JHM goes medieval on Stitch

From Jim Hill Media

A reader writes and asks Jim why some of the 50th anniversary park merchandise features our favorite alien. Jim uses the opportunity to give Stitch a hearty stab in the eye:

Actually, Kevin, I can tell you why Stitch is so prominently featured with the Fab Five on this year's merchandise for the Walt Disney World Resort. You see, back when the orders for most of these souvenirs were originally placed (Late 2004 / early 2005), Stitch was still thought of as a break-out character. One that the public just couldn't get enough of.

Well, what a difference a year makes. If you want a true sense of how far this little blue alien has fallen out from favor, head over to the Magic Kingdom sometime and check out the lines for "Stitch's Great Escape."

Conveniently forgetting that Stitch has just been added to the WDW Aloha Breakfast at the Polynesian Resort, but what's a few details between friends?

Mind you, if Disney senior execs had actually been paying attention, they would have seen the warning signs that audiences were slowly but surely losing their enthusiasm for the "Lilo & Stitch" characters. The first real indication was that "Stitch! The Movie" only pulled in $75.4 million. Which was little more than half what "Lilo & Stitch" earned during its initial domestic release.

Again conveniently forgetting that STM was direct to video, and, well, the animation kinda sucked. But ah well...

Jim has the answer...

Not to worry, though. There is actually a cure for this peculiar condition. It involves taking the over-exposed characters off the market for a few years.

That's right--to save Stitch, we get rid of all that nasty Stitch merch. 'Cause, ya know, nobody's really buying any Stitch-related merchandise. So, I hope Disney listens and quits releasing all those Stitch snowglobes, big figs, pins, plushies, and etc. etc., seeing as how it's making me broke 'n stuff.

So if you're a collector of really odd Disney collectibles, you might want to rush out & snatch up some of these 2006 WDW souvenirs. For this will undoubtedly be the very last time that Stitch .... will be paired with the Fab Five (I.E. Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy & Pluto. Disney's really-for-real evergreen characters).

Gee, I hope Jim never ventures to Japan.

Though, on second thought -- given how poorly these Disney World souvenirs featuring Stitch are supposedly selling....

Um, so, souvenirs featuring the Fab 5 plus Stitch aren't selling well? Doesn't this mean we need to retire the Fab 5 as well? After all, this is compelling evidence that Mickey Mouse is being "overexposed," dontcha think? I mean, I haven't seen people lining up for the Donald Duck ride in a long time, and....good heavens, there's not even a Donald Duck ride to begin with!

X-posted to the L&S group, for maximum naughtiness.