November 27th 2024.
Did you know that your South Park collection could be worth more than you think? According to an expert, diehard fans of the long-running animated series could be sitting on a small fortune. It's all thanks to the show's sense of "underground culture" that has built up a loyal fanbase since its debut in 1998. Despite the fact that all the episodes can be streamed online for a minimal fee, the boxsets are surprisingly in high demand.
Mike Drake, a pop culture PR expert with a background in the toys and collectibles industry, spoke to Metro about the phenomenon. "You could turn on your TV and stream South Park whenever you like," he said. "However, the boxsets have continued to sell since the series began." He believes that it's part of an underground culture where fans share and discuss their favorite episodes with friends, similar to how older brothers would pass around a Playboy magazine in the 70s.
The DVD boxsets are being sold for prices ranging from £50 to £100 on eBay, but the complete collection with 58 discs from seasons 1-21 can fetch over £500 on Amazon. And South Park is not the only adult cartoon that's selling for more than its streaming alternatives. Mike revealed that some boxsets are in high demand, despite facing criticism from collectors.
Take The Simpsons, for example. The beloved show has been on air since 1989 and has launched countless toys and memorabilia. With 36 seasons and episodes easily accessible for free, one would assume that the boxsets wouldn't be as sought after. However, Mike explained that some collections are so desirable that their value increased after being discontinued. "One of the things that DVD collectors hate is when items come in boxes that can't go on a shelf," he said. "For the first series of Simpsons DVDs, they divided the seasons up in tin character heads. So season one might be in a tin Homer head. The problem was, you couldn't fit them neatly on a shelf, so many people complained that they stopped doing it after the initial five family members."
But then, for season seven, they went back to the tin-shaped boxes, and fans were thrilled. "The original seasons in the tin boxes are more desirable," said Mike. "There was even a reissue of the sixth season in a shaped box that went up in value." This trend of collectible packaging is not limited to The Simpsons. Other franchises like Aliens and The Walking Dead have also seen success with unconventional boxsets. The Aliens boxset, shaped like a Xenomorph head, is a collector's dream and can fetch a hefty price. Similarly, The Walking Dead boxset in the shape of a zombie head has become a masterpiece in its own right.
But it's not just about the packaging. Mike emphasized that the collectible must make sense in relation to the show. For example, The Walking Dead boxset's packaging was done by the same people who created the show's zombies, giving it an authentic and desirable look. However, some packaging gimmicks don't always work out. Mike gave an example of a boxset that didn't make sense - a screwdriver had to be used to open the packaging, but it ended up breaking for many fans. Despite that, the broken screwdrivers have become a collector's item, with fans willing to pay a premium to replace them.
So next time you think about streaming your favorite show, consider the value of its boxset. Who knows, you might just be sitting on a small fortune.
Your South Park collection could actually be worth a lot more than you might expect. According to an expert, dedicated fans of the long-running animated series could be sitting on a goldmine due to its underground cultural status.
Despite the fact that all episodes can be streamed online for a relatively low fee, physical boxsets have surprisingly become a popular item. Mike Drake, a PR specialist with a background in toys and collectibles, shared with Metro that South Park boxsets have continued to sell since the series began in 1998.
"It's almost like an underground culture," he explained. "You're passing it among friends and saying, 'Oh my god, you have to watch disc five, episode three.' It's like how an older brother might give a younger brother a Playboy magazine in the '70s."
Currently, bundles of South Park DVD boxsets are being sold on eBay for anywhere between £50 and £100. However, the complete collection of 58 discs from seasons 1-21 is reaching over £500 on Amazon. Diehard fans are even sharing boxsets amongst themselves, despite the availability of cheaper streaming options.
South Park is not the only adult cartoon that has become a highly sought-after collectible. Mike also revealed that other boxsets, such as The Simpsons, have skyrocketed in value despite receiving criticism from collectors. The Simpsons, which has been on the air since 1989, has released numerous toys and memorabilia over the years. However, all episodes have been available to watch for free for decades.
Mike shared an example of The Simpsons' boxsets that are so desirable they actually increased in value after being discontinued. "One of the things that DVD collectors hate, when you ask them, is they don't like things that are in boxes that can't go on a shelf," he explained. The first season of The Simpsons was released in tin character heads, such as a tin Homer head for season one. But due to the difficulty of displaying them on a shelf, they received complaints and were discontinued after the first five family members. However, when the sixth season was released in a regular box, many fans were disappointed and wanted the tin heads back. So, for the seventh season, the tin heads returned and the original seasons in the tin boxes are now more desirable and valuable.
Other gimmicks, like the Aliens movie collection and The Walking Dead, have also proven to be successful collectibles, despite being impractical in some ways. "There was an Aliens boxset that actually came in a Xenomorph head, and that goes for a hefty price because it's a very well-sculpted alien," Mike shared. "And The Walking Dead, that came in a zombie head, but to unlock it, you had to shove a screwdriver into the zombie's eye." He added that the screwdrivers often broke due to the locking mechanism, making them even more valuable as collectors' items.
Mike also mentioned that the packaging for these collectible boxsets is often done by the same people responsible for creating the show's props. This adds an extra level of authenticity and appeal for fans. For example, a season two DVD boxset in the zombie head packaging is currently being sold for £125 on eBay, while the Aliens collection in the head sculpture is reaching £150.
Ultimately, the value of a collectible boxset depends on its popularity and the collectible itself. As Mike concluded, "It really depends on, besides the popularity of the item itself, does the boxset with a collectible make sense?". The example he gave of a collectible that didn't make sense was a Friends boxset that came with a replica of the famous orange couch from the show. While it may have been a fun gimmick, it didn't have the same appeal or practicality as other collectibles.
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