Toy Collector: Dewald van Tonder

Interview with Toy Collector: Dewald van Tonder!

Welcome all to my latest interview segment, where a collector answers 13 short questions. The same questions will be given to every collector appearing in this segment.

I’m really excited to welcome South African Masters of the Universe Collector, Dewald van Tonder onto the blog.

MOTU!: Before we start with the magic 13 questions, can you tell us a bid about yourself?

Dewald: Hi Cobus, Thank you for the opportunity to chat to you. I must congratulate you on your blog. It is quite fun and informative. I am 37 years old, live in Pretoria and love my dogs and have quite an extensive collection of succulents too. I normally go overboard when I collect.

MOTU!: 1. What inspired you to collect?

Dewald: I guess I never really moved passed the love for action figures and filmation. You just tell yourself that you are too old for that so you move on. Until I discovered e Bay and saw all the MOTU stuff listed and realized that there is an entire community out there that collects. So, I immediately jumped in.

MOTU!: 2. How long have you been collecting?

Dewald: I started collecting around June 2009.

MOTU!: 3. What do you collect?

Dewald: I mainly focus on 80’s lines. I also have some movie themes and then your normal DC and Marvel figures. My main collection is MOTU. I have almost all the vintage figures, vehicles and castles, 200X, Commemoratives and Classics. Anything MOTU is awesome. I also collect Thundercats, Turtles, but the vintage and classic stuff, A Team, Bionic Six, Filmation Ghostbusters, Gremlins, Matrix, Lord of the Rings and recently I succumbed to STAR WARS too. I have DC and Marvel figures as well and a small collection of Batmobiles and the Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters. Basically anything that I find cool and awesome I’ll look into. I’ve also recently started moving more towards statues which are in a class of their own and have a few novelty items too.




Some of the None MOTU Items Dewald Collects

PCS Sorceress Statue

PCS Skeletor Statue

Neca Trap Jaw Statue

PCS Teela Statue

MOTU!: 4. What’s your grail and favourite piece in your collection?

Dewald: I have a few items that I really, really love but my boxed King Grayskull (Normal and Bronze versions) is my grail I would say.

MOTU!: 5. What collectors inspire you?

Dewald: To be honest my biggest inspiration is the fellow SA collectors like you, Gerrit van der Merwe, Jaun Vermaak, Frikkie Stroebel, Daniel Dixon, Johan Cloete, Marc Welgemoed, Jacques Bindeman and Dewald de Lange. Each collector has a different approach to collecting and their own unique focus and excitement. I’ve learnt a lot from all of them and the community part of it all, where everyone tries to help each other, is really a great part of being a collector. I also have a friend in the US, Jason Swart, who has thought me a lot and always help to get items that I struggle to get. We actually became friends through E Bay, when I bought one of my early figures from him. Frikkie with his customization also takes this to a whole new level. I love his work. Very inspirational.

MOTU!: 6. What is your most embarrassing moment as a collector?

Dewald: My most embarrassing moment was not knowing who Han Solo was while engaging with a huge STAR WARS fan. I’m yet to live that one down.

MOTU!: 7. What is your favourite MOTU Filmation or 200x Series Episode or MOTU Mini Comic and why?

Dewald: The Dragon's Gift is a great episode where MAA is turned into crystal and He-man and Teela meets up with Granamyr to save him. I guess it is just a feel good story and I must say, Granamyr is just awesome. There are many of the mini comics that are very cool. Funny enough the cover of ‘Dragon’s Gift’ is one of the most memorable. The 200x cartoons are just awesome. They give all the back stories of the characters so I’ll have to say I love the whole lot. Just sad that the last episode was not made as an episode but remained in comic form.

MOTU!: 8. What would you change about the collecting community?

Dewald: Sites like He-man.org are such a huge positive for the community. I’ve relied on them for so much information and opportunities to have discussions and get views from international guys. But the collectors (not everyone) love to complain and act out. That would be one thing I would have wanted to change if I could. We all have our complaints but there is much to enjoy and so many positives and excitement in collecting.

MOTU!: 9. Forums or Facebook groups?

Dewald: Forums work better for me. I don’t know why but I just find them easier to interact with. Again, He-man.org has been one of the site forums I used to check out daily.

MOTU!: 10. What MOTU character do you most resemble?

Dewald: I love Orko. He always tries his best and wants to keep people happy. He makes a mess of things but still I can’t imagine MOTU without him. But, who I resemble, mmmm, it is a tricky question. I would have to go with Moss Man. He is seldom in the forefront but does good and plays his part. Kind of a behind the scenes kind of guy.

MOTU!: 11. Is there one thing that collectors may not know about you?

Dewald: Well, I’ve said it before, when I collect I tend to go big. I’m a completest and find it VERY hard to leave anything out.

MOTU!: 12. I notice that a lot of SW collectors also collect comics (myself included). What do you think is the common factor that draws some people to both of these hobbies?

Dewald: I don’t think you can see these ‘streams’ as separate. The cartoons, the movies, the figures and the comics. They all belong to the same universe. You might not collect everything but your heroes move between all of these. I love MOTU. So I collect MOTU comics as well. Not that I don’t like other comics but I don’t read the rest that much so I stick to MOTU. So, it is all part of the same cookie. Some just like the filling more than the biscuit. LOL!

MOTU!: 13. And finally, what is it about the hobby that has kept you collecting for all of these years?

Dewald: To me, it is the escape. Collecting is my escape world. The back stories, the process of getting your display done, the fascination of just looking at all of them in silence appreciating the art and the creativity, what they meant to you as a child and what their stories are to you now as an adult collector. Even remembering the issues, we had to go through to get some of these. The friends I’ve made is equally as awesome. People that understand where you come from and the appreciation of it all. Plus, I just love figures!!! I love it!!!

MOTU!: Well thank you so much for joining me today Dewald. It has been an immense pleasure and I’m sure my readers will enjoy reading your answers as much as I have!

Dewald!: Thanks Cobus! This was fun! It gave me a chance to just think about collecting and why I still enjoy it so much. All the best and may your blog go viral!!