MGA Entertainment is extending its Miniverse collectible range with a miniature television system that actually plays video. The Miniverse Real TV Player and Video Tapes line is available now through shop.mgae.com, with additional retail availability planned for later this month, according to the company.
The line is built around a small retro-style red television, sold as a set with an exclusive videotape and a display case for the tape. Collectors insert the videotape into the TV, press play, and watch a 30-second clip drawn from a show or film in the range.
A licensed tape library
MGA says more than 30 Real TV Video Tapes are currently available to discover. The licensed clips come from NBCUniversal properties, including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Back to the Future, Casper, The Good Place, The Office and Saved by the Bell, among others.
The set follows the format of other Miniverse collections, where the unboxing is part of the appeal: additional mystery capsules, sold separately, each contain three mini videotapes sized to fit the player. Those capsules also include a mini keychain and a case, so a favorite tape can be carried outside the home setup.
Nostalgia plus function
Josh Hackbarth, chief marketing officer at MGA Entertainment, framed the product as a small-scale version of physical media habits. In remarks provided by the company, he said the screen is tiny but the concept is not, describing the line as taking familiar films and shows and turning them into a collection users can literally press play on. He linked the idea to a wider renewed interest in physical media, arguing that selecting a tape, loading it and watching an iconic scene has appeal, and said the product mixes nostalgia with working functionality.
The line is aimed at children ages 8 and up. MGA directs consumers to shop.mgae.com for further details on the player, the tape assortment and the capsule add-ons.