24 replies to this topic

[silentrob]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned already (I've been away from this site for awhile), but my friend just returned from SDCC and gave me the Hasbro Design Sketchbook as a gift. As I was flipping though it I noticed a design sketch that is clearly a 'Fire Type' Battle Beast concept sketch. He's an awesome Laughing Hyena type character, but no description or any other info is given. Has anyone else seen this yet?

Also coincides with a conversation I overheard between a Hasbro employee and a friend of mine some time ago, that they were looking at bringing back the line.

-Rob

[WhiteLeo]

Forgive me if this has been mentioned already (I've been away from this site for awhile), but my friend just returned from SDCC and gave me the Hasbro Design Sketchbook as a gift. As I was flipping though it I noticed a design sketch that is clearly a 'Fire Type' Battle Beast concept sketch. He's an awesome Laughing Hyena type character, but no description or any other info is given. Has anyone else seen this yet?

Also coincides with a conversation I overheard between a Hasbro employee and a friend of mine some time ago, that they were looking at bringing back the line.

-Rob

Dude welcome back Silentrob! Can you scan that pic for the rest of us to see?

Thanks
WhiteLeo

[silentrob]

Thanks man, good to be back!

I havent attached anything on this site before, so I hope this works!

 beast.jpg   97.37K   206 downloads

Attached Files

•  beast.jpg   56.5K   88 downloads

[jkaris]

Works perfectly!

They have been toying around with a BB release for a couple years now. Nothing ever came of it, but it is great that it is in their concept book!

[lhssenior]

That's AWESOME!! It would be so cool for the line to come back but I still think it's wishful thinking at this point.
-Barry

[THEGODBEAST]

On March 09, 2006 (a few weeks before my life turned upside down) Joshua Izzo Associate Producer of Hasbro, Inc. (in charge of boys toylines) contacted me via email and later phone calls. He requested photos and information on the Battle Beasts toy line from the 80's.

I provided him w/ the entire BB/LB card library and BB/LB book scans! I tried to meet up w/ him at SD CC 2006 and we just kept missing each other...my soon to be ex was being a real pain in the rear and I only spent 5-6 hours total during the entire show @ the Con.

Anyway, that was pretty much the last I heard from him.

I just tried to contact him again w/ the # I had for him at his office...unfortunately it is no longer his # and even possibly not even a Hasbro # anymore. I also just tried to email him and this is what I got:

This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.

Delivery to the following recipients failed.

Well, I guess we just have to wait and see.

This would be FANTASTIC!!!

He told me it would be SEVERAL years before anything would even stand a chance of happening. He said they would market the hell out of it if it happened. Video game, clothes, school accessories, CCGs, etc... He told me to keep it quiet, but, now that I have seen this sketch...well, there you ALL know what was said to me over 2 years ago!

I just hope they make some KILLER characters like the one in the sketchbook and PLAYSETS!!! Lots of them and HUGE ones!!!

We will see. I hope it wasn't just a proposal and got axed. That happens quite often when they do their presentations to the gods that make the decisions.

Thanks for sharin'!

TGB

Edited by THEGODBEAST, 29 July 2008 - 04:05 PM.

[yaggi482]

That would be very cool if they came back, as long as they tried to stay true to the original feel. However, I'll bet that it would cause another surge in the prices of original stuff....not like certain items aren't already expensive enough.

[Articulationnut]

I almost shouted as i thought this was confirmation of a relaunch.......

Thank YOU for the information and the scan! Everything about that sketch says "Win" to me (despite the absence of armor in certain areas). The BB concept is so child friendly (with a built in collector base as well) that it would seem to be without question that they should relaunch the property.

A better question would be why WOULDNT you relaunch the property?

* Anthropomorphic Animals (that will speak youd assume).
* Transformers connection possibly (the current #1 toy line). A turn key built in spin off of the #1 toy line. How often does that happen (im looking at She-Ra..)?
* Futuristic armor
* "Simple" / easily understood powers i.e. fire/water etc. . What 4-9 yr old boys DONT like pretending to shoot something from there hands?
* The success of some what similar lines like *cringe* Digimon and Pokemon. BOTH have followings still with Digimon having an almost cult following with regard to its anime.
* Low cost (fuel prices are high and the figures are already small)

Everything about it is WIN!

[matthewf1tz]

that sketch looks amazing, thanks for sharing SilentBob

I wonder if they were planning on making them the same size as the originals or making them larger?

Marty: a PM is coming your way re the Hasbro guy

[galthisan]

marty if you become sort of hasbro consultant u gotta give us all the inside scoop, it would be so so so cool if they made some new bb/lbs. they might even give you free reign in their factories to make cool stuff!

i really hope they are not gonna be larger

[THEGODBEAST]

marty if you become sort of hasbro consultant u gotta give us all the inside scoop, it would be so so so cool if they made some new bb/lbs. they might even give you free reign in their factories to make cool stuff!

i really hope they are not gonna be larger

Thanks for the nod bro...I spoke w/ him on the phone regularly from March 2006 until August 2006 and then lost contact w/ him. I offered my opinion at that time of what the collectors here would want and by looking at that sketch he listened. I told him we wanted NEW animals/insects and not just rehashed or re-issued figures that would KILL the value of the originals which kept this toy line $$$. I told him we wanted BIG playsets and new vehicles! I told him they had to be in scale w/ the originals so they could easily be infused w/ the old toys. I told him if they insisted on doing some re-issues or if that is all they did was make re-issues they had to be totally different color schemes to allow the old toys to retain their value and not kill the toyline's collectibility! Big companies like Hasbro usually do not take in a customizer for consulting to my knowledge, but, I definitely consulted w/ Joshua and it looks like they listened from that sketch. I like the whole different over-sized look of the limbs and the totally different character! Now let's just pray they make them!

Don't get too excited...usually companies do proposals and the big dawgs shoot it down. I recently did a job for a marketing company that wanted 2 mini (gumball sized prototypes) for a HUGE retail chain's gumball machines. I sent them the protoypes and they did their proposal to the big wigs from that company and it was a 50/50 split. When that happened it was shelved for now, most likely indefinitely. I got paid, but, I was HOPING the figures would be marketed and I would walk in that store and see my toys in their gumball machines. It was a fun job and I learned a lot about the inner workings of those people's jobs. Maybe next time.

TGB

Edited by THEGODBEAST, 30 July 2008 - 07:28 AM.

[koppenschevelle]

Wow, did I love to see that figure. It's a shame though. For a minute, it got me wishfully hoping again that there might be the possibility of a relaunch of the Battle Beast line. I think it would be amazing if they did it, especially if they kept it in scale with the original BBs. But unfortunately, outside of these little glimmers I don't see anything else indicating that they might be trying to rerelease the line. I think it would be great though.

Hasbro has been having a lot of success with their "heroes" line, such as Galactic Heroes (Star Wars), Super Hero Squad and Robot Heroes (Transformers). They are similar to the size of Battle Beasts and they are sold the same way in 2 packs. So perhaps there is hope. Also, lines like this if marketed along the lines of Pokemon/Digimon/Bakugan could really sell well.

But I don't think it is really going to happen. And if it did, there would be a big possibility that the line would be altered in such a way that those of us who love the old line may I would love it if it did. But I think the only "new" Battle Beasts that I will be able to look forward to in the future is custom figures by Marty and other members of the board here.

Eric

[THEGODBEAST]

Wow, did I love to see that figure. It's a shame though. For a minute, it got me wishfully hoping again that there might be the possibility of a relaunch of the Battle Beast line. I think it would be amazing if they did it, especially if they kept it in scale with the original BBs. But unfortunately, outside of these little glimmers I don't see anything else indicating that they might be trying to rerelease the line. I think it would be great though.

Hasbro has been having a lot of success with their "heroes" line, such as Galactic Heroes (Star Wars), Super Hero Squad and Robot Heroes (Transformers). They are similar to the size of Battle Beasts and they are sold the same way in 2 packs. So perhaps there is hope. Also, lines like this if marketed along the lines of Pokemon/Digimon/Bakugan could really sell well.

But I don't think it is really going to happen. And if it did, there would be a big possibility that the line would be altered in such a way that those of us who love the old line may I would love it if it did. But I think the only "new" Battle Beasts that I will be able to look forward to in the future is custom figures by Marty and other members of the board here.

Eric

Unfortunately, I agree w/ EVERYTHING you say...I just didn't want to be a party pooper...I REALLY do hope they do some level of BB/LB soon! It would be fun to start collecting something new again. After liquidating 90%+ of my toy collections and not collecting anything really, I feel a little lost.

TGB

[TheOrgg]

My first thought was "is this going to be another Galactic Heros type release? I guess it's out of my pocketbook, then."

That said, it'll be cool to see 'em in stores!

[silentrob]

Sorry in advance... this goes on and on!

I think it's a good time to share my little story. Less than a year ago I was visting my best friend in RI. We both worked together at Hasbro and when they up and moved from Cincinnati he went, I didnt. Needless to say I remain very close with several guys who are still in the business.

Anyway, while I was visting my friend he took me to a collectible toy store in some mall and mentioned that several people at Hasbro shop there, sell things there and buy old samples of there own product to use for reference. Well it just so happens that while we were there, a Hasbro designer was at the counter buying lots of BBs, whatever the store had. My buddy and I both overheard him tell the clerk that they needed the BBs for reference and they were toying with bringing back the line.

Like I said, this was less than a year ago, so we know for a fact that it was being considered as recent as 07.

I would never say never on BBs coming back. The line is every bit as viable now as it ever was. They are small, minimal articulation, easy to produce and most importantly (to Hasbro that is) there is no real license issues i.e. they wont have to pay an arm and a leg for the rights to make Battle Beasts.

If I had to bet, the hold up probably has more to with marketing than anything. Hasbro loves their toys to have comic, movie, cartoon support. Battle Beasts dont have any of that. They certainly could... but that will take ALOT more work. Maybe more than they are willing to put in at the moment.

As mentioned before, if they could tie new BBs into a collectible game of some sort. Maybe work with Wizards (who Hasbro owns) and do a figure / card game tie-in. Bottom line, they need to get kids into it for the line to really make money and Hasbro is in the business to make money. So maybe a Pokemon type thing could work?

Anyway, I'd love to see a new line and I think we will someday. And we can all say, we were there from the beginning!

Oh and I'd also bet there are TONS of new drawings, most we will never, ever see. If Hasbro was / or is considering bringing this line back and a team was putting together concept boards, then Horrible Hyena was just the tip of the iceberg!

Edited by silentrob, 30 July 2008 - 11:03 AM.

[koppenschevelle]

Sorry in advance... this goes on and on!

I think it's a good time to share my little story. Less than a year ago I was visting my best friend in RI. We both worked together at Hasbro and when they up and moved from Cincinnati he went, I didnt. Needless to say I remain very close with several guys who are still in the business.

Anyway, while I was visting my friend he took me to a collectible toy store in some mall and mentioned that several people at Hasbro shop there, sell things there and buy old samples of there own product to use for reference. Well it just so happens that while we were there, a Hasbro designer was at the counter buying lots of BBs, whatever the store had. My buddy and I both overheard him tell the clerk that they needed the BBs for reference and they were toying with bringing back the line.

Like I said this less than a year ago, so we know for a fact that it was being considered as recent as 07.

I would never say never on BBs coming back. The line is every bit as viable now as it ever was. They are small, minimal articulation, easy to produce and most importantly (to Hasbro that is) there is no real license issues i.e. they wont have to pay an arm and a leg for the rights to make Battle Beasts.

If I had to bet, the hold up probably has more to with marketing than anything. Hasbro loves their toys to have comic, movie, cartoon support. Battle Beasts dont have any of that. They certainly could... but that will take ALOT more work. Maybe more than they are willing to put in at the moment.

As mentioned before, if they could tie new BBs into a collectible game of some sort. Maybe work with Wizards (who Hasbro owns) and do a figure / card game tie-in. Bottom line, they need to get kids into it for the line to really make money and Hasbro is in the business to make money. So maybe a Pokemon type thing could work?

Anyway, I'd love to see a new line and I think we will someday. And we can all say, we were there from the beginning!

Oh and I'd also bet there are TONS of new drawings, most we will never, ever see. If Hasbro was / or is considering bringing this line back and a team was putting together concept boards, then Horrible Hyena was just the tip of the iceberg!

Man, I hope you are right. I would just love to see new figures. Me and soo many other people have been able to keep this line alive in all our collections with no new figures in over 20 years with the exception of a few customs here and there. Yet, here we all are, still talking about them. Painting them. Chopping them up to make new ones. Searching for every bit of info about their original releases that we can find worldwide. If new figures or a whole new line came out that was compatible with the old line, I could see a ton of people on this board very excited. the forums would light up with activity. Think about it. We would have NEWS to watch over with this line. Getting leaks of new figures/prototypes. Sightings threads of where we are finding different waves of the figures, etc... If it ever happens, I will be the first searching from store to store to pick up these where I could find them.

But I am being cautious about being too excited about the possibilities. I honestly just don't see it happening. I would be one of the happiest people, but I can't get too excited. I have seen toy companies introduce good lines of figures to get excited about and pull the rug from them quickly. I just wish we could get some type of word, yay or nay, from Hasbro, officialy, as to whether they are indeed looking into this line or not. Just some info one way or the other, so that I could know whether or not to let myself get excited or not.

On a side note, someone needs to make a custom of that Hyena figure. He's pretty good looking. A bit different from the traditional Battle Beasts, but I think if we ever got anything, it would be somewhat different than what we are used to. Still, I sort of like it. Everytime I look at it, it grows on me.

Eric

[silentrob]

[/quote]

Man, I hope you are right. I would just love to see new figures. Me and soo many other people have been able to keep this line alive in all our collections with no new figures in over 20 years with the exception of a few customs here and there. Yet, here we all are, still talking about them. Painting them. Chopping them up to make new ones. Searching for every bit of info about their original releases that we can find worldwide. If new figures or a whole new line came out that was compatible with the old line, I could see a ton of people on this board very excited. the forums would light up with activity. Think about it. We would have NEWS to watch over with this line. Getting leaks of new figures/prototypes. Sightings threads of where we are finding different waves of the figures, etc... If it ever happens, I will be the first searching from store to store to pick up these where I could find them.

But I am being cautious about being too excited about the possibilities. I honestly just don't see it happening. I would be one of the happiest people, but I can't get too excited. I have seen toy companies introduce good lines of figures to get excited about and pull the rug from them quickly. I just wish we could get some type of word, yay or nay, from Hasbro, officialy, as to whether they are indeed looking into this line or not. Just some info one way or the other, so that I could know whether or not to let myself get excited or not.

On a side note, someone needs to make a custom of that Hyena figure. He's pretty good looking. A bit different from the traditional Battle Beasts, but I think if we ever got anything, it would be somewhat different than what we are used to. Still, I sort of like it. Everytime I look at it, it grows on me.

Eric
[/quote]

You're right Eric, heck... I got giddy for a moment just thinking about it. The forums bursting with activity, news reports, official images, concept sketchs, hunting from store to store, sighting reports. I do that with other lines I collect, it sure would be fun to have that experience with Battle Beasts!

Well here's hoping it will happen someday!

[TheOrgg]

Hopefully they'll use the 'Simpsons/Looney Tunes' rules system for the Battle Beast game if WOTC uses it. That was an excellent little CCG game system created by James Ernest, and is quite different from the usual Magic/Pokemon clones around.

If there's any sway, Mister Silent, use it. That rules system really should be on a successful game at some point! (and there's a bunch of guys here who'd probably enjoy using the cards they've so ardently collected, unlike me and the Ultimate Muscle CCG.)

[Scumdogg]

Holy crap, that Hyena looks amazing.

They should totally test the waters with these things...produce two sculpts, throw 'em in with the Robot Heroes line, and see what happens. Then if they go full-scale on a toyline for them, they've got a pre-established link to the TF completists.

[Articulationnut]

Wow, did I love to see that figure. It's a shame though. For a minute, it got me wishfully hoping again that there might be the possibility of a relaunch of the Battle Beast line. I think it would be amazing if they did it, especially if they kept it in scale with the original BBs. But unfortunately, outside of these little glimmers I don't see anything else indicating that they might be trying to rerelease the line. I think it would be great though.

Hasbro has been having a lot of success with their "heroes" line, such as Galactic Heroes (Star Wars), Super Hero Squad and Robot Heroes (Transformers). They are similar to the size of Battle Beasts and they are sold the same way in 2 packs. So perhaps there is hope. Also, lines like this if marketed along the lines of Pokemon/Digimon/Bakugan could really sell well.

But I don't think it is really going to happen. And if it did, there would be a big possibility that the line would be altered in such a way that those of us who love the old line may I would love it if it did. But I think the only "new" Battle Beasts that I will be able to look forward to in the future is custom figures by Marty and other members of the board here.

Eric

Good Point ! Those lines didnt come to mind during my first post. That reinforces my opinion that this line seems to be a turn key success.

Can you imagine "Gormiti" with the Hasbro "machine" promoting the line?

[CCVegita]

Holy crap man! That is freaking awesome! Thanks for sharing the picture!

I can only imagine how crazy this place would get if they introduced a new line of BB. Imagine all the children that would be on here.

[Ghost Lion]

That's great that they are at least toying around with the idea. That sketch looks great! Well, Marty you could sculpt that sucker like you did with the GBs and have it as your next custom!

[Articulationnut]

.... you have to wonder how a Battle Beast resurrection would be received on the heels of " Avatar: The Last Airbender" which has a similar concept (at least regarding the different "elements") assuming the back story / origin of the beast remained the same.

Edited by Articulationnut, 04 August 2008 - 03:56 PM.

[Macod0shus]

Hey what great news to return too! Been away for awhile and thought I'd stop on by to check out how my old Battle Beast buddies are. This news is definitely inspiring! It may take a long time before we see them brought back, or even never brought back, but hey, its still FUN to hope and dream and wish. Besides, isn't that what most of us have been doing, creating our own customs and designing our own beasts?

And Godbeast, I HOPE you somehow get involved in it one way or another if possible. It would be so awesome to have someone from the boards being a part of it!

-G

[lord]

I will receive the sketchbook soon as I bought it without knowing for sure if there was BB art in but I had a feeling.

Now we should all keep fingers crossed until the re release occurs (but it's not easy to post with fingers in this position)


Sylvain