Schleich retired 2012 – what will they discontinue?

Friends, we are not so far from knowing the list of Schleich figures to be discontinued in 2012 – a vital info for us, collectors. Last two years this info was [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], and in 2008 we had the list in October.
But now, as we are waiting, let’s share our forecasts! As always, I mean specifically forecasts, not guesses – we have seen the company’s decisions previous years and can judge more or less logically.
So, what do you think Schleich will discontinue next year?
And please, give reasons for your predictions.

For European animals there isn't much to retire, there's the red squirrels which have been around for a while, but I see no point in retiring them, they're nice, unless they want to update the models.
American Wildlife,we lost the black bears (so maybe they're going to make an updated version?). I think the white-tailed deer will go, they're not up to the same quality of the new red deer and I think they could make better ones now, but whether they'll do that or not.
Bison? I wondered why they retired the calf - mind you they've already updated the adult bison, so maybe they're going to release a new female and calf?
Africa, they have to retire that hippo!

HKHollinstone wrote:

For European animals there isn't much to retire, there's the red squirrels which have been around for a while, but I see no point in retiring them, they're nice, unless they want to update the models.
American Wildlife,we lost the black bears (so maybe they're going to make an updated version?). I think the white-tailed deer will go, they're not up to the same quality of the new red deer and I think they could make better ones now, but whether they'll do that or not.
Bison? I wondered why they retired the calf - mind you they've already updated the adult bison, so maybe they're going to release a new female and calf?
Africa, they have to retire that hippo!

I think the same, except the squirrels.

Here is my forecast:
- Bison male: they have discontinued the calf in 2010, and I thought they'd retire his father as well. To my surprise it didn't happen this year, but I still think chances are high that it will go.
- The older Ostrich: for the second year in a row I'm asking myself: who needs two male ostriches, both in standing poses?
- Hippo became a byword when speking about Schleich figures to be retired. For the 4th year running many forum members predict that it will retire! Nevertheless, this 15-year old model has survived. But the figure’s quality is obviously out-of-date, so maybe it'll be out at last? And maybe we’ll finally see a new hippo figurine from Schleich in 2012???
- Grizzly Bear with its cub: these figures are not bad, but last year Schleich discontinued the black bears, and in 2010 - wild swine, which were of the same quality level and the same "good old Schleich feel". It would look logical to me.
- White-tailed deer family: deera are abundant in Schleich's line-up today, and the white-tailed ones are the oldest among them.
- Giraffe female walking: this 2004 figure lacks the realism of the newer Schleich giraffes, so its sales shouldn’t be satisfactory, I think. Although, this figurine was in my last year's forecast and I was wrong - it's still in the ranks.
- Black rhino female (2001): why there should be two black rhino figures in similar poses?
- Squirrel eating: this 2003 figure looks out-of-date near the newer Schleich squirrel.
- Sea lion: many of his 2007 coevals are gone already... but it's more an irrational guess.

I won't be surprised (but will be disappointed) if some of the Schleich trees are discontinued. First of all, mopane is under suspect.

P.S.: last year Schleich's retirement plans defied my guesswork - [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] there were only 2 hits out of 11 guesses – fox & saguaro cactus. So I don't claim to have any deep insignt...

My predictions for 2012, some are the same as yours:

Very likely:
-the ostrich male
-the hippo (a new family made)
-both pandas look pretty strange, I expect them to be out and replaced with updated models(the Grizzlys are fine,they will stay for sure)
-the rhino should also go out
-the blue shark is a good candidate for retirement
-the white-tailed deer are boring already
-the old farm cats are both ugly
-the mopane

Unlikely, but possible:
-the pigs remaining
-the standing squirrel
-the horrible ''museum accurate'' kangaroo-rex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is hard to say what Schleich will retire because in my opinion, their range is absoultely destroyed and very messy, their catalogs look horrible and I won't resist seeing this brand at the top much longer!

Wildheart wrote:

..... their catalogs look horrible and I won't resist seeing this brand at the top much longer!

Hear, hear

I have two young nieces, and I remember when they had not yet started to read, - the oldest said " No, no, the elefant with big ears comes from Africa!" and then they would find their Schlich catalogues and begin repeating ( learning by heart) - the tiger is from Asia, and the ostrich lives in Africa, the wolves.....etc... that catalogue was a cherished BOOK for them

Now a few weeks ago Maja wanted to show me a horse she had bought, - but we just could not find it even if we both knew it was there

Where is what and how and when and why ????? It surely is a mess !!!

SO :
I hope they will retire that design of catalogue and make one that children and collectors can be happy with

I know we are not supposed to "hope", - but isn`t that what we are doing after all

I will expect and hope that a lot of horses will retire. There are horses in the collection since 2004 and Schleich is making many new horses the last years. So it becomes a bit much for shops to have them all, it will help if some will retire.

Wildheart wrote:

the horrible ''museum accurate'' kangaroo-rex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Which one?
IMO adults (especially female) are not THAT bad, not perfect, but also not tragic. Personally I don't like the model of joey.

Wildheart wrote:

-the horrible ''museum accurate'' kangaroo-rex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this one?
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

i couldn't believe it when i saw it in the store. those legs.

Wildheart wrote:

Very likely:
...
-both pandas look pretty strange, I expect them to be out and replaced with updated models(the Grizzlys are fine,they will stay for sure)...

I agree that pandas look outdated as well, but my sixth sense tells me that they'll remain in the line-up... We'll see who is right soon.

Mastiffcat wrote:

Wildheart wrote:

-the horrible ''museum accurate'' kangaroo-rex!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

this one?
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

i couldn't believe it when i saw it in the store. those legs.

I didn't even think about t-rex Silly me

Zwartvoet wrote:

I will expect and hope that a lot of horses will retire. There are horses in the collection since 2004 and Schleich is making many new horses the last years. So it becomes a bit much for shops to have them all, it will help if some will retire.

Quite agree with you! I think they would retire at last the Arabian foal, the Shetland pony mare, the Andalusian stallion maybe.And I hope they would replace the tinker mare- her painting's just horrible.

Mangalarga wrote:

I didn't even think about t-rex Silly me

i only thought about the rex because i think it's so horrible it stuck in my mind!

Kiryuha wrote:

Wildheart wrote:

Very likely:
...
-both pandas look pretty strange, I expect them to be out and replaced with updated models(the Grizzlys are fine,they will stay for sure)...

I agree that pandas look outdated as well, but my sixth sense tells me that they'll remain in the line-up... We'll see who is right soon.

The only panda I like is the Safari wildlife wonders one, if schleich could make one like that in the right scale it would be wonderful! All the Pandas, even Papo's, are too cute, they're not realistic at all.

To be brutally honest, I couldn't care less which figurines Schleich discontinues, but I am always very interested in what they may introduce.

I thought the mopane was already retired, so I bought one early this year...

schleich61 wrote:

To be brutally honest, I couldn't care less which figurines Schleich discontinues, but I am always very interested in what they may introduce...

But don't you want to buy those figures you don't have before they disappear from shops? Or to buy doubles of those figures you like? Knowing what Schleich is goin' to retire is essential for me when I plan my "animal figures budget" for the Q4 every year

HKHollinstone wrote:

The only panda I like is the Safari wildlife wonders one, if schleich could make one like that in the right scale it would be wonderful! All the Pandas, even Papo's, are too cute, they're not realistic at all.

Agree 100%!

HKHollinstone wrote:

The only panda I like is the Safari wildlife wonders one, if schleich could make one like that in the right scale it would be wonderful! All the Pandas, even Papo's, are too cute, they're not realistic at all.

Agree 100%![/quote]

Only Safari Wildlife Wonders panda appeal to me at least for now!

I have no particular insight and usually refrain from predicting as I dont think I am any good. However I think the adult hippo will go for sure due to its age and I also agree about the white tailed deers.

A bit controversial but I think the Tapir or Yak might go. They are more specialised animal species and generally more obscure for children to easily recognise. Looking at past models such as Ant Eater, Musk Ox, Armadillo, Iguana, Oryx etc they have all had a relatively short lived life span whereas common animals have a longer life span. Anyway it is just a guess and I hope it doesn't come true as I love the Yak and Tapir!

It seams to me a very good guess

HKHollinstone wrote:

Africa, they have to retire that hippo!

Agreed, ASAP

That's my list it is not very long, but there are some items that need an important revision (specially that one that opens the mouth )

- chimpanzee family
- lion young
- the hippo (please)
- bison
- grizzly bear

Kiryuha wrote:

schleich61 wrote:

To be brutally honest, I couldn't care less which figurines Schleich discontinues, but I am always very interested in what they may introduce...

But don't you want to buy those figures you don't have before they disappear from shops? Or to buy doubles of those figures you like? Knowing what Schleich is goin' to retire is essential for me when I plan my "animal figures budget" for the Q4 every year

Oh yes, Kir, of course I will buy them before they disappear, but that doesn't mean that I "care" which ones they select for retirement. I'll have them all, anyway, as that is my collecting mission. So yes, you're absolutely correct that I will want to know what is being retired, but the identities of the figurines being retired this year don't matter to me. Just like we humans (and all other beings), they have points of entry and departure, or as Bill Shakespeare once wrote, "All the world's a stage/And all the men and women merely players/They have their exits and their entrances/And one man in his time plays many parts/His acts being seven ages."

I don't collect thinking how much money I will win with aretired figure but because I love these replicas.
Anyway here goes some suggestions, more than predictions:
Wild life:
Hippo: a very outdated figure, from 1996, too long in the market and a hard selling figure, Schleich need new hippos, I agree!;
Indian elephant male: really outdated compared with new CollectA and Papo, we need a new Schleich elephant in regular series;
Young lion and lying lioness: not expectable since they are figures from 2008 but both are really uninteresting, it was better open space to a lying male lion;
Ostrich 14325: I agree that doesn't makes sense to have two male ostriches in the same catalogue, maybe repainting it as a female or even replacing for a new mould, continuing with this mistake do not contributes to a serious image of the brand;
Bison: People here donnot agree with me but I think it is the worst bison of main brands and he feels surely alone in catalogue, so I think it will be also descontinued;
White tailed deer: I have some doubts, they retired 4 deers recently, the true Bambie (roeddeer) and they saved the fast food Bambie (White tailed deer), maybe not yet but very soon surely;
Tapir: I also think that the surprise retired figure will be the recently introduced tapir... or will they complete the family???

schleich61 wrote:

Oh yes, Kir, of course I will buy them before they disappear, but that doesn't mean that I "care" which ones they select for retirement. I'll have them all, anyway, as that is my collecting mission. ...

Oh, I see what you mean now.