The FunHouse Company has secured the rights to make a number of figures
based on everyone's (mine especially) favorite: Cap'N Crunch. Funhouse has created the collector edition
Cap'N, which is the version
everyone will recognize, and one of his rivals, Pirate Jean LaFoote. LaFoote was probably created long before I could even eat solid crunchy
cereals so I won't be providing too much info on that guy. But what I
CAN do is let you know if either of these figures are for real or not.
Before I begin, it's probably a good idea to inform everyone that there are
a lot more Cap'N Crunch figures being worked on as we speak, so this is just
the beginning!
Packaging - ***
The packaging look reflects the stylings of the cereal box, which is
probably the best way to go about it. The bold red color is a good
contrast for the blue Cap'n figure inside, although that doesn't help Pirate
Jean LaFoote too well. The card-back gives some background info on the
individual character and that's always a good thing. Otherwise I
wouldn't have known that Jean LaFoote is a crafty barefoot pirate in search
of Cap'n Crunch's treasure! The packaging is very much like anything
else out on the pegs so there's no new territory crossed here. It is a
decent effort overall.
Sculpting
- ***1/2
For being sculpts based on cartoon characters, Funhouse did a relatively
good job with the property. The figure itself isn't too complicated
but it does look very accurate to the character, which is what persuaded me
to purchase the figure in the first place. Cap'n's expression is
captured nicely but his arch villain Jean LaFoote, however, does not fair to
well. LaFoote does not look like the cartoon depiction shown on the
packaging, but if you're looking at him from a toy stand-point, it's not a
bad one.
Paint - ***
The paint isn't the best but it's not horribly bad either. This might
only be an issue found with my Cap'n but the paint around his eyes aren't
very clean. Pirate Jean LaFoote is a little better but there really
isn't too much to show for it.
Articulation - ** ½
Cap'N Crunch has seven
points of articulation that include: neck, ball-jointed shoulders, and
wrists. Pirate Jean LaFoote also has seven points of articulation:
neck, ball-jointed shoulders, and hips.
Not a lot of articulation here but it's good enough for what they were
shooting for.
Accessories - ***
Both figures come with three accessories each (four if you count the
stickers). Cap'N's booty includes a treasure chest that opens to
reveal STICKERS! He also comes with a telescope with a "C"
painted on (I refuse to call it a 'Crunch-a-scope') and a treasure map....
with his face on it.
Pirate LaFoote also comes with a treasure chest full of.... MORE STICKERS!!!
So what are on these stickers? There's one with the Cap'N Crunch logo,
another one with Cap'N's face (he really loves himself), and another one
with Cap'N's ship, The SS Guppy. LaFoote's treasure chest is cooler
though since it has crossbones on it (Cap'N's has, you guessed it, a big
"C" painted on). This old pirate also comes with his pet
Squawky the Parrot, who sits nicely on his right arm, and his pirate flag.
I was hoping there'd be a bowl of cereal included with either of these
figures since the accessories included don't really allow any possibilities
of anything FUN. LaFoote can wave his flag while Cap'N spots him from
12 feet away.
LaFoote: Yaarr... who needs your stinkin' treasure, for I have me own!
...wait-a-minute... this here be no treasure! THEY'RE STICKERS....
with yer face on it!
Crunch: Haw Haw!
Value - ***
Considering that I recieved both figures shipped for $20, it isn't too bad
of a deal. However, if you were to buy Cap'N Crunch or Pirate Jean La
Foote seperately, that would run you $15 per figure shipped. That
means getting multiples of the normal Cap'N figure would be pretty expensive
since it's $5 shipping per figure instead of per order. For $20, I
think I got a little less than what I paid for, but I'm happy to have a
Cap'N Crunch in the house. Accessories of cereal and cereal boxes
would have definitely made this a better deal.
Overall - ***
If Cap'N's the captain of your breakfast, then by all means, these toys are
for you. And if he's not... well... then... what can I say, these toys
aren't for you? Personally, I'm happy with my purchase, but I also
laugh at myself for even getting these toys. But how can you NOT want
toys of a character who uses his 'crunch-a-scope' to 'Crunch-a-tize' friends
aboard his magic ship?
Where to Buy:
Pick these up at the Funhouse Company
website, by thunder!
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