After a successful experiment with larger figures on their recent Laurel & Hardy Kickstarter campaign, Wandering Planet Toys Gavin Hignight and Doc Wyatt are now applying the same size to their popular The Prisoner action figure line.
The 1:12 scale (roughly 6″) figures are currently featured in a new Kickstarter campaign for all fans of the British cult classic, and we got a chance to speak to the creators once again in this exclusive interview.
You’re back with more The Prisoner action figures. The first two must have been big successes to continue the line, yes?
Gavin Hignight: Yes, it’s been amazing that the figures we created because we wanted them on our own shelves, have been something that so many other Prisoner fans also wanted. We’ve met quite the awesome community through these figures and we’re so glad the line has seen such great support. Not only from Prisoner fans, but also Kickstarter, BigBadToyStore, and others that have helped us get these into the hands of fans and collectors. We’re psyched with what we have been able to release… and we’re not quite finished just yet.
Doc Wyatt: Prisoner fans seem ready for more, and we’re delighted by that, because we want to make more!
The third wave are now 6″ figures. What types of challenges do the larger figure size represent? Is there anything easier about producing/designing bigger figures?
Hignight: We kind of see The Prisoner Deluxe Figures as their own wave. Like a special one-off release. So there’s Prisoner Retro Wave One, Wave Two, and we’re planning a retro Wave Three. But before we get to Wave Three… let’s do a side-quest with the 1/12 scale figures, for fans who collect at that scale and style.
I would say designing at this size is actually harder. There are many more pieces to get right, much more manufacturing. But… we can be more flexible with that manufacturing and we can get more details in. The details are probably the biggest difference and the most fun to explore. For instance, the Number 6 figure includes the hand doing the “Be Seeing You” gesture from the series. That’s a fun addition we couldn’t have done with the retro style figures. Also, just the details of their suits, their shoes, faces and hair. It’s been awesome to make something we feel is more TV accurate.
Wyatt: The 6” scale is also harder because of the costs involved. Bigger tooling, bigger molds, more plastic. It’s a larger barrier to leap over.
Was it difficult to pick the line-up or did you just go with the most popular ones from earlier waves?
Hignight: It wasn’t difficult at all. We’ve been working on these for a while actually, and from the beginning for both of us, it was clear. Number 6 and the Leo McKern Number 2. If you are a Prisoner fan, and only want these two figures, you have a strong representation of what is great about the series. Leo Number 2 and Patrick McGoohan are so iconic. They make a great set. So yeah, we didn’t really think about what was popular in the small scale, we always knew if we went 1/12, it would be with these two.
Which figure was the toughest to “get right” this time around? Which ones are your favorites in Wave 2?
Hignight: For me it was Number 6. Getting his facial expressions, his hair, his vibe right was so important. We were very critical of ourselves to get him right. Once the 3D prototype was printed and painted by our prototype guru Chris, and I was holding it in hand… I knew we had our figure and all that hard work paid off. We worked on Number 2 after Number 6, so he might have benefited from the process on Number 6, as his figure felt like a smooth process.
Wyatt: We really want to focus on the feel of the figures together. When you pose your figures on the shelf, we wanted to make it feel like when Number 6 and Number 2 face off against one another in the show. We wanted to capture that energy.
What did you learn from your recent 6″ Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy figures and how did you apply that knowledge to The Prisoner 6″ figures?
Hignight:: WOW… that is a good question. And not one I have an immediate answer for, since we are still going through the manufacturing process on Stan and Ollie. I think every line we accomplish, every figure we are able to release whether it be a retro four inch or the larger 6 inch, is filled with lessons and insights that we take to the next project. Doc and I are both writer/producer/filmmakers, and it’s similar to a TV episode or film you work on, that each project you make, teaches you lessons for the next project… if you are paying attention and trying not to repeat mistakes… or trying to repeat successes.
Wyatt: Stan and Ollie definitely helped us learn the budgeting process for these figures, and how to deal with costs.
Wandering Planet has created figures on a number of pop culture classics, so what’s next?
Hignight: Ahh another good question! Doc and I have so many ideas. Maybe TOO MANY ideas… There are tons of classic series from TV, FILM and BOOKS that we love and want to make toys from. There are also music related toys we’d like to explore. It’s important to us to do things officially licensed, and that proves to be a challenge. It’s really detective work, determining where a license is, who to get hold of, if they are willing to work with us, if we can afford them. But there are some irons in the fire I think people will be very excited about if we can bring them to market.
I know at one point, we’re going to want to explore some non licensed stuff as well. Doc and I both are creatives, we’ve written for amazing IP, and at some point want to explore some of our original ideas, and that means as toys too, or exclusively as toys and collectibles… so… hopefully, all kinds of good things are in the stew and brewing. We do take great joy in surprising folks… so you never know what we might bring into the action figure realm next.
Wyatt: If you have suggestions about what we should do next, interact with us on social media. You can find Wanding Planet on Insta, Bluesky, Facebook and elsewhere!
The Prisoner Ultimate Edition 1/12 Scale Action Figures are available to back on Kickstarter until July 9.
Was very impressed with Wave 1 and 2 of “The Prisoner.”