Yesterday (US time) Celebration VI wrapped up in Orlando, Florida. Although tantalizingly close, I was unable to make it. I figured that skipping the first week of classes in my new PhD program probably wouldn't have been received all that well by my department. Assuming there's another Celebration some time in the next five years, I'll be doing everything I can to make it to that one!
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| (Image courtesy of wired.com) |
Fortunately, however, a number of the members of the SWNZ Message Boards attended and have been kindly supplying the rest of us with news and updates.
It seems that Hasbro is definitely moving towards a reduction in production in 2013 - most noticably with the suspension of the Vintage Collection action figure line. Some vehicles will continue to be released in Vintage Collection packaging however, including the larger 3 3/4" X-Wing of recent years. I think that for most collectors this is a mixed blessing. While it's disappointing that the volume of new items will be greatly reduced, it's also an opportunity to turn our collecting focus backwards and look to filling gaps in our current collections (something that is very difficult to do while also keeping up with the latest waves).
We just have to hope that this isn't the beginning of a downward trend in Star Wars goods. In September, The Clone Wars will be entering its fifth season. So far, there's no confirmation of a sixth season, and since the series only has a limited period of time in which to fit its content (the three years between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith) we can't expect the series to continue indefinitely. With Star Wars: Underworld (the long-waited live-action series) currently postponed, it seems likely that there will soon be a time without any new Star Wars releases. We just have to hope that this won't see a loss of interest in the franchise by manufacturing companies as it did in the dark days from 1985 to 1995.
In the near-future, however, we still have the 3D releases of the saga to look forward to. It was announced at Celebration VI that Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith would be released back-to-back in late 2013. This is great news for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we no longer have to wait for a year between each release, and secondly we'll be getting to the Original Trilogy much quicker. While the reception of the The Phantom Menace in 3D was lukewarm, I've no doubt that the chance to see the original films on the big screen again will bring the crowds in their droves.
