, comes marching home. R.I.P. Mako |
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Firelord Sunny
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« Reply #6 on: Jul 08, 2006 04:50 pm » |
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Avatar as a series is without gender domination as females are just as important as males, this isnt likle any other cartoon series here...
this is all rather sexist of matel, what they are going to sell Katara in the barbie isle?
harumph
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His ongoing mission, to explore strange new worlds,
To help Aang seek out new bending masters and escape the firenation.
To boldy go where no flying bison has gone before...
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Karalora
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« Reply #7 on: Jul 09, 2006 08:27 am » |
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Great news, everyone! My sister and I spoke to our dad yesterday, and he a) took some notes and promised to double-check with Marketing and verify whether Katara would be included, and b) gave us the name and title of the guy to write to if the answer is no. He also recommended that I get all of you involved. So when I find out more, I will update you. If necessary, I will compose some kind of petition or form letter than you all can download, sign, and mail in. (Hard copies get way more attention than soft copies.)
We also brought up the possibility of Mattel producing something a little classier than action figures--like resin models of the characters. Sis and I said we'd love to see something like that and it would be a huge seller among the older fans of the show, and Dad said he'd pass the word along.
So it pays to complain!...to the right people.
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Acastus
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« Reply #8 on: Jul 09, 2006 08:55 am » |
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Great news, everyone! My sister and I spoke to our dad yesterday, and he a) took some notes and promised to double-check with Marketing and verify whether Katara would be included, and b) gave us the name and title of the guy to write to if the answer is no. Excellent, Karalora! That is great news! I too hope they make a Katara action figure. Honestly, the whole idea of not having a Katara action figure seems bizarre to me. So it pays to complain!...to the right people.
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MonCapitan
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« Reply #9 on: Jul 09, 2006 08:56 am » |
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I would definitely be interested in resin figures.
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Karalora
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« Reply #10 on: Jul 10, 2006 11:38 am » |
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It gets weirder, folks. I just visited Mattel's website, and the Avatar toys are listed under both the girls' toys and the boys' toys. So they're planning to market them to both.
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MonCapitan
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« Reply #11 on: Jul 11, 2006 01:22 am » |
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That makes the decision not to create a Katara figure make even less sense.
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Karalora
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« Reply #12 on: Jul 11, 2006 08:15 am » |
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I'm still holding out hope that they do plan to make one; it's just not ready to be shown yet. We'll have to wait and see what my dad finds out.
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ataricat
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« Reply #13 on: Jul 11, 2006 09:19 am » |
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I'm sure there'll be one eventually. Considering they've added four female characters this season there must be some push to expand their audience. And even without that it's hard to have a posable plastic minature party and not invite a main character.
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Avatar_Mom
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« Reply #14 on: Jul 15, 2006 12:27 pm » |
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The first wave of Figures are called the "Air Series". I am guessing they will introduce another series with Katara and Toph etc. And hopefully a fluffy AAPA and MOMO! Definitely tell us who to write to Karalora. I am a huge "letter writer". I am a member of "Dads and Daughters" and I write alot of angry letters about sexual equality I am guessing that Nickelodeon is playing it safe. They are waiting for the totals from this first wave of toys before they contract anymore toys. When I went to find the toys at Toys R Us there was a little space for them and they were so hard to find! I wish MacFarlane made Avatar toys...DROOOL. The quality was pretty good, but my favorite action figure is Sokka. He looks the best. Anyway, Toys r us didn't even have mylars up for them. They just got them in and not one of the staff members (that we talked to) knew what "Avatar" was. Great....... As far as Male figures for the "male" audience goes...that mentality sucks! My 3 year old (BOY) was so sad there was no Toph. He loves Toph. |
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Karalora
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« Reply #15 on: Jul 15, 2006 11:37 pm » |
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I haven't heard back from my dad yet on Mattel's plans, but the fact that the first set is given a specific name is encouraging. I don't want to spread around the exec's name until I know there's a reason to write, in order to protect his privacy. Now that the toys are out, however, a protest will seem less like jumping the gun. I want to hit up a toy store and see if I can gather any more information from the packages, and then it's letter-writin' time!
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Robot Mule
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« Reply #16 on: Jul 16, 2006 01:42 pm » |
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Ugh, I was afraid of this. Does it ever occur to those bozos in Marketing that maybe, just maybe, female action figures would sell better if they were aimed at girls? Does that mean we'll get Katara barbie dolls? |
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xlegend34
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« Reply #17 on: Jul 17, 2006 10:38 pm » |
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Yea, hopefully not, cause im a guy, and I dont wanna go into the store and but a barbie...lol.
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Leaves from the vine, falling so slow. Like fragile, tiny shells, Drifting in the foam. Little soldier boy, come marching home. Brave soldier boy, comes marching home. R.I.P. Mako |
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PaLi
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« Reply #18 on: Jul 18, 2006 02:18 pm » |
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This is from ASN Forum Statistics:
Male to Female Ratio: 1:1.7
Which means there are plenty of female Avatar fans.
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Karalora
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« Reply #19 on: Jul 18, 2006 03:14 pm » |
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Yea, hopefully not, cause im a guy, and I dont wanna go into the store and but a barbie...lol.
Heck, I'm a gal and I don't want to buy a Barbie! Those things are atrocious! PaLi, if I am reading that ratio correctly, there are actually more females than males on this forum! Is that accurate? |
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Myrith
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« Reply #20 on: Jul 18, 2006 04:18 pm » |
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Heck, I'm a gal and I don't want to buy a Barbie! Those things are atrocious!
Yeah, dolls marketed towards girls have a certain... aesthetic quality. Katara definitely wouldn't look good as a bimbo with plastered-on makeup. It gets weirder, folks. I just visited Mattel's website, and the Avatar toys are listed under both the girls' toys and the boys' toys. So they're planning to market them to both.
At first I was going to say that from a capitalist's standpoint, it's reasonable not to sell female action figures, if Mattel believed that they would only sell well as collectors' and novelty items. But, I'm surprised to see that Mattel does intend to gear the toys towards girls, boys, and adults (see Mattel's toy list). You're right--it doesn't make sense that Katara and Toph are missing. I guess we'll just have to wait to see if they show up later. Avatar Toys - The Last Airbender action figures and toys |
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PaLi
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« Reply #21 on: Jul 18, 2006 04:21 pm » |
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PaLi, if I am reading that ratio correctly, there are actually more females than males on this forum! Is that accurate?
Yes. However, it might not be accurate as there is a choice to not reveal your gender... |
Classical: Music for the ears.
Oldies: Music for the soul.
Rap: Music for the tone-deaf.
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Karalora
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« Reply #22 on: Jul 18, 2006 04:33 pm » |
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Of course. Like any poll, the numbers reflect only those who choose to respond. But unless there is a severe tendency for guys but not gals to select the "do not reveal" option, I think we can safely say that, if anything, Avatar is more of a hit with the XX's.
Come on, Mattel--do right by the true fans!
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Karalora
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« Reply #23 on: Jul 20, 2006 11:52 am » |
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Update: I just e-mailed my dad to see if he's had a chance to address the issue with his coworkers yet. I'll let you know what he says, but in the meantime, start thinking about how to word your letters!
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Kit
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« Reply #24 on: Jul 20, 2006 08:43 pm » |
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I was disappointed when I saw the first release of the "Avatar" toy line and saw that they neglected to make a Katara figure. She is a big part of the cast and has plenty of waterbending action to make a real action figure. And I think Katara would be better marketed as a waterbending toy than a braid-me-up Barbie doll.
If they do make a Katara, hopefully this'll pave the way for a Toph toy. If anything, Toph and Katara play the biggest roles in "Avatar"... they're Aang's bending teachers!
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