Speed Racer license = the next Galidor?

[Joebot]

Wow, pretty rough opening weekend for the "Speed Racer" movie. In the U.S., it came in THIRD place behind "Iron Man" (in its second week) and some crappy romantic comedy with Ashton Kutcher. When you get beat by Ashton Kutcher, then you know your movie probably wasn't very good.

So, what does this mean for TLC's license I wonder? Are they going to be stuck with another Galidor-sized turkey on their hands? Or will the relatively decent designs for the Speed Racer sets prevent them from ending up in the $1 bin at Toys R Us like the Galidor sets?

I guess that's the risk of paying for expensive licenses -- TLC has no control over whether the franchise will actually catch on in the popular consciousness.

For the record, I didn't see "Speed Racer," so I can't speak to the quality of the movie itself. I asked my son what movie he wanted to see this weekend, and he wisely chose "Iron Man," which was awesome. Here's hoping that the new Indy movie fares better than "Speed Racer" did.

[Hinckley]

If they end up in the $1 bin, I'm buying them all because these sets are awesome!

But, in the case of buying the license in the first place, it must've seemed like a no-brainer. Speed Racer has somewhat of a cult following and the movie did finish 3rd, which isn't horrible. And kids like cars, especially race cars. So, even kids who didn't like or see the movie will want the cool sets. Did I mention they're cool? Galidor on the other hand was completely unknown and not market-tested yet and by the time it went into production the program had been relegated to the ABC Family channel and soon obscurity. So, I doubt if the line bombs, it will be a Galidor-size bomb. I don't think they'll ever have a bomb that size on their hands again. *knock on wood*

[Matn]

I like Speed Racer LEGO. They look nice, especially the great minifigures! I think I will buy soon the 20 EUR sets. That's all for me. I think I won't watch the movie in the cinemas, because Iron Man and Indiana Jones are nicer to see there. It isn't a second Galidortheme, please. This serie rocks with nice windshields and figures.

[Brainbox]

I like Speed Racer LEGO. They look nice, especially the great minifigures!

I agree. Before this year, I'd never even heard of Speed Racer. I've not seen the film yet, but I still love the sets. The Mach 5, for example, needs a little MODing, but is pretty cool otherwise (and it's the Mach 5).

The minifigs are all pretty useful for parts as well. Lots of nice heads and torsos to scavenge

[filefolders]

I knew of Speed Racer, my mom watched it as a kid. I have yet to see the movie however. The CGI in the commercials looked a little fake though.

Galidor on the other hand was completely unknown and not market-tested yet and by the time it went into production the program had been relegated to the ABC Family channel and soon obscurity.

Galidor was a TV show?

Wow. I never heard of it until now.

Edited May 12, 2008 by filefolders

[The Rancor]

Yep, unless Speed Racer provides more sets the popularity will fizzle out within seconds.

Time to have a look in bargain basement for these sets in November I think

[Tohst]

I still kick myself for not buying a couple of the Galidor sets when they were super clearanced.

But, I still think Speed Racer has a ways to go before it hits that level of suckitude.

I mean, even if the movie bombs and Speed Racer gets the stink of Ishtar, the sets are well done and have good pieces and minifigs. They will sell. They just won't sell as well as if they represented something seen in a huge blockbuster.

Galidor had crap pieces. I have a Nick figure I got free. I think thats the name. There is nothing I can use him for. Well, maybe a Zentraedi to a mini-fig sized Veritech but in terms of normal Lego building, there was nothing in those sets to make a non-Galidor fan want them.

So, why do I kick myself? Because I think a set or two had an interesting piece or two and at 3 bucks it would've been worth it. If any of the Speed Racer sets hit 3 bucks, it will be a race to see who buys them all first.

-Tohst

[Joebot]

I mean, even if the movie bombs and Speed Racer gets the stink of Ishtar, the sets are well done and have good pieces and minifigs. They will sell. They just won't sell as well as if they represented something seen in a huge blockbuster.

-Tohst

I think you're right. Even if the "Speed Racer" FRANCHISE flops (which seems likely given it's lukewarm opening weekend), that doesn't mean the "Speed Racer" SETS will likewise flop. Conversely, both the Galidor show AND the Galidor sets were terrible.

TLC has shown that they're pretty careful with their product licensing deals. They've had a few licenses that haven't panned out, but mostly, they've been pretty successful.

I really wonder about what you said there, Tohst, about a set not selling as well as if it had been from a huge blockbuster. That's the real question with all of these licenses -- how much of a set's success can be attributed to the set design itself, and how much is because of the franchise name on the box?? Seems like reality is somewhere in between, but does one factor have more importance than the other?

[Athos]

I have no interest in the sets. I must have missed the Speed Racer TV show as a kid, so I have no nostalgic attraction to them. A racecar (beyond the fact that the word is a palindrome) has no appeal to me either.

As to the sets, they seem to be made up of a lot of curved slope bricks, which I don't really like. And the figures are fleshtones, so they're not much use to me.

That being said, I don't think they'll tank as bad as Galidor. At least with these they have, from what other's have said, pretty solid set designs. Plus they have real bricks, unlike Galidor.

So they're not total crap and I might have picked some up, if not for the Castle and Indy sets that are coming out.

Steve

[Norro]

Both the $20 2 car sets seem to walk off the shelves...

Another ignorant of speed racer lego builder...

God Bless,

Nathan

Brands should pay lego for introducing me to them...

[Zarkan]

So, I doubt if the line bombs, it will be a Galidor-size bomb. I don't think they'll ever have a bomb that size on their hands again.

Exactly. I mean, Galidor was just plain bad all over, and a complete betrayal of lego principles. Speed Racer on the other hand has been handled well, and even if the movie doesn't do well, the sets will probably do fine. I haven't bought any, but they look very well designed and have a ton of great parts and minifigs. Those three elements usually mean a set will sell well.

[Batbrick]

I love the Speed Racer sets! I have the Grand Prix, Truck and Speed Racer set and they are fantastic, lots of great colours in great slopes, with awesome windshields and fantastic minifigs. I don't think it'll flop even if them movie does, they are very cool sets that a lot of kids and AFOLS are getting. I hadn't even heard of Speed racer sets till the movie was announced, but I'm interested. Of course, I foolishly took apart my Mach 5 yesterday, now i have to put it back together so I can mod it once I see the film

Batbrick Away!

Edited May 12, 2008 by Batbrick

[Deinonychus]

Well consider this...

LEGO has sold thousands upon thousands of their own in-house Racers each year for the past couple years now. Putting "Speed" in front of that and adding some fleshies doesn't change what the sets are at their core...cool LEGO race cars. The license seems like a no-loose situation for LEGO, just do something you're already doing well and package and promote it a little differently to tie in to a movie.

I actually think that's one of the smartest licensing choices (Star Wars aside) they've made yet.

[Corvus]

Speed Racer, the next Galidor? Wow, that's harsh.

I'm probably not going to see the movie, but the sets themselves made me want to buy them. Those cars are great, with the exception of Snake Oiler, who could probably be salvaged with a little Modding.

[theestampede]

Personally I loved the movie, it was crazy artistic and nostalgic. I used to watch the show all the time when I was young. Im pretty angry that it is bombing, but what can you do? They marketed it wrong. The trailer looked like spy kids. Except for a few childish jokes (all of which can be blamed on Spritle, though a number of the jokes that were centered around him were based off his actions in the show) and the very beginning, the movie wasn't like that at all .

And it was trippy as megabluck.

all in all, it was very much like the source material, just on drugs lol

[Stash2Sixx]

At the LEGO Woodfield store, we were out of the Speed Racer sets weeks before the movie opened, and believe it or not, they are actually very popular sets (even that truck set, I still don't know why). Just thought I would chime in and add that!

[5150 Lego]

Actually, speed racer opened up second, not third.

I liked the movie. I've heard alot of people complain that it looked to phony with all theanimated cars crashing in mid air and jumping. But to be honest, i don't know if they could have done it any other way. Iv'e only seen a couple of original speed racer cartoons, but they seem to have captured the spirt of the cartoon. Its a shame that it didn't do any better. Either way, i think the toy (Lego and others) are great! Hopfully we'll see some 2nd wave sets this summer or winter.

[Piranha]

What is this blasphemous talk of speed racer being the next galidor? Hang the infidel!

I quite like the LEGO sets of them, the Grand Prix one being my favorite, because there are sweet rides included!

Also I love all the figs and there are some very useful parts!

However I have not seen the movie yet so I will wait to render final judgment until then

Edited May 13, 2008 by Piranha

[Algernon]

Speed Racer and Galidor aren't exactly comparable, since Speed Racer is infinitely superior in every way, including sets and movie, to all aspects of the huge pile of horse crap otherwise known as Galidor.

[Joebot]

Actually, speed racer opened up second, not third.

No, it was close, but "Speed Racer" got beat by "Iron Man" and "What Happens in Vegas." At lesat in the U.S. it did. I have no idea what the results were elsewhere in the world. Here's the box office results for last weekend, courtesy of Box Office Mojo:

1. Iron Man - $51.1 million

2. What Happens in Vegas - $21.1 million

3. Speed Racer - $18.5 million

What is this blasphemous talk of speed racer being the next galidor? Hang the infidel!

Hey, man, I'm just askin' questions!! The general consensus seems to be that the strong set design will keep the sets selling well, even if the franchise doesn't do as well as expected. So, no Galidor Part 2!

[SuvieD]

Actually the only product line to see more clearance isle space than Galidor was Harry Potter. That is why it isn't around anymore. How many Harry figures can you use?

[Zarkan]

How many Harry figures can you use?

To quote XwingYoda in a review "Let me make an analogy - oh great, another boba fett yay!!!!"

That's another strength of Speed Racer - lots of different figs instead of the same ones - we even get some in different outfits! Indiana Jones could only dream.

Edited May 13, 2008 by Grevious

[Dovchenko]

I haven't seen the movie. I like the sets a lot, I don't think any modding is neccesary- they're special in their own way. I haven't seen the movie, but I hate both that and the cartoon from first glance. I thought about giving it a second chance. Maybe it's the anime, no offence anime fans. But seriously, I love the look of the Prix and the cars, the truck's okay but I hate the open trailer so much... I won't be getting em though, but I'll like them from afar.

[Tanotrooper]

I love the figures, they are useful. I thought Galidor was some weird creation of LEGO instead of a tv show...

But of course Indiana Jones for example has a backbone, because it uses German and Soviet soldiers, and some sort of adventurers theme. This is like it, but LEGO Racers already exists... Will the parents pay more money for it if they could buy a smaller car from the racers line?

TT

[Tohst]

Actually the only product line to see more clearance isle space than Galidor was Harry Potter. That is why it isn't around anymore. How many Harry figures can you use?

I could use many many more Harry Potter sets, myself.

Honestly, HP sets did have a lot on clearance but they didn't hold a candle to what I saw from SW: Episode 1 sets. I mean Episode II sets got clearanced all over the place as well, but EP I, everyone had crazy amounts of stock. I think I still have a bunch of unopened pod racer sets I got for 75% off. One day I'll need an extra orange piece or Subulba and I'll be all set.

I think Episode III was out and I was still seeing Droid Fighters for 3 for $10 at Kay-Bee

-Tohst