What's your ranking of the 6 major companies for 2012 ?

Ok, I know that there are still to be seen Papo and half Mojö, but I think it's possible to start a personal rating, also put your motivation!
This is my ranking with motivations:

1) Mojö Fun
Mojö is definitely doing a great job, despite is a young company it has already proven to be a very great company. The choice of the species, the quality and especially the work with this forum. I think it deserves the top place. And don't forget, this year's Mojö will give us a Proboscis Monkey!
2) CollectA
CollectA this year has given us a wide range of animal figures that we could never get from other companies! The strength of CollectA isn't only in the choice of rare, unknown and even already extinct species, but also in the number and quality with which they are reproduced, both in terms of detail as in anatomy!
3) Papo
Papo this year is definitely recovery, the level of detail is amazing as usual, and some species are really interesting. In a ranking of detail would definitely come first. I preferred other companies only for the chosen of species, but Papo has a unique potential and is a company that I admire so much.
4) Safari Ltd.
To tell the truth I am disappointed by the few figures issued each year in the wildlife range. The Fennec Fox is certainly not the height of the CollectA one, and the wildebeests... we really need them? Not to mention the Humpback Whale... also the tubes were disappointing. And the repainted figures...!! I understand that recolor in black or white, or make "glow in the dark" figures is convenient for the company... but I sincerely hate this kind of figures. I think Safari Ltd. worry more to develop all its many lines and not animals in particular. Nothing against this company, of course. He gave us so many great pieces and I love it just the same.
5) Schleich
Ok, I'm not definitely a Schleich's fan, I put it in fourth place just because Bullyland this year have been worse. Schleich should end up replacing every year the same figures and introduce something new. I also find that the pieces are too "cartoonish look"... perhaps this company thinks more for children rather than collectors.
6) Bullyland
Terrible. I'm very, very sick of seeing every year new lions, elephants, zebras, tigers and pandas... we have too many of these!!! And these new versions are certainly NOT masterpieces. The most updated data are nearly equal, IF NOT EVEN WORSE, to the old ones. Some of the very few new species are horrible... the Frilled Lizard is the worst I've ever seen!

Sommo, I understand your enthusiasm and I agree with almost everything but I think it is more interesting after seeing all 2013 releases. I only want to add a comment about these 6 brands. Obviously all of them are toys and they are supposed to be for children. In my oppinion it is good as long as brands understand that realistic toys are more educative than toyish toys. Mainly when we are talking about Nature and not from characters of a movie.
However, it is clear that CollectA, Mojo and Safari belong to a group of more realistic and diversified animals, usually less toyish and more directed to those who use the hobby of collecting as a way to learn and enjoy about Nature. Schleich and Bullyland are clearly brands that make the figures with a kind of cuteness making them between characters and realistic toys what works with children but whose results are not always interesting. Papo is another style, a kind of show brand more interested in making impressive figures than realistic animals but that sometimes can be superb.
All of them are interesting for collectors once even the most toyish thing can be a collectible, a collector of realistic animals is not more collector than a collector of Smurphs, those are only different collections.
Anotehr point is that I don't judge a brand for a single year of releases but for all the range. It is great that CollectA is launching new fantastic species but it is not good when they don't replace older figures with lower quality like they did last year. Rhino, hippo, crocodile, leopard, African elephant, polar bears, pandas, gorillas, are some examples of figures that doesn't match actual CollectA standards. They need a 2nd generation like it happened with the red squirrel, hedgehog, giraffes, brown bear, lions and tigers.
I hope Mojo continues with unusual species but I also enjoy when less interesting sculptings are replaced. I hope the actual lioness will be replaced next years.
About Safari gnus, we don't need them but Safari never released a gnu before so it is natural that they introduced it in their range. What I don't find very natural are black wolves and foxes.
Replacements are irritating when too many or also when it doesn't represents an improvement what seems is happening with Bullyland. However, I will remember that last year the new giraffes were much better than previous and we need to see these new figures in real.
Schleich is a world of illusion, they are rarely good replicas but always acceptable figures and when they are not there's is always the magic sensation that they will worth a lot in future $$$... , only new horses are exagerated in cuteness and it is not a surprise to see some traditional collectors of Schleich being more and more interested in CollectA horses. Though, every year, I find something interesting in Schleich range. :)
Papo is a line of warriors, we can see it with the new woolly rhino, not very imaginative with new species but always criative with unusual and great poses. We're living fantastic years in world of toy animal replicas although brands are not living in a favorable conjuncture for toy makers.

Roger, what you say is right. I was also noticing that the "standard" animals by CollectA (as elephants, hippos, etc.) have become obsolete with respect to the current quality of their figures and saw the great work done over these years I wouldn't mind if this company replace his old figures. This is because I'm sure that the replaced animals will be MUCH better than the old ones. But companies such as Schleich and Bullyland use the full range of the year to replace their models with others that are almost the same or of lower quality...
Talking about Bullyland, was it really so necessary to introduce a new Panda same as the old but with giant feet? Or the new Elephant that is the same but just a little smaller?
I would like to point out also that my for Safari Ltd. was absolutely not a criticism, I know that some of their lines are more important than others and their Incredible Creatures line is great, but because in their wildlife range entering only a few new pieces to year, it might be better to think of something different. I don't know if you share, but I don't really understand why insert a new Humpback Whale... the old one was better!
However, the Safari Ltd. 2012 range was much more disappointing. The Meerkat was the worst I've seen and the Sable wasn't be up to Mojo and Collecta ones.
Anyway, back to CollectA, I believe that it will replace their old figures a bit at a time, not all together as Bullyland and Schleich, in this way they'll still add new species each year and the replacement doesn't weigh too much on the line

Interesting discussion

About Bullyland, - we must bear in mind that they have changed owhership two times in a few years. Owners with completely different opinions about the future of the compagny.
The present owner wants to stress mainly "licence products", - ei Disney-models etc.

When looking at 2004, the last year Volkmar Klaus owned Bullyland, the contrast to now could make me cry
However, - let them get their bearing and see the models before we judge them so hard.

Apart from that, I would prefer to see the models before making any judgement. Sometimes the models are better than the catalogue, and sometimes worse.

That said, Mojo and CollectA surely come sprinting into the market with goodies for us

1) Collecta
I'm not a fan of Collecta but their models are very realistic and beautiful.
And smoe of the animals are very very real.Like the horses 8)This brand is very good:cheers: Congrats To Collecta!
2)Schleich
I'm a big fan of Schleich but t is true that since 2010 the schleich brand have a lot of models butaren't very good made and realistic.
I like more the olds schleich thant the new ones.
The olds elves are very realistic in the world of fantasy ... but now
And her horses aren't very real.
But is my favourite
3) Mojo FunIs a very good brand her new models are amazing
4)Papo
Also is a great brand but I don't like some of her models have a lot of colours and for my aren't realistic.
5) Bullyland
Also is good but her models aren't real.

Sommo, about Safari I have to say that the sable would never be considered a not good figure if it was not the fact of Mojo and CollectA launching 2 very good figures in the same year. I believe 3 are very decent.
The humpback whale I don't know, it seems that the previous had some important mistakes but I'm not confortable with it.
CollectA will surely replacing some figures as the brand is doing these years, it is only strange that they decided to stop wildlife replacements this year. :)
About Schleich and Bullyland recycling insistently the best selling figures I think Susanne gave the correct explanation. When brands are owned exclusively in a commercial perspective, new figures doesn't mean improvements but only a way to refresh commercially the best selling figures. If Bully is making a smaller elephant similar to previous one it is because they noticed that the larger version was to expensive to keep selling. Schleich did the same with dinosaurs and sea life.
If I like when it happens? No!!!
Anyway, I want also to say that I collect figures from all brands what mean that I love them all, some more, some less but I need to remember that Bullyland introduced a lot of unusual creatures in the market and enriched our vocabulary what we should never forget:
Some examples for prehistoric lines:
procynosuchus, edaphosaurus, spinophorosaurus, mastodonsaurus, Harizonasaurus, Paratypothorax, gomphotherium, eusmilus, anchitherium, megaloceros, belennite, chalicotherium, Batrachotomus, Liliensternu, etc.
Also some birds like lammergeier, hornbill, grey heron, great grey owl, etc.
Even among mammals we have the tsessebe and also reptiles and anfibians not often seen.

[Revisions Added at the end of this comment]
Honestly, I'm looking forward most eagerly to CollectA's projected 2013 figures. Then Mojo and Schleich. But until I have them in my hands, I'm not comfortable ranking them. Also, as Roger has indicated, different companies have different aims. The fact that I am looking forward to more CollectA models than models by Safari doesn't sour my attitude towards Safari. I'm glad all these companies are out there, surviving and (hopefully) flourishing.

I confess, though, I'm also looking forward to what Papo is going to show us. While Papo didn't have as many models as, say, CollectA that wowed me this last year, I loved the dogs they released. If this coming year, they release even just one more great dog, and one great wildlife model, I'll be thrilled and satisfied.

Frankly, there are so many 2013 models -- admittedly mostly by collectA, mojo, and schleich -- that I am eager to get my hands on, I don't know where I'm going to put them. I do not
have
any
more
room.

Crap.


Revised (January 4, 2013):
With much more information, I'm revising my list.
1. Mojo
1. Papo
tied for first
2. CollectA

3. Schleich, but this is a pretty big gap between the first three above and then Schleich.
4. Safari.

5. Bullyland. (I could still live without anything by bullyland.)

I think most of us have very different darlings. So a lot of us collect mostly Schleich because that is what they want, any only horses and so on.
But i know what you mean- your list is my list for 2013 Sommo, but the only fact what i collect are the species how you all knows.
But this year my ranking is a other ranking- because Bullyland released a wonderful whale in my opinion.

I think I need to revise my ranking, Mojo surprised me more than I thought...

SommoDracorex wrote:

I think I need to revise my ranking, Mojo surprised me more than I thought...

Me too. Mojo's at the top now. Then CollectA.

I updated my ranking!!

Oh boy, ranking, eh? Well, for me, 2013 is a great year for animal collecting, with some major hits for all companies, and some major misses for them as well. Here's my breakdown and the reasoning behind my picks:

1. MOJO FUN: Now, ordinarily, I'd put my favorite as Safari Ltd, but Mojo Fun really caught my attention this year. For such a young company (what, something like 2 years?) they are making really bold choices in new, rare species. Animals we never thought we'd get are now seeing the light of day in the Mojo fun 2013 collection, such as the Tamandua and the sloth! Hooray for that little sloth!! And the new stoat! You all know that weaselover Lance and I will be scooping up that little beauty, for me, two, one regular and one to prime out in winter decor. And the very fact that Mojo Fun reads our forum and has invited STS to participate in color advisement, figure display and finer points, ranks them # 1 in my book! I look forward to getting the new models!

2. SAFARI LTD: Okay, here's the deal. Safari has long been my favorite, for they DO take collector's ideas seriously. I know, because many of the animal models I and others have suggested have seen production recently. I suggested desert animals (North American, a possum, coyotes, an American badger, and very recently, a wolverine! Now, I'm not saying that they made all those models because of my suggestions, but they did take my suggestions seriosly, and those species are made and out there now. Which brings me into why I ranked my favorite company #2. Repaints. Plain and simple. The whole "white lion" thing has been played out. I'm tired of seeing white lions. The wolf is nice, don't get me wrong, but I'd have rather seen a different pose, as others have said. I WILL be getting the fox, however, as in my opinion, one can never have enough foxes, re-painted black ones included! I re-painted Schleich's recently retired red fox to be a "silver fox," black with silver highlights, and she looks right good standing next to the regular colored fox. I WILL be purchasing the backyard birds, since we needed them, and the Townsend's big-eared bat, since we need more chiroptera, period! And, of course, the wolverine! The new tubes...hm. The dragons would be neat, but the wings are clear colored plastic on painted bodies. doesn't sit well with me, like the wings are invisible. But we'll see what Safari produces. I still love 'em no matter what! :)

3. PAPO: Love the brown bear. LOOOVVVVEEE the brown bear! Look at him. Look at him! He doesn't look like a replica, he looks like they traveled to Kodiak Island or the Kamchatka Penninsula and brought us back a miniature boar brown bear! This bad boy is a major purchase for me, and he shall reign it over my other bruins with lordly disdain and contempt! And that fox. We have red foxes like him in Bartlesville Oklahoma. Real ones, as I'm sure many of our fellow forum members in Europe can see, particuarly in England, Germany, Spain, the Netherlands and France! He's superb. So #3 for me is Papo. Nice comeback, Papo.

4. SCHLEICH: I love the derpy little otter. He is so cute, and I know a lot of folks are complaining about the "cuteness factor" found in schleich lately, but he's an OTTER, they're allowed to be cute! <3 <3 And I like the grizzlies, because, as I wrote in the "What's your very favorite animal?" topic, grizzlies are my favorite animals! I'm partial to most North American carnivores. And I love the little baby crocodile. Again, he's allowed to be cute. He's a baby. Gotta get the new mallard, because I love the Schleich waterfowl. Same thing applies for the mute swan and chicks. The beaver? He's not as good as their retired one, in my opinion, but I'll be buying him as well, to compare the two and because beavers are cool. So # 4 is Schleich with a pretty solid range for me, despite the cuteness factor. OH! And I'll be buying a blue macaw for a dear friend of mine who owns a real one. A bad tempered one that we all love, named Oscar!

5. COLLECTA. Honestly and simply put, this is simply because I don't own a single CollectA model! They simply aren't to be found in any of the shops near me, even 40 miles away in Tulsa Oklahoma. So I don't own any. I have seen them online, and I like their Olorotitan in the dinosaurs, as well as their fox, and the new Deinocherius. This year I love their reclining Daspletosaurus! Nice to see a resting theropod, not in the roaring JP stance that so many dinos are depicted in. She looks like she's resting after a kill, or you could sculpt a nest out of sculpey and have her sitting guard over her brood! So while I don't have any CollectA, I love their ideas. So CollectA #5!

6. BULLYLAND: I only have some very few Bullland pvcs, mostly retired Disney. I own Tod and Copper from The Fox and The Hound, and Taran and Gurgi from The Black Cauldron. I do have the Bullyland moles, the Pteranodon sternbergi, the wolf pup, (which I bought at Frontierland in Disney, oddly enough!) and the Bullyland young rat (which I use as a house mouse.) But their lineup this year stinks! The replica's look, in my opinion, atrocious! Hopefully they may bounce back though, so let us all just wait and see. With their financial stuff and switching owners two times in as many years, things are sure to be rocky, including the artists they hire and the sculpts they approve.

So there you have it. Those are my top picks for companies and figures for our 2013 lineup! I feel like a sports commentator saying "2013 lineup!" Like the toy animal companies are teams at a scrimmage!

I really enjoyed your rankings and commentary Gulogulo76!

You should consider ordering some CollectA online. If you select some of their more recent, stronger models, you're likely to be bowled over. The Reticulated Giraffe Adult (from 2012), the Giant Eland, the Waterbuck, the Striped Hyena, the Okapi, the Ostrich and its chicks, the Peregrine Falcon, Cabybara, the Geese, eating Squirrel, they are all great. And the models, in person, are very impressive.

My own ranking (above) now should be completely revised.

I would put Mojo, Papo, and CollectA bunched up near the top. Then Schleich and Safari. Then Bullyland. (I love Safari. It's just that this year, their selection for what I collect is a bit meager and it's not completely blowing me away. There is just the Wolverine, Elk, Fennec Fox and the Gnus. And I'm really only excited about the first two.)

Oh, and I agree about the Papo Grizzly. That model, by itself, is more exciting to most models by other companies, put together!