TOYSREVIL @ Hot Toys Singapore Grand Opening
For over 2 decades, Action City had been the main distributor for Hot Toys and Medicom Toys. From Clarke Quay, to Heeren, to the now multiple storefronts dotted around Singapore, Action City has today opened the first dedicated Hot Toys Singapore store.
Located on the 3rd floor of Bugis Junction, (#03-13), right opposite Kinokuniya bookstore.
TOYSREVIL was invited for the Media Preview an hour before the store was opened to the General Public, and featured here are some videos and snaps to share with TOYSREVIL-readers, cheers.
[ Above video also on Instagram ]
Click on hashtag #TOYSREVILHTSG to view all my coverage of the #HotToysSingapore storefront on Instagram, cheers. Some reposted here, with most videos reuploaded unto the TOYSREVIL-YouTube, for a more friendly embed on this blog, cheers.
The main store itself is predominantly filled with COSBABY and licensed lines of figurines and blind boxed items. Bare in mind this is a "Hot Toys"-dedicated shop, so do not carry Pop Mart titles, as do the Action City store just a stone's throw away, cheers. Display shleves closest to the cashier display 1/6th-scaled figures.
You can see II have put a lot of emphasis on WHERE the storefront is, while what is available, you can check out their dedicated socials at instagram.com/hottoyssingapore and instagram.com/actioncitysg + facebook.com/actioncitysg.
By the time I was allowed inside to film, the space had folks in the narrow aisles, so this the best I could muster, sorry. Above is a sped-up time-lapsed look (also watchable on Instagram), while below is a real-time video walk-thru, slowed down 10% (also watchable on Instagram).
A showcase of 1/6th-scaled figures at the side, this time all-Star Wars, and I assume this space will be changed to suit relevant displays when releases call for it.
Looking at the store and watching the folks queuing up for the exclusives, it all brought me back to my active days collecting 1/6th, from over 2 decades ago. Scroll thru to read, cheers.
My toylife began with collecting 1/6th. Even before the existence of "TOYSREVIL" (which essentially beige my 1/6th hobby and designer/urban vinyls), my life was gripped by the 1/6th-scale hobby, and a part of this was HOT TOYS.
I collected Hot Toys during their "Famous Type" era, of a Keanu in cargo pants and sneakers, Tom in MI:2 pleather jacket and pants, and even a plaid shirted George! The era of BBI and Dragon, soon gave in to Hot Toys when their featured licensed releases, and being able to straight-up mentioned the actors being portrayed in toy!
I remember when I discovered the toy-art of KOJUN of South Korea, when he was a independent creator of 1/6th .... Then when he was recruited by Hot Toys, and the SK creators afterwards, the shift was palpable and impactful, with the result being the countless 1/6 masterpieces we see and take for granted now, methinks.
The idea of a "dedicated Hot Toys Store" in your country always felt as if you could have access to Exclusive Editions, borne of or "first releases", with Hong Kong and Japan stores shining in the lime-light for all these years.
Understandably Singapore more likely does not have the economies of scale and/or buying power, much less the dwindling storefront scene in 1/6th (*which I have zero reference or statistical context to show for, alas), where Hot Toys has positioned themselves to be of premium value, with minimal ground afters, especially after the exit of 3A Toys too.
But of course I am missing out on numerous other premium and licensed toy-brands such as Blitzway - whom I am unfamiliar with - as frankly I am currently not active in the 1/6th-scene, alas.
In many ways, I personally will not take the view of "it took over 2 decades to open a dedicated Hot Toys store?!", and instead am thankful we HAVE a dedicated Hot Toys storefront instead - even ion I am not a "paying customer" LOL
Besides (constant) "new releases", which I can imagine will continue with Star Wars media-related releases and even on-going Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) properties, or even DC Universe movies to come, there is a specific thing I hope to see:
A RETROSPECTIVE of Hot Toys releases. It could be just display and information, or better still even limited re-stocking or sales, for folks to be both apart of the Hot Toys Heritage, and as well collectors.
I still remember the early days when Hot Toys released figures from Brothersfree, and long had I desired Brothersworker collectible figures! But a while ago, I'd met a "toy-designer" who had no idea of WHO Brothersfree was (*gasp*), but a retrospective of figures would help remedy that slice of toy-history, seeing that the principals Kenny Wong and Winson Ma are still exceedingly active in the scene too!
Personally to me, the sheer wealth of history ignored, is egregious ~ LOL
But of course the endgame reality is "dollars and cents", regardless of the collecting scene or toy culture here in Singapore, with a prime retail spot understandably commanding a decent chunk of change, and we can only hope the storefront remains for a longer time and sustainable, or at least still keeping the 1/6th-scene alive, even if dedicated to Hot Toys releases.
All this talk remains me of the local scene and community I was apart of, decades back, a community beyond just "buying toys", which is essentially non-existent now, especially with folks enjoying the hobby on their own, buying toys on their own, and posting on their own socials, with the abject lack of location and space for likeminded folks to gather, not counting the once a year comic-cons, IMHO.
Let's see what TOYSREVIL could do about that ... but would you answer the call? :)
Happy Toy Hunting!
Andy TOYSREVIL
