‘90s Throwback or ‘90s Throwup?

Yes, I know, gross title, but it was too tempting, thanks to someone’s comment that he looks like barf. This is in regard to a new 2021 Breyer Classic model. Here he is, in case you haven’t seen him yet, and yes, his name really is ‘90s Throwback:

This Classic American Saddlebred mold was first introduced to collectors as Mason, the 2018 Horse of the Year. He was painted grey with dark grey points. 

Mason popped up next as the 2019 Halloween Classic model. Named Salem, he was painted a bay pinto with images of cats hidden within his pinto pattern, and he glows in the dark. When not glowing, he is reminiscent of the Premier Club Saddlebred Hamilton. 

Pictured below is the Premier Club model Hamilton, which was debuted in 2019.  You can see how similar he looks to Salem (pictured above).

Mason appeared in the 2020 issue of JAH (Just About Horses) as Rainbow the Magical Unicorn.  He was listed under the New Products section for TSC and Walmart. Rainbow has just started to appear in Walmarts as of this writing (February 2021).  

Interestingly, three of Mason’s four releases have been non realistic horse colors (or a unicorn, in Rainbow’s case).  Two of those decorator releases are currently simultaneous, which I find a bit odd. Having Rainbow as part of the Walmart Unicorn Gang is smart because many will be impulse buys by non-collectors. “Momma! Buy me the pretty unicorn! Pleeeeeeeeeeeease!” ‘90s Throwback, having kid appeal with his bright, fantastical colors paired with an exotic pattern would probably be a smash at Walmart. However, ‘90s will be available through Breyer and Breyer dealers, and won’t have the public exposure that Rainbow has. I think that a realistically painted Mason would have been a better choice than ‘90s; ‘90s could have been put off a year or two. Certainly some collectors will like ‘90s, but other collectors are less than thrilled with what they consider a garish color combo and pattern, and do not intend to add him to their collections. They feel somewhat disappointed in another Mason decorator. ‘90s seems to be a love it or hate it kind of model. I am undecided on him as I do like the color combination; however, I have seen an in-hand photo of him still boxed up, and his colors look muted compared to the Breyer website photo. I prefer the vibrant neon version, if it exists. I will have to wait and see more in-hand pictures before I decide to purchase one. I do intend to get a Rainbow when he shows up at my local store.  

Oh, one other thing. This is Breyer’s product description of ‘90s Throwback from their website:

I underlined the first four words of that sentence. Going to get a bit nitpicky and opinionated here, but Trapper Keepers don’t speak ‘90s to me-they scream ‘80s. Trapper Keepers first appeared in the late 1970s, were a mainstay throughout the decade of the 1980s, and endured through part of the 1990s. Obviously the wild colors and designs were from that ‘90s timeframe. Waaaaaay back in the day, I remember kids having Trapper Keepers that were just one color-green, red, or blue. Soon after we were lucky to get Trappers with pictures on them.  I had this Trapper Keeper in the 1980s:

Okay, rant time is over for now...

*Mason, ‘90s Throwback, Salem, and PC Hamilton photos are from Breyer’s website.

*Rainbow the Magical Unicorn photo is from the 2020 issue of Breyer’s Just About Horses magazine.

* ‘90s Throwback product description is from Breyer’s website.

*1980s horse Trapper Keeper photo is from Pinterest, photographer unknown.