Weta Collectables have announced a brand new range of Doctor Who mini helmets.
Weta Collectibles created a storm in the high end market when they revealed their range of Doctor Who statues, based on BBC’s longest running programme of the same name last year. Today they announced their debut range of mini helmets based on the range, which are sure to delight fans of the series and of Weta Collectibles worldwide.
The initial series features six ¼ scaled helmets, from both the Classic and New Series of Doctor Who. From the Classic Doctor Who series comes a ‘Cyberman Leader Helmet,’ from the episode Earthshock, and 'Lord President Borusa Head-dress' from Arc of Infinity. Peter Davison plays the Doctor in both episodes, while from the Patrick Troughton episode Seeds of Death comes an ‘Ice Warrior Helmet’. ‘Sontaran Officer Linx Helmet’ rounds out the classic series selection from the episode entitled The Time Warrior, starring Jon Pertwee.
The New Doctor Who series pieces include a ‘Sycorax Helmet’ from The Christmas Invasion and the 'Industrial Welding Mask’ from 42, both starring David Tennant as the Doctor.
The first episode of Doctor Who launched on BBC Television on 23 November 1963. There have been more than 600 episodes, 150 stories, two television movies and spin-offs. The show has become a television favourite for fans worldwide and has influenced generations, including Weta Senior Model Maker David Tremont.
David says it was both a blessing and a challenge deciding which pieces to create for the range because of the wide variety of characters in the series. “When [Weta Concept Designer] Daniel Falconer and I were researching the range, we had to cull our dream list down to an initial six, because there were literally dozens of different helmets that we could have made. We felt it was imperative to make selections which were spread evenly throughout the 40 years of the Doctor Who series.”
David denies however, that his choices were largely made for selfish reasons. “If I found these in a shop I would buy them - and I am fortunate enough to make them”, he laughs. “We selected the pieces that we thought would be the most appealing and desirable to fans, and as much as I personally love all of them, we took a selection that was more widely known to not only just ‘avid’ Doctor Who fans, but also general enthusiasts of the series, as well, so that everyone could enjoy them. We selected the pieces that looked the most interesting – from iconic moments and characters in the series. Hopefully it will expand into a large set of highly collectible Helmets throughout the entire series of Doctor Who.”
As for what David and the team have planned for the future, he is remaining tight lipped. Can we expect any more pieces to be revealed? “I do what I do now because of the magic I enjoyed as a child with these series. I would love to see more”, he says. “But seriously, we have to make sure that the series is successful, because, at the end of the day, although we are literally playing with my childhood inspirations, we have to be responsible to the business. It’s storytelling, its imagination; it inspires people to create.”
The ‘Sontaran Officer Linx Helmet’ is on display at the New York Toy Fair 17–20 February 2008.
The Miniature Helmet range will be on sale between May–June 2008. Pricing and edition size announcements will be made in coming weeks.
Weta Collectibles created a storm in the high end market when they revealed their range of Doctor Who statues, based on BBC’s longest running programme of the same name last year. Today they announced their debut range of mini helmets based on the range, which are sure to delight fans of the series and of Weta Collectibles worldwide.
The initial series features six ¼ scaled helmets, from both the Classic and New Series of Doctor Who. From the Classic Doctor Who series comes a ‘Cyberman Leader Helmet,’ from the episode Earthshock, and 'Lord President Borusa Head-dress' from Arc of Infinity. Peter Davison plays the Doctor in both episodes, while from the Patrick Troughton episode Seeds of Death comes an ‘Ice Warrior Helmet’. ‘Sontaran Officer Linx Helmet’ rounds out the classic series selection from the episode entitled The Time Warrior, starring Jon Pertwee.
The New Doctor Who series pieces include a ‘Sycorax Helmet’ from The Christmas Invasion and the 'Industrial Welding Mask’ from 42, both starring David Tennant as the Doctor.
The first episode of Doctor Who launched on BBC Television on 23 November 1963. There have been more than 600 episodes, 150 stories, two television movies and spin-offs. The show has become a television favourite for fans worldwide and has influenced generations, including Weta Senior Model Maker David Tremont.
David says it was both a blessing and a challenge deciding which pieces to create for the range because of the wide variety of characters in the series. “When [Weta Concept Designer] Daniel Falconer and I were researching the range, we had to cull our dream list down to an initial six, because there were literally dozens of different helmets that we could have made. We felt it was imperative to make selections which were spread evenly throughout the 40 years of the Doctor Who series.”
David denies however, that his choices were largely made for selfish reasons. “If I found these in a shop I would buy them - and I am fortunate enough to make them”, he laughs. “We selected the pieces that we thought would be the most appealing and desirable to fans, and as much as I personally love all of them, we took a selection that was more widely known to not only just ‘avid’ Doctor Who fans, but also general enthusiasts of the series, as well, so that everyone could enjoy them. We selected the pieces that looked the most interesting – from iconic moments and characters in the series. Hopefully it will expand into a large set of highly collectible Helmets throughout the entire series of Doctor Who.”
As for what David and the team have planned for the future, he is remaining tight lipped. Can we expect any more pieces to be revealed? “I do what I do now because of the magic I enjoyed as a child with these series. I would love to see more”, he says. “But seriously, we have to make sure that the series is successful, because, at the end of the day, although we are literally playing with my childhood inspirations, we have to be responsible to the business. It’s storytelling, its imagination; it inspires people to create.”
The ‘Sontaran Officer Linx Helmet’ is on display at the New York Toy Fair 17–20 February 2008.
The Miniature Helmet range will be on sale between May–June 2008. Pricing and edition size announcements will be made in coming weeks.
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