| 10.29.2019 – This month’s features Happy Meal in the Philippines are Monster Jam and the Shopkins Cutie Cars. The new set of toys became available in Southeast Asia during the succeeding release in the second week of October 2019, but in the Philippines it was already available since 18 October 2019.
Although for most who noticed that McDonald’s just rehashed Monster Jam from 2018’s series of toys you’d be surprised that they’re entirely different. For those who missed out the previous release this is their chance at getting a new set for their collection that’s where this toy review gives a spotlight why it’s a new Monster Jam! |
For those unaware the Monster Jam toys have been offered as a Happy Meal toy in North America dating back almost five years ago. But those toys were entirely offered exclusive only for that particular region. Of course with how McDonald’s marketing in Southeast Asia is different from their North American counterparts you’ll understand why the reduced roster of trucks were offered for Asian countries.
Monster Jam is an event that first toured in Asia sometime in 2016 and with all the tie-up promotion usually McDonald’s would release a Happy Meal toy based on the brand. With the release for 2019 some thought it would be the same trucks that have different color variants in comparison from the 2018 release.
But before taking a look at the individual trucks the Monster Jam event will be happening in December 2019 in Singapore. So far there are no news if it will tour again in the Philippines, since their last was way back sometime in 2016.
For most of Asian countries the line-up of four Monster Jam trucks has been revealed through poster promotion of each McDonald’s stores offering it across Southeast Asia with an additional FIFTH TRUCK only available for Australia and New Zealand markets that is similar to how the Shopkins Cutie Cars are offered.
The following Monster Jam trucks offered in Southeast Asia and some parts of Asia can be found listed below:
• Dragon
• El Toro Loco
• Max-D
• Megaladon
Exclusive Only to Australia and New Zealand
• Monster Mutt Dalmatian
Dragon
It is one of the popular Monster Jam trucks and was released in 2018 with a green version based on the actual vehicle. But for the 2019 edition it comes in blue including the decals that is included once you opened the pack. Although the one from last year has a better shade of color this version represents the “Fire VS Ice” theme that matches up with the red Max-D.
The gimmick for the Dragon stays the same it has a pull-back action similar to its namesake predecessor. But you’ll notice that the color of its rims is in black as compared to the older version which matches with the color of the body. The labels include four blue stickers for the rims that you have the choice to apply it.
El Toro Loco
From a far you can say the El Toro Loco looks the same as its 2018 version, but if you put beside the same truck the bright orange color is subdued by the deep orange version released previously. Besides that this 2019 version has a special gimmick hiding underneath that is a transparent part that makes it “appear to be flying” once you unfold it underneath.
The difference that goes for all the 2019 trucks is that they are slight smaller than the ones released for 2018 and all rims for the trucks are not signature to the body color. The stickers too are different when you see it applied and to match up with the previous El Toro Loco some of the stickers for 2019 were not used just to give comparison how different was the previous model.
Max-D
The original Max-D came in grey version for this 2019 model it is in bright red as the rival for the blue Dragon for the “Fire VS Ice” theme as its main rival. This version also has a pull-back action gimmick that is similar to the other releases for this year. The only difference from the 2018 version is color, size, and the color of the rims.
The take away for this version is the bright red colors it is currently having and beside being a pull-back the plastic bag that came with this toy explains that it does its stunt flip, which is a bit challenging to execute unlike the El Toro Loco with a hidden gimmick that differentiates itself from the previous version.
Megalodon
This is considered a new Monster Jam truck and unlike the three previous counterparts release for 2019 this does not have a pull-back action due to the body twisting gimmick that is incorporate to this truck and might be the direct rival for the El Toro Loco due to having its own gimmick.
Most collectors would immediately get the Megaladon since it was a ‘new’ character in the Monster Jam set for 2019. It just so happens it was different from the three versions that were released for 2018 with different color. But for anyone who don’t really collect the complete set the Megaladon is what you only need.
Overall the 2019 Monster Jam is a mix bag that is not for everyone for those who don’t really collect a set of Happy Meal toys. It is an opportunity for those who missed the 2018 release as chance to get their fix on this set of trucks.
But for the casual ones the best would probably is Megaladon at the same time the most inferior of the lot since it does not have a pull-back action hampered by its “twisting” gimmick. It all depends now if McDonald’s in Southeast Asia will release the other trucks. But for the second time the quality for this set appears to show due ot the size comparison and the scrimp on the rims being all black and generic replaced by sticker labels to cover it up that shows the sign McDonald’s is reducing product cost that already hampered the quality for the Southeast Asian releases.
At the end of it depends on anyone buying a Happy Meal in Southeast Asia, but in other regions the quality of the toys looks better. Time will tell if this is just for this region why the quality is slowly being stingy. For now it’s up to anyone if the Monster Jam trucks are still worth to get, that perspective is not the same in getting the Shopkins Cutie Cars that were difficult to get.
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