How Hasbro's Star Wars Figures Have Changed Since 1977

Star Wars toys have come a long way since the first action figures hit shelves in 1977 alongside the original film. Over the past 45+ years, toy company Hasbro has continued to release new Star Wars figures that showcase increasing detail and articulation to satisfy fans.

This article will explore the major transformations in Star Wars toys since their inception.

The original Kenner 3.75” figures from 1977-1985 established Star Wars toys, but had limited detailing and articulation compared to modern figures.

The Beginning: Simple 5-Point Articulation (1977-1985)

The very first Star Wars action figures were produced by Kenner in 1977 to coincide with the release of A New Hope. These 3.75” sized figures featured very simple designs with just 5 points of articulation at the head, arms, and legs.

Detailing was kept minimal to allow high production numbers and affordable price points around $1.99. Cheaper vinyl capes and simple fabric clothing were used. Hand-painted details picked out only the most necessary elements like lightsabers and C-3PO’s eyes.

These early sculpts capture the essence of each character despite the lack of specifics. Over 100 unique characters got an action figure during Kenner’s original run through 1985. But the toys have almost no ability to act out scenes or assume lifelike poses.

More Articulation and Realism in the 90s (1995-1999)

Hasbro acquired Kenner in 1991 and produced an updated series of Star Wars figures in 1995 to celebrate the original trilogy's Special Editions. This 1990s line demonstrated more attention to character authenticity and increased poseability.

The 90s figures added articulated shoulders, elbows, knees, and ankles for a total of 14 points. New heads were sculpted with more realistic proportions. Outfit fabrics and details became more screen-accurate with better costume prints, layered clothing, and softer plastic capes.

With double the articulation points, the 90s Star Wars figures could kneel, sit, or hold their accessories in lifelike poses. Hasbro also began producing highly detailed vehicles, creatures, and playsets alongside the figures.

The 2000s: Super Articulation and Realism (1999-2009)

When the prequel trilogy arrived between 1999-2005, Hasbro pushed their Star Wars toys to new levels of authenticity and articulation. Common figures in the 2000s included up to 24 points of articulation and excellent character sculpts.

Heads and hands were often sculpted from realistic portraits of the actors. Costume details reproduced the intricate texturing and layering that CGI provided the prequel films. Alternate hands were common to allow for varied accessories and poses.

Hasbro pioneered “super articulated” bodies with joints at the ankles, wrists, waist, elbows, knees, shoulders, and torso. Combined with realistic sculpting, the early 2000s figures could be posed naturally in complex action stances.

The Modern Black Series: Detailed Realism (2010-present)

Today's 6” scale Black Series figures demonstrate the pinnacle of Hasbro's toy-making efforts for Star Wars collectors. Launched in 2013, the Black Series features intricate sculpts, cloth costuming, and multiple points of enhanced articulation for posing.

Portrait sculpts are realistic enough to distinguish individual characters rather than generic faces. Costumes incorporate a range of high-quality fabrics, from vinyl to tailored cloth. Layering and texturing replicate all the complexity of the screen-used costumes.

Bodies have around 30 points of articulation for nuanced stances and motion. Special wrist, ankle, and torso joints allow for increased realism. Select figures even include tailored soft goods costumes for supreme accuracy.

The Black Series has delivered truly lifelike Star Wars toy representations in a larger, more detailed scale than the classic 3.75” size.

More Affordable Options: Retro Collections

Hasbro produces additional toy lines aimed at different price points and ages beyond the collector-focused Black Series. The retro-styled Vintage Collection recalls Kenner’s original 70s line with simple 5-point articulation in 3.75” scale.

This nostalgic throwback line features characters from across Star Wars lore. Hasbro manages to capture the essence of each with just a few simple poseable joints. For kids and collectors on a budget, the retro option delivers a hit of nostalgia.

Expanding Beyond Figures: Playsets, Vehicles and More

Hasbro Star Wars toys now go far beyond individual character figures. Fans can immerse themselves in the universe with detailed vehicles, creature models, and full playset environments.

Iconic vehicles like the Millennium Falcon have been rendered across multiple scales and price points. Feature versions include intricate internal detailing, lighting effects, and rotating turrets to delight collectors.

Fantasy playsets bring key environments like the Cantina to 3D life. Kids and adults can act out new adventures of their own imagining among meticulously crafted backdrops. No longer limited to figures alone, Hasbro delivers the full Star Wars experience in toy form.

Premium Options for Adult Collectors

While Hasbro keeps Star Wars toys accessible for kids of all ages, they've also cultivated premium collectibles aimed at adult fans. Sub-lines like Sideshow and Hot Toys produce exquisitely detailed figures in scales from 1/4 to 1/6.

These collectible figures cost hundreds of dollars each. But they also feature portrait sculpts so lifelike they enter the realm of realistic fine-scale figurines.

Costumes incorporate tailored fabrics painstakingly reproduced from the films. The premium details and limited availability make these high-end offerings prized by collectors.

Future Tech to Further Bridge Physical and Digital

Hasbro continues to experiment with future tech to enhance and connect physical Star Wars toys. Augmented reality apps bring toys to life digitally with animations and interactive storylines.

RFID chips allow users to scan figures and vehicles to unlock related gaming content. Hasbro is pursuing advanced animatronics to make figures move and speak in response to stimuli. Voice recognition, AIs, and facial tracking could enable unparalleled interactive play.

While still in early stages, instrumented toys point toward a future where entertainment lives fluidly across physical and virtual environments. Star Wars toys already bridge generational and cultural gaps as shared nostalgia. Soon they may close digital gaps as well.

The Rise of Exclusive and Limited Figures

In recent years, Hasbro has produced more exclusive and limited run figures targeted at collectors and hardcore fans. These special edition toys are produced in small batches and sold at select retailers, conventions, or directly through Hasbro.

One of the most coveted exclusives is Comic-Con exclusive figures only sold at San Diego Comic-Con in limited supplies. These honor characters or costumes that appeared in comics and sell out instantly. Hasbro also does retailer exclusive figures for Target, Walmart, ToysRUs, and others which help drive collectors to specific stores.

Hasbro's Vintage Collection line features "archive" releases which recreate Kenner toy packaging, card backs, and designs from specific years. These loving tributes to vintage toys are produced as limited runs and become valued collector's items.

The Masterpiece sublime features high-end collectible packaging and booklets chronicling design histories of beloved characters like Boba Fett. Produced in limited supplies, Masterpiece figures can sell for hundreds after quickly disappearing from shelves.

By strategically producing limited exclusives, Hasbro generates buzz and demand among fans who make chasing elusive, hard-to-find toys a hobby. These rare exclusives end up traded among collectors for premium prices after disappearing from official channels.

The Mass Market vs Collectors Debate

As Hasbro has expanded its collector-focused toy lines, some debate has emerged around the balance between adult collectors and child fans. When newly released figures sell out instantly online and appear on secondary markets at inflated prices, parents can feel shut out.

Hasbro has defended limited exclusives as a way to engage and reward adult fans who support the brand. But they've also made efforts to ensure classics stay available for mass retail. Vintage Collections and retro lines specifically appeal to parents seeking the iconic toys from their own childhoods to share with kids.

It's a delicate balancing act to satisfy both hardcore collectors who meticulously track down new releases, and nostalgic parents who want to buy the same figures they enjoyed decades ago. Limited runs keep collectors engaged, while ongoing re-releases of classics aim to retain the next generation of fans.

Innovation Through New Materials and Manufacturing Processes

Hasbro is constantly exploring new materials and manufacturing techniques to enhance Star Wars toy realism and durability. Rather than just plastic, modern figures incorporate cloth, simulated leather, metal, wood, and rubber elements in costumes and accessories.

Some special editions utilize stained glass, etched metal, or crystal aesthetic flourishes in packaging and displays. Intricately layered injection molding recreates fine costume details and texturing once impossible in plastic. Die-cast metal alloys allow for sturdier lightsabers, thermal detonators, and blaster models.

3D printing has enabled far more intricate small parts, panel lines, and detailing on accessories and weapons. Hasbro also digitally scans actors, props, and costumes from Lucasfilm's archives to enhance authenticity.

Advancing manufacturing and materials science lets Hasbro marry traditional toy design with cutting edge production. This innovation keeps Star Wars collectibles on the visual vanguard.

Collaborations with Other Licenses

Hasbro has branched out from pure Star Wars branding by collaborating with other pop culture brands and licenses. Mash-up toys that remix Star Wars with Marvel, G.I. Joe, Transformers and more appeal to fans of multiple fandoms.

Crossover action figure sets feature characters like Iron Man and Boba Fett teaming up for playtime adventures. Comic covers portray Darth Vader alongside Deadpool in parody art. Vehicle sets depict X-wings and Tie Fighters redesigned as Transformers that can change modes from robot to spacecraft.

Part novelty, part parody, part intellectual property synergy, these collaborations expand Hasbro's reach beyond just Star Wars purists. Fans get to explore the "what if..." of their favorite fictional worlds colliding through celebratory toys. And Hasbro gets to leverage multiple brands in fresh formulations.

The toys may not be canon, but they speak to the endless remixing and mashup possibilities of imagination. In that sense, they stay true to Star Wars' timeless appeal.

Conclusion

Over 45 years, Star Wars toys have evolved remarkably from their primitive 1977 origins. Simple five-jointed figures have transformed into highly realistic and articulated collectibles. Vast worlds once confined to imagination now manifest in detailed physical playsets. And future tech promises to erase remaining boundaries between imagination and reality.

Hasbro continues to find new ways to manifest the Star Wars galaxy in physical form for each new generation. Kids who played with vintage Kenner toys in the 70s now collect Black Series as adults.

And future innovators who grow up with interactive Star Wars holograms may one day create holodecks. Just as the films continue to evolve, so too do the toys that bring this epic saga to life.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What was the first Star Wars toy ever made?

A: The first Star Wars action figure was a Luke Skywalker figure from Kenner, released in 1977 to coincide with the premiere of A New Hope.

Q: How many points of articulation do modern Black Series figures have?

A: Modern 6-inch scale Black Series figures feature around 30 points of articulation for extremely lifelike posing.

Q: What was the price of the original Star Wars action figures in 1977?

A: The first 3.75-inch Star Wars action figures sold for just $1.99 in 1977, equivalent to around $9 today.

Q: Do Hasbro Star Wars toys increase in value?

A: Vintage toys in unopened packaging can sell for thousands. But even loose original toys hold nostalgia value for collectors and fans.

Q: How small is the most detailed Star Wars toy line?

A: Some Sideshow and Hot Toys Star Wars figures are in 1/4 and 1/6 scale, with meticulous detailing for adult collectors.

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