MGA Entertainment is expanding its Miniverse collectible range with a miniature television set that plays short video clips. The Miniverse Real TV Player and Video Tapes line is available now through MGA’s online store, with additional retail availability expected later this month, according to the company.
The set includes a tiny retro red TV, an exclusive videotape and a video display case. Users insert the videotape into the fully functional TV, press play and watch a 30-second clip from the associated show or film. The design turns the miniature into a small, working display rather than a static model.
More Than 30 Tapes
MGA says there are more than 30 Miniverse Real TV Video Tapes to discover. The tapes draw on NBCUniversal properties including Shrek, Kung Fu Panda, Back to the Future, Casper, The Good Place, The Office and Saved by the Bell. Each tape carries a short clip, giving the mini TV a rotating library of familiar movie and television moments.
Fans can expand the system with separate mystery capsules. Each capsule contains three mini videotapes designed to fit the TV, along with a mini keychain and a case for carrying a favorite tape. The capsule format follows the mystery-reveal model used elsewhere in the Miniverse range.
A Playable Display
The TV and tapes are designed as a coordinated system. A tape must be loaded before a clip can play, so the collectible is handled and operated rather than simply displayed. The display case offers a place for the tape when it is not in the player, while the keychain and carrying case in the mystery capsules let users take a tape outside the home setup. MGA describes the line as customizable, with the tapes and capsules allowing fans to build a small library around the TV.
Josh Hackbarth, chief marketing officer at MGA Entertainment, said the small screen represents a larger idea: the line turns films and shows into a collection that users can actually play. He pointed to the current interest in physical media, saying there is particular satisfaction in selecting a tape, inserting it into the TV and watching an iconic scene. According to Hackbarth, the product combines nostalgia with working functionality in a way that is playful, innovative and unexpected—an approach he described as central to Miniverse.
The new line is designed for children ages 8 and up. MGA is directing consumers to its online shop for more information, while the planned retail rollout later this month would broaden access beyond the company’s direct channel.