Review of Monsters University Cosbaby figures

Introduction

Last summer was a weird one for me - there wasn't a stand out animated film. Planes wasn't as bad as expected, and Despicable Me 2 wasn't as good as expected. Neither was Monsters University, a film I had high hopes for.

That's not to say it wasn't fun, and I'll watch it again when it hits blu-ray this holiday season. But it didn't knock my socks off like the original.

I have been picking up some of the toys though, including this series of Cosbaby figures from Hot Toys. If you remember, they also did several Cosbaby versions from the first film, making this set a nice addition to the first display.

These will run you around $11 - $12 each, or about $70 if you pick up this special 6 pack.

Packaging - ***1/2
The package is pretty simple - it's a box that holds all six figures in an plastic tray/lid combo. It's all collector friendly of course, and there's nary a twisty tie or rubber band to be seen.

I really like the cardboard insert with the school graphics. You can fold it out and use it as a background in your display.

Sculpting - ***
While I'm more than happy to admit that these little guys are growing on me, I'm still not loving the style with this particular license. When you strip Sully of his fur, and make Art much too smooth, you end up with characters that barely remind me of the originals.

The other problem I have is that I'm not sure if these are supposed to be kid versions of the characters - sort of like Muppet Babies or Tiny Toons - or not.

Mike and Sully look younger, but others, like Don or Squishy, do not. This lack of consistency makes the OCD kid in me get a little crazy.

They are damn cute though, and I understand the appeal. They are fairly small, but not ridiculously so, with Sully running about 3" tall, while Mike is about 2" tall.

Paint - ***1/2
Most Hot Toys paint work is outstanding, but with these they do show some weakness.

There's a few poor cut lines, like around Sully's toes and claws, or Terry and Terri's sweater. They aren't major issues, but it isn't quite the same level of perfection as their sixth scale figures.

My favorite paint feature here is the braces on Mike - it's a cute touch.

Articulation - Mile ***;  Terry/Terri, Sully **1/2; Don, Squishy *1/2; Art Bupkis
As with the first series, the articulation here is all over the board.

Mike scores best because they found ways to make what is in essence a big ball actually have joints. There's ball shoulders and hips, as well as cut wrists, and they work pretty well.

Terri and Terry have a cut neck each, which gives what could have just been a big PVC a lot more personality.

Sully has a cut neck, although it won't move much, and he has cut shoulders.

Squishy has one cut shoulder, and Don has two. Art brings up the rear with not even a single joint - he's a big PVC.

Accessories - **
There's two accessories here, both really intended for Mike. There's two small suitcases that he can hold in either hand. They're cute, but its a little light. More disappointing was that the backpack and hat on Mike aren't removable, and therefore not accessories.

Fun Factor - ***
While these aren't super articulated, they are still a lot of fun. This isn't a conflict based property, so there's no battling going on, making the cute factor the number one characteristic.

Value - **
These aren't as articulated as regular Cosbaby figures, nor do they have as many accessories. These guys are running more than $10 each, which is a very hefty price tag.

Things to Watch Out For -
Some of the joints were paint stuck, and felt like they could tear if you didn't take your time loosening them up.

Overall - ***
These are cute - I've used that word more than once in this review. For fans of the license, they are a great addition to the collection. For fans of the Cosbaby style, they'll mix things up a bit.

They are really expensive though, at least here in the States. These boil down to being 2 - 3" PVC figures that cost as much as $12 each. You have to be pretty serious about the style to afford to pick up the full set.

Score Recap (out of ****):
Packaging - ***1/2
Sculpting - ***
Paint - ***
Articulation - Mile ***;  Terry/Terri, Sully **1/2; Don, Squishy *1/2; Art Bupkis
Accessories - **
Fun Factor - ***
Value - **
Overall - ***

Where to Buy 
Online options include these site sponsors:

- Sideshow also has the singles for $12 each.

- or you can search ebay for a deal.

Related Links -
I covered their first set of mini Cosbaby figures based on the original Monsters Inc. as well.

You should also hit the Search Reviews page, in case any other applicable reviews were done after this one was published.

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