Answered Questions - Week of Dec. 4, 2009

[swCollector]

Q1) I am really glad that you have made much needed updates to two of the core characters from the Phantom Menace (Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan) and I am hoping that there will be more coming soon. Do you have any plans to add new Episode I versions of Anakin, Padme, Jar Jar and a much desired super articulated Darth Maul to the line in the next year or two?

Answer:
For most of these, the answer is yes. Anakin is one character who won't likely be updated. His sculpts are very good, even though they have not been back in circulation, and it's tough to justify adding any more articulation to smaller figures like his. If we decide to get young Annie back out there it might be one of the existing sculpts.


Q2) We know that you do have some new astromechs coming up in the Clone Wars line, but that Ahsoka's R7-A7 is not among them. Does this mean that we are finally getting an animated R4-P17, or maybe Kit Fisto's R6-H5?

Answer:
Yes, for 2010 R4 is in the plans but we do not have plans for Kit's Astromech right now. Over time, we will be working more of the Astros into the line, perhaps using the exclusives program as well to salt them in.


Q3) I've been getting pretty fed up with getting figures home, opening them up, and then discovering one of their hands has been permanently mangled by the accessory being rubber-banded into its hand. Surely there's got to be a better way to package figures so that they aren't damaged by their own packing materials?

Answer:
Quality is of paramount concern to us, and the clear bands methods we've arrived at for securing accessories should not permanently disfigure our figures. In the large number of figures we have opened ourselves for checking product and adding to our own collections, we have yet to see any figures rendered unusable. There may be some deformation, which is temporary but the figure will return to it's molded shape over time. Keeping the figure in a warm room will help speed the process. If there is a figure that for some reason is damaged, our consumer affairs team would like to hear about it and we will work with you to replace your figure to ensure that you are satisfied. Please let us know more specifics about the figure(s) in question so we can examine them too. Thanks for letting us know about your issue.