Funko Pop Debuts ‘The Real Ghostbusters’ Collectible Figures

by

As a seasoned cinephile who vividly remembers the era of VHS tapes and Saturday morning cartoons, the news about the new Ghostbusters animated series on Netflix has sent a wave of nostalgia coursing through my old-school veins! Growing up with the original ’80s series and the iconic movie, it’s like stepping into a time machine when I see those jumpsuit-wearing, Proton Pack-toting figures from The Real Ghostbusters.

It appears the fondness for the original Ghostbusters never fades away. Alongside the latest live-action sequels, Ghostbusters: Afterlife and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, there’s been a significant resurgence of nostalgia towards the 80’s animated series – more commonly known as The Real Ghostbusters. If it weren’t for an unrelated animated series attempting to cash in on the brand name, it would simply have been called Ghostbusters. Now, this classic series is making a comeback in toy form, with a fresh line of Funko Pop collectibles.

Pre-orders are currently being taken for Funko Pop figures modeled after the characters from The Real Ghostbusters animated show. Funko has unveiled initial images of Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston, and their spectral ally, Slimer, within their packaging. These 3.75-inch figurines are true to the original TV series, with each character sporting their jumpsuits and carrying Proton Packs. Additionally, they come equipped with attachable proton streams in matching colors. Even Venkman is joined by a miniature 1.5-inch Slimer! Instead of the usual cardboard packaging, this one features slime, vintage warning stripes, and the iconic Real Ghostbusters logo.

These figurines can now be pre-ordered internationally from Big Bad Toy Store, Entertainment Earth, and Amazon. The prices for Funko Pop figurines remain standard, and they’re anticipated to arrive in mid-January. Additionally, Ghostbusters News hints at more Ghostbusters Funko Pops on the horizon, expected to ship sometime next year.

The Real Ghostbusters was a television animated series chronicling the escapades of Dr. Peter Venkman (Lorenzo Music and Dave Coulier), Dr. Egon Spengler (Maurice LaMarche), Dr. Ray Stantz (Frank Welker), Winston Zeddemore (Arsenio Hall), and their spectral sidekick, Slimer. This show served as a spin-off and continuation from the 1984 movie Ghostbusters, airing for seven seasons from 1986 to 1991.

Due to the recent success of live-action Ghostbusters sequels like Ghostbusters (2016), Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, there’s been a renewed excitement for the comedy horror series. As a result, toy manufacturers have been capitalizing on this interest, providing a wide range of products this holiday season. For instance, Hasbro has brought back its classic toys that mimic the original Ghostbusters figures from the 80s, as stated on their website. Additionally, Hasbro has introduced Magic: The Gathering cards inspired by the franchise. Lastly, Mondo has launched a much-anticipated figure line based on the classic animated show in the scale of 1:12.

Apart from figurines, a companion book to the documentary “Cleanin’ Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbusters” is now on sale. This behind-the-scenes guide delves deeper into the information presented in the documentary, features interviews with 56 cast and crew members, and delves into the challenges faced during pre-production, as well as the creation of beloved characters such as Slimer and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.

The Next Chapter of ‘Ghostbusters’

Starting from 2022, Netflix has been working on a fresh, 3D-animated “Ghostbusters” series that resembles the more recent live-action movies in terms of tone. In August, they officially greenlit the entire series.

In a conversation with Alex Zane on A Trip to the Movies, director Gil Kenan shared that scripts are being drafted, artwork is being produced, and it’s an exciting time to be a Ghostbuster. Kenan hinted that the upcoming series will feature a fresh team, and they’ll delve into an uncharted period and decade within the Ghostbusters universe.

According to Variety, Elliott Kaplan, a four-time Emmy-winning writer who previously worked on The Daily Show, has been appointed as the writer, showrunner, and executive producer for a Sony Pictures Animation-produced series. Additionally, Jason Reitman, director of Afterlife and son of Ivan Reitman, the original Ghostbusters director, is set to serve as an executive producer.

Read More

2024-12-10 23:33