Well... I'm glad I didn't actually put my order thru on Hot Topic's website. I was verrrry tempted (tho every time I went to do it, "Bubbles" went out of stock...). But I managed to hold off until I could get myself to one of my local Hot Topics... and they had them!
I uploaded some different angles of each one... so have a look!
More photos here:
http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p18/ladybrooklyn99/FUNKO%20ponies/visitors can't see pics , please
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However... as completely AWESOME as they are... And as much as I'm DYING for them to release many, many more characters (C'mon! finish off the Mane 6! Do Rarity! Do Fluttershy!), I have to say that in some ways... I'm ever so slightly disappointed with them...
I honestly prefer the shape and contours on the Fashion Style Ponies' heads. To me... they just flow better, and have a cuter look to them...
But... the overall design and slimness of these new vinyl gals... is definitely more reminiscent of the show aesthetic. I just can't help feeling, that their heads are a touch on the "oversized" side...
Then, the cheeks... I really am not a huge fan of the added cheeks. Especially when every straight on shot in the TV show has their faces evenly rounded. (
http://media.photobucket.com/image/recent/sup3rtroop3r01/Rainbow%2520Dash/Screenshot2011-02-19at83835AM.png)
Next... for all their detail... a more "active" pose would bring so much more "life" to them. I know, given the nature of the molded hair, and how it's glued on... turning heads are basically impossible, but boy would it be nice...
Maybe that's something they can work on in the future.
And then there's "Bubbles'" tail! OMG... it's as wide has her head! Really!?
Also, it seems as if the people on the production line didn't push, or mount Rainbow's nor "Bubbles" tails all the way in their rumps. There just seems to be an excess of "tailbone" left sticking out. Maybe I'm wrong... but it just seems to me as if they should fit in more... *shrug*
Lastly... poor "Bubbles" Cutie mark... they "stretched" it down her flank... so all of her bubbles are elongated. AFAIK, this is not just a factory error on a single pony; all of the "in hand" photos I've seen have it this way...
But for all that... they ARE awesome! I love their size! I love the feeling of holding them in my hands.... and I LOVE the hair styles!
From what I can tell... Forelocks and manes are cast in different pieces.... so I can see them easily using Rainbow's forelock, with Bubbles' mane. Add to that a different tail, and you have a new pony.
So many possibilities!
Another added perk... these gals are cast completely out of the same plastic. Though it MIGHT occur, I really don't see them having the same head/body mismatches that the brushables are prone to (since the brushables have heads and bodies that are made of different plastics)...
But... hands down... my FAVORITE part about these two... their WINGS!!!!
I love the G4 brushable Pegasi for their adorable wings! So much nicer than we've seen for past generations. These two... take it a step up! The wings are absolutely accurate to the animation design, and that makes me unbelievably happy!
Overall... I absolutely see these guys as Hasbro's answer to the clamoring of the community for more accurate collectibles, geared towards an older audience. They are packaged in trendy designs... and not slathered with pink!
The brushables are awesome! And without them... we never would have gotten these ponies! They are, and always will be Hasbro's bread 'n butter. But now... we can have "show accurate" representations of our favorite characters.... at least... we can hope they continue this line and give us MORE!
Though honestly... given the INSANITY of how quickly
Pony has sold out online... I can only IMAGINE that Hot Topic is just RAKING in the $$$ here! We can only hope that after this week, they went to Hasbro and said.... "We want MORE! We MUST tap into this marker further!"
I can't wait till we see DJ Pon-3! (someone mentioned she was in the works)... I'm DYING for a white Unicorn body, so I can customize her into Gusty!
Though I suppose the "glasses" could be problematic...
I don't really fancy myself a "Brony"... though I understand why they prefer the more "show accurate" aspect. Personally, I prefer molded hair ponies simply for the sculptural aspect of it. I love having representations of my favorite characters that LOOK like they do in the TV show/movie. The more accurate... the better!
But... at the same time... the brushables bring back a nostalgia that these Vinyl critters never will. After all, nothing really beats combing a brushable pony's mane when you're bored or to just zen.
BTW... They may have named her "Bubbles" online... but she rang up as "
Pony" on my receipt.