New Kids on the Blokees
In the toy collecting and photography realm of social media, a new name has started to appear with more and more frequency: Blokees. Originally, I first noticed Blokees stuff when their blind box mini Transformers figures started showing up in videos by toy reviewers. The little figures were really striking, but what caught my attention was that, almost universally, people were loving these charming little robots. Transformers are great, but I was able to resist the temptation. However, that all changed on a family trip to exotic Reno, Nevada.
While my wife played at the tables, my son and I started toy hunting in the surrounding area. We came across a charming little toy store (shout out to Toys N More). On the shelf, they had a few of the Transformers Blokees, but then something else caught my eye. Blokees had Sesame Street figures.
My love for Sesame Street is already well-documented here at the Pulp Arcana Studios corner of Fanboy Planet. I can’t seem to resist some of my favorite muppets when they are brought to life in plastic. So, my son and I decided to take the plunge and picked up the Blokees PreCOOL Series 1 Big Bird. We headed back to the hotel room, and he proceeded to build the little kit that was half model and half action figure.
And both of us fell in love with it.
When I saw that Blokees was releasing Wave 2 of the Sesame Street collection, I didn’t hesitate. I ordered the whole run of four figures directly from the Blokees web store. Bert, Ernie, the Count, and, to my utter delight, Oscar the Grouch. Could series 2 capture the same magic that had ensnared us with Big Bird? Let’s find out!
A PULP ARCANA FIGURE FIELD REPORT Mission Brief: Blokees Sesame Street PreCOOL Series 2
Artifact Identified:
Oscar the Grouch, Bert, Ernie, The Count.
Sesame Street PreCool Series 2
Blokees
OUT OF THE CRATE:
The four little boxes are all charming, with a great image of the character on the front, and the PreCOOL logo in shiny silver. The boxes each are a vibrant primary color, reflecting the main color of the character inside. They immediately catch the eye and ignite curiosity.
In these reviews, I don’t always talk about the cost of the figures I review. However, with these Blokees toys, I definitely want to. Each of these figures sells on the Blokees site for $8.99. For the quality and fun, this is an absolute steal, and importantly, puts these figures in a realm of accessibility for everyone, which is so important.
Inside the box, we get a sealed pouch with all the components to the figure inside. It is important to point out that these Blokees figures are technically a cross between a figure and a model kit. They do need assembly, but there are absolutely no tools needed, and when built, the figures are shockingly solid. At his request, I have enlisted my thirteen year old to be the designated builder for these figures. He has been having a blast building them. It is a process that he has described as both easy and really fun.
Also worth mentioning, since I got the set from Blokees own site as a full wave, they included a great little acrylic stand in blue, with the iconic Sesame Street lamp post. A nice touch and a fun addition to the set.
THE DEVIL’S IN THE DETAILS:
Once built, the figures are, in a word, adorable. They have a chunky, cartoony quality that complements the muppet design beautifully. The colors of each character are accurate to what we have always seen on our screens, and when sitting on a desk or a shelf, immediately catch the eye and bring a smile to the face.
Each figure does come with an iconic accessory. For Oscar, admittedly my favorite, he comes with his iconic garbage can, with a lid that can either be open on the can itself or placed on Oscar’s head as a jaunty trash-hat. Bert comes with a pigeon, Ernie comes with his rubber ducky. The count comes with a fantastic little cape. And new to series 2, each character comes with a small, white control rod that can be used to move the character’s mouth. We will get into that more in a bit.
One of my favorite aspects of the line is that each figure has a pleasant heft to it, and the plastic feels incredibly solid. This creates a feel in hand that is comfortable and impressive, and directly counter to the inexpensive cost of the figure itself. They feel great, and I would not hesitate to put them into the hands of young children past the age where choking hazards are a concern.
MOBILITY AND MANEUVERS:
When you pick up one of the figures, the first thing that might surprise you is the surprising amount of articulation that comes in them. There is a shocking amount of engineering involved in the creation of this line, and when you put one of the Blokees toys together, you see first hand just how good the engineering is at the joints. While you’re not going to get the articulation you will with a high end import, you do get enough to make some very fun, expressive poses.
As I mentioned above, for series 2, Blokees has added a new feature to the line. Each figure comes with a small control rod that plugs into a socket at the back of the head. You use this to make the mouth open and close. This is not only ingenious, it is also utterly charming. To make toys of famous puppets and give people a chance to puppeteer their toys is frankly brilliant.
RECOVERED EVIDENCE:
FINAL RECKONING:
I firmly believe that toys should be fun. These are not only fun, they are an absolute delight. Perfect for toy collectors, Sesame Street fans, children, or adults. Everybody’s life would be a little bit better with a few of these on their desk.
RELIC RATING: 5 out of 5
Filed by Mark Gelineau of Pulp Arcana Studios for Fanboy Planet
https://www.instagram.com/pulp_arcana_studios/
FIELD PHOTOS:
