Ghostbustersnostalgia seemingly has no end. In addition to the recent live-action legacy sequelsGhostbusters: AfterlifeandGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, there’s been a surge of nostalgia forThe Real Ghostbusters.The classic ’80s animated series – which would’ve been calledGhostbustersif not for a totally unrelated animated series that tried to capitalize on brand recognition – is back in toy form, with a new line of Funko Pop collectibles.
Funko Pop vinyl figures based onThe Real Ghostbustersanimated series are available for pre-order right now. Funko released the first in-package shots of Peter, Ray, Egon, Winston, and their ghostly companion, Slimer. The 3.75" cult TV characters come complete in their jumpsuits with Proton Packs in-hand as well as attachable color-coordinated proton streams. Venkman is even accompanied by a little 1.5" Slimer. As a detour from the typical purplish-blue cardboard, the packaging features slime, retro caution striping, and theReal Ghostbusterslogo.
The figurines are available for international pre-order onBig Bad Toy Store,Entertainment Earth, andAmazon, with standard prices for Funko Pop and an expected ship date in mid-January. And if that wasn’t enough,Ghostbusters Newsreported that moreGhostbustersFunko Pops are rumored to be coming soon and expected to ship sometime next year.
The Real Ghostbusterswas an animated television series following the adventures of Dr. Peter Venkman (Lorenzo Music and Dave Coulier), Dr. Egon Spengler (Maurice LaMarche), Dr. Ray Stantz (Frank Welker), and Winston Zeddemore (Arsenio Hall), and their mascot ghost, Slimer. The spin-off and sequel toGhostbusters(1984) ran for seven seasons, between 1986 and 1991.
Due to thepopularity of the recent live-actionGhostbusterssequels (2016’sGhostbusters,Ghostbusters: Afterlife, andGhostbusters: Frozen Empire), hype for the comedy horror series has seen a resurgence. Toymakers have been riding on the wave of interest, offering a variety of options this holiday season.Hasbrohas resurrected its classic toys “intended to replicate the originalGhostbustersfigures from the 1980s,” according to its website. In addition, Hasbro recentlyreleased Magic: The Gathering cardsinspired by the franchise. AndMondolaunched a highly anticipated 1:12 figure line based on the classic animated show.
In addition to figurines,the companion bookto the documentaryCleanin' Up The Town: Remembering Ghostbustersis now available for purchase. The behind-the-scenes-guide expands upon details shared in the documentary, contains interviews with 56 cast and crew members, and explores pre-production hurdles and the crafting of iconic characters, including Slimer and the Stay-Puft Marshmallow Man.
The Next Chapter of ‘Ghostbusters’
Since 2022,Netflixhas beendeveloping a new 3D-animatedGhostbustersseriesthat’s intended to be tonally similar to the recent live-action films. The streamer gave the project a full series order back in August.
“Scripts are being written, art is being created, and it’s a great time to be a Ghostbuster,” Gil Kenan, the director behindGhostbusters: Frozen Empire, said inA Trip to the Movies with Alex Zane. Kenan revealed only that the series will follow an “all-new team” and “navigate an unexplored era and decade ofGhostbusterscanon."
Varietyreported that four-time Emmy-winner and formerThe Daily Showwriter Elliott Kaplan will serve as writer, showrunner, and executive producer on the Sony Pictures Animation-produced series. And Jason Reitman — director ofAfterlifeand son of originalGhostbustersdirector Ivan Reitman — is set as an executive producer.
