Exclusive Interview with JAKKS PACIFIC at Toy Fair

Very interesting...

when will the transcript be up?

Wow, 8 clips!

Ill comment when Im done.

EDIT: Important stuff:
-CS will end at the end of 09, along with the contract.
-TNA in RA style? Still no answer, but he says they listen to the fans, and they do the best they can. He says theres restirctions, though.
-UF Warrior soon, and he takes note of a UF LOD
-No absolute waves or release dates, but Santino, Big Daddy V, and a new Moore are planned.
-BNB till the end of 09. Wave 3 builds the cage, and waves 4,5,6 and other will focus on the arena (set, stage, ect.)
-No plans for AWA, NWA ect. RSR, but in 09 is the Real Scale Arena that will make the RSREC AND HIAC look small.
-Big Bossman still not signed, but they are trying hard. They need new contact information. If you have contact information, DONT CALL THE FAMILY, but give the info to Jakks.

-They considered new molds for semi-big guys like Taker, Kane, and Nash (in-between size)
-CS Raven is a clear possibility-Jeremy loves raven
-More Divas will be released more...sort of. Too many divas=shelfwarmers, but they will continue to release them.
-Pillman and Bulldog in Hart Foundation gear is possible, but not planned yet. Jeremy wants a poll on what CS fans want in special gear
-There WONT be a seperate BNB CS line. It will all be one. Jeremy likes BNB

-CS Gobbly Gooker? "Possibly". 75% chance. LOL!
-Most satisfying/important CS superstar that Jeremy has signed were Kaufman/Lawler, Flair, and Warrior. He challenges anyone to refute that the Jakks WWE line was the most complete line EVER. He predicts 400 figures in the nest year. He admits they done get it right all the time.
-He says WWE was great, and with TNA they will do the same thing.

-Jericho in RA, AD, or DA? Definetly!
-Rumors about the end of RA or AD are complete BS
-Next 3 superstars Jakks wants to sign for CS-RVD, original Shiek, and.... CS will keep going strong.
-CS will be released every other month for the final 2 years. Will end at CS28 or 29, but a grand finale CS30 would be cool to Jeremy.
-Every CS superstar that is signed will PROBABLY have a figure.

-Classic refs isnt completely out of the picture. 50/50
-Probably no Vince McMahon Sr. in CS
-Jeremy hopes all big CS guys that arent signed yet (Owen Hart, Savage, Sting) will get signed.
-McMahon 4 pack isnt planned, but is possible.
-Jeremy admits most answers are open-ended, but thats the way the company is
-Michelle McCool fig is likely to be in an upcoming assortment
-In the final CS, will we get a Jeremy fig? Jeremy is honored, but says not many people want it and he thinks he shouldnt be in it.
-Nation of Domination 3 pack is possible, not not planned YET.
-Will CS continue after 2010? He has no idea.
-Spike Dudley and Lance stone will be out ASAP
-Jeremy is really looking to sign as many people as possible. If you want the whole list, look at Clip 6.
-Jeremy wants Bastion Booger in the line

-UF scenes/2 packs are an issue due to price point($30 retail) and arent lucky. UF will continue
-Gordon Soley (?) and Lord Alfred Hayes are wanted, but arent signed or planned.
-They produce more figs of popular figs (Warrior, Hogan, ect) because or marketability then less-popular figs.
-Belts for MA and BNB are probable.
-Jesse Ventura will definetly be part of CS
-New DA molds for bigger guys ala Mark Henry and Khali

-We'll see more ECW
-Jakks is pursuing "other stuff"

Brilliant, thankyou.

I was pretty dissapointed in this interview. I appreciate Jeremy taking the time to try and answer questions, but really we havent learned much. 90% of the questions were revolving around CS and who is signed and who is not. We know what has been and whats not. Jeremy has always been great at announcing these right away. Dont you think if Savage was signed, he would have already announced it? Waste.

Jeremy pretty much answered every question the same way......Yes, we would like to. I know for legal reasons he cannot spell in detail certain things or release future lineups, etc. But, to say Yes, we want to. How has that answered the question? You say that about everything.

His comments regarding the RA line coming to an end........like I said before, I could be wrong. BUT my opinion remains the same. I believe the line is done. Toyfair showed us now new RA figures. Jakks has been releasing tons upon tons of repainted RA figures or just rereleases themselves, IE Trios 7. They have put little to no effort into this line. I could be wrong, but Jakks and Jeremy have done nothing to prove me otherwise wrong. Time will tell.

Jeremy mentioned UMF numerous times and sticking with the line. He failed to address TRU cancelling all future orders of this line, as well as discounting them. He said the line would continue. But he also contradicted himself. Jeremy stated that somethings cannot get done b/c they have to consider profits in mass retail and what the mass retailer wants. He named a few. However, TRU has clearly said they have no interest in UMF and yet they are willing to continue to put time and resources into it for what might become an internet based toyline. Dont get me wrong, I have no issue with UMF. But it just didnt make a whole lot of sense.

For me, Jakks has always put forth a great effort and I am glad that in 2010 they will continue to produce wrestling figures. Jakks does the best job when it comes to figures witrh detail, the number of figs, accessories, etc. But this interview lacked substance. It lacked information. I just wish we would have had some better questions asked and gotten some additional information concerning the direction of Jakks. Open ended answers doesnt cut it, as far as I am concerned. Thanks.

I have to disagree, he didn't mention TRU by name but he did say some accounts were not going to continue stocking them, he said that he feels that will actually help the line, presumably by limiting nuumbers. He said no to 2 packs not to the continuation of UMF I don't agree that that is a contradiction.

Anyhow I liked the interview, wish he'd answered the TNA/RA question properly but I didn't really expect him to since it's too early. Also I feel Tim should have set him straight on the placeholder (crush/slick/funks) question as Jeremy thought it was about re-releases when it was actually about first time release as I was very interested in finding that out. A good interview though, hope Jeremy does another soon

Needs more Hornswoggle, more Lou Thesz, more 1/500 belt(for all the titles US, Intercontinental, tag team, crusierweight, and classics as well) info.

pretty decent interview. not many good questions. but jeremy answered extemely well, and didn't try to dodge questions or joke about too much. who chooses the WF questions? i really must say that this person doesn't choose many good, and varied questions. jeremy had to repeat himself several times and some of the questions were pretty obvious to predict the answer.

i feel sad that we're losing jakks as WWE's toymaker, despite all my criticism, i've grown a certain affection for them and i guess it's like the old saying "better the devil you know, than the devil you don't"

still I'm sure jakks will make the TNA line great and we still have a couple of years with WWE.

Looks like there's one more left for me.