Harmonix Dolls Options

[P-girl]

O.O rude reply much. well not so much rude but compeltly off topic haha. its like he read a compeltly different question. i'm almsot confused how he came up with that answer.

@Zhan, dnafn im glad someone agrees. i couldnt keep up. i mean its all pretty and whatever but when theres too much happening it takes away from the plot and starts to become this race to beat the bad guys. i mean Roxy, did you have to be stubborn for half the season? and Specialists, did you have to stalk the
Winx, why couldnt you jsut explain it to them instead of us following you around for five episodes making the Winx angry. -.- i dont know its not my cup of tea. im glad its two transformations not three (and three wing sets) thats just WAY WAY WAY too much. one transformation is more than enough, especially for someone with my attention span.

I wouldn't say that out too loud. Remember, we didn't get much of a prior warning for Sophix and Lovix before they were implemented.

[Zhanneel]

[part opinion piece/part analysis]

I'll go out on a limb and say that Season 4 had mixed results for many people. I'm still watching through the second half right now and am a little relieved that things are calming down. I want to enjoy every season of Winx, so I'm trying to give it another chance. If I judge it on its own it has merit. But I do compare it to Straffi's previous three well-structured seasons and I see changes, some good and some not fitting. It is still nice to see the girls growing up and fighting bad guys, so at least I'll always have that to look forward to no matter what season it is.

The first half of season 4 so far was busy, when compared with the speed of the previous three Winx seasons. I think there were many potentially good plot points the writers had, but that they hurriedly wrote them into a handful of episodes instead of spreading them out through a season or two. Fleshed out plot points are what I miss. I felt like too many times that I was watching a soap opera as it bounces from scene to scene to scene. I guess what I'm saying is that I needed more focus and a few less plot points. Not that I minded the content of the side plots (excluding Love and Pet...), but that I would greatly have preferred they fleshed it out gradually and not too much at once. A more focused outline would have helped them. Perhaps they had too many writers working on the season at once this time around? I am definitely not down on the content, more the structure and speed at which is was delivered.

Believix is growing on me (however that song is stuck in my head on loop every time I watch an episode, ha). The wings, maybe not so much, but I like the individual transformation outfits, even if not my most favorite of all. Still very pretty and unique. The amount of layering of the clothes might be what bugs me a little, but on a whole I like the colors and shapes. Okay, so I'm good with the Believix. *thumbs up* Now... adding on the additional three sets of wings and two more transformations? That was pushing it for me. The season is busy, I just don't believe that was a smart idea when it comes to plot and character development.

However, I know where Straffi was going with this, and it has to do with profit-- and I respect that. I may criticize his decision when it comes to the flow of the television show, but I do understand the calculation to make extra profit through doll and accessory sales. Sometimes that is a hard lesson for tv shows to learn, that while it's good to have toys to sell, you may lose viewers through cluttering up the show. It may lose integrity. But I'm not the target demographic either. I'm just voicing the opinions and concerns of someone who wants to see the Winx show and all of its characters succeed and be part of a great flowing story. I wonder whether younger girls (ages 5-12) think about how Season 4 went. If they enjoyed it as much as the previous seasons, then in Straffi's opinion he would say he did a job well done. For me, not within the demographic, I will be sad because I want to voice my opinion, but there may come a time where I have to admit the show is going a different direction and since I am not part of the paying demographic, I won't be able to change that. It is hard though, starting the series from the beginning and enjoying many characteristics that further down the road may change or be lost to the series. I can only hope that Straffi keeps trying to corral his thoughts into well-written and thought-out stories every season and movie.

I am sorry if that was long in the writing and reading. I think I wrote that part for myself because I needed to clarify some things for my own sake. Yay, I feel a little better and have even developed my perspective more. :)

PS - I hope more Harmonix doll pics come out so I don't continue to hijack this topic and endlessly sputter long thoughts!

[Abby]

I think that is the main point for me, that I am not the target demographic and that no matter how much I dislike where the show is going, I have to remember that it's aimed for a younger audience who might get bored with a lengthy narrative.

[Zhanneel]

v_v Same here... it doesn't stop me from being sad when I don't agree with some of the changes, but I do have to respect Rainbow in itself and the demographic they are aiming toward.

[{§hani}]

i know its aimed at a younger audience but surely Straffi should realize that Winx has been running long enough to reach older girls and boys now. I started watching when season 1 was first airing in Australia. i was in Grade six (primary school i must have been 12) im now 18 and i still watch. He must realize that even with a new audience always coming in that older people will always watch.
(by the way Zahn every time you post i just go 'amen' you word exactly what im always thinking haha!)

[P-girl]

About that train of taught....
Well, there's this anecdote about Transformers. This one also has older fans, and they clamoured for a line specifically tailored for them. So Hasbro caved and made a Transformers line aimed at their adult/older fans.

It tanked. Hard.

Turns out that most of their profits still came from the little kids.
I get the feeling it might be the same with Winx. So it's understandable to still be aiming at kids.

[{§hani}]

i'm not saying they should make a series ONLY for the older fans. Just that the target audience shouldnt be so narrow. i mean i'd still watch it no matter what. the cartoon intrigues me (more so the drawings than the story) and thats that so im not offended that its aimed at 13 year olds or anything. more so disapointed that Iginio disregardes us older fans.

[P-girl]

I don't think he disregards us, per sé. Plenty of hot man to go around. But that might just be my pervy mind. And while the ending was all kinds of facepalm worthy, I think the second part of Season 4 has some interesting elements to it that might get over younger kids' heads.

[mightymarty2]

Lets ignor the ends apart from the first one, which have never been great. Especially the last two. I think there is older fans story lines but season 4 seemed like a selling exercise all the transformations and love and pet. With them become a private limited company there are extra costs and trying to impress investors to gain extra finance.

[Abby]

I'm sure he thinks that, but realistically the main demographic is always going to be the kids.

[Zhanneel]

i'm not saying they should make a series ONLY for the older fans. Just that the target audience shouldnt be so narrow. i mean i'd still watch it no matter what. the cartoon intrigues me (more so the drawings than the story) and thats that so im not offended that its aimed at 13 year olds or anything. more so disapointed that Iginio disregardes us older fans.

You make a good point too. I do respect children's franchises, and for the most part, they do not need to appease any of the older audience if they do not think it will turn a good profit. However, sometimes it can be beneficial. My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic? Heck yeah, that has such a following with older "kids" that the producers decided to make it both kid and "old kid" friendly. I think the end result turned out to be a success. I find the show humorous for an older adult, but definitely innocent and sweet for younger children. Kind of like how Disney movies nearly always are too, great for kids and adults. It is possible.

My other point regards something you said about first watching Winx when you were in the target demographic. You said you followed it through your teen years, and even now into your maturing years, but you feel like the franchise has forgotten you. I do think it's unfortunate that the franchise eight or so years ago has captured the attention of so many viewers, but many of them have grown up and Winx Club no longer honors the Winx vets who still actively watch the show. This whole point is moot though, since once again franchises do what they must mostly for profit, so for me to argue my vet status to Straffi, he'd simply tell me I don't have a leg to stand on. Nothing I can really do about, but it feels good to at least say it out loud.

I do want to say that everyone has good points on here, Shani, P-girl, Marty, and Abby. There are definitely a lot of gray, fuzzy areas to consider. Though, I wish I were related to Straffi so I could be very influential in the show development.

PS - Ha, funny about the "amen" thing Shani! I just caught that.

[{§hani}]

Well for Straffi and the team we're a minority. So he really couldnt care less. After all cartoons are just money making projects and Winx is no different. MLP and Disney are the biggest examples of both audiences being targeted perfectly and it working incredibly well. I mean MLP's main audience is little kids and Bronies. Which is an unlikely target audience (i thought at least). But i'm not sure that would work with Winx nearly as well. And icompletly understand and respect that i wont stop me from watching after all. But if they layed off the million transformations i'd be over the moon.

[Abby]

I think it's just different if you are from the USA since winx wasn't around for a couple years. I also got into the show when I was about 11 or 12 and continued to like it. But as I got older and winx sort of died out here, I was not into it as much since it was harder to stay involved with such little going on. Therefore I think that nick's reboot of it especially targets a new generation and season 5 will do that as well. It's nice to know that we were there when they seasons first came out and can follow the story as it goes, but because of that gap it is easy to just target the younger kids now.

[{§hani}]

I think it's just different if you are from the USA since winx wasn't around for a couple years. I also got into the show when I was about 11 or 12 and continued to like it. But as I got older and winx sort of died out here, I was not into it as much since it was harder to stay involved with such little going on. Therefore I think that nick's reboot of it especially targets a new generation and season 5 will do that as well. It's nice to know that we were there when they seasons first came out and can follow the story as it goes, but because of that gap it is easy to just target the younger kids now.

Where are you from?? I'm from Australia. Winx died after the second season when it was aired by 4kids. Our dolls, merch .. everything disapeared in about 2008 or earlier. The last doll i bought in stores was Bloom's wardrobe magic for Christmas when i was 13. Man i miss those days. But the only following for a long time for Winx was based on that growing generation who first watched it on TV by either 4kids or Rai. And then the second Straffi realises this he decided OH WHAT SEASON 4? im going to forget all about my loyal fans and make a season targeted at 5 year olds. because thats sure what if feels like. siiigghh i wish we still had merch in Australia. We're always the forgotten country.

[Abby]

I'm from the USA. It seems like it is the same in Austraila too.

I also think that it might be the same in general, because even though I imagine winx is still popular in Europe, I feel like it hasn't had many big things in a while. When I got out of winx, season 4 was just starting, and that was already a little over 3 years ago. So there is still this gap between season 4 and 5. I know there was the second winx movie, but that only came out this past fall, so what was going on for like a year at least in that time frame?

I see Season 5 and the new nick reboot as a way to reach a new generation of young kids that can add onto the aging fan base.

[Sen]

So uhm... I checked that email again (because I wanted to reply). And I saw the person who replied added BIG photos of the dolls!! I didn't seen this before, T_T I'm not used to gmail - they add the attachments below the email T_T (I'm such an idiot ugh!)

I'll upload the photos in a minute. <3

e voila:
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/W...s/5457812_F.jpg
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/W...s/5457812_E.jpg
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/W...s/5457812_D.jpg
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/W...s/5457812_C.jpg
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/W...s/5457812_B.jpg
http://i615.photobucket.com/albums/tt233/W...s/5457812_A.jpg

The dolls look amazing in these photos o.o

This post has been edited by Sen: May 13 2012, 9:21 AM

[Zhanneel]

Whoa! Are those even out on the internet yet?! Maybe I've missed them somewhere, but these big pictures seem like cutting edge right now. Awesome score Sen, thank you! Sneak peek at the new dolls up close now.

[Sen]

Whoa! Are those even out on the internet yet?! Maybe I've missed them somewhere, but these big pictures seem like cutting edge right now. Awesome score Sen, thank you! Sneak peek at the new dolls up close now.

Nope, exclusively for MC forum. They'll be released in September. =)
I replied with maaany thanks to Smoby's email. ^_^

[P-girl]

Would it be alright if I posted these on Livejournal? Credit will be given.

[Abby]

Nice pictures! I like the look of the new transformation just from these!