G2 Project G2 Redo - Official Thread

[Grace Ruby]

Woah! Just learned about this product and it sounds really exciting!
I'd be interested to hear about the logistics, like how many people are on the team/which company although I'd understand if you wouldn't want to share just yet. I'd be curious to hear how/how not similar it was to the process HQG1C uses.
Also you mentioned Pony Friends, did g2 have any pony friends or are you considering making your own / making g2 versions of Cha Cha or others?

There are some things I do need to keep confidential but here's what I can tell you!

The team is currently:

Myself: Project manager overseeing the production and website and lots of other things, essentially it's my little business

Darklys: Project investor who made it all possible by getting the production funded and actually happening! I also go to them to double check ideas and get a second opinion / pair of eyes on things! I won't tag them again because they've been tagged enough on this thread haha their poor notifications but they're a really lovely member of MLPTP

and......that's pretty much it! Special shout outs go to Uftaki for helping to name the project, Glistening Rainlight if they end up helping with the website, and the couple of people who have already come forward to be international distributors! Also my partner for being very cool with the fact that one day soon 1000 ponies are arriving at our house.

In terms of process, what I can tell you is that Daniel aka Clipper from HQG1C was extremely kind and open to offering advice when we were planning all of this out and did give me a little peek behind the curtain there was no gatekeeping which was really lovely. I can say that from what I know our G2 reproductions and HQG1C will share a lot of similarities - both being hollow and moulded from PVC with similar production processes. Ours are being rotocast but I can't speak for HQG1C. Rotocasting works by having steel moulds in which the correct amount of molten PVC is poured to create the right thickness of vinyl. The moulds are then spun around by a machine VERY fast so that the PVC evenly coats the moulds surfaces as it cools, leading to a hollow pony coming out when it is opened. The moulds are HUGE and extremely heavy, like, unbelivably heavy, and are the most expensive part of production - but once the mould exists it can make many many ponies!

G2 didn't have any pony friends but I do dream of expanding on this eventually! G2 seaponies and pegasi are definitely something I'd like to do and some other non-horse animals eventually would be so fun. Like everyone, I'm a big Cha Cha fan. I feel like with some scuplting a base G2 Redo pony could be llama-ified! New styles will be the biggest challenge every time as like I said, the mould making is the big expense! Once the first moulds are made in the Sky Skimmer pose, that mould exists forever and can be used to make pony blanks, coloured blanks, all new pony characters, but when we want to add a new pose / style / body it's essentially the whole process and cost from scratch again - so the future depends a lot on sales and supports of the first batch!

 

[StormMaeker]

There are some things I do need to keep confidential but here's what I can tell you!

The team is currently:

Myself: Project manager overseeing the production and website and lots of other things, essentially it's my little business

Darklys: Project investor who made it all possible by getting the production funded and actually happening! I also go to them to double check ideas and get a second opinion / pair of eyes on things! I won't tag them again because they've been tagged enough on this thread haha their poor notifications but they're a really lovely member of MLPTP

and......that's pretty much it! Special shout outs go to Uftaki for helping to name the project, Glistening Rainlight if they end up helping with the website, and the couple of people who have already come forward to be international distributors! Also my partner for being very cool with the fact that one day soon 1000 ponies are arriving at our house.

In terms of process, what I can tell you is that Daniel aka Clipper from HQG1C was extremely kind and open to offering advice when we were planning all of this out and did give me a little peek behind the curtain there was no gatekeeping which was really lovely. I can say that from what I know our G2 reproductions and HQG1C will share a lot of similarities - both being hollow and moulded from PVC with similar production processes. Ours are being rotocast but I can't speak for HQG1C. Rotocasting works by having steel moulds in which the correct amount of molten PVC is poured to create the right thickness of vinyl. The moulds are then spun around by a machine VERY fast so that the PVC evenly coats the moulds surfaces as it cools, leading to a hollow pony coming out when it is opened. The moulds are HUGE and extremely heavy, like, unbelivably heavy, and are the most expensive part of production - but once the mould exists it can make many many ponies!

G2 didn't have any pony friends but I do dream of expanding on this eventually! G2 seaponies and pegasi are definitely something I'd like to do and some other non-horse animals eventually would be so fun. Like everyone, I'm a big Cha Cha fan. I feel like with some scuplting a base G2 Redo pony could be llama-ified! New styles will be the biggest challenge every time as like I said, the mould making is the big expense! Once the first moulds are made in the Sky Skimmer pose, that mould exists forever and can be used to make pony blanks, coloured blanks, all new pony characters, but when we want to add a new pose / style / body it's essentially the whole process and cost from scratch again - so the future depends a lot on sales and supports of the first batch!

I always like hearing about the process

 

[Grace Ruby]

There are some things I do need to keep confidential but here's what I can tell you!

The team is currently:

Myself: Project manager overseeing the production and website and lots of other things, essentially it's my little business

Darklys: Project investor who made it all possible by getting the production funded and actually happening! I also go to them to double check ideas and get a second opinion / pair of eyes on things! I won't tag them again because they've been tagged enough on this thread haha their poor notifications but they're a really lovely member of MLPTP

and......that's pretty much it! Special shout outs go to Uftaki for helping to name the project, Glistening Rainlight if they end up helping with the website, and the couple of people who have already come forward to be international distributors! Also my partner for being very cool with the fact that one day soon 1000 ponies are arriving at our house.

In terms of process, what I can tell you is that Daniel aka Clipper from HQG1C was extremely kind and open to offering advice when we were planning all of this out and did give me a little peek behind the curtain there was no gatekeeping which was really lovely. I can say that from what I know our G2 reproductions and HQG1C will share a lot of similarities - both being hollow and moulded from PVC with similar production processes. Ours are being rotocast but I can't speak for HQG1C. Rotocasting works by having steel moulds in which the correct amount of molten PVC is poured to create the right thickness of vinyl. The moulds are then spun around by a machine VERY fast so that the PVC evenly coats the moulds surfaces as it cools, leading to a hollow pony coming out when it is opened. The moulds are HUGE and extremely heavy, like, unbelivably heavy, and are the most expensive part of production - but once the mould exists it can make many many ponies!

G2 didn't have any pony friends but I do dream of expanding on this eventually! G2 seaponies and pegasi are definitely something I'd like to do and some other non-horse animals eventually would be so fun. Like everyone, I'm a big Cha Cha fan. I feel like with some scuplting a base G2 Redo pony could be llama-ified! New styles will be the biggest challenge every time as like I said, the mould making is the big expense! Once the first moulds are made in the Sky Skimmer pose, that mould exists forever and can be used to make pony blanks, coloured blanks, all new pony characters, but when we want to add a new pose / style / body it's essentially the whole process and cost from scratch again - so the future depends a lot on sales and supports of the first batch!

Oh I forgot to add the other thing I can tell you, which was an important production factor for both me and Lys, the production factory for G2 Redo is in the UK! 99.9% of toys are obviously made in China but we are fortunate enough to have a toy factory in the UK that can meet all our needs!

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with toys made in China, obviously most toys are made there and they're all safe and tested and 100% fine so this isn't said with any detriment to toys produced abroad!

However, the cost of having them made in the UK (where I live) was actually cheaper than China due to how high shipping and import costs would have been for such a huge order, so that was obviously a bonus. On top of that, I know that all the materials used are fully traceable and compliant with UK laws. Thirdly, it adds some extra peace of mind as this company is bound by UK law and should they fail to produce what we paid for we have legal and financial protection - if a company in China did just take our money and run I have no idea what we'd be able to do about that! Finally, there is no language barrier which means getting really specific in the design process has been very easy, and the factory is only a couple of hours drive away so if needed at any time I can literally take a trip down there and see what they're doing with my own eyes and discuss production face to face!

 

[StormMaeker]

Oh I forgot to add the other thing I can tell you, which was an important production factor for both me and Lys, the production factory for G2 Redo is in the UK! 99.9% of toys are obviously made in China but we are fortunate enough to have a toy factory in the UK that can meet all our needs!

There is absolutely NOTHING wrong with toys made in China, obviously most toys are made there and they're all safe and tested and 100% fine so this isn't said with any detriment to toys produced abroad!

However, the cost of having them made in the UK (where I live) was actually cheaper than China due to how high shipping and import costs would have been for such a huge order, so that was obviously a bonus. On top of that, I know that all the materials used are fully traceable and compliant with UK laws. Thirdly, it adds some extra peace of mind as this company is bound by UK law and should they fail to produce what we paid for we have legal and financial protection - if a company in China did just take our money and run I have no idea what we'd be able to do about that! Finally, there is no language barrier which means getting really specific in the design process has been very easy, and the factory is only a couple of hours drive away so if needed at any time I can literally take a trip down there and see what they're doing with my own eyes and discuss production face to face!

It’s good to know that when I manage to get my hands on a blank, it should be much quicker to have them arrive at my house all ready for their makeovers!

 

[Grace Ruby]

It’s good to know that when I manage to get my hands on a blank, it should be much quicker to have them arrive at my house all ready for their makeovers!

Ooh if you're UK based then yes you'll likely be getting them super quick, though Lys will be stocking them in the US so US buyers also have a very easy purchase route!

 

[StormMaeker]

Ooh if you're UK based then yes you'll likely be getting them super quick, though Lys will be stocking them in the US so US buyers also have a very easy purchase route!

Yep, UK based!

They could be just around the corner from me

 

[Grace Ruby]

Yep, UK based!

They could be just around the corner from me

They could be IN YOUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW WATCH OUT THEY'RE COMING FOR YOU

 

[StormMaeker]

They could be IN YOUR HOUSE RIGHT NOW WATCH OUT THEY'RE COMING FOR YOU

MY CREATIVITY CANNOT KEEP UP

 

[otteroflore]

There are some things I do need to keep confidential but here's what I can tell you!

Wow thank you for all the info, Grace Ruby! It's really interesting hearing how all of this works! It's really interesting!
I hope the sales of the first batch go well then, so you can keep making more! And possibly even other animals, which would be so cool.

 

[peepersponies]

Omg I’m so excited to hear that they won’t be rooted!!!!! I absolutely hate wasting materials, (i even feel bad cutting off horrible scraggly vintage manes that are totally beyond saving) so the fact that I won’t have to cut the hair off of these guys to customize them just made my day!
The hype is so real, June can’t come soon enough! I want to buy a million of these!

 

[Grace Ruby]

Wow thank you for all the info, Grace Ruby! It's really interesting hearing how all of this works! It's really interesting!
I hope the sales of the first batch go well then, so you can keep making more! And possibly even other animals, which would be so cool.

Thank you! It has already been such a fun journey and it's hopefully about to get even more fun!

Omg I’m so excited to hear that they won’t be rooted!!!!! I absolutely hate wasting materials, (i even feel bad cutting off horrible scraggly vintage manes that are totally beyond saving) so the fact that I won’t have to cut the hair off of these guys to customize them just made my day!
The hype is so real, June can’t come soon enough! I want to buy a million of these!

I'm glad to hear this feedback! I'm exactly the same, I hate wasting anything especially plastics - I actually save any clean doll, pony and cosplay wig hair and scrunch it up to mix into toy stuffing for plushies. I just hate not using materials for something haha

 

[AzaleaArt]

If they sell well do you think you will end up making baby ponys at some point? I think a baby g2 would be fun to customize but I don’t think I could bring myself to use an already existing one haha

 

[Moonbreeze]

G2 didn't have any pony friends but I do dream of expanding on this eventually! G2 seaponies and pegasi are definitely something I'd like to do and some other non-horse animals eventually would be so fun. Like everyone, I'm a big Cha Cha fan. I feel like with some scuplting a base G2 Redo pony could be llama-ified! New

G2 llama you say? Well well well...
I watched The Emperor's New Groove a little while back and had to. Never finished it though

But aside from that, I'd love to see a proper pegasus sculpt I can imagine the costs it would take to have a new mold made. But deer/ llama's/ giraffe/ dinosaurs would be awesome to use these bases for.

 

[otteroflore]

G2 didn't have any pony friends but I do dream of expanding on this eventually! G2 seaponies and pegasi are definitely something I'd like to do and some other non-horse animals eventually would be so fun.

OH, question, I'd be so curious as to how you want to do the seaponies! Seahorse or mermaid tail? Or some combination?
I do think it would be cool if there were seaponies with front legs so they could stand up (I'm imagining them being seal shaped) but there are so many seahorses that could be incorporated in a cool way.

 

[ArchdevilAntidot]

OH, question, I'd be so curious as to how you want to do the seaponies! Seahorse or mermaid tail? Or some combination?
I do think it would be cool if there were seaponies with front legs so they could stand up (I'm imagining them being seal shaped) but there are so many seahorses that could be incorporated in a cool way.

They already have curls, so seahorse tail is thematically appropriate, but that does not mean they cannot have hooves - maybe tinier, and flip the tail curl so it is on the back?..

 

[Grace Ruby]

If they sell well do you think you will end up making baby ponys at some point? I think a baby g2 would be fun to customize but I don’t think I could bring myself to use an already existing one haha

Baby ponies are pretty high on the priority list yes! I just absolutely love them

G2 llama you say? Well well well...
I watched The Emperor's New Groove a little while back and had to. Never finished it though

View attachment 90158

But aside from that, I'd love to see a proper pegasus sculpt I can imagine the costs it would take to have a new mold made. But deer/ llama's/ giraffe/ dinosaurs would be awesome to use these bases for.

MOON THIS IS THE BEST THING I’VE EVER SEEN! Absolutely obsessed with this omg! Deer are some of my favourite animals, I have actually been thinking about 3d printing deer tails that can be plugged into the uh…..tail holes of the G2 Redo ponies. Gosh this llama is cute though!

OH, question, I'd be so curious as to how you want to do the seaponies! Seahorse or mermaid tail? Or some combination?
I do think it would be cool if there were seaponies with front legs so they could stand up (I'm imagining them being seal shaped) but there are so many seahorses that could be incorporated in a cool way.

I have always pictured G2 seaponies as more mermaid-like! Mostly due to the issue of them standing on their own, like you say front legs to balance then the body turning into a tail that rests on the ground for plenty of stability. I do love seahorses too, maybe they’d have some fins or gills for the seahorse element? That’s definitely one that would take a few design sketches and some community feedback

They already have curls, so seahorse tail is thematically appropriate, but that does not mean they cannot have hooves - maybe tinier, and flip the tail curl so it is on the back?..

Ooh this is a good idea too! Like I said, if we ever reach this point community feedback will be a big part of the design process

 

[MonsterIceCream]

This project is so exciting!! I'll definitely be getting a few! Can't wait to see how these cuties turn out!

 

[AzaleaArt]

Baby ponies are pretty high on the priority list yes! I just absolutely love them

View attachment 90189

Ooh yay! That’ll be exciting ^_^ I thought they looked kinda silly till I got one to put in a swap box and it was actually so cute in person

 

[AutumnRoan]

These are the species of seahorses and sea dragons. Seahorses use that curly tail to hold onto things in the tide and blend in. Sea Dragons take the blending in to a greater level and resemble seaweeds. I don't know why Hasbro decided to originally go with the seahorse model, except they floated in water, with their heads above the surface, really well. They could have gone with Greek Mythology and done the Hippocampus style of beast whose tails curl around any which way like eels, but who retain the front two hoofs, and who sometimes can have metaphorical wings to show how fast they were:




Also, as a Spunky the Camel owner, I should note that camelids (like Spunky and Cha-Cha) have cleft lips and cloven hoofs, not to mention knobbly extra bits that are particular to their anatomy like humps and ears, and that they're depicted in the dolls. So you might find that simply patching a G2 model horse versus making a new one might get in the way: