New York Toy Fair 2019 begins in four more days, but we’ve already got the first mega-ton headline news of the week: long-time statue maker Gentle Giant Ltd. has been purchased by Diamond Select Toys! Astute collectors (or ones who are really obsessed like me) probably noticed that there haven’t been any new resin Marvel Animated or Collector Gallery Statues revealed in a while, and now we know why! Read on for the E-Mail announcing the big news…

Gentle Giant under New Ownership

Dear Valued Gentle Giant Ltd. Collector,

We are pleased to announce that as of February 1st, Gentle Giant Ltd has a new parent company. Gentle Giant Ltd. has been acquired by Diamond Select Toys. www.gentlegiantltd.com is currently down for maintenance. Notification will be sent once the Gentle Giant Ltd. website is up and running.

It is Diamond Select Toys’ goal to continue to provide you with excellent customer service and outstanding high-end limited edition collectibles.

You probably have a few questions and hopefully we can address them.

How do these changes affect me?

We are taking great efforts to make this transition as smooth as possible. You should not see any changes on the website regarding your account information, membership status or existing pre-orders.

What should I do
– If I received damaged product or if I did not receive my order

If your order was shipped on or before January 31, 2019, please contact gentlegiantltd.custserv@3dsystems.com until February 28, 2019. 3D Systems will be able to assist you, but will not be able to replace product and will have to issue a refund for your order. Once www.gentlegiantltd.com is live you can place an order for the item in question, providing the product is still in stock. If your order shipped after January 31, 2019 please contact customerservice@diamondselecttoys.com

– If I received notice that my order was declined

Gentle Giant Ltd. can reprocess your order once www.gentlegiantltd.com is operational. You may need to update your payment information, for you order to be reauthorized.

– If I want to update my billing/shipping address or payment information for an order

Once www.gentlegiantltd.com is live again, you can update your information at that time.

For additional information, please contact Diamond Select Toys – Gentle Giant Ltd. via email at customerservice@diamondselecttoys.com

Thank you,

– 3D Systems Staff

Obviously, this is pretty monumental news, and one of the largest acquisitions of a major statue company that I can remember ever occurring. There’s no further information available just yet on this change in ownership, but I’ll be sure to get any information that I can regarding the acquisition and what it means for the ongoing Gentle Giant statue lines while I’m at New York Toy Fair 2019 this weekend.

It sounds as though everything that was already solicited is safe and in the pipeline, and hopefully once everything is ironed out we’ll see the continuation of the various Marvel statue series that were really beginning to hit their stride.

This move doesn’t come as a complete shock, as Gentle Giant has done work for various Diamond Select Toys releases such as various Marvel Select figures over the last few years (and BBTS just had a humongous discount sale on Gentle Giant statues earlier this winter), but it definitely still took me by surprise.

UPDATE: Diamond Select Toys has posted the following update on their website regarding this major news:

“Both Diamond Select Toys and Gentle Giant Ltd. have long been known for delivering high-quality busts, statues and action figures to collectors worldwide. Now, fans can get the best of both worlds, as DST finalizes the purchase of select assets of Gentle Giant, taking over manufacturing and distribution of many of the company’s key lines.

Beginning February 12, Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC, will assume operations for all of Gentle Giant’s existing licenses, and release previously developed and newly created busts, statues and scaled-up vintage action figures. Any in-progress and future products will be offered to retailers through the Previews catalog, published by DST’s sister company Diamond Comic Distributors.

Gentle Giant’s collector club, the Premier Guild, will continue to operate, with exclusive items for members and reserved access to certain products. DST has pledged to fulfill any outstanding exclusives and rewards to current members, and to expand on the club’s scope going forward.

“This is a great moment for DST,” said Diamond Comic Distributors owner Steve Geppi. “The unification of many of Gentle Giant’s licenses and built-in fan base with DST’s sales and distribution channels is a recipe for success. Two wonderful companies uniting talents to produce the best of the best. I am confident the final product will be well received by both companies’ wonderful supporters and customers.”

“It is a great honor for Gentle Giant to continue our strong creative relationship with Diamond,” said Karl Meyer, VP of Entertainment at 3D Systems. “With great pleasure, I am personally thrilled to have DST uphold the Gentle Giant Ltd brand and work with our artists in bringing entertainment magic from the screen to the collectors’ hands.”

“I have been a longtime fan of Gentle Giant’s products, and I am excited to continue their legacy,” said DST president Chuck Terceira. “Once we’re up and running, we plan to deliver seamless service of existing product lines, so expect to see the same level of quality, with the added bonus of DST’s broad distribution.””

Thoughts on this move, Marvel collectors? Are you surprised to see Gentle Giant Ltd. change ownership, and are you concerned about the fate of any of their ongoing statue lines (such as the magnificent Skottie Young Marvel Babies Animated statues line)?