The Crawford Institute of Pop Culture Collectibles
The Purple Section
Last Update: 2021-03-14
Written By: Michael Crawford
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Welcome to the Crawford Institute of Pop Culture Collectibles - the Purple Section!
As you enter the building, this is the corner to the right, past the Yellow Section. This area is largely animated and kid themed lines, although most
of the figures would be deemed intended for collectors.
This section is predominately action figures, but there's a few board games, puzzles, and odds and ends depending on the license. There's also a lot
of stuff from Palisades, with some Mezco, Toynami, and other companies through in.
The tower in front of the Yellow Section extends into the Purple Section. It's a long, pseudo S shape, with a 2x4 tower to start,
a long 2x8 tower in front of the Yellow wall, and three more 2x4 towers attached in a C shape. Yea, it's kind of hard to describe clearly, but if you
check the General Section, you'll find a floor plan drawing that makes it much clearer.
Because this is a long, continuous set of towers and shelves, I've broken it up between Yellow and Purple more by line. Ninety nine percent of the
Simpsons related stuff is in the Yellow, while 100% of the Muppets is in the Purple, along with a bunch of other smaller lines.
Let's start at the top of the wall. Because I didn't have as many large items for this section, I put a riser on the top shelf to
double the space. In the first shot you'll see the McFarlane South Park building sets, as well as a packaged example of the Palisades Adult Swim line.
There will be a number of random packaged items on this top shelf, carded examples of lines that are predominately loose on the shelves below.
Sadly, we have not gotten any truly great figures for Bob's Burgers. The only action figures I know of are these five family
members and the one playset from Phat Mojo. Of course, Funko and Loyal Subjects have also done some vinyl stuff, but I'm hoping that we'll get a true
action figure line eventually.
Now you see some more of those random packaged figures. I like having something packaged from every line, to show what the original product looked
like on the shelf. The Nudar happens to also be my favorite figure from the Toynami Futurama line, and the South Park figures are the rarer
variants.
As I mentioned, the Mezco South Park figures on the upper shelf are the rarer variants. The four on the lower shelf are from the
earlier Mirage series, and are the last wave they produced.
As we round the corner, we see the large Ren and Stimpy from Super, a carded example of an Invader Zim figure from Palisades, and
the beginning of the Tick series from Bandai. This shelf has the complete Bandai series carded or loose.
One of my favorite in the Bandai series was Man Eating Cow. You'll also see some Ren and Stimpy Colorforms on the top shelf - do
they even make Colorforms any more? While I have all the regular release Bandai Tick figures, I did not pick up many of the 'Tick Talkers'. Some of
the Kid's Meal toys and various PVC figures are mixed in here as well.
If you're wondering what's on the wall around the window between the purple and yellow sections, check out the Yellow Section. I
discussed it there, since it's all Simpsons related. But the nice thing about the end of the shelves at the window - there's a nice spot for figures
facing out. I don't know if I'll keep the Palisaides Critterz in this area, but they're here for now.
A couple of these Crittaz are paint masters - the dog and pig to the far left. These are always cool, because you can completely
disassemble them. The Smart Bombs above were created by Ken Lilly, a major force behind many of the great Palisades lines. They are based on the bombs
that were dropped on Japan, Fat Man and Little Boy.
I kinda jumped over the Palisades Freakables, but I'm doubtful these will stay here. All the ones in the previous and next photo
are preproduction figures. You'll see some of the production figures on a later shelf. Also in this next photo is the very cool early test shots of
the fish and lip sticks for the Fairly Odd Parents line. These were done in various sizes. All the gray items are preproduction samples, and the one
lipstick on the very top small shelf is a paint test of a color they didn't end up going with.
The Fairly Odd Parents wins the award for most top heavy action figure line ever produced. Those huge heads make it tough for them
to stand up, and I had to put the Vicky head and body on the pre-production sample on a display stand to keep it upright. Thankfully, this is another
of those cool pre-production figures that can be completely disassembled and reassembled.
Palisades did a lot of great cartoon lines that didn't last long. The Pink Panther is perhaps one of the best. It also has some of
the most variants. They only produced four different characters - Pink Panther, Inspector Clouseau, The Man, and the Aardvark, but to have a complete
set you need 11 figures thanks to the variants. You'll also see the start of my Ren and Stimpy collection in the next photo.
As we move into Ren and Stimpy, we start getting to the old Mattel line. This line holds a special place in my collection - it was
the first time I kept some of the figures carded.
Hiding back in the corner is the tin set for the Palisades Collectors Club that features a special Ren figure. Next to that on the
top shelf are some very special logs. The bottom row are logs that were produced as part of the first series of action figures. On the top shelf, in
gray, are 7 of the 8 logs planned as part of the never produced wave 2. I'm missing one of these prototypes, and have left a space for it. It is a
true grail for me.
Next to those figure are two more unique prototypes. On the top shelf is one of my favorite figures in my entire collection, the
unpainted Kowalski intended for wave 2. Below him is a Stimpy who is supposed to have a jacket and would have been packaged with Muddy Mudskipper.
In the unproduced vein, you'll also see a paint test of a Mr. Horse with light blue hair and hooves. They went with the darker blue
you see on the rest of the figures.
The Ren and Stimpy shelf ends with the full size log, the Billy West signed Firedogs two pack, and the very cool and very limited
micro busts. The Ren, chair, shaving foam, and litter box are all pre-production figures as well.
Jumping down to the next shelf, we start getting into the world of South Park.
The large figures below - Chef, Cartman, Kenny, Kyle, and Stan - were 'desk talkers' or something like that. They sat in snow based
that were designed to hold pencils and business cards, and when you pick them up they talk. Above them is a TV Talker. This was turned on and put on
top of your tv, so when ever you changed channels, the kids would say something.
Mirage did the first series of South Park action figures. The kids were huge compared to the adults - that Timmy is part of the
same series as the Satan, Chef, Garrison, and Ms. Cartman. You saw they fourth and final wave of these figures earlier on the top shelf, still in
their packages.
The next company to work on South Park was Mezco. The small God figure starts the display of their figures. The kids were much more
in scale with the adults. The PVC figures in front are from various companies. I believe this is only one of two God figures I have in my collection,
the other being from Family Guy.
All of the figures below are from Mezco. The Jesus is definitely the only Jesus I own. As a side note, the Nurse Gollum is from
Mirage. Mezco never did a single female character in their South Park series.
Mezco loves doing variants with different expressions. In the previous photo you saw the regular Fingerbang set loose, but in the
next photo you'll see a boxed version, where two of the kids have different expressions.
At the corner again, and we start the Futurama goodness, featuring a lot of the Toynami line of figures. That's the Destructor
swinging Gender Bender around.
The Toynami action figures is another favorite series of mine, and one that ended much too soon.
When Toynami took over from Moore (their figures are still coming up), the first thing they produced was the con exclusive gold
Bender, in the box on the upper shelf. This was made with the Moore molds. In front of it is a test shot of Bender from this same mold.
On the next shelf down, we start with the Invader Zim collection. Most of this is from Palisades, at least for now, because not too
many other companies have created items based on the license. In the photo below there are two items of note. First is the hard copy of the living
room diorama. This preproduction piece is drastically different than the final product, with a different shape to the floor and frame on the wall.
Also in this photo, on the riser shelf, you'll see the small statue Palisades did of the Vogon ship. This was a low production run, made lower by a
lot of breakage due to the tiny parts inside.
This next group has some additional pre-production items. I like to get pre-production items that are distinctly different than the
final production figures, and these three are good examples. The Zim head on the purple stand is the early prototype for the final product. Rather
than translucent eyes, it has fully painted eyes, and is clearly 150% of scale. Likewise, the Dib and Mrs. Bitters, both 150% of scale and with major
differences Notice things like the bun in her hair or her boots, radically changed for production. These were used by Palisades for shows like Toy
Fair to exhibit the figures, hence the purple bases.
That's Mega Gi next to the special boxed set for the DVD release. While this one is unopened, I have a second opened version
because there's a Gir figure on the shelf that came with this set.
On the second half of this shelf, directly below the Toynami Futuruma figures, is the rest of my Futurama collection. .
This includes the entire Moore (MAC) run of six figures, both loose and carded. When I start running out of room, I'll store most
of the carded stuff, but for now there was enough space for both.
The smaller figures are also from Toynami - the I-Men. It's worth noting that the Chef Bender is missing his apron, one of the only
accessories for any loose figure I have yet to find.
The final shelf is truly a work in progress. While this first half is largely Rick and Morty, there's a pile - literally - of
Freakables laying there. You saw some pre-production figures earlier, but this pile is production stuff. I'm not sure where their final home will be,
but they'll end up together eventually.
The large sixth scale Rick and Morty from Mondo is easily the best collectible item produced for the series to date.
I have some additional room for more Rick and Morty stuff, and I'm working on completing the Funko Mystery Minis. I hate blind
boxed figures, and I'm now picking up the few I still need on ebay.
I picked up all the McFarlane building sets, and assembled two - the ship you can see below.
The lab is another of the McFarlane sets. I have two of the Portal Guns - one is the cheap Halloween costume version underneath the
riser shelf, while the other is the much nicer version Funko released.
At the corner, Rick and Morty ends and the Adult Swim figures from Palisades begin. That's Mega Meatwad in the corner - you'll see
him boxed on the floor in a few minutes.
In the next photo is another set of pre-production figures that give a glimpse into the process. There are three figures of Phil
Ken Sebben from Harvey Birdman. On the riser is the final production figure with the urinal and bear. Below you'll see two more - the one on the left,
which is smaller, is a solid one piece sculpt from very early in the process. To the right is a hard copy of the figure, which you can disassemble.
Behind them is another hard copy of the urinal.
Three more prototypes from the Adult Swim line are in this photo. There is the paint master for Carl (Aqua Teen Hunger Force) and
Peanut (Harvey Birdman), neither produced. Also never produced, the Mentok figure on the riser shelf. You also see two smaller PVC versions of Master
Shake. One is the regular release, while the second (with different colored straw, and a printing on the back) was produced as a giveaway just for an
Adult Swim management meeting.
Next up, Earthworm Jim from Playmates. The green Jim is a custom.
Mezco produced two Jim figures as well. The loose version is in the center of the photo, and to the left is the carded con
exclusive.
The Simpsons Sorry game is the only Simpsons item to have slipped into the Purple Section. I really should swap it out for one of
the several Simpsons Monopoly games I have in the Yellow Section, to better match the Bob's Burgers and Rick and Morty games.
I'm not a big Funko Pop fan, and you'll see the extent of my collection in the next three photos. I pick up a few when I think I
won't be getting any other figures for a particular license, like Disenchantment, or when it's just a really fun character I like, like Awesom-O.
I only have Nick from Big Mouth - I passed up Andrew multiple times and now regret it. I've never seen either of the Hormone
Monsters on the shelf. The George Liquor, two Jimmy's, and Three Stooges three pack are all from Spumco.
We finish up the floor with some Tick items, including a framed set of kid's meal signs and bags.
That finishes up the wall shelves for the Purple Section. Now we move on to the Tower area that I've designated as part of this
section. The Muppets line by Palisades, one of the best ever produced, makes up a big chunk of this. Like the World of Springfield, this is a
series that I have complete both carded and loose, and I display both in their entirety.
That means the top shelf is dedicated to mostly carded and boxed items, including the play sets.
While they did several male characters in the Bombshells line - Batman, Joker, Superman - they were part of duo statues. I believe
Aquaman was the only solo male they produced. They also liked their share of variants, and you can see Batgirl, Harley, and Wonder Woman all got
repaints.
The large red box to the right of the Swedish Kitchn and behind the Mega Animal is the Diamond Select convention exclusive boxed
Electric Mayhem.
The first few waves came on these red cards, before switching to the blue cards inside the clamshell packages.
Front and center in the photo below is the Wedding Set, a really unique item in the entire world of action figures. Ken
Lilly, the product manager for the line, created this two pack of Piggy and Kermit in tux and gown as a give away to his actual wedding guests. I
actually told a fib a bit ago - I don't have the entire Muppet line loose, only carded. There are two items I don't have loose, and the Wedding Set is
one of them. Even if I had a second, I don't think I could open it - the text on the box, discussing the wedding and acting as a sort of wedding
invitation, is too important to the overall set.
The smaller figures are from the PVC series, also produced by Palisades.
I'm pretty obsessive with this line - there are actually two versions of the Adventure Kermit, with different color pants and
golden Gonzo. I have both boxed and both loose.
While the Muppets line from Palisades is one of the greatest action figure lines of all time, they weren't the only ones doing nice
Muppets merchandise. Sideshow did this terrific series of large busts.
Behind the busts in the photo below you'll see the five figures that came inside red tin lunch boxes.
Palisades also used the Muppets with two of their Collector's Club silver tin lunch boxes, which you see below to the right.
On the next shelf down, we start our look in earnest at the loose Muppets from Palisades.
There's a lot to take in with this next photo. On the riser, you'll see test shots of Fozzie, Crazy Harry, Floyd, and Crash Suit
Gonzo. There's also a paint master for the Santa Chef, with some slight color variations from the final product.
In front of them, starting on the left, is the unproduced Guy Smiley with the letters A and B, as well as his clock. He was supposed to be part of the
first wave of Sesame Street figures, but Gonzo was the only release they ever produced.
Next to him is a head and both jacket variations for Johnny Fiama, a paint test for Rizzo where the sleeves and jacket are the same color, and a hard
copy of both the Tux Gonzo and Statler. There's also a variety of hard copy accessories.
And no, I didn't forget him. In the bubble is a very rare item - the soft, clay sculpture for Bert, a figure planned for the second
wave of Sesame Street. He never made it past this point.
That's not quit it for the pre-production goodies. The penguin is cast in clear plastic, a test of sorts that never went
anywhere. The Electric Mayhem sign is also a different color than the final version. And just above the sign is the famous Toilet Head Animal, who's
head sculpt had very matted down hair. They went with the wilder, looser hair like on the figure right next to him.
Sweetums is one of my favorite figures in the entire line.
One of the great things about the Muppets play sets is all the accessories you can pack in and add, creating your own unique look.
This kitchen was another of the play sets that just has an insane number of extras.
Palisades sometimes bagged their give aways or party favors, and you'll see the eight they did on this shelf. The first two are
both the Invisible Beaker, but they screwed up a few at the factory, and some were completely invisible (as intended), while a few were the Invisible
Cream Beaker that would later be boxed (only partly invisible). Next to him is the gold suit Gonzo, along with the letter from Mike Horn explaining
the where and why of its production.
Palisades also produced two versions of the Tuxedo Kermit for one Christmas. One has a header card that says 'from Palisades', while the other says
'from Jim Henson Studios'. There's no difference in the figure itself. And finally, there's one of the two black jacketed Rizzo's. Like Kermit,
there's no difference in the two figures, but one was a party give away at a Wizard World convention, while the other was a giveaway at the Licensing
Show.
Remember when I said I lied and there are two sets/figures in the series I don't have loose, only packaged? One was the Wedding
Set, and the other is the White Tux Rolph. I plan on adding one to the collection eventually, but I have to find a loose one to do that. I don't want
to get a packaged one just to open it, when there's so few of them in existence.
This might seem like a boring shelf of just a few of the mini-muppets, but the carded Gonzo is perhaps the rarest figure in the
Muppets line. This is Gonzo and Bernice, not Camilla. They produced just 120 of these in clamshell packages, and the plan was for them to be a Target
exclusive. Target passed on it however, and those 120 initial test figures were the only ever produced. They did end up releasing the Gonzo and
Camilla together later in a boxed set.
The smaller Muppets in the next two photos are from the more recent Diamond Select series.
As I mentioned earlier, the only Sesame Street character Palisades produced was this Grover/Super Grover. The boxed version in the
center has both outfits and heads for the Super Grover and the secret identity version. This package was particularly nice, done by the well known
artist Alex Ross. You'll notice two decapitated Grover heads to the right, one sculpted without a hat, and one with a darker brown hat with black
band. These are prototype concepts, and were never used.
That about wraps it up for the Muppets. As we get to the bottom shelf, we get into some other animated properties, starting with
some Corpse Bride figures from McFarlane.
One of the nicest products for Corpse Bride were the four mini-busts from Gentle Giant. Sadly, these were the only ones they
produced.
From Corpse Bride we move into Coraline and Frankenweenie. The NECA Coraline dolls are terrific.
The hardest to get of the Coraline dolls is the SDCC exclusive. A second one is seen here still in the package. The two large dolls
are from James and the Giant Peach.
The guy sitting down is old school - that's a magnetic hands Mego Batman. There's a DC Direct Batman in back, and the start of some
Sideshow comic themed sixth scale Batman figures. And you might have missed it, but a company called Huckleberry did toys for Paranorman. The carded
ones here were a SDCC exclusive.
I don't have a spot up yet for all my Peanuts related stuff, but I did put this phone in the corner of this bottom shelf for now.
This phone is from the 1960's, and was mine as a kid.
There's been a ton of Scooby Doo figures over the years, but I've tried to focus on unique characters, and lots of Mystery
Machines.
It might seem small, but the haunted house was intended for the 5" figures.
This is the complete Chicken Run line from Playmates, with some Beavis and Butthead from MAC in the background.
It's a pity how little Gravity Falls merchandise we've seen.
Now let's jump back up a couple shelves, and look at the various cartoon lines spread across the back side of the tower. I'm a huge
fan of the Venture Brothers show, and the BifBangPow series of 4" figures were cute. On the top right in this photo you'll see one of the two lunch
box exclusives that contained 8" figures for their other Venture Brothers line. The other tin -with Monarch and Doctor Girlfriend - is one of my
grails, and the only piece I need left to complete the 8" series.
The second lunch box was a 'tail ender', the last thing they produced before the line ended, and a SDCC exclusive. I've saved some
room for it, and eventually I'll fill the hole.
Th Venture Brothers give way to Family Guy. Most of the figures are from Mezco, but there's some other collectibles from other
companies thrown in the mix as well.
The carded Mezco figures are all variants of the regular releases. The regular releases are all loose on the next shelf.
Like Gravity Falls, King of the Hill has had very little in the way of merchandise. You'll see a plush Bobby and Hank in the photo
below.
King of the Hill did get a series of action figures though, and I have one test shot - in red - of Dale. This photo also starts the
loose Mezco Family Guy display.
Right now, there's a small display of Pinky and the Brain/Animaniacs here, but this will be moving. I have additional items
already, and there's not enough space here.
The solid color Disco Peter is a test shot.
While Mezco had the most success with Family Guy, Playmates gave it a shot as well. In the top right corner of the photo below,
you'll see the one play set and seven figures they produced. It was supposed to be like World of Springfield, where the figures plug into the play set
and have lines. It was cancelled after one wave.
On the next shelf down are a broad range of odds and ends. The highlight in the next photo is the Davey and Goliath.
These Pixar figures are on the opposite side of the same shelf in the Yellow Section where you saw a lot of other Pixar lines.
The large - 12" figure of Ms. Incredible is a test shot, but of what I'm not sure. I've never see a production figure that matched
this. The hair style looks like a flash back version. Anyone that might have some info, let me know.
Like Animaniacs, the Shrek stuff has got to move. It's already crowded, and I have quite a bit more I found in another box.
I'm a big fan of Secret Life of Pets, but I only picked up the small PVC figures.
Right now, there's a small display of Pinky and the Brain/Animaniacs here, but this will be moving. I have additional items
already, and there's not enough space here.
The floor area on this side of the Tower doesn't have a lot, but there are a few over sized figures, like this 18" Peter Griffin.
This is a 22" Mr. Incredible with light up base, available through the Disney Store.
These huge - 18"+ - Pinky and the Brain statues were available through the Warner Brothers store.
Under this tower it's mostly storage, but there are these cute plush Corpse Bride figures hanging down to spruce it up a bit.
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Photos and text by Michael Crawford.
This page copyright 2000 - 2021, Michael Crawford. All rights reserved.
