Oh the world will sing of an English King, a thousand years from now. And never as a result of he handed some legal guidelines, or had that lofty forehead. Whereas bonny good King Richard leads the nice campaign he’s on, we’ll all should slave away for that good-for-nothin’ John!
Unimaginable as he’s inept, every time the historical past books are stored – they’ll name him the phony king of England. A pox on the phony king of England!
Initially – YOU’RE WELCOME. If I simply obtained probably the greatest Disney film songs caught in your head, you’re certainly smiling and possibly even dancing at this level. Robin Hood, together with Mr. Toad, is considered one of my absolute favourite animated films from the Home of Mouse, and mates – it’s criminally underrated. The charming songs maintain every little thing collectively, however the story and forged of characters are each so splendidly whimsical, so if you happen to don’t enjoyment of viewing, I’m afraid to say there won’t be any hope for you. Be it Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marian, Woman Kluck, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Set off, Nutsy, or that slick-tongued Sir Hiss, you simply can’t go incorrect.
Nevertheless, one character arguably rises above the remaining by way of memorable persona, character arc, quirks, and naturally, VOICE – and that’s the good-for-nothin’ Prince John. When Super7 first introduced their preliminary sequence of Disney ULTIMATES! I nodded my head in settlement with Sorcerer’s Apprentice Mickey, and Pinocchio, however PJ (I like that, I do!) is the one I’ve actually been ready for, and I hope past hope he’s the beginning of us getting your complete core Robin Hood forged in ULTIMATES! This sequence underwent fairly a journey by way of growth and manufacturing (as did all U! figures hitting proper now) due to the pandemic, however as entire, that is a kind of uncommon cases the place I discover the ultimate merchandise to be BETTER than the prototypes/preliminary renders. Frankly, the wait has been price it.
I’m going to begin by mentioning that the packaging for Prince John (and this whole sequence) is completely beautiful. Super7 packaging, as a rule, is usually the very best within the recreation, however the movie-specific slip covers and iridescent end actually make these stand out. I completely love the jewels working up the aspect of the slip, and the field itself has an incredible die lower crown within the high. It’s all actually top-notch and if you’re a mint-on-card collector, you’re actually in luck right here. In fact, these are all protected by the usual cardboard outer field and plastic bag, so these arrived in excellent situation. I’m excited to see how the opposite films/exhibits will likely be represented on this line because it strikes alongside as a result of these are definitely worthy of Disney collector figures.
Now, for the precise determine, Prince John is appropriately the most important determine within the sequence, and he helps set the dimensions for the road going ahead. Mickey and Pinocchio are considerably smaller than PJ, and that is smart, however he additionally helps set up that once we (hopefully) get Little John and the Sheriff of Nottingham, they are going to be outsized by way of stature in ULTIMATES! I’ve included a few photographs for comparability towards figures you may already personal, however total, Prince John scales the place you’d anticipate for this line.
Prince John is offered as he seems early on within the movie together with his smooth items crimson robes and scene-specific equipment. If you’re conversant in the film (and also you SHOULD be as a result of it’s superior), this determine is ideal to duplicate the fortune-telling scene the place Robin and Little John rob the royal procession proper right down to the strong gold hubcaps. This determine is SOLID and consists of about the identical quantity of articulation as most U! figures. Now, Disney characters have a variety of variance in measurement and form, so I believe the precise articulation scheme will range significantly from character to character, and you may already see that right here. PJ encompasses a ball-jointed neck, ball shoulders, hinge and swivel elbows, hinge wrists, ball tail, ball hips, hinge and swivel knees, and forward-facing rocker ankles. That could be a lot, however I’m certain you’ll discover that there’s not a torso joint, and I’m constructive that was accomplished to protect the type of his beneath gown. The entire joints on this explicit determine are strong save for some slight floppiness in the suitable ankle. It doesn’t inhibit posing, nevertheless it doesn’t really feel as tight in comparison with the opposite joints.
I discussed the crimson gown as it’s stolen actually off of his again by Robin, and it’s VERY effectively accomplished right here. That is a kind of cases the place I’m really glad it’s made of material and appears great, matches effectively, and the noticed trimming is completely correct. It’s so good that I type of want we might have gotten an alternate blue model as effectively (he wears that for many of the film), however I get that may have seemingly damaged the funds. The sleeves of the gown don’t inhibit the arm articulation in any respect, and if, for some cause, you desire a extra informal Prince, the crimson robes are totally detachable.
PJ additionally consists of three portraits, and they’re very expressive, however barely totally different from as offered within the prototype. All of them are properly applicable to the character they usually provide you with a variety of choices for presentation. The “smiling” head features a crown that’s detachable, so you may cling it down across the head because it tends to slide down on his pointy head all through the film. You possibly can virtually hear him say, “how droll” with this blissful expression. I believe I desire the offended/annoyed head the very best because it captures his commonest temper all through the story, and it {couples} effectively with the included fists (extra on these in a second) for his arms straight down his aspect after being gotten by Robin Hood. The third head is extra comedic because the crown has slipped down over his eyes, and his mouth/snout it depicted completely for that second. I do wish to say that all the heads have very properly painted crowns, and I really like the metallic end on the gold and beset jewels, it actually makes them stand out.
There are seven totally different swappable fingers included, too – each for type and performance. There are two open fingers and two fists with the bejeweled rings (once more with a pleasant metallic end), in addition to two fists with jewel-free rings (for after they’re “kissed” away by Robin and Little John), and one grip hand to seize that yes-man Sir Hiss by the neck. Mummy’s mirror can be included for self adoration earlier than it’s in the end damaged, in order that rounds out a fairly sturdy accent depend for this determine.
Ah, however see, this launch is a misnomer, as that is really a TWO PACK! We can’t overlook that the sycophant Sir Hiss can be right here – and in two varieties no much less! Sure, you get Hiss in his “standing” coiled set, in addition to his “mid-strangulation” type for optimum punishment for all of PJ’s errors. Each of those figures characteristic a partial ball joint neck on the bast of the top. I really like Sir Hiss, and Terry-Thomas’ portrayal of the character was spot-on and really memorable, so it’s nice that he was included right here. You can’t have PJ with out Hiss, in spite of everything.
Hear, I’ve been wanting collector-grade Disney motion figures for an extended, very long time. I really feel lucky that Robin Hood is being featured so strongly and so early within the ULTIMATES! line as it’s a top-three Disney film for me. Robin himself is up subsequent in sequence two, however I REALLY hope it doesn’t cease there. Heck, subsequent 12 months is the fiftieth anniversary of the film, so possibly we are able to get a fast two sequence sub-line so we are able to get Little John, Maid Marian (with Skippy), Set off & Nutsy, and Crocodile Captain of the Guard (with Toby) within the first sequence, then Friar Tuck (with church mice), the Sheriff of Nottingham, Woman Kluck (with Sis), Allan-a-Dale (with Tagalong) within the second. Increase! Carried out! The complete core forged for an superior assortment. Let’s make it occur, Super7!
I’d say that PJ most likely ranks up there with Slithe, Muckman, and Toxie as being one the very best ULTIMATES! figures launched to this point. So, if you’re solely going to go in for one from this sequence, make it that good-for-nothin’ John.
You probably have not pre-ordered Prince John, you may nonetheless achieve this at BBTS, and Disney ULTIMATES! sequence three is at the moment accessible for pre-order straight from Super7, so don’t miss out on these both. Preserve it proper right here, we could have extra from this sequence for characteristic quickly.
I’ll depart you with extra of that catchy tune: Too late to be generally known as John the primary, he’s certain to be generally known as John the worst! A pox on that phony king of England!
*Due to Super7 for sending PJ alongside for an early characteristic.