Tonight we are going to take a quick look at some items that aren’t aimed at the hardcore collector but still have some fun angles to them – Sentinel’s Hero Illuminate Gallery figures. These are static mini-statues that come attached to a base and are inside an acrylic box. The box lights up using LEDs in the base, they point upwards and follow the edges of the acrylic making the entire thing glow. You can leave them on, off, or on motion sensor mode, where it will light up as you walk by or otherwise move. The first 6 are based on Marvel characters and include Captain America, Iron Man, Vision, Ultron, Spider-Man and Thor. Each have a name plate attached to their enclosure.
While not for the S.H. Figuarts or Marvel Legends crowd, the light up features are well done and the motion sensors are a nice addition. They’d be perfect deskmates or gifts for a younger fan. Plus, we have some ideas for using them (or something like it) in our style of collecting too. Read on to check the pics and those thoughts!
Sentinel Hero Illuminate Gallery Figures
Overall Thoughts:
I saw these at Toy Fair this year, and the light up features are eye catching. Very bright, highlighting what’s inside. Unfortunately I have no need for static non-removable figures of characters I have multiple times over. But, this isn’t aimed at me and that’s ok. What I was excited about is the possibility of using the boxes for other figures. Having my S.H. Figuarts, Legends, DC Collectibles figures in here would be cool. Not all of course, but some key awesome centerpieces.
Again, unfortunately, the boxes are a tad too small to use like that. You can see below, I fit SHF DBZ Gohan in there and it was about right. SHF Goku wouldn’t fit due to hair. And pretty much any standard Marvel Legends won’t fit either. So, these specifically would only work for 3.75-4.5 inch figures. Not to mention each has a shiny name plate, so those would need to be facing backwards, not a huge deal.
Seriously though, I would buy just the bases. Make them able to fit 7 inch figures so that 7 inch scale and below will work. No name plate. No figure/statue. Cut the price down a bit. Keep them uniform in size and shape like they are here. Make the LED’s change colors. Maybe make a version smaller than this to fit 1:18 scale figures, with a removable acrylic shelf for figures even smaller, stuff two rows in one box. Those are something I’d get behind.
I thought showcasing these with the focus on what could be was worth a look. If you are interested in them, for yourself or a gift, they are out now for $24.95 each at most US collectible retailers like Entertainment Earth, BBTS, Woozy Moo, and Amazon
Sentinel Hero Illuminate Gallery Series Closer Look - The Toyark - News
A little too small to use with most of our collector level figures. If they make just the base/boxes, no figs, to fit 7 inch scale and below, I'd be down.
I love this concept for display bases too.
And technology permitting, if they could eventually do holo displays like this that'd rock too. A Goku or Gohan able to pose for kamehamehas or spiritbombs. A repulsor glowing ironman with jet boots blazing. Those would rock. An Ant-man/Wasp that looks like they're shrinking. Dr. Strange or Nico casting magic. Heck even star wars figures with glowing lightsabers or blasters.
Display bases like these would be an amazing way for hasbro to redo a collector-centered 4'' line.
But for now, even the simple LED light methods are really cool. I really loved those when Hasbro did them for Ironman 2 and Avengers. Those were fun, and having more material now to draw from to make them work could be fun too. They should look into that for an Avengers movie cast version of all the costumed characters from the films. Especially with Infinity war's big roster.
Holo-versions shouldn't be that difficult tbh. It's mostly the ironman alcove versions with the figure reversed and facing the back, with then a one slide projection or two slide "boomerang gif" style projection on the transparent half tube. Similar to the same tech they use for Miku Hastune concerts. Wonder how much a data chip style like that could cost to make to sell. One that allows a pc upload to add your own effect video for whatever figure. Though character specific ones for cost too, to see how that'd do either way. Might be a great useful tool/toy to help cross that technology to figure line and teach some new effects practices and line of thinking for interactivity.
Hasbro does have power rangers now, and there is one character that could greatly benefit from this in particular. Besides holo-morphing for a 4'' figure series.
Experimenting with that in the phone/arg virtual method is interesting too, but involves more needing to use a phone/needing a VR phone style headset/camera system for better altered reality play styles.
Aww, I clicked on this link wondering if I could use those cases for my figures
Wish they made them a bit larger. Right now, my only protection for my figures is the dustproofing job I did myself on the detolfs. I somehow don't feel like I can trust my work in that regards lol.
I ordered the Spidey from BBTS, it was cheap enough that I thought I'd give it a try.
Full Thread: Sentinel Hero Illuminate Gallery Statue / Figures
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