Futurama's one of my favorite shows, and it's just come back (baby) for a... somewhat mixed new semi-season - but hey, we'll see where this "Hulurama" goes. I'm there - I've caught every new episode and I'm pretty excited for the rest. Even if that new episode "The Prince and The Product" was the actual worst thing I've ever seen. Also the Covid episode. Also the western episode.
Back around Futurama's third revival on Comedy Central, manufacturer Toynami took over as the go-to guys running the Futurama junk machine. By the end of the reboot's two seasons, Toynami had released not only the entire Planet Express crew, but loads of cool, unique side characters and variants really made for fans. My favorites are the very rare Dr. Zoidberg, the 8" talking golden Bender, and the huge rotocast monster robot maniac, Destructor. As the TV series was quickly coming to a close, however, a few planned figures were left unreleased - and unfortunately, they're definitely some of the coolest we could've had.
First revealed around 2011, waves 10 and 11 would've consisted of Clamps, Joey Mousepad, the Donbot, and evil Bender lookalike Flexo, with deluxe vinyl figures Lrrr and Morbo listed separately. All of these sculpts are among the series' best - Toynami's sculpts often fell into that static rigor mortis pose a lot of Matt Groening merchandise ends up taking, but here, the already unique designs of each character really help make them stand out on the shelf - in spite of, or even, adding some charm to their basic poses. Even, y'know, bearded Bender.
Morbo had originally been planned as the build a figure spanning a previous wave, before being upgraded and reworked as a vinyl. Fans on Futurama forum Planet Express Employee Lounge (PEEL) took a particular liking to the figure, and even suggested to a Toynami company representative the idea of crowdfunding towards its release. Soon later, an advertisement at the 2013 Comic Con advertised a Kickstarter campaign for Morbo; though, for one reason or another - most likely the liscencing itself running out - it never came to be.
Lrrr, Ruler of Planet Omicron Persei 8... the other deluxe figure, had previously been planned for a main series release before being replaced by Amy, and, as with Morbo, was later reimagined as a vinyl. It was speculated that had the Morbo Kickstarter gone through, Lrrr could've gotten a chance next - a man can dream, though.
Ever since first binging through the series on some virus-filled bootleg website, The Robot Devil's always been one of my favorite characters - he's a wicked parody of old-school swinger demons, Forbidden Zone stuff, complete with catchy jazz numbers, dark humor and flamboyant rage. Sort of my thing. Naturally, the lost figure I wanted the most, was the 8" talking Robot Devil; revealed around the same time as a prototype closely resembling the original Robot Devil build-a-figure. In my opinion, it and the original figure's sculpt is... rough - still cool, but not very good. The set-in eyes do it no favors. Imperfect sculpts are especially apparent with the series' robotic characters, who themselves already look very well defined and three dimensional onscreen.
The Build-A-Bot and Talking Robot Devils
Later, an excellent resculpted take on Beelzebot was unveiled posing atop a wicked unique Robot Hell base housing the speaker. I assume it was for tooling/display purposes only, but man, it really made for an awesome looking piece. This second version picked up the ball and looked just perfect - as if the Devil himself demonically lept through the TV screen, yodeling showtunes and sardonic one-liners. Following in the footsteps of the aforementioned talking Bender, the Devil would've been a large scale, partially bendable figure with a built-in voice feature, as well as his cool little future pitchfork thingie. Sadly, the hellish base was, of course, nowhere to be seen for it's final release... which, of course, went unreleased.
I think, if they had been given the time and opportunity, Toynami should've gone forward with more large scale figures - especially if it meant new, improved sculpts such as the Devil's; I'd love an 8" Fry, Roberto or Zoidberg. The talking Bender is very well made, and it's too bad it and it's golden variant were the only large scale figures to actually release; among the last, and best, of Toynami's Futurama products.
Invader Zim is an odd little series. Despite it's wide and ongoing acclaim, one could argue it's broadest appeal came in merchandising; just think how many kids you've seen rocking that iconic GIR hoodie, perhaps with a dash of MCR bracelets and a pinch of unholy facial piercings. From the memorable Irken insignia to GIR's stupid little face, the series' iconography have well surpassed the brand itself; half those kids would have no idea their cool little jacket came from a nightmare cartoon about gigantic weenies and mentally deranged moose-beings - and, good for them. They're better off for it.
Unfortunately, not all of us have remained unacquainted with the twisted Zim universe. In case it's not obvious going by my art style, writing style, and... well, entire personality, Zim was a series I seriously loved as a young teenager. Hell, I'm still a fan - I just threw on the pilot the other night. Being a proud toy hoarder, I've amassed the majority of Palisades' impressive 2004 Invader Zim series, released hot off the trails of the series' first DVD release; from the awesome base playset, to the box set exclusive duty mode GIR. I've always thought that variant was supposed to look like the mystic Bloody GIR - if you know, you know.
Since the toy line's end in 2005, there hasn't been much in terms of legitimate Zim action figures. There's been a handful of GIR bits and bobs, a run of miniature bobbleheads, plenty of stuffed animals - but no real toys. The closest we've got was 2019's Sunny Days Entertainment "Bend-Ems" Zim and Dib; a pretty cool little duo of figures, definitely worthy of your shelf - especially if you can't, or don't want to cough up what eBay and friends are asking for Palisades' long out of print figures.
I jumped on these guys as soon as I realized they'd released; resulting in me overpaying significantly, having assumed they'd never show up on proper store shelves - they hadn't yet! Give it a week, I suddenly see them for $15~ each at Hot Topic. After months, and months of total obscurity. Go figure.
In my excitement, though, I happened upon the figure's first appearance at Toy Fair 2019, covered by Figures.com. Resting on a table beneath various test packaging cards was the Bend-Ems figure variety themselves, ranging from Hank Hill, to Popeye, to Voltron, to... GIR and Gaz. Complete with GameSlave. While I assumed they'd eventually release - GIR's dog design all but guaranteeing it - years later, it looks like we'll never see these additional characters.
It's really too bad; the Bend-Ems aren't ground breaking, but they capture Zim's noodly design in an effective manner. I've always felt that despite Palisades insane range and accuracy, the figures were ultimately too fragile for their own good - something completely voided by a series of toys made of literal bouncy rubber. While nothing much was really lost, I can definitely say I would've bought GIR and Gaz, no problem.
Finally, it happened. Januray 22nd, 2021 - a new Invader Zim toy line. Disgusting nerd collector websites reported company Diamond Select - known for their strange Walgreens residency - had announced a new series of Zim toys, complete with alternate heads and accessories - just like Palisades, but new!
A Diamond Select Toys release! Dooooooom! Invader Zim has returned to invade the Earth again, this time as an all-new series of action figures from Diamond Select Toys! Each set of two 3-4” figures – Zim with Gir, Boy-Disguise Zim with Dib, and Dog-Disguise Gir with Gaz – includes multiple accessories and interchangeable parts. Each pair comes packaged in a full-color window box. Designed by David Forrest, sculpted by Paul Harding!
I think I speak for every Zim freak when I say, these look wicked. The dancing gopher - a bad, bad rubber piggy - Gaz' horrifying robotic guards! You rarely see lines so dedicated to fanservice, and you really get the feeling they were aiming for something as cohesive as the aforementioned Palisades series.
While the Bend-Ems notably didn't use the redesigns seen in 2019's Invader Zim feature, Enter the Florpus, Select seems to have gone for a happy medium; Dib's got his Florpus incarnation's big, googly head, but also the paler skin and straight faced tee seen on TV. I actually dig this; not everyone's a fan of Florpus' much softer look, but I think it works really well in the context of the film itself. It would've been fitting to have a new range of Zim figures referencing these modern designs; a set for the original series, and a set for the movie. Really, I think they ought to have bit the bullet and adapted the movie designs directly - would've been a lot more desirable, as a collector. But that's just me.
I really love the expressive sculpts and poses; executed a bit better than Palisades' versions, in some cases. Irken Zim's pissed off overbite looks perfect. Each character had an alternate head, seemingly except for doggy GIR; I'd assume they didn't feel the need to give the most recognizable character too distinct of a variant. On the other hand, though, I gotta admit human Zim doesn't look too hot; something about his eyes and head shape is a little too Dr. Cortex. Dib's also a little weird; I know I just defended the whole Florpus thing, but it's cartoonier, friendlier take on Dib, at face value, isn't my favorite. His alternate head is a perfect example of that. All in all, the paint applications and attention to detail are really eye catching, great for fans, but the sculpts just don't consistently bring things together. Especially not in the same way as their predecessors.
So, why the past tense? Well, as of September 2nd, the series has officially been cancelled. Having pre-ordered the first wave, I've been keeping the occasional eye on the series; after all, I was pretty hyped for this release. While it originally was slated to ship during the summertime, the months went on, and the due date was pushed - again, and again - indefinitely... to the point where I started considering cancelling my pre-order. The thought passed, here and there, when today I figured I ought to get my hundred or so back - but lo and behold, Big Bad Toy Store was was step ahead.
Rest in Peace. Select themselves have mentioned the cancellation is due to production issues, hoping to resolicit, and the line has been marked "sold out" on most websites. While I'm sad the series didn't come out, I think at the end of the day, it's another case of nothing much was lost - especially since they were largely retreading an already popular and still respected series. I would've loved a new set of spooky dudes, but I'll survive with the one I've already got.
The company did end up releasing a PVC statue featuring a triumphant Zim and GIR later in 2021, designed by the same sculptors as the figures; making it effectively the only mass-release glimpse at this line. I haven't ended up buying it, yet, but I suppose if you had to choose one, this was a pretty solid choice; and a good note to end on.
What's next for the wild, wild world of Invader Zim action figures? Probably not much, honestly. The Florpus press cycle has ended, the comic's ended, the hype's died down, and good ole Zim's back to outdated internet forum territory. Just the way we like it. I think the cancellations of both series reflect the fleeting nature of Zim's media presence; par the course for your average cult classic, fashionably late and quick to leave. Interest is bound to ebb and flow, and while that's great for a weird obscure animated series, that's not so great for a toy line. It's interesting to see the original shows' fade in a smaller, faster scale; Zim was huge again for a minute, only to once again draw back.
Now watch as all eight of these figures are released in the next week.
Randomly came across a vintage Calbee commercial featuring the great Gamera - Showa era, too! Can't get much better than this. The joys of having a largely Japanese Twitter feed.
For some context, Calbee is a large food brand who's most prominent in Japan. They've done plenty of crossover promotions, from Batman to Evangelion. Small world, huh? Read all about it.
It's hard to tell exactly when this ad was run, as judging by what odd and obscure photos I've come across, plenty of promotional (non-screen used) Gamera suits existed up until the Heisei era reboot trilogy. I think it's most likely the "UchuGame" suit created for 1980's Gamera: Super Monster, based on the suit's glass eyes and the overall look of the commercial. A super obscure Japanese upload on Wikia claims I'm right, so we'll go with that. Who knows though, most vintage Gamera suits looked about the same.
Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum - a visually stunning collection of Arcade booths, Automatic machines, and Sideshow oddities - has been home to a cast of original Pizza Time Players for some time. Being a fan of animatronic history, I made my way out to the Museum to give them a look myself - as well as to pick up a cool hoodie.
Though once home to a complete set of characters - including a couple extra, who wouldn'tt have normally been included with this lineup - as well as some neat signage, Marvin's now only displays Helen Henny, Mr. Munch, Jasper T. Jowls, Madame Oink, an Applause Board, and two versions of The Warblettes - one colorful, the other crow-like. What happened to the missing few isn't immediately clear, though I've read they were sold off.
Unverified sources claim that these figures moved in the Museum, meaning they may still be in functioning condition. I very much doubt that being true, however - the logistics behind it don't seem very realistic. The characters are elevated high above a row of large, heavy pinball machines, leaving no easy way of access to the mechanics which ought to be below the half-bodied characters. Though it's not impossible, it also doesn't seem anywhere near practical.
Out of the main four, Oink inarguably looks the best. Helen, Jasper and Munch have seen better days, looking rather slack and broken (Helen in particular is missing a jaw) - yet, seeing them at all is a bit of a thrill. The colorful Warblettes are dirty, and though the eyes on the other pair are wonky (the lighting makes it look as though they are missing a few, but in person they're only missing the black pupils), their black fur saves them from appearing as aged. The Applause Board looks nice, as far as I can tell - I'd love to hang that up.
Though these characters show their age, Marvin's is a perfect resting place for the bunch - the grimy, colorful Arcade below their perch surely paralleling that of a classic Pizza Time Theater store. These characters are a part of history, in their own small way - seeing them in person was quite the experience!
Daft Punk - Thomas Bangalter (clad with a Gort-esque silver helmet) and Guy-Manuel de Homem Christo (wearing a faceless golden helmet, respectively) - really need no introduction; a pair of Grammy-award winning future-funk-meets-house masterminds, popular for their mysterious public identities and favor of overtly 'electronic' tropes.
2013's release Random Access Memories lessened the techno, and upped the groove; creating a musical love letter to the nostalgic tunes that inspired the very basis of their genre. Donning flashy tuxedos and donning a more 'regal' attitude within their robotic disguises, Daft Punk evolved to match their music; as such, longtime Daft Punk merchandiser Medicom released updated versions of the duo in their notable Real Action Heroes line. selling for roughly $200~ each on most aftermarkets, they're a tough pair to grab - nothing less for pop's most elusive icons.
As both figures are essentially the same, I will be reviewing them under one collective rating.
Sculpt - 5/5
Unsurprisingly, Medicom has perfectly recreated DP's 2013 wardrobes. Both sci-fi helmets are photo accurate, adorned with very specific details such as Thomas' hidden vents (located beneath the visor) or the various small contraptions within Guy's "ears". Even their smooth 'necks' are true to form, representing the underlying black mesh worn by the pair. Their clothes fit very nicely, and are properly to scale - features such as the necklace's chain and the miniature sequins are roughly the correct size, and look very good in relation to the entire figure.
The one gripe some may have is that, unlike Bandai's FiguArts renditions, these helmets feature a solid black "glass" - no underlying screens are visible. Though this was an admittedly interesting choice on Bandai's part, it isn't accurate to the real-life costumes (both the ones Bandai represented, nor these). The only versions of the helmets to sport screens were the original Discovery-era editions. It's a fictitious detail that's neat to see, but definitely not necessary.
Articulation - 5/5
Again as per RAH tradition, the articulation on both figures is very good. Every joint is nice and stiff, with no hindrance whatsoever from the outer clothing. Most joints seem to be a either pin-disc or ball, and (with some finagling) can really achieve any practical pose one could desire. Though most will likely leave the pair in a neutral stance, it's very possible to recreate more eccentric poses seen in some photos.
Accessories - 4/5
DP aren't usually seen sporting a multitude of accessory-worthy objects, so what has been provided serves it's small purpose well. Both come with two extra pairs of hands (one set spread open, the other clenched into a fist), as well as adjustable stands. These figures have pretty good centers of gravity, making the stands not entirely needed, but having them available is useful. More colorful bonuses such would have really added weight to this category; perhaps a small-scale RAM Record, or any handful of props from their music videos.
Paint - 5/5
DP's personas are very design conscious, with a very simplistic style that can adapt to any musical setting. The single tones of these designs are recreated to a tee - each surface color is consistent across every piece, the metallic shine is beautifully reflective, and their match silver boots shimmer in a realistic way. The very small black portions on both necklaces is cleanly applied, without even the slightest inclination of slop - it's almost as if the real jewelery was shrunk onto these figures. Even the underlying bodies are a solid black, representing the aforementioned mesh.
Fun Factor - 5/5
For adult-oriented figures, these seem to be far from fragile; every point of articulation is appropriately tough, and though care should be taken with the very intricate clothing, the biggest issue one could potentially face is an uneven tie or wrinkled pant leg. Thought these two aren't for play, they're also very capable of repeated manipulation.
Overall - 5/5
Really, anything less than a 5/5 would be surprising concerning figures of this quality. These are prime examples of how artistically impressive high-end collectibles can be; so meticulously designed, they could easily be mistaken for the real deal. Though they've always fetched a high price, it isn't hard to see where the money goes - these two have a demanding presence on any shelf, by the sheer striking nature of their lifelike sculpts alone.
Disney parks tend to have a "heart"; whether it be an international variety of fantastic Castles, the highly intricate Tree of Life, visual marvel Spaceship Earth, or any other central attraction. Many of these contain accompanying large-scale shows, often held within the structure itself - must sees for parkgoers visiting the respective icon.
Being no stranger to the vast universe of film, I've always loved this ride especially. Seeing such marvel and honest respect paid to the undisputed movie classics - in such a visually impressive way - was nothing short of candy. Each segment felt truly dedicated to it's subject, presenting a miniature "ride" devoted to each movie; who could forget the striking image of Mary Poppins floating whimsically next to chimney sweep Bert, joined by the silhouettes of his fellow giddy workmen? The eerie, smoke-coated streets of the Gangster genres? The thrillingly dark mechanical hell of The Nostromo? Disney's Imagineers went above and beyond with each 'room' - making you not only want to dive into the source material once more, but effectively letting you experience the world behind the screen for even the shortest amount of time.
My final ride was one to remember - the cast members truly pulled out every stop, shooting for the magical last hurrah worthy of the films it parades. They even managed to give my group the rare "Cowboy Scene" - To elaborate, rides are 'taken over' by either a rogue Cowboy, or Gangster, from each respective genre's zone. Likely because of the pyrotechnics involved in the Cowboy scene, the ride typically uses only the Gangster plot. This great touch of acknowledgement for the attractions fans and history was a really warm moment, embracing the 'end'.
Removing this show, in my opinion, will prove to be a major gash in Disney's Theme Park record. It communicates the point of Hollywood Studios better than perhaps any other aspect of the location; celebrating the sparkle of a happy night at movies, thriving in that wistful Disney charm.
However, it, too, is now a classic - locked in the world it was able to let us enter. It's a fitting end for the living museum of film... now forever in the movies.
Roll the credits - here's to The Great Movie Ride.
Haruo Nakajima, the original Godzilla (filling the role from 1954 to 1972, as well as various other Monster and Onscreen roles), passed away today at the age of 88.
I had the amazing chance to meet him (as well as fellow Toho veteran, Akira Takarada - pictured to my right, with Nakajima to my left) at the 2014 Spooky Empire Convention, hot off the tracks of 2014's Godzilla - a reboot which has proved incredibly successful for the series, spawning an American Kaiju film universe, the wild success of Shin Godzilla, and a new run of CG Animated Godzilla films set to begin later this year.
Haruo was alive to see this revival, and fittingly so. Godzilla: Final Wars - the 40th anniversary film designed, at the time, as the "series finale" for Godzilla - is now the final Godzilla feature to use Suitmation. Godzilla '14, Shin Godzilla, and seemingly all future installments have not used this technique at all; moving instead to CG animation. The torch has effectively been passed; while the days of lumbering rubber suits, model cities, pyrotechnics, and live performances are certainly gone, what they've influenced and fueled would be entirely nonexistent were they not displayed with the success Haruo (as well as effects mastermind, Eiji Tsuburaya) achieved.
Haruo was a very respectful, approachable man - especially for someone better known as Godzilla, Matango, Gaira, The H-Man, Neronga, Rodan, Gabora, Jirass, Kiyla... the list goes on. Getting his signature (on a photograph of him holding a Godzilla model used in Invasion of Astro-Monster) has been an amazing highlight of my time as a Kaiju fan, perhaps only topped by getting to directly ask him a question during he and Takarada's panel; the question pertaining to how dangerous, as well as challenging his profession was. Needless to say, becoming a radioactive beast is no simple task; and doing so until the mid seventies is even less so.
Haruo's passing is a great loss, and hurts deeply as a fan and follower of his work. While the true Godzilla may be gone, his amazing onscreen work will never fade away to time; whether he be eerily wading through the dimly lit streets of Tokyo, dancing in joy on a distant planet, battling oversized foes on tropical islands, toughing up his adoptive son, or facing any innumerable amount of oddball interstellar invaders, Godzilla - with Nakajima - will eternally have life in the classic films which defined an era of monster-mash movie history.
Since The Walt Disney Company produced the first ever audio-animatronic character, Abraham Lincoln, automated beings have been a staple of the modern entertainment industry. Used in theme parks, films, and much more, this interesting form of technology has grown both more advanced and more widespread with an incredible pace.
One of the key players in the medium's popularization came in the form of the Pizza Time Theater restaurants (now known as Chuck E. Cheese's). Backed by electronics powerhouse Atari, this chain of eateries combined arcades, pizza parlors, and small-scale amusement parks into one exciting package.
Immediately, entrepreneurs saw the genius of the concept; leading to the creation of imitators such as Showbiz Pizza Place, Circus World Pizza, Major Magic's All-Star Pizza Revue, Bullwinkle's Restaurant, and too many others to possibly list. Thanks to a mix of nostalgia and appreciation for each storefront's unique creativity, a fan following has recently sprung up, celebrating the retro fun of these locales.
Within this fanbase, one smaller-name entertainment center has newly popped back into relevance; Tex Critter's Pizza Jamboree. Collectors have acquired original animatronics from the stores, and fans have swooned over their cutesy designs. However, beyond this admiration, there seems to be a loss concerning information about the pizza parlor. With the help of the Retro Pizza Zone forums, fandom superstar CavitySam, fellow fan Masterpj555, and a trusty search engine, I've compiled all I could find into covering the rise and fall of Tex.
Tex Critter's was a joint production between Castle Entertainment Inc. and AVG Technologies, not unlike the well-known pairing of Corporate Showbiz Pizza and Creative Engineering. Castle, though seemingly having mostly disappeared to time, was a highly ambitious family fun center company, owning various mini-golf locations, arcades, and more. AVG's previous and future works spanned anything from other Pizza centers (such as the aforementioned Circus World Pizza and Bullwinkle's Restaurant), to full-on amusement park dark rides, to feature films.
The Tex cast - Skeeter the Rattlesnake, Country Cal, Foxy Roxy, and of course, Tex - was designed by Disney Imagineers Larry Nikolai and Rolly Crump, giving the crew a traditional cartoon feel. Each character, to varying degrees, served as a homage to the genre of Country music; deliberately distinguishing the show from similar electronic cabaret acts of the time, which focused moreso upon familiar or generally upbeat tunes rather than one consistent music choice.
Tex's was also one of the first entertainment centers to limit it's guests to families only, avoiding the grimy hangout atmosphere found in similar places.
Another unique feature of the stores was it's variety of entertainment. Though retaining the common arcade theme, Tex's also featured Televisions playing then-hip channels such as MTV, a small-scale
theater featuring 3-D films, computers running fun programs, and even an occasional special spotlight on local events (playing recordings of parades, ceremonies, and more of the such on screens through the store). Castle was impressively ambitious, and though little is known whether or not these features were implemented into each location, it's undeniable that they certainly put this chain far
above the comparatively simple ventures of competitors.
Unfortunately, there seems to be very few records of what the real stores looked like. There is one image of an outdoor sign, but no known shots showing the interior of any location. We do, however, know of some memorabilia, such as a member's card from a Puerto Rico location, official Tex shirts, and a full Tex mascot costume.
Even the animatronic band itself was high-tech considering it's mass-market production. Compared to the often simplistic quality of figures in other pizza parlors, it's easy to see that AVG was many steps ahead of these lesser forces. Each character clocked in at about 300 pounds, and eight feet tall. The 'Bots were specifically designed to last, using airplane parts to ensure they'd last as long as possible. Their face 'masks' were glued to an inner skull, and held snugly via buttons (unlike masks such as those used by Showbiz Pizza, which were loosely slipped onto the bare mechanism). They could even be remotely controlled via joysticks, allowing the characters to specifically look at things. As seen in this very rare footage, the Tex show was practically Disney-quality, with smooth, natural movements.
Estimated to be AVG's most produced animatronic show, it is believed 20+ locations existed. Oddly, AVG's website only mentions the Castle Park location, with no indication of the actual food chain in which the figures were used. I have a theory that the first Tex show was test-ran in the park, as it was also owned by CE, and upon it's success, the project was pushed further.
Castle Park was a popular attraction in El Paso, Texas, covering CE's various professions (including, of course, a state-of-the-art arcade facility and a large mini-golf area). It is believed that the above footage originates from this location.
1984, however, proved to be a fatal year for all of CE's outlets. The Tex chain, Castle Park, and a handful of other attractions owned by the company closed, indicating that CE had totally folded this very year. Sources claim that the closure of at least Tex was due to poor money management (presumably caused by the complexity of the stores themselves). A lifetime of only two years, it isn't surprising that CE's impact on the entertainment industry was minimal, at best.
By the time of Castle Park's closing, Tex and company were purchased and moved to similar (though not CE owned) attraction Castle/Magic Landing, which opened that year. The locale displayed their set in a familiar location - the pizza parlor. As CE no longer existed, there was no other Tex advertising nor merchandise around the park, isolating the trio. CL existed until 1988, when it closed due to both a lack of funds and a variety of controversies.
The majority of Tex animatronics were sold off in auctions and the such, or perhaps dismantled in hopes of scrap money. Many still exist, albeit in highly decomposed forms - though few have seen as much wear and tear as those given to Landing.
The park itself, rather than immediately leveled or sold apart, was entirely abandoned. Resting from 1988 to roughly 2008-9, the contents quickly grew eerily decrepit, forgotten by those who once perhaps adored them.
Tex and the gang, twenty-three years old in the accompanying picture, were sadly not spared. They spent seventeen of those years in disregard, and many more afterward. Melting, broken, and soulless, it's a sad sight to see the characters once so full of life now in this terrible (yet, perhaps even more morbidly, recognizable) condition. Even sadder, Landing's corpse was finally levelled in 2013, presumably taking what may have been the first complete Tex stage with it. A work of art, lost to history.
Luckily, it is believed most of the in-store Tex sets were sold off via auction (along with the rest of each location's assets). Designed for years of use, many are still popping up in the oddest of places (and oddest of conditions) to this day.
One such example is a set that, according to often-retold anecdote, was purchased from a closed Tex location by a high school and used to teach students programming. An alternate version of this tale claims the trio was used for a play, by the same school. The characters were largely incomplete (missing their faces, skins, clothes, and various other pieces), leaving their inner shells and mechanics bare. The fiberglass shells were directly painted upon. Albeit non-official, this is the only known retrofit (or reworking) of Tex Critter animatronics. The characters were renamed "Sammy", "Miss Kitty", and "Uncle Frank", presumably to match their new context. Oddly, Skeeter the Rattlesnake is missing from the set.
As previously mentioned, fans have discovered their own sets, as well. Among others, CavitySam (right) and Masterpj555 (left) have uncovered sets, both in varying states of completion. Though currently in naturally weathered conditions, both owners are working diligently to refurbish the crew to fully finished, fully functional states - a difficult, but impressive task. The animatronic community has taken a large interest in their progress, thus leading to a small revival in Tex Critter's relevance, with fan art, speculation, and general excitement clouding around the forgotten characters and their background.
Masterpj555 has taken it upon himself to begin clearing this fog, locating and contacting names behind Tex. One successful lead was artist Larry Nikolai, who upon learning of the renewed interest, has began recounting his experience with the project on his FaceBook page. Posts so far have revealed the manufacturing of the animatronics, the design process, and even his original maquette (used to visually conceptualize the stage layout, seen as this article's header).
Yes, despite Tex's long-ignored past, it seems he and his friends do have a future. New information is speedily reaching those invested, discoveries are springing up left and right, and new fans of the show certainly prove it's charm beyond it's limited exposure. The Tex Critter story - despite it's trials and tribulations - has yet to end. New information is old; which naturally means the various questions can, and hopefully, will be answered.
As information is still being uprooted, naturally, there will be periodic updates. I plan to add to the history through new articles. Though I intend to preserve this one as-is, any conflicting updates will be resolved.
With that, here's to the new life that been been breathed into Skeeter, Cal, Tex and Roxy.
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