Monday, February 24, 2020

Next Week Will Be Different: Puma x Sonic

Remember when DropDead Clothing did a whole thing for Sonic in England?
Well, it looks like Puma has decided to do something similar and have released no less than SIXTY ONE SONIC ITEMS all in one go, at their website. That's more than DD had, though these items probably aren't as fancy and don't come with mini chaos emeralds. (probably) However they DO provide something fans have wanted for about forever:

ADULT size Sonic shoes.
Shoes themed for Sonic...but that fit any size of feet. Yes kid feet too- Puma is thoughtful. There's a lot of frustration from fans who are tall, or who have bigger feet or whatever--regardless of age that can't wear the Sonic stuff they want. Sad PJ sets with cool designs and soft fabric that are somehow only for 6 year olds, annoying tees for toddlers, etc. If someone's going to design something cool, at least make it so anyone can wear it, or make a larger version too. (If you're 6 years old right now chances are you don't know classic vs modern Sonic)

Also, it's not just the sneakers they're doing suede shoes and also those 'scuffie' flip flop foam looking things so that's 3 whole types of shoes. There has never been a Sonic sandal? Now there is.

There's the usual stuff too that you'd expect from them like hats, sportswear and backpacks because they can easily brand such patterns/fabrics and things that they already own. However, what's not as usual is...

Their character & design picks!
The website calls everything "Sonic", but it's really not. There's a DEDICATED AMY-Only Shoe! Amy fans will really be satisfied with this! She so seldom gets to star on something that these are great to see. But then, inspect the tees and things because they will pair up like Shadow & Knuckles on something where like...that never happens.
Stuff that looks like a variant......isn't.
Pick through all the stuff and it looks like they're just changing the color of something/w same design but often they're not, they swap out like Shadow for Super Sonic sometimes. (The descriptions are a little lazy which is interesting...ish to see)

The slogan for the line seems to be "Puma x Sonic Who's Faster"

So, what'll happen next week is that there's a build-out for a specific Puma Page on Gear, just like how Drop  Dead had that gathers everything from this collaboration regardless of actual category. This will keep it easy to find/track and keep it from scattering out onto all the other pages. The sneakers that are the flagship shoes of it will appear twice though because those were already done onto Accessories. This will put aside most of the regular update though because it is a lot of stuff and it may take 2 updates to get it all to go on.

How about this timing, eh?
It's about certain to not be a coincidence that this collab is happening around the time of the movie. But notice how that MovieGremlin ISN'T anywhere to be found on the merchandise. It's all Classic and Modern Sonic. Interesting how that works isn't it.......like maybe........Sonic looks really cool? Maybe Sonic has a great design? Maybe Sonic characters other than him are cool too? And people like those a lot? And they will want merchandise with Sonic and not a hairy gremlin? GEE WHIZ. Who would think of such a thing. Hmm.

Another new page?
Yes in the future probably "Sonic Watches" because there are accumulating way too many of those on Accessories and they should be split off. However, it's currently "Raining Merch", so that won't happen until it calms down a little. It's important to inform fans about what is out "Right Now" than it is to sort or focus on classic anythings.

*It also keeps doing that every week, if you notice classic, boom, X, and non-US stuff has gone into the back seat over and over due to how much 'out now' just keeps getting reported.  There would be more non-US current stuff if it got sent in but I guess nobody found 2020 merch much of anywhere else.

Toyfair 2020
It's ToyFair NY as this post is being made but it is important to note that Jakks Pacific generally never shows at this Fair so if you don't see anything Sonic from them, don't fret because that is usual behavior from them and doesn't mean anything.
If anything Sonic from some other company appears at it though, of course it'll get posted about.

Item of the Week:
Art Frame Sonic. Isn't this wacky that it wasn't thought of before now? I mean, it's such an obvious thing to make that it doesn't make much sense that it took till 2020 to get this. *But it's kind of too bad the art of him isn't great? Yes it's modern Sonic but there's something kind of off about him? It's certainly an opinion on it but I wouldn't have this. There is better executed art of him out there...even stock art...that I like more. This one makes Item/Week because it is new but also not new.

Item of the Week #2
The Puma sneakers 'subtle Sonic', of course.

Next Week:
It's gonna be Puma