How to RUIN a once beautiful line…the McFarlane way! DC comics Batman animated Fall Geekout

Stop cell-shading your figures if you don’t know how
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[@jamescole7930]

Ok , you star off by saying if your a cry baby do not watch? But then YOU spend 15 minutes crying. Ok so you do not like this line of figures, that is fine here is a revelation for you, you control what you buy or do not buy. If you do not like something… “ here comes the revelation moment “ do not buy them. I am in the mind set, you buy what you like. And pass on the ones you do not like. I know, it is a mind blowing concept. You control what you buy. And when your running a multimillion dollar business you can choose what is put out. Have a nice day, enjoy your collection and change your diaper it seems a bit wet today.

[@madhatterreviews6705]

And there we go, the crying about someone with a criticism LOL. Never fails. And you can always tell the morons when they go, "If you don't like it, don’t buy it." Do dummies like you understand that we obviously already know that but maybe we still wanna talk about it? That's the whole point of this channel and many other channels like it. According to your logic you can't critique movies or cars or anything. So grow a brain and accept that we are allowed to discuss these things in both a positive and negative light. I'm sorry the mean man hurt your feelings.

[@josephjenkins3rd89]

So what's wrong with him expressing why he doesn't like something 🤔. It's not like he's telling people not to buy it or they're stupid if they do. He's simply stating why he doesn't like it. Of course he doesn't have to buy it. But he still has the right to express his opinion.

[@ToyCollector82]

We already know it's you Josh. Seething because someone actually critiques your favorite company instead of sucking up to them like you do?

[@jarosbodytko6462]

Wow, that didn’t take long.

[@Kaioken20]

People are allowed to critique. People are also allowed to criticise, but where Mad Hatter is allowed to draw the line, and what he didn't do, was rant and rave about an opinion. You really cannot tell those 2 apart? Grown up discussion and someone crying like a little beyatch???

[@Chalor.]

At the very end of the line, they did shaded re-releases/updates. I think they were going by DC Direct again, then they went kapoof. Some of the best versions came out towards the end, like the Catwoman (w/Selena Kyle head) and Batman...both with *PROPER* cell shading.

[@andrewcolantuono3339]

What I'd like to know is why there isn't a new release of a Batman from BTAS with a draped over cape instead of it always back over the shoulders. He's like that more often in the show with the cape covering him up half over the front or even better....cape covering his whole body. Like make an option to pop of the head and swap the cape. Easy.

[@jeremykulow1970]

I planned on going all in on this line when I heard about it at SDCC, but after today's reveal, I didn't order a single one. :(

[@robertsinfiniterealms1308]

Hey I agree. I’ve not like Todd’s lack of quality for many decades and I think the only reason he’s got the license is his friendship with Jim Lee.

[@artumuss]

"Harvey...no!" 😂 damn brought back memories. Im not gonna lie I went in on the scarecrow because I missed out on him last time but I agree they look bad and too expensive.

[@JokeriousTorrance]

I would say ever since NECA did this to the Turtles, Todd wants to throw his hat in the ring and figured he could do better with the BTAS line. It doesn't hold up at all.

[@NinjaKnight]

Todd doesn't like NECA at all.

[@PLASTK_pizza]

Cell shaded by Daredevil! 🙌

[@edgargranados9444]

😂

[@20rileybob]

Was so stoked to see these come around again cuz i missed the first go, and then i clicked the photo... so many fucked up decisions: cell shading, ab crunch from hell, plastic to cloth capes. Why Todd, WHHHYYY 🤦

[@BB-ed4om]

I like the ab crunch and the cloth cape, pretty neutral on cel shading. Got the Batman today, love it.

[@naturalnatemarvel9594]

I pre-ordered all 4 of those figures and bike. I have all those dc direct animated figs. I still haven't opened the animated batcave or batwing. Love the Animated Line

[@joeyr.cannoli]

Get help.

[@naturalnatemarvel9594]

@joeyr.cannoli I know Discretionary income Gang has no Limits. I Hope one day you may experience having Bullet Proof Wallets.

[@joeyr.cannoli]

@naturalnatemarvel9594 so an uppity verson of "I must be poor so thats why I talk bad about something", huh? Lol, sweetheart, I could buy your whole collection, AND then hire someone to burn it, and joyfully piss on the ashes. You dont know me, dont talk nonsense. I have taste and I dont waste money on bad figures. You clearly do.

[@dorionl1591]

You nailed the "Harvey" and it wasn't rehearsed lol

[@PLASTK_pizza]

Fear not, the bat cycle in the color you know and love will come out down the road . With a Batman

[@btbcc12859]

Gold label

[@victorlazo238]

We know now it will not come with a Batman included so yeah....

[@Chalor.]

4:48 Aw man, that's a damn shame you put them away. I wholeheartedly agree, it's one of the best lines in action figure history. It was my #1 favourite line until NECA toon Turtles started picking up steam. Now I'm just fuckin' sick of Turtles. Still though, those are my top 2 lines. From the matte paint, accuracy to the source material, to the world building.

[@paulroche2265]

Yes!! 🎉

[@mortcrimpjr]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but Todd is kind of a shameless carnie. The reason the early McFarlane lines were successful and still memorable to this day was the hard work and dedication to the craft displayed by their artists, not Todd. He was the spin master and that's about it. Once all of those artists jumped ship, history shows the company took a drastic turn for the worse and has barely recovered quality-wise since then. Those Walking Dead figures were abysmal and everything under his watch for DC has been embarrassing. Dated engineering that's decades behind most modern companies, cut corners with paint and accessories, lazy repacks and reissues, etc. The guy has run out of creative ideas and it amazes me to this day that people still simp for him, which I think is more indicative of the low bar people have to begin with when it comes to cape comics and domestic toy companies.

[@NinjaKnight]

Big companies holding these licenses like they do is like a hostage situation.

[@YourOpinionDisregarded]

Damn, you learn somethin new everyday. I always thought Todd designed those figures and artworks.

[@chewmaniac86]

Missing the original line is one of biggest regrets and the aftermarket prices are INSANE!! Condiment King kicks ass!! Great video!

[@btbcc12859]

Same here! I bought the Batmobile (aftermarket) it's beautiful and huge!

[@casualghoul1065]

Honestly I’m excited for all these.

[@Tkdbar]

That’s cool man.

[@MerikBruggs]

I, like you, went hard into the Animated line. My first toy line, I was also a completionist. Mine are still displayed though, but to the point, I completely agree with your opinion on these figures. I will just savor the original line even more now.

[@dustin_mcfinklestein]

The 'Cel-Shading' paint on that Batman and Robin look like one of those nightmare scenes from The Cell. I'll wait for the Jokerized Gold Label Target Exclusive versions. 😂😂😂

[@joeguido2931]

I also can’t stomach the “collector line “ that’s an unjustified 30 bucks for minimal accessories and a stupid card holder. I wouldn’t bought the entire series two w hawkman sinestro and firestorm (whom is the most justified accessories wise) and one or two from the first set like Alan Scott at least but I’m not paying 30 a pop. I have plenty of mcfarlane dc. And I want these legacy characters but I can’t do it. It makes me wanna stop. Cause then the disease spreads. Then 20/23 becomes 30. 30 becomes forty. And before you know it you have 300 dollars in turds

[@josephjenkins3rd89]

It's not just with this animated series, McFarlane is doing the same with his own ip. The recent spawn figures leave alot to be desired. I feel alot of these companies are going up on prices but the quality doesn't go up with it. This is why I've been leaning more towards 3rd party companies now.

[@tmn_nate5978]

It's not just that they re-released them with cell shading, but this is already like the 5th re-release for batman and robin specifically. As you pointed out, it's TOO much on Batman. Scarecrow looks perfect imo. Not too much, not too little, but they definitely made the bat cycle look worse. My biggest hope for Mcfarlane getting the DC direct line was that he would re-release them as is and I wouldn't mind a little cell shading here and there, but this is bad. I'm sure they probably also don't want to hurt the after market price of the original figures though. Not that it's an excuse for them, but as you pointed out, the prices to get that stuff now is insane. Hopefully they tone it down going forward or just leave the cell shading out completely. We'll have to see if they do the same for the Batmobile and Bat plane.

[@metalneanderthal]

McFarlane toys is without the most inconsistent company out there one minute they nail a figure. The next the put out a bunch of trash, then they put out ton of barely average figures. Why can’t they nail consistency? These figures? Are definitely on the trash department by the way.

[@chet_inator_gator]

Agree the cel shading looks bad haha, but this line was always around $30, included less accessories, and had no baf. I’m happy for these re-releases bc I missed out on some essential villians.

[@AutomaTom1939]

I'm glad Scarecrow turned out all right--that's the only one I really want. My BBTS preorder was cancelled from that previous run, when DC Direct was shutting down.

[@Jag2045]

I know the last DCD wave (Scarecrow, Two Face, HARDAC Batman & Gray Ghost) were really hard to find and lots of fans missed out on them so hopefully the rest of that wave gets re-released for fans that missed them first time

[@BoogSReviews]

I think these new ones look better than the old dc collectibles versions. The articulation looks better and I like the shading. I bought some of the original animated figures and they just didn’t do it for me. I didn’t like the articulation and they broke really easily. I might give the line a second chance with these new McFarlane releases.

[@vintagebatcollector248]

Thank you for a brutally honest take on McFarlane BTAS line. McFarlane screwed up his Keaton Batmobile too. Today I purchased a custom 1989 McFarlane Batmobile made into a 2-seater with interior and exterior lights.

[@RicJSouza]

I’ve never liked McFarlane’s style for DC heroes and It’s very inconsistent with design, proportions and scale. I’m still a fan of the old DCUC line from Mattel and some figures from their last Multiverse waves were pretty good. Nowadays, looking at they’re doing with MOTU Masterverse, nice sculpting and proportions, pinless double joints… I wish they had the DC license back at leas for a 6” line.

[@ajaj3196]

What gets me is the Scarecrow and Riddler from McFarlane aren't nearly as trash as the other figures from their waves, so they can do it, they just cut corners.

[@chadbankston783]

What is so frustrating about it is DC direct on the end of the line had a cell shaded variance to some of their figures. That looked way better all they had to do was copy that.

[@AnimeSnackTimeTV]

When I first saw this Batman with cell shading, this Batman still looks beautiful to me, that's why I directly pre-ordered the Batman... I was shocked that others are worried about cell shading.. Anyways doesn't matter, but forr me I love the Batman figure..

[@agochoa]

McFarlane set their own bar thinking they exceeded the gold standard by adding articulation but then cut corners everywhere else.

[@trtledave3079]

DC Direct was the best! They had a lot of love too so don't know why they went out of business, from what I hear just poorly managed.

[@BB-ed4om]

I didn’t know about these but I saw the Batman at target and instantly loved it.

[@Victor-mc1sz]

I don't think they are using the original molds for the BTAS figures as they look off model. I swear I hope this "cel shaded" fad goes away, because a lot of companies don't even know how shading works and you are limited to specific pose if you want the shading to work. I bought some of original figures back in the day, but stop due to some QC issues. I had the S&M Bane and when I took him out of the package, his leg snapped off. The original line had beautiful sculpts but the QC issues made me stop buying them.

[@MIRLZY]

The DC McFarlane stuff has always looked a little wonky giant hands, giant pegs, weird ass face sculpts

[@naturalnatemarvel9594]

Batman is wearing Eddie Murphys leather pants

[@jpnoy]

Nail polish removal really works on cel shading good solution

[@ExMachina83]

Hopefully Mafex decides to go beyond the animated versions of Batman & Joker they’ve done already and at least gives us a Batman TAS version that is better than Combat Belt Batman.

[@gregneedham3795]

Agreed!! And they certainly come with less stuff than the originals

[@nomrugged29]

I agree with everything you said. $120 for 4 crapped on figures for another crapped on figure that should have been sold by itself.

[@JLRules]

11:04 - Funnily enough, Daredevil can tell colour. Each colour has a different _feel_ .

[@Natedog817]

Love you bro but these figures look so good in hand I was doubting that Batman but I actually like it now.

[@AnointedFlow]

The cycle lights up though. I can see the $39.99 price tag for this one. The previous one is going for $200+.

[@PLASTK_pizza]

Peanut butter in a burger isn’t bad. Aye they botched the Robin cape too

[@btbcc12859]

DC Direct is about 25, the problem is as you said, is going to raise the after market instead of a second chance

[@scottmcclary594]

agreed I loved the animated series line from dcc but as soon as the cell shading appeared I was out because it looks aweful, about the only thing I'm curious about is if the quality is any better! at least half of my animated series figures have something superglued back on somewhere and that even trying to be as gentle as possible and most of those broke right out of the package!

[@bravo1701]

Found them all at Target, rushed to find a review. Found you. I left them all at target. At 29.00 and 120.00 total, I wanted more detail or polished figure. You are right scarecrow and Mr freeze were not that bad.

[@NostalgiaUnboxed]

Batman’s incredibly long legs and the absolutely awful switch from plastic to cloth for the cape

[@KootenaiKing]

The Batman seems like a custom figure that somebody painted at home. Just like those walmart collector con lazily repainted Mutant Mayhem toys. But it's right up todd's alley: to release a build-a-fig, then release it as a regular figure later. Batrocitus, Beast Boy, Bane, to name a few.

[@reiddutchess9955]

McFarlane is mostly trash in my opinion 😂 Hopefully Josh doesn’t see this video.

[@madhatterreviews6705]

Hahah I’ll be locking all the doors tonight ( shivers)

[@edbraun383]

​@@madhatterreviews6705Don't worry, all Josh sees is McFarlane's belly button.

[@madhatterreviews6705]

@@edbraun383😂😂

[@Kaioken20]

I think neither the promo shots nor the very dark paint help. Are there any promo shots of these lit / displayed in such a way to help our minds see what they'd look like in a scene to help make sense of the cell shading? And the shading may have been better if it was done in a slightly lighter shade of shadow. Maybe. That, or make the shading symmetrical. But I think these models looked poor compared to the one held up by MH at the start - that one looked very nice indeed. Should have used this ep as excuse to show us the rest of the older line-up.

[@vadoraid2517]

I bit the bullet & got 1 with the bike. Cuz cool sculpt

[@TMNT_1987_]

I was missing scarecrow was going for $200+ on secondary I jumped on this thank god he wasn’t a disaster like poor bats

[@jondoe4624]

I bought a lot of figures from this line but never finished it out. Was just looking at them the other day, took them out of storage. Think I might need to spend some time hunting and watching on ebay to try and get the remaining figures without hopefully spending too much. I'm hoping McFarlane re-releases condiment man at some point without cell shading. He likes to get his moneys worth from a mold. Fingers crossed

[@freakshowfilmfestival3591]

I feel like if we want cell shading on our figures, we can put it on there.

[@Jdogg1976]

I’m level headed and I absolutely agree with you!👏🏻

[@moskowitzful]

I loved the DC Direct BTAS line, I have them all (92-95 style) on display. Funny enough, I had the Bat Cave in the original shipping box bought for $90 on Amazon way back when & stored away for a while. By the time Super7 announced their Party Wagon, I knew I would have space for that rather than the cave which I ended up selling for over $700 on eBay.

[@btbcc12859]

❤

[@ljkelty1766]

Yeah the values have gone up dramatically on these. I picked up 2 Batman Beyond sets from Gamestop for about $20 a piece in 2019 and was able to sell them for a combined $650! Crazy! It's seemingly the only line that has held its value over the last few years.

[@paulroche2265]

Lovjng the honesty, Sir! 😊 As always! I'm based here in the UK and don't have access to Target's shipping - do you reckon they'll come onto BBTS after their run in Target? Keep saying it as you see it, man! ✊️

[@TonyTonetikz]

I am so glad you said this. I think a lot of people are being delusional about this line just because its btas. With a 39.99 price tag, I might as well get older direct figures.

[@riyintocco]

Cell shaded by Daredevil 🤣🤣

[@MSFerrari248F1]

100% agree with you brother. I’m a completionist and I have all of the dc collectibles btas line. From the bat cave to the JL figures to the Superman Lois lane 2 pack you name it I got. When I received the Walmart 4 pack and saw the CEL shading on bullock I was pretty let down. I’m happy we are getting a condiment king but the new figures are shit.

[@robertalessandrini8773]

Awesome video! I always enjoy you breaking down and just discussing about all figures in general . 🎩

[@johnfronczek2658]

I like McFarlane Multiverse action figures, but I agree with you on cel shading. Poor cel shading can damage the looks of an action figure. I like no cel shading over bad cel shading.

[@Transfixed]

I was thinking I'd seen Batman make that shocked expression before but can't remember - - "Harvey!" - - There it is 🤣

[@gary1134]

I got most of the DC collectibles BAS collection & pre ordered these Mcfarlane versions are ok looking even with the bad shading. 👍

[@ytrefugee113]

Ive been unhappy wirh the Mcfarlane DC line, Alot of inconsistancy, for example, the hands, some have the "male" end on the wrist, some have it on the hand. The capes, were coming up on 2024, why in the world do they not at least include a cloth cape and charge a $5 more? Paint apps, the doomsday from the superman 2 pack has unpainted cloth on his arms. And speaking of that pack, superman has open hands and flying hands... this is supposed to represent one of superman's biggest physical brawls in history, and the figure doesnt include fists??? And that original flash '89 batmobile, what is with the gray canopy? And the fiasco of releasing a "redo" with the color corrected, but it was a limited number exclusive??? I have always been a fan of Mcfarlane's work, i loved the original spawn series, and he revolutionized the toy industry with detailed figures, but they have been dropping the ball big time the last couple of years. After the doomsday/superman 2 pack, ive decided i am done.

[@michaelphillips5424]

I'm with you. I actually excited to hear I'd have another chance at some of these figures I missed out on before, but then I was disappointed to see the cell-shading. Guess I'll stick with my original Kenner figures for now.

[@devastatorpics8315]

Dude… I also went all in on the previous line. I got it all… still sealed too, and I can easily say, if it doesn’t continue the previous numbering system? I’m out. Hard pass.

[@shawncoito1498]

I know what you mean, but damn when it comes to 89 and animated series stuff, I'm such a sucker.

[@Jeffistopheles]

My thought process is that the cell shading will be target exclusives and a regular wide release without cell shading will come later. Hopefully. I had to sell my directs and have regretted it ever since. Still have the Batmobile, batwing, and Batcave though.

[@pmgerard]

He's already done cel shaded BTAS figures at Walmart in a 4 pack and Adventures Continue elsewhere.

[@TadashiYee]

If he rereleased these as originally, the guys w/ the originals would thow a major shitfit.

[@hanimefti6562]

With McFarlane it’s always one step forward and two steps back. I’m SO happy that I have the entire original collection so I don’t have to chase this hideous cel shading. I will have to live without condiment king.

[@anthonium.]

Saw this online at Target and thought to myself I want this but something seemed odd about it and it's exactly what you say, just doesn't look right. Pass for me.

[@thecatwrangler9448]

You don’t think you KNOW that Todd and his company put the ACTION in action figures, just compare the difference in athlete statues from before he got the license. They’d use the same sculpts all the time, it was so garbage you’d only collect them to see the name and number because their likenesses were so far from being properly shown that you’d rather read their name than try to guess the face that has no connection. Edit: also it’s hilarious to me that the supposed best artist ever would piss so many people off by failing properly cell shade… I blame Todd. Got too big for his britches, stopped drawing enough.

[@rickcapobianco7475]

The bike looks cool, might dip my toe in these waters

[@playingwithplastic]

Preach Hatter! If we don't let them know by being vocal then they will keep producing stuff that they think we need/want! As for people bitching at you for complaining, well, fuck them. Keep doing you and I will keep watching! 🤟

[@Poetiksound85]

I wish I would've paid attention to the original line, because the aftermarket is painfully expensive.The re-release of McFarlane Batman TAS is not cheap nor does the cost match the quality. $15 to $20 seems to be fair. The cel shads don't match the colors it's up against. There aren't as many accessories as before. They did exed the guns (NOT McFarlanes fault), but these are sold in the collectors section, so they were intended for adults. Each original is reaching dang near $50 to $300 on ebay etc.This is the only somewhat reasonable way to obtain Batman: The Animated Series figures now, man tisk,tisk. Better than nothing, but food is better than this

[@MichaelMillerJ]

To be fair DC Direct released cell shaded versions too, long before McFarlane took over.

[@MichaelMillerJ]

If he just straight released the old figures people would lose their fucking minds. "rUiNiNg mY InVeStMenTs!" lol this is a lose - lose situation.

[@missiletoad7015]

I have to agree with you - but also, I just don't like the way the articulation is cut into this Batman figure, it's just really un-elegant and chopped up looking. The beauty of the animated series is in it's simplicity.

[@jarosbodytko6462]

True, those figures have very poor articulation, but my god are they gorgeous (the original ones obviously, not these cell-shaded abominations). I only have 5 of them (Batman, Robin, Joker, Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy), but still, I love how good they look, particularly Bats and Robin.

[@chadbankston783]

That that cycle looks like the Schumacher version

[@christhornton8219]

Well said, man! I love my Animated Series figures from DC Direct! I love some of my McFarlane Batman figures. I do not like the McFarlane Animated Series figures. At all. The cell shading ruined them.

[@retsel2009]

Thank you Madhatter, McFarlane really disrespected DC Direct and DC collectibles, I mean look at the batcycle ? Yucky 🤮

[@printrabbit8117]

The $30 price is likely because of the BAF and the extra paint aps, too bad the paint is so off-putting lol (Mondo did the homework, mcfarlane and hasbro just need to copy them). The MSRP on the original Batcycle set was $60, so I think it's a surprisingly good price for the new one.

[@freethoughtism]

The beauty of McFarlane is we most probably will see Condiment King as a single release down the line with less accessories or such like as most Build-A-Figures seem to be with his other lines.

[@rdn638]

Plus the Robin is missing thy yellow on his cape

[@jimhayen8088]

I agree w you about the crappy cel shading.....you lost me however when you cited In&Out as a positive example 🙂

[@faceheadman]

its telling how these are still in the 6in scale when mcfarlanes main line is 7in

[@Agent.Wadsworth]

$30 used to be for gold label ltd edition versions. This reissue is a travesty.

[@thebat86]

I don't like when mcfarlane tries to add their "own spin" from the original source material 😤

[@riceluv]

I’m considering canceling my preorder for this seeing how it looks now. I just started collecting the DC Direct line and they are far superior in looks compared to McFarlane’s

[@nelsona9381]

action Figures of today are just video games with Dlc's full price but incomplete accessories.

[@michaelflosi]

Horrible paint job on one of the all time great toy lines. It’s BS that the only way to get Condiment King is through the build a figure. They’ll probably release him at some other point, it make it impossible to get.

[@Omnivolv]

I mean if he made them all $50 could do much more paint. He keeps them cheap on purpose.

[@Jag2045]

Totally agree with the points made here - IIRC the reason the original Bat-Cycle came with a Batman figure was because it was the first Batman figure with an ab-crunch to allow him to sit properly on the bike - but they should have included Batman with the new Bat-Cycle (Maybe without the cel shading to make fans double dip!)

[@NinjaKnight]

It's astonishing to me how long McFarlane is in the game yet the articulation, scale and accuracy to the source material have been problems since the beginning of the line that independent companies nail on their first waves. You'll notice, I'm sure, McFarlane fans in the comments that like everything and anything he does no matter how bad. I genuinely don't understand why they do that. These big companies hold these licenses and do the bare minimum with them while independent lines are smashing it. It's bizarre.

[@BB-ed4om]

I like some of his figures, this Batman is one of them. To me though it’s not that serious. I don’t worry about scale, but articulation could be better.

[@teamlattie]

Also I think they may be trolling us with the jokerized stuff

[@gpena1983]

Thank you for this video saved me from wasting my $$ maybe now I will just get Mr. Freeze and scarecrow

[@ColorsBright]

I wanted to collect those Batman animated series figures but after I saw the reviews with parts breaking off and joints not bending... I am glad I never started... All these new toy lines are a cash grab for adult wallets... I'm glad I grew up with the $5.99 figures of the 80s and 90s.. these new toy lines suck

[@SpiderHulkThing]

I would be happier without cell shading for the majority of my figures. Not really a fan of it.