MGA Entertainment is adding a working miniature television to its Miniverse collectible range, extending the line from small-scale display items into a playable media system. The Miniverse Real TV Player and Video Tapes collection is on sale now through shop.mgae.com, with wider retail availability planned for later this month.
The player set includes a miniature retro-style red television, an exclusive videotape and a display case for the tape. Inserting a tape into the set and pressing play starts a 30-second clip taken from a film or television show. According to the company, more than 30 tapes are available to collect.
The clips come from NBCUniversal properties, among them Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Back to the Future, Casper, The Good Place, The Office and Saved by the Bell.
Building a library through capsules
Like other Miniverse collections, the line is built around separately sold mystery capsules. Each capsule contains three miniature tapes sized to fit the player, plus a mini keychain and a case for carrying a favourite tape elsewhere. Because the capsules are sealed, buyers add to their tape library without knowing in advance which titles a pack holds.
The product is designed for children aged 8 and older.
A small screen with a familiar routine
Josh Hackbarth, chief marketing officer at MGA Entertainment, said in a statement that the screen is tiny but the idea behind it is not. He said Miniverse Real TV takes films and shows that fans already love and turns them into a collection owners can actually press play on. Hackbarth linked the appeal to a moment when some fans are rediscovering physical media, describing the satisfaction of choosing a tape, inserting it into the set and watching a familiar scene appear. He called the blend of nostalgia and working electronics playful, innovative and unexpected, and said it reflects what the Miniverse brand sets out to do.
The launch places the Miniverse format, which the company describes as a growing set of miniature collectibles, alongside studio entertainment content rather than only miniature food or household objects. The player also ties the capsule packs to the hardware: extra tapes need the television set to be watched.
The announcement did not include pricing or a complete list of titles. MGA directs consumers to shop.mgae.com for further information.