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Fun-4-All to produce Sesame Street action figures in 2004

By Phillip Chapman
October 27, 2003

Ironically, it was October 2001 when we first heard news that Palisades Toys would begin an extensive line of Muppet action figures. Now two years later, Fun-4-All is developing articulated figures based on Sesame Street.

Series 1 of the Sesame Street action figures will include: Ernie (with Rubber Duckie and a banana), Bert (with Bernice the Pigeon), Cookie Monster (with cookies and a tea cup), Super Grover (with cape and helmet) and Oscar (with Slimey and his trashcan).

The first wave is scheduled to debut in March 2004. Each figure will come with a Sesame Street base and a letter of the alphabet. Each letter will have Muppety eyes adding that extra touch.

Below are prototype pictures of the figures. They are the very first revisions and will undergo multiple revisions including color changes and additional texturing before their release next spring.

Product developer Philip Di Resta gave Muppet Central some inside information on this exciting line. “The figures will be based on the "retro" style artwork of Sesame Street. They will be fully articulated and textured, and around the same scale and price as Palisades' figures. They will have a flat brushed finish, giving the characters texture and life.”

“Next year is the 35th anniversary of Sesame Street, so this line is coming out at the perfect time” comments Di Resta. “We have plans to do all of the coolest characters down the line.”

Series 2 is scheduled to include fan-favorites Guy Smiley, The Count, the Two-Headed Monster, Big Bird and Telly.

Fun-4-All will have several major hurdles with this line. Since Sesame Street's target age is the pre-school child, the figures will need to be usable and safe for this young age group. While at the same time, they will need to appeal to the adult Sesame Street collector who seeks high-detail, multiple points of articulation, and character likenesses as close to the real puppets as possible.