Just got this message from T-O-T Studios:
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"We will not be renewing our licenses for the following properties past 2023: The Chucky Franchise / Halloween II / Halloween III: Season of the Witch / Universal Studios Classic Monsters / The Black Phone / The Purge Franchise / They Live / Dead Silence / Freaky / The Munsters / Nope / Us / An American Werewolf In London / JAWS / Peter Jackson's King Kong.
This means products these products are on their last run and will not be available in 2024. Inventory is already very limited on these popular items. If there is a must-have on your list ORDER NOW before they head to the crypt!
Although we will miss these properties in our catalog, this change will now allow us to make room for new properties that we know will blow fans away.
2024 is going to be amazing! Thank you for all your love and support."
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Bummer. (Man if this was only April 1st.)
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I wonder if TOTS working separately with The Chaney and Lugosi estates had any effect on their losing the Universal Studios licenses? The license terms are only for so long, but to lose all titles-yikes!
The TOTS display table at Maskfest looked quite bare. Anyone got news on what was discussed at Maskfest panel with Post?
Tots is a lot more fun to collect with the Universal license.
I've already collected the ones I want from TOTS' offerings. The only one I passed on was Creech --because I already have the Forum Novelties version and don't see much of a difference. Still, sad to see them lose the license.
I do not like this news at all: no Not At All!
The TOTS Universal Monster mask line was the best thing to ever happen since the sheer Majesty of the Don Post Calendar mask line.
How fortunate mask lovers are to have any of them.
I wonder if the monster license has gone to Rubies brand masks?
I see more boxed full head masks at retailers now with major film characters.
Not sure who owns Rubies now, but I think these are released under their name.
Didn't Rubies have the license years ago? I never bought any of their stuff; always felt cheap to me. At least TOTS makes collector-quality items.
Their Deluxe Creature Hands are the only hands I've encountered worth displaying with the TOTS Creature. They are very large and detailed---and can be painted to match the TOTS Creature---if one desires that level of exactness. Most of the other Universal Monster offerings they have made or still make---seem to cater to the casual Halloween costumer---rather than collectors. I think they carry or still carry the Wall Hangers. I am certain they have produced a few gems worth having. . . .I am still dismayed by TOTS no longer going to do the Universal Monsters!
Quote from: GeorgeHere on August 28, 2023, 05:49:51 AM
I think they carry or still carry the Wall Hangers.
Coolest thing they ever made! :)
Definitely the best of their offerings ! Nevertheless Mike Scott, the contemplation of that wonderful Rubies offering----does not distract me from wondering if TOTS can still produce Chaney and Lugosi characters; a separate situation perhaps?
Quote from: GeorgeHere on August 31, 2023, 09:21:28 AM
. . . a separate situation perhaps?
I'm no expert, but . . . well, I'm just no expert.
Chaney and Lugosi license are seperate from Universal.
Does anyone know when their 2024 online catalog will post? I am sure it will be like previous years and not show every little thing for the entire year. It's still neat to see what they have confirmed shown. Especially with the acquisition of some licenses, and the unfortunate loss of Universal.
Literally just ordered myself a Chaney Wolfman from TOTs. Glad I got it haha.
So with the Chaney and Lugosi licenses, they can do Phantom, The Hunchback, London After Midnight, The Wolf Man, Chaney Jr as the Frankenstein monster, Son of Dracula, Kharis, and Lugosi as the Frankenstein monster.
Perhaps these too...Lugosi as Ygor, Chaney from He Who Gets Slapped, Laugh Clown Laugh, Chaney Jr from Man Made Monster-Glow version.
They have already released Phantom, and Hunchback masks, but I'd luv to see new versions released on these.