Star Wars Celebration

, 2 Comments on Star Wars Celebration

I feel like it’s been a minute since I talked about Star Wars here on the blog, and it’s certainly been awhile since I last shared a con experience with y’all! For reasons I’m sure we’re all aware of! But all of that is about to change! Because last weekend was Star Wars Celebration at the Anaheim Convention Center, and Patrick and I were there for all four glorious days of it.

If you’re new, then I guess it’s time you know I’m super into Star Wars and love attending “geek” oriented conventions. Star Wars Celebration is basically a con that celebrates all things Star Wars and has been happening in various places around the globe since 1999. It’s a time for Lucasfilm to engage with fans, and  includes panels, autograph sessions with Star Wars actors, shopping, and more. It’s also the best time for fans to get dressed up! While I’ve done cosplays for cons in the past, I knew I was doing a lot of running, standing, and sitting (there were a ton of panels I wanted to attend) I opted for some more casual and comfy looks that were more “inspired by” type outfits rather than full on cosplays, including a Han Solo look, a Sabacc (the infamous Star Wars version of poker) look, a Cobb Vanth look, and an ultra casual jeans and tee that didn’t get photographed. Oops! So enjoy my looks, some of the sights, as well as an interesting tale of woe from the makers of the original Star Wars toys!

Myself standing in front of the Anaheim Convention Center, wearing an outfit inspired by Han Solo, a white t-shirt, black vest, navy skirt with red stripes down the side.

A Lego interpretation of the Star Wars movie poster.

Myself, back to the camera, standing in front of the Anaheim Convention Center, which features a massive banner featuring art of Star Wars characters. The back of my jacket features a Sabacc hand and text reading "Fair and Square"

Myself standing in front of the Anaheim Convention Center, wearing an outfit inspired by Han Solo, a white t-shirt, black vest, navy skirt with red stripes down the side.

A large banner done in the style of a postcard features droids R2-D2 and C-3PO and text reading "Greetings from Endor"

Pedro Pascal sits being interviewed.

Myself standing among the Palm Trees at the Convention Center, wearing a burnt orange top with lace sleeves under a brown jumper that zips up the front with embroidery of Sabacc playing cards. On my feet, knee high lace up white boots, atop my head, a headband with Sabacc cards and credits.

Joe Johnston sits being interviewed on a stage made up to look like the lava rock planet of Nevarro.

A massive TIE Fighter sits inside the convention center.

Mandalorian actor Pedro Pascal sits at a panel table with show runners Dave Filoni, and Jon Favreau.

Myself standing among the Palm Trees at the Convention Center, wearing a burnt orange top with lace sleeves under a brown jumper that zips up the front with embroidery of Sabacc playing cards. On my feet, knee high lace up white boots, atop my head, a headband with Sabacc cards and credits.

Close-up of the embroidery, which features cards, dice, credits, and a small floral design.

Actor and director Carl Weathers, actor Emily Swallow, actor Giancarlo Esposito, stuntmen Brendan Wayne, Lateef Crowder, and actor Pedro Pascal sit at a long table for the Mandalorian panel.

Myself standing among the Palm Trees at the Convention Center, wearing a burnt orange top with lace sleeves under a brown jumper that zips up the front with embroidery of Sabacc playing cards. On my feet, knee high lace up white boots, atop my head, a headband with Sabacc cards and credits.

Chalk art of the Celebration banner, featuring various silhouettes of Star Wars characters. Text reads "Anaheim Welcomes Star Wars Celebration"

Myself standing among the Palm Trees at the Convention Center, wearing a burnt orange top with lace sleeves under a brown jumper that zips up the front with embroidery of Sabacc playing cards. On my feet, knee high lace up white boots, atop my head, a headband with Sabacc cards and credits.

Boba Fett actor Temuera Morrison stands in front of the panel table performing a haka dance, while fellow actors stand and clap behind him.

Ahsoka actor Rosario Dawson walks on stage with droid Chopper behind.

Lego interpretations of the posters for Book of Boba Fett and Obi-Wan Kenobe.

Myself, wearing a red long sleeve shirt under a dress printed in Boba Fett's armor, a red scarf, and a purse that looks like Boba Fett's helmet, and brown boots. In the background are stormtrooper helmets on spikes.

Myself, standing in front of a faux adobe style wall with a stylized door opening, wearing a red long sleeve shirt under a dress printed in Boba Fett's armor, a red scarf, and a purse that looks like Boba Fett's helmet, and brown boots.

Artist Doug Chang stands giving a presentation about the Mandalorian, and features a slide of him working on the prequel films.

A RX-Series droid moves around the a stage build with a set like that seen on Nevarro in The Mandalorian.

Myself, wearing a red long sleeve shirt under a dress printed in Boba Fett's armor, a red scarf, and a purse that looks like Boba Fett's helmet, and brown boots. In the background are stormtrooper helmets on spikes.

Some panel highlights including catching Joe Johnston talking about his time working on visual effects on the original films. If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he directed 90s classics such as Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, The Rocketeer, Jumanji, as well as 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger. We caught the Madalorian himself, Pedro Pascal, twice, including the Mando+ panel which discussed the show as well as shows connected with it, such as Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka. We also attended a panel presented by Doug Chiang, who did the art direction for The Mandalorian, as well as work on other Star Wars films.

One panel coincided with an exhibit rather well. There was an entire panel dedicated to the tumultuous story of the failed rocket firing Boba Fett action figure, with former Kenner (the company that produced the original Star Wars toys) employee Jim Swearingen. In 1979 Kenner offered a free “rocket firing” Boba Fett action figure if customers sent in four proof of purchases from other Star Wars action figures. Boba Fett first appeared in animated form in the infamous Holiday Special the previous year, and they were gearing up for the upcoming Empire Strikes Back. The toy was designed with a spring mechanism firing a tiny red rocket from the pack. Prototypes were developed, but in the meantime Mattel had created and sold Battlestar Galactica toys, including ones that fired tiny missiles. Shortly after the toys hit the shelves, children fired the missiles into their mouths, resulting in injury and eventually one death. Mattel recalled the toys, and Kenner brought the development of their rocket firing Boba Fett to a halt.

Ultimately Kenner decided not to move forward with the rocket firing design. Despite Kenner demanding that all prototypes be destroyed, a few of them were smuggled out. Roughly 100 are known to exist and a few have hit the market, with staggering prices, as displayed in the slide photographed below.

A slide of the various Boba Fett action figure prototypes.

Three men sit on a panel discussing the Boba Fett action figure.

Slide of the various rocket firing Boba Fett action figures that have sold recently. $204,435 on March 16, 2022, $185,850 on November 7, 2019, $165,200 on June 30 2021, and $112,926 on July 11, 2019.

With no rocket, Kenner still continued with their free offer, choosing to include a note apologizing to customers, and even offered for them to send it back and exchange it for another action figure if they wished.

Despite being extremely rare, Star Wars Celebration is a time when you’re likely to see something you may never otherwise see in person, such as multiple rocket firing Boba Fett action figures, which were on display at the Rancho Obi-Wan exhibit that was dedicated to the world of the Mandalorians, titled “From Boba Fett to Bo-Katan.” It also displayed Swearingen’s original concept art for the action figure, which was white, just like the early concepts for Boba Fett.

Concept art for the first Bob Fett action figure.

Three of the rocket firing Boba Fett prototypes on display at the Rancho Obi-Wan exhibit.

The note to customers found inside the packaging from the mail in offer, which read "NOTE TO CONSUMERS Originally our STAR WARS Boba Fett action figure was designed to have a spring-launched rocket. The launcher has been removed from the product for safety reasons. If you are dissatisfied with the product, please return it to us and we will replace it with any STAR WARS mini action figure of your choice. Thank you for your support."

Another amazing exhibit featuring screen used props and costumes from The Mandalorian and Book of Boba Fett. You can catch my special look at this exhibit here.

Day One Outfit – Han Solo
Jacket: Found by my dad, painted by Solanah
Vest: Thrifted
Tee: Target
Skirt: Her Universe, no longer available.

Day Two Outfit – Sabacc
Headband & Bracelet: Made by me, with pieces bought at Disneyland and J46 Designs on Etsy
Dress: Her Universe
Necklace, Shirt & Boots: Buffalo Exchange

Day Three – Cobb Vanth
Scarf: Stitchcrvt
Belt & Pouch: I honestly can’t remember. Buckle made by me literally morning of!
Dress: Her Universe, no longer available.
Shirt: Target
Boots: Buffalo Exchange
Purse: Loungefly, no longer available

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2 comments on “Star Wars Celebration”

  1. Is it easy to get tickets to this? We went to ComicCon in San Diego in 2014, but I had to bid highest at a charity raffle to get those tickets!

    Reply

    • With the new virtual queue it seemed a little easier. This year was kind of weird though, because the event was suppose to take place in 2020, and then the pandemic happened, so many people returned their tickets, and some tickets were available close to the event date. I think also since it changes location each year, that can have an impact on ticket sales.

      Reply