Chapter 5 of the favored survival horror recreation Poppy Playtime simply got here out, however now followers of the sport’s creepy monster dolls are nearer to having a Huggy Wuggy of their very personal. As a part of IGN Fan Fest, McFarlane Toys is revealing some brand-new seems to be at its line of Poppy Playtime figures.
The lineup, which incorporates 4.5-inch, 7-inch, and 12-inch fashions, options fan-favorite characters like Huggy Wuggy, Kissy Missy, Killy Willy, and Harley Sawyer. The 7-inch figures shall be accessible for pre-order February 27. You should buy your complete lineup in shops like Walmart, Goal, and GameStop, in addition to on-line at Amazon, BigBadToyStore, Leisure Earth, and the McFarlane Toys Retailer this Spring.
I spoke completely with Todd McFarlane about his firm’s collaboration with Mob Leisure, producer of Poppy Playtime, and what makes the sport the right goal for collaboration.
“They’re toys,” McFarlane says of the sport’s characters. “My job is to simply [see] how a lot accuracy can we get with what’s already well-liked since you’re going from a flat display to one thing that is tangible in your hand. In the event you have a look at Disney, Pixar got here up with this concept known as Toy Story. We at all times lean into the power [of the IP. With Poppy Playtime], you’ve obtained a well-liked recreation individuals like. They’re based mostly on toys they usually look toy-etic so that you go, ‘After all.’ Superman is not a toy, so that you go, ‘Effectively, let’s make one in every of him.’ Freddy Krueger is not a toy, however you go, ‘Let’s make one in every of him.’ However when you may have one thing that’s already in that vein, then you definately go, ‘Shoot, right here we go.’”
McFarlane says that the workforce felt it was necessary to supply a wide range of choices for customers with completely different budgets. With the core 7-inch Poppy Playtime figures, the crew at McFarlane carried out a hybrid design combining articulation factors with bendable sections to precisely replicate the characters’ curved actions from the sport. These figures will embody swappable fingers and heads, bases that interlink, packaging that can be utilized as backdrops, and different equipment.
Together with the 7-inch figures, 4.5-inch flexible figures shall be accessible that may retail for beneath $10. Bigger 12-inch flexible figures shall be bought as properly for about $20, which McFarlane says represents the “finest worth” of the road.
McFarlane says that when it got here to understanding a collaboration with Poppy Playtime, his firm’s partnership with Mob Leisure checked all of the packing containers. “The Mob guys are a bunch of individuals attempting to do their ardour mission,” he says. “On this case, the fervour mission labored. I like hanging out with people who find themselves a bit of bit fearless and are keen to take probabilities. And artistically, they’re cool to take a look at!”
For his or her half, the workforce at Mob digs deep into neighborhood suggestions to find out which characters ought to get a heavy push in the case of merchandising. Tyler Sanchez, Senior Social and Progress Supervisor for Mob Leisure, is on the middle of these efforts.
“That is a part of my job actually, getting into and listening to the followers,” Sanchez says. “Not solely after we launch a recreation, however at any time when we put out a brand new YouTube video. I’ve complete dashboards of character recognition that I can lean into after which inform our licensing workforce, ‘Hey, individuals actually actually like CatNap! We should always deal with making extra merchandise for CatNap.’ Leaning into what the neighborhood desires helps lengthen the lifetime of the sport.”
Past merchandising, Sanchez says that Mob’s consideration to viewers response truly can have an effect on how future chapters of Poppy Playtime play out.
“I used to be watching a playthrough they usually obtained to the Pianosaurus and noticed him consuming on the underside and [the streamer] was identical to, ‘My boy, I am so excited.’ Pianosaurus turns round and runs after which Doey simply takes him and slams him and principally murders him. And [the streamer] stated, ‘Was that it? Is that without end? Is he useless?’ And it was identical to this second the place [I thought], ‘Oh god, we’re simply going to interrupt so many individuals’s hearts by killing this character.’ And so due to that, I truly took it upon myself to put in writing extra lore for Pianosaurus.”
Past video games and a brand new line of toys, the Poppy Playtime universe is quickly increasing. Again in 2024, Legendary Leisure introduced that they had been engaged on a film adaptation of the collection. Particulars of the movie are sparse in the mean time, however the characters appear ripe for additional variations. After I requested Sanchez if he may give any hints as to the way forward for the Poppy universe he demurred. “All I can say is: Keep tuned.”
Michael Peyton is the Senior Editorial Director of Occasions & Leisure at IGN, main leisure content material and protection of tentpole occasions together with IGN Reside, San Diego Comedian Con, gamescom, and IGN Fan Fest. He is spent 20 years working within the video games and leisure business, and his adventures have taken him all over the place from the Oscars to Japan to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Observe him on Bluesky @MichaelPeyton