THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, December 11, 1995 TAG: 9512090049
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DIANE TENNANT, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
SO YOU WANT a Star Wars action figure under your Christmas tree this year?
May Santa Claus be with you.
Those little 6-inch-or-so plastic figures with the moveable arms and legs are hard for mere mortal shoppers to find.
``Our toys are doing really well,'' understated Cricket Newman, a spokesman for toy manufacturer Kenner, which makes the $4.99 action figures. ``There are pockets of the country where you will find a totally depleted inventory. We're trying to keep up with it, but it's virtually impossible.''
Surprised? So was Lucasfilm, the company that created a legend, a myth and a classic all in one with the release of ``Star Wars'' 18 years ago. ``I have to say it came as a surprise to us that the demand would be this strong,'' said Howard Roff man, vice president of licensing at Lucasfilm. ``(The empty shelves) you're seeing right now reflects the surprise about the demand for them. We went into it expecting a fairly low level of demand.''
The action figures are recommended for ages 4 and up. But few children see them. The toys are being snatched up mostly by people ages 25 and up, people who think they can make a buck off collectibles. Which they can.
Kenner's original action figures from the late '70s can go for $45 apiece. A pristine lightsaber in undamaged packaging goes for several hundred dollars. So it's no surprise that the latest round of toys are being snatched up.
``Collectors are going into Toys R Us and buying them all and selling them on the secondary market,'' said Matt Mariani, marketing director for Norfolk-based game manufacturer Decipher Inc. (see accompanying story). ``There's a couple places on the Internet where people do trading of these pieces on the secondary market. Tons of money is being made.''
So you thought you'd try for the free Han-Solo-in-stormtrooper-duds action figure advertised on the back of Froot Loops cereal? May the Good Luck Fairy be with you.
Local grocery stores have been sporting empty spots on the shelves where Froot Loops should be. Blame the two proofs of purchase plus official order blank (limit five per household) needed off the boxes. The Kellogg's cereal folks will only say that it's been very popular with consumers. No, really?
You'll have better luck with the free comic book and video offer on Apple Jacks and Corn Pops. They don't seem to be moving quite as fast.
The ``Star Wars'' movie trilogy was released this fall on video, and Lucasfilm's Roffman says sales have ``exceeded our wildest expectations.''
The letterbox version of the trilogy was released on Oct. 31. You want it? May the credit cards be with you.
Suncoast Motion Picture Co. at Chesapeake Square reported brisk sales of the $59.98 set.
``We're having a hard time keeping it in the store,'' said assistant manager Connie Gelsinger. ``As soon as it comes in, it goes out.''
You might want to get in line now for the February 1997 theatrical release of the 20th anniversary, special edition, original ``Star Wars'' movie, with four minutes of new footage and new digital special effects.
Can't wait that long?
Start looking for the second round of Kenner's action figures to be released in February 1996. They will be followed in April by ``Shadows of the Empire,'' a novel, comic series and computer game which fills in the gap in the story line between ``The Empire Strikes Back'' and ``Return of the Jedi.''
``We're calling it the movie without the movie,'' Roffman said. ``There are some new characters in it, but it will also involve all of the characters who were active in that time period.''
In more of a hurry than that? The CD-ROM game ``Rebel Assault II: The Hidden Empire'' went on sale Thanksgiving week.
And it's all leading up to the 1998 or '99 release of the ``Star Wars'' prequel, the first of a new movie trilogy. ``The producer is on board and we're very far into conceptual development,'' Roffman said.
Well, that's it. What? You thought I couldn't write a whole ``Star Wars'' story without saying ``May the Force be with you?''
Well, I couldn't. ILLUSTRATION: The "Star Wars" action figures are recommended for kids 4 and
up, but they are being snatched up by collectors.
by CNB