MindStyle Pop Protos

Postby **TheJobaFett** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 12:56 pm

This is in no way meant to be inflammatory towards anyone or anything, I'm just curious how everyone feel about the MindStyle protos of various Pops. For those who have not come in contact with one, they aren't the same semi hard vinyl most protos are, they are rather squishy and pliable and aren't generally a color combination the Funko provided white or color protos are. I have taken to calling them dog toys, only because that was my first thought when I held one last year in SD, which personally was a deal breaker for me.

If you had the choice between a Funko proto at $200 or a M.S for half that, what would you choose?

Again, just curious. Keep it positive and conversational please :forcelightning:

Postby **Trixt** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:02 pm

Postby **case** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:06 pm

Would depend on the proto but if we are talking quality wise I would say the Funko Pop! that have come out over the last year have been very detailed not just paint, but worked in details on the characters. I think that and pliability would be a deal breaker, and of course if you like that proto.

Postby **Poncho Pete** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:12 pm

With the current cost of protos, I like to know there is some control over quantity. I lack confidence in that regard with the squishy squishy.

Postby **TheJobaFett** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:23 pm

i-shall-call-him-squishy.jpg

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:27 pm

Nobody has a side by side to compare?

I believe baby groot was one of these. I can't remember exactly but think he was cast in a solid color, think all brown? As oppose to an "official" one with white pot and brown body.

Postby **TheJobaFett** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:34 pm

Off the top of my head, I can think of:

Baby Groot
Magneto
Mickey/Minnie (head/body were swapped)
Stitch
Almost every Pop Asia proto

Postby **mongoose12** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:52 pm

I haven't noted any difference in the feel of either type of proto. Protos (regardless of point of origin) bring me great joy.

Postby **Squird** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:54 pm

I like my protos like I like my liquor, HARD!

I haven't seen them side by side to compare. I just want them to be from a legitimate source and not the scrapheap.

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:55 pm

This may not be true with all, but I think the MS protos usually have a diff color than official ones. I believe I have see. Magneto with biege head/white body. Not sure if it was MS but that's what I thought I went I saw.

Postby **SnackDaddy** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 1:59 pm

More concerned about how many Protos are released to the public from both Funko and Mindstyle. Maybe they don't share the same numbers.

Postby **AddictToPOPpinVinyl** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:05 pm

I have an all white Magneto proto that I got from Gemini. I wouldn't say that it is pliable at all.

Postby **Cristina** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:24 pm

I have a few "Mindstyle Protos" - Robin Hood, the Bride of Frankenstein, the Mummy, the Phantom of the Opera, the Creature and the Metaluna Mutant. None of them are the consistency of a dog toy.

The Monster protos ARE in two different color schemes. Three are from the NYCC giveaway, and are kind of "faded" colors, and the other two are more traditional proto colors. And I like all of them.

Now, the Back to the Future Delorean production piece...that is dog toy central

Postby **TheJobaFett** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 2:30 pm

AddictToPOPpinVinyl wrote:I have an all white Magneto proto that I got from Gemini. I wouldn't say that it is pliable at all.

That one is a traditional proto...there is a tan head/white body one floating around that isn't the all white or all magenta I saw in person or on Gemini's eBay that confuses me.

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:22 pm

Cristina, do the MS protos have a different finish?

Postby **Cristina** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:35 pm

Eddie, I don't have two of the same one, but here's a MS next to a traditionally colored proto, and the finish is the same as any proto I've received from Gemini or Fundays. Only difference are the muted colors on the NYCC ones. And the white is white, not the off-white that white proto bodies used to be.

Anyone else notice white protos are now all out of the same material, instead of off-white body, white head?

25546

Postby **Topshelf19k** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 3:51 pm

Well when I visited the mind style factory 3 months ago I did notice all the protos to be off from the ones given away at fundays.

Kidding of course I'm not cool enough to tell that kind of story. :forcelightning:

Postby **edorice** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:07 pm

Protos weren't meant to be given to collectors in the first place. So complaining about the material is very inane.

Postby **HobieWanKenobi** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 4:20 pm

I honestly don't know what's going on, and what is considered official, etc., but like Jordan, I am confused when there are color variations of the same proto. And I don't mean a white version and a color version. Like there are three versions of Magneto floating around. All white, all red, and white body / beige head. Also baby groot. All white, All brown, brown Groot / white pot. Aside from the crazy color series, are there any older Pop protos that come in color variations?

As to the protos that came from the MindStyle party, I really don't know what to think.

Different color schemes, different materials, swapped heads, heads only, bodies only...but they were being passed out by Brian. So. Confused.

Postby **Reverend** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:15 pm

Sad day, I wish Funko would put a stop to what seems like a free fer all and has lessen the value of proto. NO RESPECT! Not a legit proto IMHO. On a plus side to be positive I like Hikari

Postby **TulaBug** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 6:45 pm

Reverend wrote:Sad day, I wish Funko would put a stop to what seems like a free fer all and has lessen the value of proto. NO RESPECT! Not a legit proto IMHO. On a plus side to be positive I like Hikari

Jacob, can you clarify? Are you saying that all pop protos made in the Mindstyle factory are not legit, in your opinion?

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:35 pm

My definition of a legit proto is one that goes through Funko HQ. Maybe that has changed now?

Postby **nikko** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:35 pm

I got a soft proto Mickey/Minnie head body swap from Mindstyle's event last year at San Diego. Not complaining though, since I didn't buy it

Postby **TulaBug** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:41 pm

These are all protos that were made in the Mindstyle Factory. They were then sent to Funko HQ. Then Brian sent them to Gemini to sell.

Frozen Protos 1.PNG

Frozen Protos.PNG

Robin Hood Protos.PNG

Postby **Squird** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 7:52 pm

The biggest problem with this thread, and the one on FB, is that a lot of people are taking things personally, and jumping to conclusions. Jordan didn't like the protos he encountered at a party last year and still doesn't like them. He asked how others felt. People got defensive.

I think the bigger issue isn't who's making them, but how they're getting out. I don't think it is unreasonable to suspect the legitimacy of a Funko product that isn't released through Funko. Getting something off a factory floor, without Funko's knowledge or consent, or from a trash bin is not legit and shouldn't be treated or sold as legit.

Postby **Topshelf19k** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 8:14 pm

Jango_Fresh wrote:My definition of a legit proto is one that goes through Funko HQ. Maybe that has changed now?

+1

But things seems to changed once a person travelled directly to Mind style and deemed everything legit

Postby **Reverend** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 9:18 pm

TulaBug wrote:
Reverend wrote:Sad day, I wish Funko would put a stop to what seems like a free fer all and has lessen the value of proto. NO RESPECT! Not a legit proto IMHO. On a plus side to be positive I like Hikari

Jacob, can you clarify?

I think Hikari is a good solid made piece with great variety and I like MD too.

Postby **BigM** » Tue Jun 02, 2015 11:15 pm

Squird wrote:I like my protos like I like my liquor, HARD

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:23 pm

Is there a way to tell what factory certain pieces were made in?

Postby **Cristina** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:24 pm

Jango_Fresh wrote:Is there a way to tell what factory certain pieces were made in?

Just based on the sticker on the bottom of the box, once the production piece comes out. The letters before the numbers tell you which factory.

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:26 pm

Thanks Cristina! Anyone have like a chest sheet for the letters?

Postby **Cristina** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:30 pm

FM - Mindstyle
JJL - Another factory in China, where most pops are made (and were made before the two new ones)
DRM - Vietnam Factory

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:43 pm

Thanks!

Postby **jenjen** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 5:17 pm

always funko

Postby **Jango_Fresh** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 7:18 pm

Here is an example of what I think is questionable. I have seen a few all red deadpool protos none had a white sword, but this one does. Not saying it came from Mindstyle, just saying it seems questionable to me.

26393

Postby **Kitzka** » Sat Jun 20, 2015 11:58 pm

I don't have an opinion since I have not seen (in person) any of the mindstyle Protos but wanted to thank everyone for their thoughts. It's been quite interesting to read and see the protos that folks do have.

Lara

Postby **gyrofx** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 1:00 am

FAC is another new Chinese factory

Postby **nikko** » Sun Jun 21, 2015 10:48 am

gyrofx wrote:FAC is another new Chinese factory

Wow. Since when? Any new releases that are made by them?

Postby **AleX-Men** » Sun Apr 05, 2020 11:43 pm

JobaFett wrote:This is in no way meant to be inflammatory towards anyone or anything, I'm just curious how everyone feel about the MindStyle protos of various Pops. For those who have not come in contact with one, they aren't the same semi hard vinyl most protos are, they are rather squishy and pliable and aren't generally a color combination the Funko provided white or color protos are. I have taken to calling them dog toys, only because that was my first thought when I held one last year in SD, which personally was a deal breaker for me.

If you had the choice between a Funko proto at $200 or a M.S for half that, what would you choose?

Again, just curious. Keep it positive and conversational please :forcelightning:

I have no prototypes and will likely never own one, so anything without a direct price tag is a go for me. Also I can’t believe they were giving away colored protos on the forum 8 years ago. Sometimes it pays to be involved something before it takes off.

Postby **kamakaziunicorn** » Mon Apr 06, 2020 12:13 am

I heard somewhere that mindstyle will keep reproducing protos, if that's the case I don't like em. If thats not the case and they have set limits, I think they are okay. And if you ever want a Pop Asia proto, I'm almost positive they are all mindstyle.

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