Questions about this years and last years

[Aquatic Neon]

When did the favorites collection first show up?
When did the SDCC exclusives for TRU, hasbro, and Funko show up?
Anyone have any idea when we will see new ponies, I'm so done with this Rainbow Power line and it hasn't even started.

[lunar_scythe]

We usually don't get confirmation on the exclusive till right before the fair, or whenever a boxed one leaks on taobao.  Usually our first glimpse of what will be coming up for the year is when pics from the New York Toy Fair show up, in February.  That is, if they haven't already shown up on taobao, which has spoiled many surprises Hasbro has had planned!

[hathorcat]

Last year? So you mean when the first Favourites set was released? We saw them at the Toy Show in February - that was the first time they had been seen and then it was about August time that they hit store shelves. There is typically a long enough gap between the Toy Fair and the release on shelves that production is only just starting or has not got to the stage of leaking factory rejects on to the Chinese market. Hence why we don't see them prior to Toy Fair.

The SDCC exclusives, as lunar says, are usually confirmed by SDCC or the manufacturer anything from 1 to 8 weeks prior to the event. Exclusives at SDCC are very heavily promoted by brands - the kudos involved in having a sell out and super sought after exclusive is very serious. Taking Drama Pony as an example - she was spotted on Taobao mid May and was confirmed by SDCC and Hasbro by the end of May. Meaning we knew about her for a 6ish week period prior to SDCC.

Traditionally the Fair pony was much more secretive and you were not really supposed to know about her until the Fair opened. But unfortunately sometimes the surprise was ruined by the odd Chinese ebay auction. And with the tie up we have seen for the last 2 years [same pony at both events] assuming this continues, again I am sure we will know who she is going to be several weeks prior to the Fair.

TRU exclusives have to date always simply been their Collector Series - the ones which later hit store shelves. We will normally know about these in February so several months prior to SDCC.

Funko announce exclusive prior to SDCC but they do so in a list of descriptions traditionally rather than telling you who specifically is coming [this is so people can do a pre event buy]. They normally gradually reveal who the releases are in the 3 or 4 weeks prior to the event - its all a PR exercise [as it is for most brands].

The Rainbow Power line looks like being the 2013/2014 line so I would think we are stuck with it until middle next year. I am sure we will get more releases within it but no one knows at this point what they could be. As for a brand new shiny line, Toy Fair is going to be the first show of those and those they show would not be due in stores until August time at the earliest.

[Aquatic Neon]

Thanks for all the great info guys!! I did mean like this year (although I said last year since this year is almost over I think), although sounds like February is the time to start seeing a lot of the new stuff, like the next favorites collection, etc! Which isn't too far away which is very exciting!

Sadly I think you're right about the rainbow power line, personally I think it's really ridiculous I understand they are toys, but still a bit too wild for me, and way too many re- releases so far hopefully we will see more new characters from hasbro this year.

[hathorcat]

Everything I listed pretty much applies for this year as well to be honest. The only difference this year being that the SDCC pony did not turn up on Taobao; she got an official announcement several weeks before but she was not leaked.

And yes the earliest we will expect to hear for certain about new lines is February.

[spottedslug]

*high fives cat*