For e.g. the Transformers toys, video reviews allow you to see all the transformation steps, plus you get a better and 360 degrees view of the Transformers toys in their vehicle and robot modes.  For typical action figures like Marvel Universe and G.I.Joe, the toy video reviews tend to show the various points of articulations in the action figures, plus they also demonstrate how the weapons and accessories ‘work’. 

So how do you do a search on YouTube for let’s say, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) Leader Optimus Prime?  You can simply type “ROTF Leader Optimus Prime” in the search box on YouTube!  Over time, it helps to narrow the search if you know the Transformers class size (Leader, Voyager, Deluxe, Scout, Legends etc.) and the Transformers toyline series (ROTF, Transformers Universe etc.).  Remember, more practice will make your online toy research perfect!

Dedicate a fixed space in your home for your toy collections.  This is very important because every object that goes into your home must have its properly allocated space to ‘dwell’ in.  Just like the cooking utensils belong in the kitchen, our clean clothes belong to our bedroom wardrobes etc, the same goes for your toy collections.  The bare minimum is to have at least a cupboard that is dedicated to your toys.

if you share your home with other people, your toys ought to be stored and displayed in your own bedroom (aka your personal space).  If you have a major say in your home or you’re the head of your household, then you can allocate your toys to a specially dedicated hobby room, or even in the living room, provided the toy display there is very presentable to guests who visit your home.  

For the ultimate “customization” of your home to integrate your toy hobby, take a look at Toy Haven! 

Avoid jumping from toyline to toyline.  This tends to happen when toy collectors “chase” the trends and collect whatever toys that are “hot” at the moment due to the related movie or cartoon releases then. 

Basically don’t buy on hype if you can help it.  You’ll tend to feel so hurt when you see the same ”ex-hot” toys go on clearance sales, and you paid much more for them just a few months ago. 

It’s feels worse when you realise that you don’t really like those toylines as you used to, after the hype has died down.  By then, you’re stuck with those toys that can be difficult to sell off because almost everyone else also gets tired of them like you have.

Focus on collecting the toylines that you really like and stick to them only.  I know this is easier said than done.  If you want to have a better organised toy hobby and a much happier time collecting and managing your toy collections, then this is golden rule number 1 to adhere to!  It will help you to minimize the inevitable common challenges of toy collecting, such as insufficient display and storage space later on.

It’s Thanksgiving Day in the US today (4th Thursday of every November).  Then comes Black Friday, which follows Thanksgiving Day.  Black Friday also marks the start of the Christmas shopping season there! 

 In the US, Black Friday is a major sale day  that falls on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday of November) each year.  On Black Friday, some US retail stores open their doors as early as midnight, and close only on midnight the following Saturday to accommodate the massive crowds that come!

For online toy stores like Entertainment Earth, Black Friday savings start now!  The toylines available include Star Wars, My Little Pony, G.I.Joe., Indianna Jones, DC Universe, and many many more!  The offer is more worth it if you live in the US.  So hurry now and begin your Christmas toy shopping today! 

Just a short Transformers Revenge of Fallen (ROTF) toy shopping update: ROTF Leader Buster Optimus Prime by Takara Tomy has arrived in Singapore!  Quite a number of ROTF fans and collectors have gotten hold of him over the weekend from the Sunday Toy Market at China Square Central.  The toy shops at Plaza Singapura (7th floor) also have this toy now.  He’s currently priced at SGD 129.90.  To view more photos of him, check out Transformers Live blog!  Happy ROTF Toy Shopping!

Update: ROTF Leader Buster Optimus toy video review available now!

Here’s a short toy shopping tip: If you had passed by OG Orchard lately, you would have noticed a glass sticker advertisement featuring the artwork of My Little Pony, Littlest Pet Shop and Movie Transformers etc. at the main door. 

There will be a mini Hasbro Toy Fair at the ground floor from 2 Dec 2009 till Christmas.  You might want to pop by during this pre-Christmas period to see if they will be selling the Hasbro toys that you’ve wanting to get.  Happy Toy Shopping!

The following froggy couple made by Mattel are characters from Disney’s latest 2-D animation movie - “The Princess and the Frog”.  The story is adapted from the famous fairy tale of the same name, but its time stream has been fast forwarded to the turn of the 20th century in New Orleans, USA. 

In this American version, the “princess” gets transformed into a frog as well after kissing the “frog prince”!  Then they both must embark on a journey to transform themselves back into humans again.  Along the way, there are the trademark Disney style song and dance scenes.  The movie release date in Singapore is on 10 December 2009. 

Disney’s The Princess and the Frog Magic Kiss Plush Gift Set

Note: The actual trailer in the above video starts from 0.30min onwards.

Yes!  Disney has finally reverted to producing movies in the traditonal 2-D animation style, which I much prefer to the 3-D ones of recent years.  Of course the plot and flow of the 2-D movies also matter, to make it nice to watch, like those released in the 1990s (Beauty and the Beast, Mulan, Tarzan etc).  I’ll reserve my comments about the movie after I have watched it.  Meanwhile, here’s the featurette with more details and info about filming this latest Disney 2-D movie. 

When I watched the Transformers Revenge of the Fallen (ROTF) movie in June this year, the robot scenes happened so fast that I don’t recall the Decepticon Rampage being red in color.  After seeing his Deluxe and EZ Legends toys being in yellow color for the past months, I keep thinking that’s his actual color.

Then recently, I managed to watch some of the final desert battle scenes at the local DVD shops here.  I finally got to see that he’s really red in color in the movie.  But I still don’t recall the color of that bulldozer Decepticon which formed Devastator in the ROTF movie.  I think that one was yellow in color.

Currently, ROTF Legends Red Rampage is only available at Toys ‘R’ US Japan, where he is given away for free with purchases of over 3000 Yen.   The original blog post that features this set of photos is Higekuma Toy Toy Blog.  Many fans and collectors wonder if we can get hold of ROTF Legends Red Rampage locally at any stores.  I hope so though!