Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Alternative
Hero
Traditional superheroes are subverted in collectible toys.
3.2
Trend score
Trend
What is the Alternative Hero trend?
Alternative Hero: Traditional superhero action figures are being transformed into new, eccentric forms that often double as collectible items. This progression not only speaks to the desire for "alternative" heroes in pop culture, but also the modern fan's insistence on memorializing their favorite characters. Ultimately, these items suggest a convergence between children's interests and older consumers who wish to engage in a sense of play.
Trend themes
Themes within the Alternative Hero trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Alternative Hero Collection
Traditional superheroes are being transformed into new, eccentric forms that capture the modern fan's insistence on having an alternative form of heroes to engage with, increase collectability and significant fan engagement. Business professionals in the toy industry can leverage such eclectic changes and provide various other customizations for collectors in the form of figurines and merchandising.
02
Geeky Bath Toys
Increasingly, iconic characters have been turned into their own line of bath toys, appealing to geekier audiences who love having their favorite characters to accompany them even in their daily routines. Opportunities for business professionals in the toy industry arise in the form of collaborations with iconic characters and cross-functional partnerships with companies and products that serve daily utility.
03
Designer Superhero Toys
As a response to fan encouragement and evolution of characters, sketch-inspired figurines are being released, which are inspired by paper drawing sketches and are huge on collector's lists. Opportunities arise in creating more unique designs which explore less explored universes of superheroes and creating innovative shareable experiences for fans.
Industry implications
What the Alternative Hero trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Toy Industry
Rise of eclectic customizations and high-end collectables in the toy industry for consumers of all ages offers ample room for innovation and creativity in designing new models for different audiences.
For
Bath Toy Industry
Adding iconic characters for kid-friendly bath toys and targeting adult collectors that have a geeky bend for characters bring opportunities for cross-functional partnerships with everyday utility products to create newer products and categories for audiences.
For
Fan Art Industry
Designing highly collectible figurines of lesser-known superheroes such as comic book villains, graphic novel characters, or animation characters provide multiple opportunities for fan artists to show their skill while simultaneously creating an untapped market for savvy entrepreneurs in the collectibles market.
Workshop question
How can you transform one aspect into a more playful experience for your consumers?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Alternative Hero
Trend score 3.2 out of 10, from popularity 51%, activity 39%, freshness 8%.
Popularity51%
Activity39%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Alternative Hero trend
4 featured examples from Nov 13, 2015 to Feb 24, 2016CategoryLife-Stages
Sketched Superhero Figurines
The Jim Lee Blueline Superman is Styled Like a 3D Drawing
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce limited edition comic collectibles that offer a unique visual experience.
CategoryLife-Stages
Superhero Nesting Dolls
These Justice League Characters Fit Seamlessly Inside One Another
The popularity of nesting dolls as nostalgic toys presents an opportunity for toy manufacturers to create and produce similar traditional playthings with a modern twist.
CategoryLife-Stages
Superhero Toy Ducks
The Batman Rubber Duck Transforms the Iconic Dark Knight into a Bath Toy
Developing and producing superhero-themed bath toys can expand the offerings within the toy industry.
CategoryLife-Stages
Spud Superhero Toys
The Daredevil Mr. Potato Head Sees the Lovable Root Veggie as a Vigilante
Toy manufacturers can explore creating collectible versions of popular toys to cater to the growing market of toy collectors.
