Droid Factory Coming to Disney’s Hollywood Studios

For a fan of toys (large or small..the fans, not the toys), there is nothing more fun than the words "Build your Own" ...well...anything! When that model is applied to something folks geek out over, the mind swims with possibilities. Disney knows of your lust for creation and will soon provide you with the tools to assemble your own droid army!

The Droid Factory experience will be launching during Star Wars Weekends 2012. Fans will be able to build and name their own R-series Astromech droid action figures. Developer Cody Hampton said this experience was in development for three years!

“We began discussing the Droid Factory in 2009,” explained Cody. “We know that personalization is an important aspect of the popular build-your-own light saber experience. We felt the same thing could be done with action figures but on a much larger scale.”

Large scale indeed – the Droid Factory has 71 different pieces to create the 3 ¾-inch figures! To get started, guests chose a dome, a body and legs offered in a variety of colors and styles (Cody said that availability of various parts and colors may change). There are optional third legs and novelty hats that can be added.

“We wanted lots of options for [the Droid Factory],” continued Cody. “There are literally thousands of combinations making each droid unique. Guests can also name their droids with sticker sheets provided at checkout.”









Three domes – R6, R8 and R9 – were created exclusively for this experience at Disney Parks. Cody also told me the multi-colored ear hats were inspired by Jedi Mickey’s Astromech droid, R2-MK. Four additional hats arrive later this summer including a Goofy hat, a pirate hat (YAY pirate hat!), a fedora and a Yoda cap.

Droids will be sold either in single or dual packs (the latter has a value price). They can also be used with the playsets we’ve created like the Starspeeder 1000.

“My favorite droid is named R7-C4,” Cody continued. “He has an orange body like my favorite clone trooper, Commander Cody. He wears the Yoda cap as a nod to the actual hat created in the 1980s when I fell in love with Star Wars.”

Brad built R9-EIU in honor of Eastern Illinois University, where he completed his bachelor’s degree. He explained, “[The droid] would have been great to have around while I was in school.”

Source: disneyparks.disney.go.com

Toy Fair 2012 : A New Look at the MTT Droid Carrier

We may be getting rained on at the moment with new images previewing all we'll see at Toy Fair 2012, but we don't want to overlook the little details. In this case though...it's a BIGGUN'! Hasbro's annual "BFV" (aka big fucking vehicle) has been revealed as the MTT (multi troop transport) Droid Carrier from the final battle between the Gungans and the Droids in The Phantom Menace. Now we know the propper name of this potentially massive ship is the "Trade Federation MTT Droid Carrier" (aka the name his momma calls him when she's pissed.)

The most iconic vehicle from Episode 1 comes to life with 20 combat-ready droids and full battle action sounds, weaponry and motorized droid deployment.

What we know: The MTT comes with 20 figures, but only 4 are actually real, articulated action figures. The other 16 are pre-posed set pieces. (That's 16 in the deployment area, 2 in the cargo bay, 1 in the..we'll call it the cockpit..and one hanging off the side like he is crazy cousin Jed Droid.) Since the figures pictured are all standing up, we can't even tell if they will fold down..but we can hold out hope. Hasbro knows we'll cry like babies if the droids can't at least unfold and be accurate to the scene. There is also said to be an Obi-Wan action figure included...for whatever reason they had for doing that. "Throw an Orbiwahn in there! The kiddies love that Orbiwahn feller!" said old man Rufus Hasbro in the planning stages. The mind boggles. This sucker is coming up as $129.99 at Target.

What we assume: "Battle Action Sounds" should mean a plethora of sound effects and droid phrases from that final battle scene. The last offerings had a ton, so we expect the same. (The AT-AT had somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 phrases and 8 sound effects.) "Motorized Droid Deployment" COULD mean the the droid holding arms fold out with the touch of a button. We do not expect the droids will pop up into fighting position, if they can fold at all...but hell..wouldn't that be just swell?

How big is it? With the power of the maths, we estimate (and this will be really rough..) 12 inches tall and 20 inches long. That's just from eyeballing the picture and comparing it to the size of an average droid. Of course I suck at math so I welcome an expert to give a better total.

What we wish for: An easter egg where you push the sound effects button in a particular pattern and hear Gungans screaming for their lives and dying horribly. "Misa bursting from the neckwounds!! Double ouch time!! ~gurgle~" We can dream.

Get The Droid You Are Looking For This Holiday

~wokka~ Yes, I had to go there. An overwhelmingly geeky....force..if you will...made me do it. Don't judge me. We've been seeing some pretty badass Star Wars prints on the Mondo Blog but unfortunately, they are so pathetically limited, chances are the moment you hear about them from a second hand source, they are already sold out. Now, in the spirit of the Holidays, Mondo is giving you a giant HEADS UP that this Friday, their newest print "A Linch Pin Droid" will be up for grabs.

A Linch Pin Droid - Poster by Kevin Tong. 24"x 36" screen print w/ glow in the dark inks. 5 Colors, the border is metallic silver, the bright green and blue are glow in the dark inks. Hand numbered. Edition of 400. Printed by D&L Screen Printing on 100 lb White Cover Paper. Limit 1 per person/ household/ address/ etc. $50.00 - Available 11/26/2010 at a random time.

My print is called "A Linch Pin Droid" and it's an exploded view of R2D2, my favorite character in the Star Wars Trilogy. For this print, I made certain that I stayed true to the original Trilogy and spent months watching and pausing it. Although this print is largely technical, I was hoping that by showing R2D2's individual tools and components all spread out, people can reflect on the moments in the Trilogy where he used those devices to save the day and the galaxy. - artist, Kevin Tong

Mondo says they will also have some other things dropping online as well as a huge in-store sale, so be prepared! This could be one stop shopping for all the dorky loves on your list this year!

Increase Your Block Power With New Star Wars LEGOs

From across the great waters, our European LEGO maniac spies send us word of new Star Wars LEGO sets on the way focusing on the Preqeul movies. The pictures dropped on us detail the following...

7913 - Clone Trooper Battle Pack : BARC Speeder, 2 Bomb Squad Troopers, Clone Trooper Commando and an ARF Trooper - $10.99
7914 - Mandalorian Battle Pack : Mandalorian Speeder, Cannon and 4 Mandalorians - $10.99
7915 - Imperial V-Wing Starfighter : Fighter with Imperial Pilot and R2-Q2 - $24.99

7929 - Battle of Naboo : Droid Carrier, Jar Jar Binks, Gungan Soldier, 2 Droid Pilots and 8 Battle Droids - $29.99
7930 - Bounty Hunter Gunship : with Sugil, Assassin Droid, Embo and Aurra Sing - $49.99
7931 - T6 Jedi Shuttle : with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Quinlan Vos, Saesee Tiin and Shaak Ti - $79.99

All sets are due out January, 2011.