MINION MOMENT
The Minions are storming Bangkok, appearing on everything from bags, shoes and smartphone cases to ice-cream cones. There are also many Facebook pages about the characters. Licensed merchandise sells fast, and unofficial versions of the little yellow men are sprouting up at night markets across the city.
Originally presented as side characters in the Despicable Me film in 2010, the banana-obsessed, gibberish-speaking Minions won such popularity with audiences that the filmmakers gave them their own movie. Minions was released in Thailand on July 9 and made 62 million baht in its opening week, according to United International Pictures (UIP).
All limited-edition Minions items are potentially valuable because prices can go up by 25 to 50 percent within months. But above all, it is fun to have them.
STRANGELY CUTE
Annop Kittikul, 38, a freelance emcee, collects Minions. At first, he wanted one that was dressed like an English guard, but then he wanted the rest of the collection. He posts Instagram pictures of his Minions collection every week or so.
“I think Minions are so popular because they’re strange but cute,” Annop said. “They speak this language that no one can understand, and even though they look strange, they’re not too confusing. We can relate to them.”
Bob, Kevin and Stuart are the main characters in the first Despicable Me film. In the second film, Minions, Bob rises up to star status, with his teddy bear companion.
ONLINE SALE
For Minions fans who are in search of the little yellow guys at affordable prices, they can be purchased online. Online sellers describe the merchandise as imported — and not by an official distributor — so there’s no guarantee of authenticity, but it doesn’t seem to matter.
On a private Facebook page belonging to a Minions fan, a 12-piece, US-imported McDonald’s McMinions set is now being sold for 2,550 baht, up from 2,150 baht.
The Internet is a goldmine of fake Minions items, at affordable prices. A Minions notebook sells for 159 baht, a stationery set for 85 baht, while a 70cm-tall doll goes for 1,690 baht. The items will satisfy a 3-year-old who doesn’t know his bananas, but the official collectibles will command more cash at resale, and might just buy you more emotional capital.
CRAZY SALES
Siwipa Jarakul, the manager of Playhouse toy store has noticed something a little different about her latest products — Minions are selling like crazy.
“It’s really surprising,” Siwipa said. “I think Minions are becoming even more popular than Hello Kitty.”
Siwipa says the store’s Minions products are actually most popular with Thais in their 20s and 30s. Many customers come to the store to buy “blind boxes,” which contain one of 12 minion characters, the most popular being Bob.